THE SPOKESMAN • TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2022 A5
Learn to think like a plant
LIZ DOUVILLE
Garden Corner
H
Courtesy photo
Ridgeview athletes compete at Hoopfest in Spokane.
Ridgeview team excels
at Hoopfest in Spokane
Spokesman staff
Ridgeview students and basketball
players competed in the prestigious
Hoopfest tournament in Spokane last
month.
The annual event is the world’s larg-
est 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
Zach Asplund, Peyton Zampko and
Jeremiah Schwartz finished second in
their bracket, a top finish from local
hoopsters.
█
Rerpoter: ttrainor@redmondspokesman.com
Courtesy photo
Rideview students Zach Asplund, Jere-
miah Schwartz and Peyton Zampko pose
with Gonzaga basketball player Drew
Timme (second from left) at Hoopfest in
Spokane.
Courtesy photo
Members of the Ridgeview basketball
team pose at midcourt at the arena used
by the NCAA’s Gonzaga Bulldogs.
ow should we garden in a
drought? Maybe we need
to learn to think like a
plant.
The evidence of low water ta-
bles is already in place with early
water restrictions issued by several
irrigation districts. The city has
made statements that they will do
a better job of monitoring the city
watering codes that have been in
place for many years.
Does that mean someone else
will take care of the problem? I
think not. It is up to us to start
thinking like a plant and under-
standing how plants use water.
And perhaps even changing our
vegetable selections if not this year,
maybe some notes for next year.
It could be kind of fun to figure
out how to create and maintain a
more water-efficient garden.
Most plants absorb very little
moisture through their leaves. Al-
most all the water they need has to
get absorbed through their roots.
The more roots they have, the bet-
ter equipped they are to find and
absorb moisture. A well-devel-
oped root system with lots of little
sponge-like root hairs is a plants
best insurance for survival in
drought conditions.
For a plant to develop a good
root system, the roots need to be
able to push out into the soil. We
are fortunate in central Oregon to
not have clay or heavy soils.
That is not to say, however, that
the soil doesn’t need improve-
ment. That is done by adding
matter such as organic compost
and shredded leaves. Adding
these materials will make your
soil more porous, so water that’s
applied to the soil surface won’t
run off, but rather move into the
root zone. Woody materials such
as bark or wood chips added as a
soil amendment may result in soil
nitrogen depletion and should be
avoided.
A note I made in a garden jour-
nal regarding adding organic mat-
ter was “100 square feet of good,
loamy soil can absorb about 90
gallons of water, whereas 100
square feet of sand can only ab-
File photo
Liz Douville
sorb 60 gallons.”
Plants don’t absorb very much
water through their leaves, but
they do lose water through their
leaves. Another note from my
journal quoted a reading stating
that 98% of the water absorbed by
a plant goes out through the mi-
croscopic pores (called stomates)
on the plant’s leaves.
Apply water slowly to the base
of plants. Soaker hose allows water
to seep out all along its length at a
slow rate. Use water timers added
to the hose at the faucet to help
reduce overwatering. Consider
changing to either soaker hose or
drip hose.
There are several ways to mini-
mize the amount of moisture that
plants lose through their leaves. If
natural shade isn’t available, think
about constructing a simple lat-
tice ‘roof’ that will provide simple
shade. And if wind is a problem,
make plans to add the fabric row
cover for simple protection.
Tall plants can provide shade
for shorter plants. Sunflowers can
shield the cucumbers.
Another recommendation is to
plant in blocks rather than rows.
This creates shade for roots and
reduces evaporation. Be vigilant
about pulling weeds as they are
competing for any water that is
there. Group plants with similar
water needs on the same section
of irrigation. Cucumber, zucchinis
and squash require similar water
applications. Irrigate when the
top 2-4 inches of soil is dry to the
touch.
With good soil organic con-
tent, the garden should be able to
go 2-7 days between irrigations.
Avoid heavy water crops such as
beans and sweet corn and crops
that have fruit on the ground, such
as melons, squash and cucumbers.
As a rule of thumb, water is most
critical during the first few weeks
of development, immediately after
transplanting, and during flower-
ing and fruit production.
The critical watering periods for
selected vegetables include:
• Broccoli, cabbage, Brussels
sprouts, kohlrabi and cauliflower
need consistent moisture during
the entire life span, especially
during head or root development.
Water use is highest and most crit-
ical during head development.
• Beans have the highest wa-
ter use of any common garden
vegetable, using 0.25 to over 0.50
inches of water per day. Beans
need water most when they are
blooming and setting fruit. When
moisture levels are adequate the
bean plant is bright, dark grass
green. As plants experience water
stress, leaves take on a slight gray-
ish cast.
• Carrot and other root crops
require consistent moisture.
Cracking, knobby and hot flavor
root crops are symptoms of water
stress.
• Corn needs water most
during tasseling, silking, and ear
development. Yield is directly re-
lated to quantities of water, nitro-
gen and spacing.
