| August 2007
Oklahoma Gardening Shows
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Oklahoma Gardening Information Sheet (#3408)
OETA air date: August 25 and 26, 2007
OETA airtime: Saturday 11 a.m., Sunday 3:30 p.m.
The Fall Vegetable Garden – In this segment we discuss strategies for starting the fall vegetable garden. The warm days and cool nights of fall are ideal for producing hardy vegetables such as cabbages, peas and cauliflower; leafy greens like spinach, Swiss chard and kale; and root crops including turnips and radishes. We plant pea seeds as a demonstration.
The hot, dry weather of August makes it difficult to get the fall garden started. Shading seeds is important to keep soil temperatures down. Shade clothes, burlap, wire screen and wooden planks are all discussed as materials that can be used to provide shade. Shade materials need to be elevated above the row. Remove shade structures as soon as seedlings emerge.
It also helps to plant seeds in deep furrows. The furrow will help provide a little extra shade to the seed, keeping the soil cooler and also helps to conserve water. Due to the concentration of water in the row, weeds tend to be a greater problem than in spring plantings. Regular cultivation will help to manage weed problems. Organic mulches such as peat moss can also be used to insulate seeds, manage weeds and conserve soil moisture.
OSU Fact Sheet HLA-6009 "Fall Gardening" discusses the fall vegetable garden.
Dividing Perennials – Fall is the time to divide our spring-blooming perennials. Division helps reduce crowding and increases plant vigor. Division can also be used to prevent plants from growing too large and to clone or reproduce plants. How often you divide plants will vary. Hardy chrysanthemums and asters need to be divided every 1 to 2 years, while peonies rarely need dividing. Some plants resent being divided and should be left alone. These include Oriental poppies, euphorbia, columbine and butterfly weed.
Most perennials should be divided every 3 to 5 years. There are a number of signs to look for that may indicate your plants need dividing:
· Poor flowering – fewer or smaller than normal
· Sparse foliage – especially near the base of the plant
· Dead or hallow areas in the center of the plant
· Weak stems that fall over easily
Follow these steps to lift your perennials from the ground:
· Water plants thoroughly 1-2 days before dividing
· Trim stems and foliage to 6 inches above ground level
· Dig around all 4 sides of the plant or clump about 4 inches away from the base
· Pry clump out of ground with shovel or fork
Loosen and remove soil from the root system to expose the crown of the plant or the tubers. Specific instructions on dividing plants will vary with plant type.
Plants that grow from a central crown (astilbes, hostas, daylilies and ornamental grasses): Use a sharp knife or shovel to cut through the thick crown or central growing area. Or use two digging forks back-to-back to pry the crown apart. You want at least one bud with each division, the more buds, the larger the plant will be.
Rhizome Division: Plants like bearded iris produce fleshy rhizomes at the soil surface. Cut these into sections that contain a single fan of leaves and a few inches of rhizome.
Bulbs, corms and tuberous roots: These are naturally occurring reproduction structures. Bulbs and corms will produce small side structures (bulblets and cormels, respectively) that can be separated from the parent plant and replanted. Dahlias produce swollen root structures called tubers. Tubers need to be cut into sections with a sharp knife, making sure each division has a piece of the original stem and a growth bud attached.
Attracting Hummingbirds to the Landscape – In Oklahoma we commonly see the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) visiting flowers throughout the summer. Another less common species found in Oklahoma is the Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufous). Both obtain their nourishment by feeding on flower nectar. Hummingbirds provide their host plants with a service, by transferring pollen from flower to flower, thus aiding in fertilization.
You can attract hummingbirds to the landscape by offering a succession of blooms from which they can feed. Hummingbirds migrate to Oklahoma in early spring so this is the time you want to capture their interest. Plant spring-bloomers like columbine to invite the hummingbird to nest in your yard. Follow with flowers that come into bloom one after the other. Not just any flower will do for a hummingbird. They feed on flowers with a long, tubular corolla. Some plants attractive to hummingbirds include Bee Balm (Monarda), Columbine (Aquilegia), Fuchsia (Fuchsia), Petunia (Petunia), Mimosa (Mimosa), Wishbone Flower (Torenia) and Azalea (Rhododendron).
