Horticulture 2019 Newsletter

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TURFGRASS

Lawn Seeding Deadline Nears

September is the best month to reseed cool-season lawns such as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass.  We usually recommend not planting Kentucky bluegrass past early October.  However, you can get by with an early to mid-October planting for tall fescue. October 15 is generally considered the last day for safely planting or overseeding a tall fescue lawn in the fall. If you do attempt a late seeding, take special care not to allow plants to dry out. Anything that slows growth will make it less likely that plants will mature enough to survive the winter

Seedings done after the cut-off date can be successful, but the success rate goes down the later the planting date. Late plantings that fail are usually not killed by cold temperatures but rather desiccation.

The freezing and thawing of soils heave poorly rooted grass plants out of the ground, which then dry and die. Keeping plants watered will help maximize root growth before freezing weather arrives. (Ward Upham)

 

VEGETABLES

Rotation of Vegetable Crops

Rotating vegetable crops is a standard way of helping prevent

disease from being carried over from one year to the next. Rotation

means that crops are moved to different areas of the garden each year.

Planting the same crop, or a related crop, in the same area each year

can lead to a build-up of disease. Also, different crops vary in the

depth and density of the root system as well as extract different levels

of nutrients. As a rule, cool-season crops such as cabbage, peas,

lettuce and onions have relatively sparse, shallow root systems and

warm-season crops such as tomatoes, peppers and melons have deeper,

better developed root systems. Therefore, it can be helpful to rotate

warm-season and cool-season crops.

As mentioned earlier, it is also a good idea to avoid planting

closely related crops in the same area as diseases may be shared among

them. For example, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplant are closely

related. Also, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and brussels sprouts share

many characteristics in common. For example, do not plant cabbage where

broccoli was the previous year or tomatoes where the peppers were.

So, why is this important to bring this up in the fall? Now is the

time to make a sketch of your garden so that the layout is not forgotten

when it is time to plant next year. (Ward Upham)

 

Harvesting Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes should be harvested no later than the first fall

freeze because cold temperatures can damage the sensitive roots.

However, you may want to harvest earlier if you prefer a smaller sweet

potato. Test dig a hill to see if they are the size you want.

 

Sweet potatoes should be cured after being dug. The digging process

often damages the tender skin, and curing helps these small wounds heal.

Place the roots in a warm, humid location for 5 to 10 days immediately

after digging. A location with a temperature around 85 to 90 degrees is

ideal. A space heater can be used to heat a small room or other area.

Raise the humidity by placing moist towels in the room. The curing

process not only heals wounds but also helps convert starches to sugars.

This process improves the texture and flavor of the roots.

Sweet potatoes should be stored above 55 degrees. Storage at

temperatures below that injures the roots, shortens storage life and

gives them an off flavor. (Ward Upham)

 

PESTS

Garden Spiders

People may become concerned when they see a large, noticeable

spider setting up shop in or near the garden. These garden spiders feed

on insects and are considered beneficial.

There are actually two common species of garden spiders in Kansas

that are active during the day. The yellow garden spider has a black

abdomen with yellow to yellow-orange markings. The black legs have a

yellow or reddish band.

The banded garden spider has numerous bands on both the abdomen and

legs. Those on the abdomen are alternating white and dark bands. The

legs have alternating black and orange bands. Both of these spiders are

orb weavers that spin large webs with the typical spider web shape.

Though these garden spiders have poor eyesight, they are extremely

sensitive to vibrations that pass through the web and use this

sensitivity to capture their prey. Since these spiders are beneficial

and harmless to humans, it is recommended that they be left alone. (Ward

Upham)

 

Mimosa Webworm on Honeylocust

Honeylocust trees in the Wichita area are browning due to mimosa

webworm. Damage is

caused by the larvae, which mat leaves together with webbing and use

them as a nest. These nests are normally found on the tips of branches

and appear as brown areas from a distance. Closer inspection reveals the

white webbing. Mature larvae are 0.5 inches long, light green to dark

brown and sport five longitudinal white stripes.

The adults are silvery gray moths with small black spots on the

wings. Mimosa webworm can severely defoliate trees. However, if the

damage occurs late (such as now), healthy trees are not significantly

harmed. Also, it’s late enough in the season that spraying will not help

the trees. If mimosa webworm is a yearly problem on your honeylocusts,

apply an insecticide such as BT

(Dipel or Thuricide) or spinosad.  Spinosad is found in Natural Guard

Spinosad, Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew, Bonide Colorado Potato Beetle

Beater and Monterey Garden Insect Spray. Both of these products are

organic controls.  Traditional controls that contain cyfluthrin or

bifenthrin are also effective.  However, any of these products must be

applied earlier in the year when you first notice webbing. (Ward Upham)

 

MISCELLANEOUS

Ornamental Sweet Potatoes

We often receive the question as to whether ornamental sweet

potatoes are safe to eat. The answer is yes. Note that they are chosen

for ornamental qualities rather than flavor and so may not have the

quality of our traditional types. See the accompanying article on how to

cure them. (Ward Upham)

 

Contriubtors: Ward Upham, Extension Associate

 

Division of Horticulture

1712 Claflin, 2021 Throckmorton

Manhattan, KS 66506

(785) 532-6173

 

 

 

(K-State Research and Extension)

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