Question #1: Did you ever wonder why your "supersweet" corn was not as sweet as in previous years, or why the bicolor cultivar you grew had hardly any white kernels in the ear, or why a white cultivar turned into a bicolor? One likely cause for these problems could be that you did not isolate the different types of sweet corn from each other?
Answer: Sweet corn is unique in that the quality of the kernels in the ear depends not only on the cultivar planted but also on the type of cultivar that provides pollen to fertilize the ear. This can affect the sweetness of the kernels because different types of sweet corn have different genes that make them sweet. The sweetness gene is one type can be masked by a gene in another type so that starchy kernels are produced. Specifically, there are four main types of sweet corn commercially available:
1. Normal Sweet (su1) - e.g., 'Merit', 'Jubilee'
2. Supersweet (sh2) - e.g., 'Illini Xtra Sweet'
3. Sugary Enhanced (se) - e.g., 'Argent', 'Incredible'
4. Everlasting Heritage (EH) - e.g., 'Kandy Korn EH'
- To ensure that the full degree of sweetness is achieved by each of these types, they should be isolated from each other according to the following rules:
- Supersweets (sh2) must be isolated from all other types, or their kernels become starchy and no different from field corn. Pollen from supersweets will also cause starchy kernels in normal sweet corn.
Sugary Enhance (se) and EH corns will taste like normal sweet corn if pollinated by normal sweet corn, but pollen from them will not affect the taste of normal sweet corn.
For kernel color, yellow is dominant to white. Pollen from yellow and bicolor cultivars can affect kernel color of whites but not the reverse. White cultivars become bicolor if planted close to yellows with similar maturity dates, and bicolors will have fewer white kernels when mixed with yellow cultivars. How can isolation be achieved?- A distance of 250 feet between cultivars is sufficient to prevent an effect on ear quality.
- Since corn is wind pollinated, plant the different sweet corn types so pollen is not carried from one to the other by the prevailing winds.
- Five or more border rows will act as barriers to pollen transfer between different sweet corn types.
- Isolation by time of maturity allows you to plant different types close together as long as the cultivars differ in maturity by at least 14 days.
- (This information is modified and updated by B.A. Kahn from an original sheeet by H. Chris Wien, Cornell University.
***********************************************************************************************************************************
Question #2: For the first time I have planted eggplant and have several small ones coming on the plants. How can I tell when they are ready to be picked?
Answer: Eggplant can be harvested and eaten at any usable size, but should be harvested before they become tough and seeds begin to harden. Fruit should be large, shiny, and uniform deep purple in color. The highest quality eggplant for consumption is about two thirds its full size and its surface has enough elasticity that when gently pressed with your thumb, it springs back, leaving only a slight impression. When the fruit is dull in color and appearance and has brown seeds it is too ripe and should be discarded.
***********************************************************************************************************************************
Question #3: I'm a transplant from Minnesota and the extended growing season has me a bit confused along with a 4 zone change. Do you have a planting calendar for vegetables? I know I can plant some things two or three times, but I'm not sure just when to do so.
Answer: You can download our fact sheets (see link at the top of the page) on vegetable gardening. On the left choose "Horticulture", then "Vegetables" and then choose the fact sheet you would like to view. There are several which will be particularly helpful. Don't forget to visit with neighbors, local nursery personnel, and your County Cooperative Extension Office for further recommendations.- F-6004 - Oklahoma Garden Planning Guide
- F-6009 - Fall Gardening
- F-6032 - Vegetable Varieties for Oklahoma
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Question #4: I am planning a vegetable garden, and I was wondering if there is anything wrong with placing the garden above the lateral lines in a septic field. We have 400' of septic lines in our back yard, so there is not much area unaffected by the leach field. I assume planting vegetables in the dirt above the leech field is not a problem - is this correct? FYI - the septic lines are buried 1 1/2 to 2 feet deep, if I recall correctly, in ditches filled with gravel, and then covered with soil.