We featured two hummingbird plants. Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) is a perennial vine native to the eastern United States. It blooms from June through September. Vines bloom best in full sun, but will also perform well in shade. It grows aggressively and is best placed along a fence where it can be easily trimmed. Four O'clocks (Mirabilis jalapa) are herbaceous perennials that grow from tuberous roots. The plant spreads laterally along the ground and produces a flush of brilliant pink flowers that open in the late afternoon.
We also discuss the use of hummingbird feeders to attract the birds to the landscape. Hummingbird feeders hold a sugar-water solution that can be made by mixing 1 part sugar to 4 parts water and boiling the solution lightly to dissolve the sugar. We point out that it is not necessary, and may even be harmful, to add red food coloring to the solution. The red coloration on the feeder itself will be enough to attract the hummingbirds. Make sure to wash the feeders regularly every few days. You may find other birds visiting your hummingbird feeders. Orioles, tangers, warblers, grosbeaks are often seen feeding on the sugary solution. These birds will only visit a feeder if it has a place to perch.
OSU Fact Sheet HLA-6435 "Landscaping and Gardening for Birds" has more information on hummingbird gardening, including a list of plants that can be used to attract these gems.
Heat Stress – We discussed heat stress as many plants have been struggling to cope with the heat in the past several weeks. Plants suffering from heat stress may have wilted stems, burned or shriveled leaf margins, or you may find a plant appears to have died from the heat.
Lack of moisture can intensify heat stress, because plants use water evaporation to cool their surfaces. Irrigate your plantings frequently during hot weather to help the plants compensate for water loss and use an organic mulch to maintain soil moisture. Of course, even when soil moisture is adequate, a plant may not be able to take up water through their roots to balance the moisture lost through their leaves.
Most plants will recover from heat damage. If you have a plant that appears to have died from the heat, try leaving it in place with the dead leaves covering the crown or center of the plant. You may find new growth emerging before long.
Barb Cooks – Barbara Brown, Extension Food Specialist, makes a green bean and edamame salad.
David's Tips – David Hillock, Extension Consumer Horticulturist, gives us tips for the month of September.
· Begin to reduce the amount of light on outside tropical houseplants by placing them under shade trees before bringing them indoors for the winter.
· Plant cool-season annuals like pansies, ornamental cabbage or kale, snapdragons and dusty miller when temperatures begin to cool.
· You have all of September to plant cool-season vegetables like spinach, leaf lettuce, mustard and radishes, and until the middle of September to plant rutabagas, Swiss chard, garlic and turnips.
· Last nitrogen fertilizer application of the year on warm-season grasses should be applied no later than September 15. (HLA-6420)
· Winter broadleaf weeds like dandelion will begin to emerge in late September, which is also the best time to control them with a 2, 4-D type herbicide.
· If pre-emergent control of winter-annual weeds (henbit, chickweed, annual bluegrass, etc.) is desired in lawns, the application should be completed by the second week of September. (HLA-6421) Note: Do not treat areas that will be seeded in the fall.
· Continue bermudagrass spray program with glyphosate products for areas being converted over to tall fescue this fall. (HLA-6421)
· Plan to seed bluegrass, fescue or ryegrass as needed in shady areas in mid- to late-September. Fall is the best time to establish cool-season lawns. (HLA-6419)
· White grub damage can become visible this month. Apply appropriate soil insecticide if white grubs are a problem. Water product into soil. (EPP-7306)
Viewer's Bulletin Board
The Centennial Celebration will take place at the Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden Research and Education Center in Tulsa on Saturday, September 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, September 9 from noon until 5 p.m.
Please contact your local Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Office for more educational information on garden-related topics. If you need further information about this week's show, call (405) 744-5404 or visit our website http://www.oklahomagardening.okstate.edu. Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Kim Rebek
Oklahoma Gardening Host
Green Bean and Edamame Salad
Dressing Ingredients
· 2 tablespoons olive oil
· 1 tablespoon honey
· 2 tablespoons water
· 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
· 1/4 cup lemon juice
· 2 cloves garlic, minced
· 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
· 1/4 teaspoon basil
· 1/4 teaspoon marjoram
· 1/4 teaspoon rosemary
· 1/4 teaspoon thyme
· 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
· 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon peel
Salad Ingredients
· 2 cups lightly cooked green beans, cut into bite-sized pieces
· 2 cups cooked and shelled edamame*
· 1/4 cup diced green onion
· 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
· 1/2 cup diced celery
· 1/2 cup chopped cucumber
· 1 cup chopped carrots
· 2 tablespoons parsley, minced
· 1/3 cup dried cranberries
· 4 cups romaine lettuce, washed
1. Whisk together dressing ingredients. Set aside.
2. Toss together all salad ingredients, except lettuce, in large container with a tight fitting lid.
3. Whisk dressing once more then pour over salad and mix well. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour.
4. To serve, divide romaine lettuce among 8 plates and top with marinated vegetables.
Yields 8 servings.
