Make the McKenzie Connection!
Make the McKenzie Connection!
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Sweet potatoes By Kym Pokorny When he was nine years old and riding with his brother on the back of a two-seater tractor on 30 acres in southern California, Gary Jordan planted sweet potatoes one at a time. “It took us weeks to do,” said Jordan, a volunteer Master Gardener with Oregon State University’s Extension Service. “I’ve probably planted more sweet potatoes than anyone you’ll meet. I have great respect for sweet potatoes.” The Eugene resident graduated from Extension’s Master Gardener program in Lane County a year ago and immediately...
Protecting perrenials By Kym Pokorny Spring seems to have arrived early in western Oregon, but never count on the weather. Though this year is shaping up to be mild rather than wild, anything can happen. There are still more than two months until April 15, when you can, on average, count on saying goodbye to frost, according to Al Shay, a horticulture professor at Oregon State University. “Certainly a cold snap down to 20 degrees in March will wreak havoc,” he said. “That kind of cold weather could bring an end to new growth, buds, flowe...
Apple tree By Kym Pokorny Anyone who buys or inherits a fruit tree faces the intimidating crossroads of how, when and if they should prune. “It’s one of the most difficult things for people to understand,” said Ross Penhallegon, horticulturist with Oregon State University’s Extension Service. “Ultimately, they make a few cuts and think, ‘Oh, I’m going to hurt the tree’ and run back into the house to watch TV.” But without the proper maintenance, production of fruit falls off, diseases increase and frustration goes off the chart. The key at...
Stink bug By Kym Pokorny When leaves fall and days get shorter, stink bugs go on the move looking for a warm, dry place for winter. Often that means sharing our homes with these prehistoric-looking insects, whether we know it or not. This year, it’s difficult not to know. Many homeowners have been inundated as the population of brown marmorated stink bugs (Halyomorpha halys) keeps increasing. In spring, the shield-shaped insects show up in the garden on foliage and then move on to their preferred fruit, seeds or nuts. Foliage is a last r...
Mistletoe Just how poisonous is holiday mistletoe? By eNature Almost all of us have come across American Mistletoe, the white or green-berried parasitic plant hung in doorways during the holiday season to elicit kisses from those standing beneath it. Reputed to be the “kiss of death,” Mistletoe (the Phoradendron species is found in North America) is said by some to be so poisonous that humans can be killed if they ingest the leaves or berries. This myth has been endlessly repeated throughout the years, reappearing every December in cou...
Conifer By Kym Pokorny We buy live Christmas trees with the best of intentions, promising ourselves to plant them in the garden as soon as the holidays are over. But resolve has a way of fading like resolutions after January. Moved outside without the care they need, the beautiful, and not inexpensive, trees meant to go in the ground in winter, languish, fade to brown and eventually die. One alternative is to buy plants meant to stay in pots, said Al Shay, a horticulture instructor at Oregon State University. “It’s a trade-off,” he said. “You g...
Cat with fire By Kym Pokorny Conscientious Oregonians have been storing up firewood for the inevitable cool days of winter and the experienced wood-gatherers know that dry, seasoned firewood burns most efficiently, provides the most heat and smokes the least. In fact, unseasoned wood is not suitable for open fireplaces, according to Steve Bowers, a forester with Oregon State University Extension Service. Ideally, wood should be purchased or gathered at least a year in advance of burning. "Fireplaces don't draft like a wood stove, so you need...
Plant galls By Peg Herring Oregon State University plans to use a $3 million grant to study two groups of bacteria that result in millions of dollars in losses annually to the nation’s nursery industry. Researchers will study Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Rhodococcus fascians, which deform hundreds of common landscape plants, including hostas, Shasta daisies, petunias and pansies. These bacterial pathogens are of particular concern in Oregon, where the greenhouse and nursery industry contributes more than $745 million to the Oregon economy a...
Pears By Kym Pokorny Face next season’s fruit tree disease and pest problems by making a preventative strategy now. Since late winter is a good time to plant bareroot trees, the first line of defense is to choose a resistant variety. Otherwise, look to sanitation and low-toxicity sprays such as dormant oil and copper to keep trees healthy. First up, be vigilant about removing dropped fruit and leaves that might be harboring pests. Follow that with appropriate sprays to get at those pesky insects, fungi and bacteria that like to make a home i...
Tulips By Kym Pokorny Paperwhite narcissus bulbs, because of their fragrance, are popular to grow in pots indoors, but nearly all bulbs sold in the fall work well in pots that stay outdoors. “It’s easy to create a stunning display that begins to grow in the fall or middle of winter, then bursts into bloom in the spring or early summer,” said Heather Stoven, Oregon State University Extension horticulturist. “In fact, if you choose the right plants, you can create a bulb display that extends through the seasons. “Although you can put each kind...
Cherry Drops By Kym Pokorny Once a week from June 14 to mid-September, Harry Olson and Tobie Habeck commuted from Salem to Silverton to tend a U-shaped plot at The Oregon Garden. As they weeded and watered, the duo would hear docents tell their trams full of visitors about the little-known grafted vegetables overflowing from the raised beds and spilling onto the mulched aisles. The two longtime Master Gardeners with the Oregon State University Extension Service would look at each other and smile. This was why they toiled. People need to know, O...
salad greens By Kym Pokorny October is a perfect time to sow salad greens for harvest throughout the fall and winter months. "If you live in the warmer, wetter regions of the state, you can plant lettuce and other greens now," said Oregon State University vegetable breeder Jim Myers. "In the colder areas of the state, a cold frame or cloche can help lengthen the harvest season into winter." If you harvest through the winter, protect your greens from late fall and winter downpours. Leafy greens tend to rot. For salad lovers, plant a row of...