Answer: This should not be a problem. However, it is often cautioned or recommended that root crops (potatoes, carrots, etc.) not be grown over septic areas. The reason for this is the possibility of contamination in the soil and thus to those plant parts that are consumed. If the septic system is working properly and does not back up or flood the area, then you should be OK even with root crops. However, just to be on the safe side, you may want to choose other vegetables instead.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Question #5: I want to plant a small garden for the first time. I have some basic questions. 1) Can I add dirt to my backyard without tilling up the yard underneath? 2) I will need to put up some kind of barrier to stop grass and to keep my dogs out. Any suggestions? 3) I think, I should put some kind of grass killer down and put the soil over it or will the grass killer be bad for the vegetables and the soil? Any suggestions as to where I should start?
Answer: #1) I would recommend that the ground be tilled first or as you add the topsoil to the area, mixing the topsoil with the original soil so as to create a nice transition from one soil texture to the next. If you don't do this then it is possible that you will run into drainage problems.
#2) Any type of edging material is often better than none to keep the grass out. It should be several inches into the ground. If you use metal, concrete or other materials you can run an edger or trimmer easily beside it to help control the grass and the edging will last longer than if you used plastic edging, though plastic works well also. However, with regular trimming and use of some weed killers the grass can usually be controlled quite easily.
#3) Yes, you definitely want to control the grass and any perennial weeds that may be in the garden area, especially if you are dealing with bermudagrass. The best way to do this is to use a product containing glyphosate such as Roundup. This may require more than one application of the herbicide before you have complete kill. After you achieve complete kill of the bermudagrass, it is best to go in and remove the sod before you begin to till the area because bermudagrass can clog up the tiller.
I would also recommend you have a soil analysis done to determine if nutrients need to be added. This should be done after new soil is added but before you begin planting. Soil testing information can be received from your County Cooperative Extension Office.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Question #6: In Oklahoma what is the best time to plant fall turnips and other fall garden plants. I live in the OKC area and have been trying to establish a garden at my new home.
Answer: Fall turnips are best started beginning August 1 through September 15. Turnips are started by seed spaced 2 to 3 inches apart in rows that are spaced 12 to 24 inches apart. Cover seed to a depth of 1/2 inch. Days from planting to harvest are between 50 and 60 days.
Visit our link at the top of the page for more information or don't forget you may seek help from your County Cooperative Extension Service. In Oklahoma County the phone number is 405-713-1125.
********************************************************************************************************************************
Question #7: What causes yellow summer squash fruit to be green streaked?
Answer: What you are experiencing is called "squash mosaic". A virus causes this disease, which results in discoloration of fruit as well as mottled, distorted leaves. Insects transmit the disease, and since there is no chemical control for the disease, control the insects and remove any plants showing the typical symptoms to help prevent spread of the disease.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Question #8: I have planted a considerable abmount of elephant garlic..am now
wondering when it should be harvested.
Answer: Elephant garlic is not a true garlic but is treated the same.
Harvesting and Storage: Garlic will be ready to harvest when the tops (leaves) turn yellow and begin to dry. Dig the bulbs with a spading fork after the tops yellow, being careful not to bruise the bulbs. Brush off the soil but do not wash the bulbs. Cure in a warm, shady place with good air movement. Hang in bundles or spread as a single layer on screens or drying racks. Allow bulbs to dry until the neck is dry and the outer skin is papery, approximately two to three weeks.
Remove tops when dry. Store by braiding or tying several heads together and hanging up, or by cutting tops off and placing bulbs in a mesh bag. Most varieties will keep for six to eight months in a well-ventilated, cool, dry area. However, elephant garlic does not store as long as regular garlic.
*******************************************************************************************************************************
Question #9: I want to grow soybeans in my home garden. I have been unable to find a source for soybeans for a home gardener (only huge quantities for farmers). I have bought fresh soybeans at Pratts Wellmarket and am wondering if I can dry them and then plant them in my garden. If so, do they require a "cold spell" in the frig before I plant them? Please advise me!
Answer: The following web sites offer soy beans.
Thompson & Morgan
http://store.yahoo.com/seedsofchange/soybean.html
Seeds of Change
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/seeds/us/sindex.html?idx=vegetable_beans&PN=3
Burpee's and Johnny's Seeds may also have soy bean varieties available. I suppose you can plant the beans you bought, however, the results may be unpredictable due to possible cross pollination during development. There are no special treatments needed for germination. For further information about growing vegetables and the timing, go to our Dept. web site at www.hortla.okstate.edu and look under OCES Horticulture Fact Sheets for Extension publications related to vegetable gardening.
*****************************************************************************************************************************