*Baby lima beans can be substituted for edamame.
Nutrition Facts
Servings per recipe: 8..................... |
| Amount Per Serving |
| Calories 1487.......................... Calories from fat 63 |
............................................................ % Daily Value
Total Fat 9g............................ 81 44 11%
......... Saturated Fat 1g1 4%
Cholesterol 0mg.....3 0%
Sodium 115mg........ n 5%
Carbohydrate 16g...... ...... 5%
............Dietary Fiber 6 g........ 23%
Protein 8g................................................ 17%
Vitamin A: 80% Vitamin C: 67% Folacin: 10%
Calcium: 9%......... Iron: 14% Potassium: 10% |
Source: Modified from original source: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnparecipe/
Provided by:
Barbara Brown, Food Specialist, OSU Cooperative Extension Service, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078-6141, bbrown@okstate.edu
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Oklahoma Gardening Information Sheet (#3407)
OETA air date: August 18 and 19, 2007
OETA airtime: Saturday 11 a.m., Sunday 3:30 p.m.
Owen's Family Farm – Steve returns home to where he grew up in Vian, OK and visits with the person that was inspirational in getting him interested in gardening. This special person is his father, Les Owens. They talk about the vegetable garden that is growing this year. Plants in the garden include Pinto Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla), Beans (Phaseolus), Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum 'Kennebeck'), Broccoli (Brassica oleracea 'Pacman'), Purple Onion (Allium sp.), White Onion (Allium sp.), Corn (Zea mays 'Kandy Korn'), Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Kentucky Wonder') and Cucumbers (Curcurbita).
Building Garden Structures – Tami Krehbiel, Studio Garden Manager, tells us about making rustic structures. One of the first projects she made at the studio gardens was a rustic bridge to help celebrate Oklahoma's Centennial. The bridge is built from eastern red cedar. The reasons for using cedar are it is pretty resistant to rot, weathering and you can find it locally. Before using the eastern red cedar, peel off the bark to help it weather and survive longer. Use a draw knife or a putty knife to remove the bark and be sure to use gloves. You will need a variety of hardware and tools since every branch is not the same size. Consider location and always call OKIE to find out where utility lines are located and watch out for overhead lines. Consider the view of the structure from the house and the view from the structure itself. To start the bridge, sink posts in the ground 3 feet deep, then add 6 inches of gravel and fill the holes with 16 grit sand. Use branches that fan out for the sides of the bridge so they become a work of art. Since this was a covered bridge we used smaller twigs on top and decoratively attached them.
At home you may want to start out with a smaller project. You can find resources on the Internet or your public library on rustic structures, twiggeries, bentwood structures and driftwood structures. Tami found a bird bath project from a book at the Stillwater Public Library. Take 3 branches with forks on top and put together like a tripod, drill a pilot hole and screw together. Add vine on the top to make a circle. Take shorter pieces of cedar to hold the forks apart and set your bird bath bowl in the circle.
Steve's Last Show – This will be Steve's last show as Host of Oklahoma Gardening. He is stepping down to start his own specialty nursery in Stillwater. The nursery is called Bustani Plant Farm. Please check out his website http://www.bustaniplantfarm.com for plants that are available, contact information and dates for plant sales.
New Oklahoma Gardening Host – Steve introduces Kim Rebek as the 10th Host of Oklahoma Gardening. Kim came from Michigan State University where she worked with the Michigan Master Gardener Volunteer Program. Her interests in the garden include vegetables, herbs, flowering trees and shrubs and landscaping for wildlife.
Please contact your local Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Office for more educational information on garden-related topics. If you need further information about this week's show, call (405) 744-5404 or visit our website http://www.oklahomagardening.okstate.edu. Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Steve Owens
Oklahoma Gardening Host
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Oklahoma Gardening was not shown on
August 4 & 5 and August 11 & 12
due to AugustFest on OETA.