From The Ground Up
Fire Ants Ready For Quick Bite Session
By Pamela Redwine
The Cattlemen’s meeting on Aug. 31 went well. We had 34 people in attendance and a lot of interest in the Yalobusha Cattlemen’s As-sociation and future programs. A special thanks to Sammy Blossom from the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association, Steve Elgin from Marshall Cattlemen’s Association and Lance Newman, MSU Extension Service Livestock Area Agent, for all the information.
Thanks also to Mechanics Bank and The Main Attraction for our meal. We will have our next meeting in October so watch for the date to be announced soon.
On Thursday, Sept. 16 at noon we will have a Quick Bites session on Fire Ants. Please feel free to bring your lunch and come learn what you can do to get rid of fire ants. The program will be presented by Extension Professor in Entomology and Plant Pathology, Dr. Blake Layton. Please call the Extension office 675-2730 if you plan to attend.
FALL GARDENS
Days are noticeably shorter and the air conditioner doesn’t run all night so it must be time to get into the garden and get ready for Fall production.
Those tomato and bell pepper plants you have nursed through the one hundred plus degree days should now be rewarding you with new fruit set. Look closely at the leaves and apply additional nitrogen fertilizer if they have become paler than they should be. Eggplant and okra have been producing all along, but they may need a little additional nitrogen also.
Gardeners who like mustard, but are worried about losing it to cold temperatures, should try Green in the Snow, an oriental mustard with more tolerance to cold temperature than Florida Broadleaf or Southern Curled mustard. Green in the Snow is an even paler green then the common mustards. Seed will have to be ordered from several sources. The most cold tolerant leafy green is called Hanover Salad or Siberian Kale. It can withstand temperatures in the teens. Siberian Kale is more strongly flavored and not as tender as collard greens.
Vegetable gardeners who are not using all of their garden for production should plant a cover crop of hairy vetch or a mixture of hairy vetch and a small grain such as wheat, oats, or rye. The cover crop will prevent erosion, prevent weeds, and fix significant amounts of nitrogen. Incorporating the cover crop next Spring will help increase organic matter in the soil.
Garden centers should be replenished with bedding plants for the Labor Day weekend. Look for stocky plants with healthy color and white roots. If they don’t have what you are looking for, talk to the management about ordering it. Sometimes the wholesale nursery may have just the purple cauliflower you are seeking.
Article Source: August 30, 2010 Horticulture Tips by David Nagel and Wayne Wells
