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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (May 22, 2012)
in other words may22 2012 Diggin in the Dirt: Garden Notes Garden Notes A month ago, I would have predicted another bad apple scab year with the unremitting cold, wet weather. That has all changed with the hot spell last week. Apple scab fungi make little progress in dry weather. So watch the weather forecast. Let’s hope dry weather continues to limit the disease. Summer rate dilutions of lime sulfur may still help. Codling moth adults have emerged. If you don’t want their larvae in your apples (the “worm”) you need to start control measures. Insecticides with spinosad are probably the best option for home gardeners. This is a new class of insecticides developed from a compound produced by an actinomycete fungus discovered in Barbados. There are organic labeled spinosad products. They need to be applied several times. Surround is a kaolin clay that when sprayed on the fruit and leaves a film on that the moths don’t seem to like so they go somewhere else. Again, this needs to be re-applied periodically. Results have been mixed. Apple maggots emerge about a month later in late June. Again, spinosad-based products seem to be the best homeowner choice. Western tent caterpillars will soon emerge in scattered parts of the county. Once the web is there, it is hard to spray the caterpillars if you wanted to. On small trees, brush the webs apart with a broom. After the rascals are done eating (usually by the middle of June) they wander off the tree, pupate, and wait to emerge as the moth next year. Tent caterpillars rarely do lasting damage to trees so spraying generally isn’t needed. In another 60 days, we will be seeing the fall webworm, which has much the same life cycle. I have had several people bring samples of the maple blister mite. This mite causes reddish bumps on the upper surface of maple leaves. The mite causes more cosmetic than actual damage. Grapes have a very similar problem caused by an erineum mite. The symptoms are white, felty and distorted patches on the underside of the leaves. In commercial vineyards, this is becoming an increasing problem in Oregon. Most of the time, home gardeners probably don’t need to be concerned. For those that wish to spray, wettable sulfur, often used for powdery mildew control on grapes, will provide some measure of erineum mite control as well. Horsetail or equisetum is a gardener’s nightmare. The plant emerges from the ground looking something like asparagus. It spreads from underground roots and from spores released as the plant matures. Sadly, it is the worst of all weeds, an herbaceous perennial. It gives every indication of dying in the fall, but that is a ruse. It returns from the root system next year and for every year thereafter unless you make it miserable. Equally sadly, it is very hard to make horsetail miserable. Continuous pulling may reduce its vigor. Planting with a heavy sod tends to reduce its vigor as well. Herbicide treatments options except in exclusively woody landscape beds are almost non-existent. Much horsetail comes from imported topsoil. Look at the topsoil on site before you buy. Look very carefully for horsetail. If it is there, don’t buy it. Keep new trees and shrubs watered throughout the first growing summer. The evidence is very convincing that trees properly watered and mulched will out-perform and out-survive trees that weren’t. Gardening with Children Children often get to try sprouting seeds in classrooms (bean seeds are popular) but because the school year ends, the plants rarely make it into a garden. Since there are many life and culinary lessons embedded in vegetable gardening, it is well worth your time to engage a child or grandchild in your garden. That doesn’t mean giving them the pain of the shoveling and heavy lifting (at least not at first). Your education should focus on what plants need to grow, how observation and attention to detail pays off, how good fresh vegetables really are and how timing in gardening (and by extension, life) is everything. You can start in a somewhat stepwise fashion. As an introduction, just plant a garden area for your children to graze in. This might include cherry tomatoes (be sure to include a Sungold plant), peas, carrots, radishes and green beans. The next year, they can help Computer problems? We can help. Hardware testing, repair, replacement Mac – Windows – Linux Software install/upgrade Virus/spyware removal Custom systems built Housecalls Available Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 10-6 and by appointment Bill Langmaid (971) 998-3705 bill@rangelights.com The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people. Free newsletter The Oregon State University Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gardening and farming topics (called County Living) written/edited by yours truly. All you need to do is ask for it and it will be mailed to you. Call 503 397- 3462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/ columbia/ and click on newsletters. you plant some of the larger seeds in the garden (beans, corn, squash, etc.). I know it is a little corny, but putting up the seed packets on sticks at the end of the row is very educational. Kids can also help you seed pots for later transplant of some of the smaller seeds. It is very important to use crop failures as a teaching tool. What choices the gardener makes, or doesn’t make, have a big impact on plant growth and production. This is also an important life lesson. It is also important to emphasize the importance of early weeding (along with the ability to distinguish weed vs. crop seeds). Finally, teach them how these foods are used in the kitchen. Cook with them as you cook for them. Ask for their Contact information for the Extension office Oregon State University Extension Service – Columbia County 505 N. Columbia River Highway (across from the Legacy clinic) St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-3462 Email: chip.bubl@oregonstate.edu g WiFi n i vid et & o r P tern n L I S D aga s COMPUTER & INTERNET SERVICES 503.429.TECH ral jeff@agalis.net Path Health Ser ces vi Vernonia Computer Services input on herbs/spices/techniques that might be used as they get more involved. Na tu By Chip Bubl Oregon State University Extension Service - Columbia County 7 Dr. Carol McIntyre Naturopathic & Chinese Medicine 503.429.3928 cccmnd@yahoo.com naturalpathhealthservices.com 786 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR, 97064 Owned and Operated by Don & Kim Wallace
