Love Perennial Gardening? Join us this Saturday to learn more…
Leave a CommentThis Saturday, October 20, join me and the Master Gardener Volunteers for “Perennial Magic,” offered through the Nampa Recreation Department. Class will run from 9 am to 12 noon.
The class will be held at our Demonstration Garden-In-Progress at Westpark in Nampa. This Park is located near Midland Blvd. on Lonestar Rd.
It’s only $10 to attend, and you’ll want to bring a box or bag, because you’ll be taking home plants!
We’ll cover choosing perennial plants, planting, care and maintenance, and also discuss what plants bring which kinds of pollinators and birds to the garden!
Sign up now at http://www.nampaparksandrecreation.org/Classes.aspx?programId=240
Growing great garlic!
Fall is the best time to plant garlic, so here are a few tips to help you be successful!
Garlic is propagated by planting the cloves or bulblets that make up the large bulbs. Plant the separated cloves in the fall for a large bulb; planting in the spring is possible but results in a smaller bulb. A slow release fertilizer, composted manure or compost may be added at planting. Cover cloves with 2 inches of soil and a layer of mulch, especially in areas with heavy freeze/thaw cycles. Bulbs are considered mature when the stems turn yellow or brown, usually in mid-summer. Dig them up and hang them to cure in a dry well ventilated place for a week or two. Then store in a cool, dry, and dark place.
Just remember, however, that garlic is just one of many crops in Idaho that is under strict quarantines from the Idaho Department of Agriculture to prevent the introduction and spread of the disease White Rot!
White rot is a fungal disease of onions and related crops that occurs throughout the world. It can live in the soil for up to 30 years and is spread by water, wind, farm machinery, and infected onion plants or garlic cloves. Seeds do not carry the disease, just the growing and edible parts. The only truly successful method of control is prevention. With over 20,000 acres of commercial onions planted annually in the Snake River Valley, it’s a disease we absolutely want to avoid!
According to Idaho rules, farmers and gardeners living in 21 quarantined counties (including Ada, Canyon, Owyhee, Payette, and Washington in Idaho, and Malheur County in Oregon) can only plant garlic bulbs or cloves that have been grown, inspected, and cleared for planting inside these same counties. That’s why we can’t order garlic from most catalogs and why we shouldn’t plant garlic produced in other parts of the state (or country).
While you may freely order and grow onions, shallots and leeks from seed, cultivated garlic plants do not produce true seed naturally, so you are limited to bulbs produced for planting within the quarantine areas. The good news is that more Southwest Idaho growers are getting involved and producing certified stock. Look for new varieties this time of year at locally owned nurseries and farm/garden stores.
For more on Idaho quarantines that may affect home gardeners, download our free publication, Idaho Plant Quarantines and the Home Garden: Understanding the Laws http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edComm/detail.asp?IDnum=1667
Freeze predicted tonight, October 3, for the Treasure Valley…are you ready?
Freezing temperatures are predicted for tonight. This would be the time to pick any of your tender produce, or to protect the annuals you want to keep. Plants most sensitive to frost will include basil, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, melons, and many annual flowers and bedding plants.
Cover plants with sheets, floating row cover, burlap, whatever you have that will keep the frost from settling on the leaves!
Here is a great article on season extenders from the University of Maine Extension…you have to believe that they know a thing or two about short season gardening and plant protection!
http://umaine.edu/publications/2752e/
How do you know if it’s organic?
Our friends Jamie Grey, Brandon Lamb and Mike Medes have contributed to a very well done piece on choosing organic produce. Watch for a brief glimpse of Extension Educator Ariel Agenbroad, as well!
http://www.ktvb.com/news/Looking-at-labels-How-do-you-know-its-organic-170900271.html
Idaho Farm to School Conference coming in July!
- The first Idaho Farm to School State Conference will take place July 23-24, 2012 in Boise, Idaho. Farmers, school foodservice directors, educators and others interested in working collaboratively to bring more local foods to schools cafeterias, increase nutrition and agriculture literacy, and establish school gardens will come together in this 2 day conference to learn, share and plan.
- To register, print and fill out the registration form, then mail it in with the registration fee.
- Conference Forms:
Where does our Canyon County Irrigation Water Come From? Find out here…
Great recent article that all of us water users should read!
Lifeblood of the Treasure Valley – Idaho Press-Tribune: Local.
Local Plant Sales are “Blooming” all over this Weekend!
Getting ready to plant your garden this coming weekend in Middleton…Marsing…Nampa…Boise…? Check out these local plant sales…proceeds go to good causes, you’ll find great plants at great prices! And please, share or post any sales you know about in your community!
The Boy Scout Troop 255 Plant Sale will be held on May 12 from 8-4 in front of the Middleton United Methodist Church, right on Highway 44 in Middleton. Master Gardener Mary will have a huge variety of vegetables, and lots of annual and perennial flowers and herbs. Contact Mary Van De Bogart, 585-2741 for more information.
The Nampa FFA Greenhouse will be open weekdays from 1 to 5 and Saturdays 10 to 1 through the month of May. It is located in the back of Columbia High School, next to the Pro Tech Building. Plant lists are available at www.nsd131.org/protech.
Notus FFA has color bowls, hanging baskets and other lovely offerings. For hours and more information call instructor Jason Tindall @ 208-989-3659
The Owyhee Garden Club will also be selling plants May 11-12, 9 am to 2 pm. Marsing High School Greenhouse, Marsing.
Ada County Master Gardeners, May 12, 10 am to 1 pm. University of Idaho Extension in Ada County, Glenwood Ave., Boise.
And don’t forget about the incredible selection of starts at all our area Farmers’ Markets, farmstands, and local garden centers and greenhouses! We are truly lucky to have such choices!
Canyon County Weed & Pest Control Offering Owl House Installation | County News | Canyon County, Idaho
Canyon County Weed & Pest Control is offering to help residents manage pocket gophers and other rodents by installing Barn Owl houses on their property. Barn Owls offer an effective form of natural pest control that often provides better results than conventional trapping or poisons. The use of Barn Owls for pest control is also eco-friendly, and requires little to no maintenance. The Army Corps of Engineers estimates that it takes 3,000 gophers a year, plus mice and voles, to sustain a pair of owls and their young.
Read more: Canyon County Weed & Pest Control Offering Owl House Installation | County News | Canyon County, Idaho.
Pacific Northwest Pest Alert Network – Fire Blight Extreme Alert
CougarBlight Models are predicting infection of Fire blight this week for those areas that receive precipitation. Infection is possible when trees have open flowers, had late season pruning, or open wounds and injured branches. For infection to occur at least two hours of moisture during 70 degree temperatures are necessary. Monitor moisture in your apples and pears. If the wetting occurs and flowers are open, apply an antibiotic such as serenade or agri-mycin. Homeowners can use blight ban or Mico-shield. If you do not choose to control fire blight at this time monitor very closely for new infections and prune them out. They usually show up within 7 to 14 days. More information to follow in Monday’s Advisory.
Apple scab infections occur when leaf wetness extends for as little as six hours in temperatures around 70 degrees. The treasure valley has not had large outbreaks of scab over the past several years due to the reduction of overhead sprinkler use. If you have had a bad scab year in the past two or three years you might consider treating your trees this coming weekend and changing your irrigation system in the future.
More information…
Ariel Agenbroad