• Onion family crops require
consistent moisture and frequent
irrigation due to their small, inef-
ficient root system.
• Peas need water most during
pod filling.
• Potato tubers will be knobby
if they become overly dry during
tuber development.
• Tomatoes, peppers and egg-
plant need water most during
flowering and fruiting. Watch for
overwatering.
• Cucumbers, summer and
winter squash and other vine
crops need water most during
flowering and fruiting. Watch for
overwatering.
The drought conditions have
been evident for the past few years
and will probably continue. Per-
haps you can adapt some new
techniques that will make a differ-
ence and make a claim to thinking
like a plant.
█
Liz Douville is a master gardener in
Deschutes County.
Suzanne (Helfrecht) Schrader
November 21, 1937 - April 29, 2022
Suzanne Schrader, 84, of Redmond, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April
29, 2022.
Suzanne (Sue) was born November 21, 1937, in Springfield, Missouri to her loving parents, Robert &
Mary Helfrecht. She & her family moved to Idaho in 1939, then settled in Pendleton, in 1942. She attended
elementary, middle & high school there, graduating May 1955 as Valedictorian of a class of 125 seniors. Sue was very
active in high school, including Pep Club, Pep Club Drummer, Flag Twirler, Rally Committee Chairperson, Football
Princess, Basketball Maid of Honor & Sweetheart Princess. Academically, she participated in Photography Club, Class
Assembly, Exchange Assembly, Chorus Accompaniment, All-School Play, Jr. Altrusan, Girl's League Council & Secretary,
Citizenship Cup, Executive Council, Girls' State Alternate & Honor Society.
Following high school graduation, Sue enrolled at the University of Oregon-Eugene, where in 1959 she earned her BA
Business degree with a Minor in Music. She was an active member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority & was a very accomplished
piano player. She thoroughly enjoyed playing sheet music, as well as playing from memory.
After graduating from University of Oregon, Sue decided to 'see the world' (at least part of it) by attending American
Airlines Flight Attendant School & became a stewardess, based at National Airport, Washington, D.C. Shortly thereafter
she met Marine Corps Second Lieutenant Daniel Schrader. Sue & Dan were married on April 30, 1960, at St. Mary's
Catholic Church in Pendleton. Their life journey began in 1960, in Jacksonville, Florida where Dan was stationed on-board
the USS Roosevelt, and their first son, Steven, was born. In 1961, the family moved to Jacksonville, North Carolina/Camp
Lejeune, and their second son, Sean was born in 1962. The family moved to Northern Virginia until 1966, and Sue worked
part-time for Woodbridge Steel as a bookkeeper. When Dan shipped-off to Vietnam for combat duty, the family lived in Pendleton for a year,
then in 1967 moved back to Virginia.
In 1969, the family relocated to Monterey, California while Dan studied at the Naval Postgraduate School. Sue loved Monterey & its surroundings,
and there their daughter Kathleen was born. Sue & the kids moved to Pendleton again for a year while Dad was stationed in Okinawa & upon
his return stateside, the family moved to Pearl City, Hawaii in 1972. Sue enjoyed living in Hawaii, too (except for the gecko lizards & bugs...), so
moving from there BACK to Virginia for the third & last time was quite a culture shock. Dan completed his Marine Corps career at Quantico in
1980, then he & Sue settled in Eugene. While in Eugene, Sue worked for the Jim Stephenson Insurance Agency. The mid-80's was a tough
time economically, so Sue & Dan relocated to Bend for a few years, where Sue worked at The Inn of the Seventh Mountain front office.
Life events necessitated yet another move to Molalla until early 2007, when Dan passed away.
Following Dan's passing, Sue decided to relocate to Redmond in 2008 to be close to her daughter & family. She enjoyed Redmond
very much & all family members loved visiting her there (it doesn't rain as much as in 'The Valley'...). Sue enjoyed collecting Ducks
of all sorts & unique glassware, was an avid reader of books & had an extensive collection of shoes. Sue was also a die-hard
Oregon Ducks football fan, gathering with family often to watch games on TV & root for the team!
Suzanne was not just a much-loved & devoted wife & mother, but a wonderful daughter & sister; grandmother, great grandmother,
aunt & cousin to many. She was predeceased by her parents, Robert & Mary; and the love of her life, husband Daniel. She
is survived by her sons Steven Schrader (spouse, Annalee, Lakeside, California); Sean Schrader (spouse, Deborah, Springfield,
Oregon); her daughter Kathleen Schrader-Simmons (spouse, James, Redmond, Oregon); sister Kathy Robinson (spouse, Gary,
Anchorage, Alaska); grandchildren (Brandon, Barrett, Brittany, Brooke, Sean Daniel, Ashley, Bailey & Cassidy); and
great grandchildren (Gracie Lynn, Jameson, Zaylee & Carter).
A private memorial & celebration of life will be held on July 9, 2022, in Bend.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St.
Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105