February brought us above normal temperatures. I’ve heard the frogs signing on several days, which is always a welcome sound to my ears because I know spring is near! When the nice, warm days grace us in March, make time to apply a dormant oil on your fruit trees.

There are a number of dormant sprays used on fruit trees and other plants to control various diseases and insects. However, a dormant oil spray is designed to control scale insects, aphids and mites. Just like the name implies, dormant oils are applied before the tree begins to bud. Dormant oil sprays are important because some pests attack before visible growth even begins. If you have a problem with scale, now is the time to start watching the weather and look for an opportunity to spray.

Scale insects can be seen easily this time of year since there a no leaves. Scale insects are easily overlooked because they are small and immobile most of their lives, and they do not resemble most other insects. Many of them resemble small shells that are oval or circular. Coloring varies but can include white, tan and brown. Plants that should be inspected for scales include apple, pear, other fruit trees, lilac, crabapple, oak, ash, elm, maple, arborvitae, juniper, pine, spruce, euonymus and yew.

Plants are not harmed if only a few scales are present, but scale population can increase dramatically during the growing season. Heavy scale infestations can damage fruit crops, destroy branches and kill entire plants.

Normally sprays should be applied around March 1, especially with peaches and nectarines. Apples are tougher and application may be delayed up to the green tip stage. Temperatures need to be at least 40 degrees so spray has a chance to dry before freezing. If the spray does freeze before it dries, plant injury can occur. Applying the spray during the morning will help insure that it dries properly. It is much easier to achieve good spray coverage if the tree is pruned before spraying.

The Extension office has several publications outlining the fruit spray schedule for the entire growing season.

Now is an excellent time to prune. Pruning can be done in March. Prune on days when the temperature is above 20 degrees to prevent injury. Prune older trees first because older, larger wood tolerates lower temperatures than young trees with small diameter wood.

If your trees are overgrown, out of control and you just don’t know where to begin, stop by the Extension office and pick up a pruning publication. This publication offers step-by-step instructions on pruning overgrown trees and it also has nice diagrams.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Horticulture agent assigned to Southwind District.  She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Herbs – From Plant to Plate

Whether for culinary or medicinal purposes, herbs are versatile plants. Learn how to grow herbs and how to utilize them with different foods in this free workshop hosted by the Southwind Extension District! Workshop topics will include how to grow herbs, the easiest herbs to grow, how to store herbs properly, and the health benefits of cooking with herbs. There will also be samples to try! If you have questions about this workshop, call 620-244-3826. This workshop will be offered in two locations.

K-State Research and Extension is committed to making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting Krista Harding at 620-365-2242 or [email protected]. Notify staff of accommodation needs as early as possible.
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Speakers
Krista Harding is the horticulture agent for
the Southwind Extension District. With her
green thumb expertise, she will show you
how to grow herbs both indoors and in the
garden.

Clara Misenhelter is a Nutrition, Food, and
Health agent for the Southwind Extension
District. Clara will share her knowledge
utilizing the natural seasoning of herbs to
make meals healthier.

Monday, March 25th
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Uniontown City Hall
206 Sherman Street

Questions? Call 620-244-3826

By Clara Misenhelter

Southwind Extension District

Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in our country? February is American Heart Month, which makes it a great time to focus on your heart health. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following healthy habits for preventing heart disease:

• Pick healthy foods and drinks.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Be physically activity regularly.
• Do not smoke.

You can learn more about the CDC’s recommendations at cdc.gov/heartdisease/prevention.htm.

It may sound easy enough to implement these healthy habits, but adopting new habits can be easier said than done. “One of the best ways to build a new habit is to identify a current habit you already do each day and then stack your new behavior on top. This is called habit stacking,” according to James Clear, author of Atomic Habits. For example, if you want to make regular physical activity a habit that lasts long beyond Heart Month, you might consider trying habit stacking. One habit you probably already do every day is take your shoes off after work. On his website (jamesclear.com/habit-stacking), Clear suggests that you can try stacking that current habit with a new behavior of immediately changing into clothes and shoes to exercise.

The American Heart Association also has helpful habit stacking recommendations. For example, they recommend stacking the daily habit of brushing your teeth with a little bit of movement (like doing five squats). They also suggest stacking the habit of going to the grocery store with parking further away so that you can get more steps in. You can learn more about their suggestions at heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/habits/fit-bits.

I encourage you to join me in picking a new habit to try stacking this Heart Month! For more information, please contact me at [email protected] or 620-365-2242. To receive the “Wellness For You and Community, Too!” e-newsletter published monthly by the Southwind District, visit bit.ly/southwindnews.

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

If you have ever tried to start plants from seed, you know it can be tricky. But is very rewarding when you have success! Here are eight steps to help ensure you have nice healthy transplants when planting time arrives.

1. Purchasing Seed – obtain your seeds from a reputable source including garden centers and seed catalogs. If choosing seed from a business that does not specialize in plants, pay special attention to the package date to make sure the seed was packaged for the current year. Though most seed remains viable for about 3 years, germination decreases as seed ages.
2. Determine the Date to Seed – there are two pieces of information that needs to be known in order to determine the date to seed transplants: the target date for transplanting outside and the number of weeks needed to grow the transplant. Then do some counting.
3. Sowing Seed – do not use garden soil to germinate seed as it is too heavy and may contain disease organisms. Use a media made especially for seed germination.
4. Keep Seed Moist – seed must be kept moist in order to germinate. Water often enough that the media never dries. Using a clear plastic wrap over the top of the container can reduce the amount of watering needed. Remove the wrap after the seedlings emerge.
5. Light – most plants will germinate in either darkness or light. All plants require adequate amounts of light once emergence occurs. South facing windows will not provide adequate amounts so fluorescent or LED fixtures should be used. Regardless of the type of light used, leave the light on for 16 hours each day.
6. Temperature – the temperature needed for best germination is often higher than what we may find in our homes. A heat mat is best for consistent germination. Once plants have germinated, they can grow in cooler temperatures (65 to 70 degrees during the day and 55 to 60 degrees at night).
7. Plant Movement – plants react to movement. Brushing over the plants with your hand stimulates them to become stockier and less leggy. Try brushing 20 strokes per day. But keep in mind that brushing will not compensate for lack of light or over-crowding. Plants grown under inadequate light will always be spindly.
8. Hardening Plants – plants grown inside will often undergo transplant shock if not hardened off. Plants are hardened off by moving them outside and exposing them to sun and wind before transplanting occurs. Start about two weeks before transplanting and gradually expose the plants to outside conditions. Increase the number of hours and degree of exposure over the two-week period.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to have adequate light to ensure the growth of healthy plants. It is fairly easy and inexpensive to make a homemade grow light using a four-foot shop light and PVC pipe. We have a supply list and instructions available in our office if you would like to make a DIY grow light.

If you would like to attend an in-person seed starting class, we have four scheduled for this month – February 13 – Thayer; February 15 – Toronto; February 20 – Uniontown; and February 22 – Humboldt. Classes are from 6-7 pm and the fee is $5. To register, please call 620-365-2242.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Horticulture agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.