Hebes By Daniel Robison If you like to prolong color in your landscapes through the summer and into the fall, consider planting evergreen shrubs called Hebes (pronounced HEE-bees) for vivid color in both flowers and foliage during summer and fall. “Most Hebes flower in the summer, but others bloom in late fall,” said Neil Bell, consumer horticulturalist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. “Some have colorful foliage that lasts through autumn. They provide an interesting change from the usual asters and maples we custo...
Tomatoes By Daniel Robison Late blight, a fungal disease that infects tomatoes, usually shows up in Oregon gardens as weather turns wet and humid, and it’s dispersed by the wind and rain. This devastating disease kills tomato and potato plants, as well as peppers and eggplant, and usually does not arrive until mid-August or September. According to Ross Penhallegon, Oregon State University Extension horticulturist in Lane County, the disease is holding off because of the current warm weather. Once it turns wet and cool, start looking for late b...
Sweet peas By Tiffany Woods As fall approaches, consider letting some of your annuals go to seed. If the winter isn't too harsh, they may pop up next spring. Annual plants are inherently programmed to set seed and die in one year. During the summer, you can keep them blooming and postpone seed development by deadheading and fertilizing them, said Brooke Edmunds, a horticulturist with Oregon State University's Extension Service. But come September, let the meticulous care go. Allow the flower heads to dry and droop. The wind and birds will...
Deadheading By Tiffany Woods Deadheading is a gardening chore that many people find pleasant – by pinching off fading flowers, you can beautify your landscape and keep some plants blooming longer. But is it necessary? Deadheading makes sense for repeat bloomers such as roses and highly modified annuals, such as marigolds, to keep them blooming, said Heather Stoven, a horticulturist with Oregon State University's Extension Service. For most other plants, she said, it is a matter of appearance and the personal taste of the gardener. Plants...
Spinach Plant fall and winter vegetables now By Daniel Robison In mild parts of western Oregon and along most of the coast, it is possible to grow a succession of garden vegetables throughout most of the year. Gardeners can extend the season well into fall in many parts of the Pacific Northwest with a little knowledge and protection of their plants from the elements. When space becomes available after harvesting the last spring-planted peas or greens, keep those veggies coming. Even though your summer vegetables are growing like mad, July...
Watering By Tiffany Woods Ross Penhallegon, a horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service, recommends watering during the early morning hours. That's because there is usually less wind to affect the soaker hose, drip or sprinkler pattern. Plus, the temperatures are lower in the early morning, meaning more water gets into the soil and doesn't evaporate. Also, if you are on a community or city water system, pressure is usually better in the early hours, so you can cover more area with your watering. If you have an automatic...
Sweet corn By Denise Ruttan Could your spotless peppers or flawless flowers have what it takes to claim the blue ribbon at your local or county fair this summer? With some insider tips from Lynn Long, you could make this your year to test their mettle. Long, a horticulturalist for the Oregon State University Extension Service and county leader for the OSU Extension Service in Wasco County, previously served as a judge at the Wasco County Fair and Rodeo for several years. During that time, Long saw contestants gain so much more from the...
Flowering currant By Denise Ruttan If you don't have much space to plant shrubs, you'll want to keep an eye out for Oregon Snowflake, a new flowering currant developed by Oregon State University that is smaller than other currants. This low-growing shrub is the first cultivar to come out of OSU's new ornamental plant breeding program, according to Ryan Contreras, a plant breeder and assistant professor in OSU's Department of Horticulture. OSU released the cultivar in March, but don't expect to see it in nurseries until spring 2015, he said....
Honeybee By Denise Ruttan Consider adding some flower power to your landscape to bring in the buzz of pollinators to your garden. "Floral abundance is one of the strongest ways to promote bee diversity in gardens," said Gail Langellotto, the statewide coordinator for the Oregon State University Extension Service's Master Gardener program. “Also, bees forage better for nectar and pollen in warm, sunny spots.” A showy blend of flowers can charm birds and butterflies as well, she said. But which kinds of flowers should you choose? Langellotto rec...
Big pumpkin By Denise Ruttan Halloween may be months away but if you are hoping to grow monster pumpkins, now is the time to start planting. The world record monster pumpkin of 2013 weighed in at 2,032 pounds, according to the New York Botanical Garden. Maybe you won't achieve quite that size of a pumpkin, but choose the variety ‘Dill's Atlantic Giant’ and you, too, can grow the great pumpkin of Charlie Brown's dreams, said Jim Myers, a vegetable breeder for Oregon State University. "I've had these types growing in fields and without doing any...
Blueberries By Denise Ruttan Plant blueberries now for a great crop of sweet, healthful fruit in the future. Three categories of blueberry plants are best-suited for Oregon climates: Northern highbush varieties, rabbiteye varieties and half-high varieties, according to Bernadine Strik, a berry specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. Cold-hardy Northern highbush blueberries are some of the most commonly planted in the United States, Strik said. These 4- to 6-foot tall plants grow well in any region in Oregon, she said. Of...
Pear fungus By Denise Ruttan As the blossoms fade in your apple and pear trees this spring, keep an eye out for a fungus that flourishes in warm, wet weather, cautions the Oregon State University Extension Service. "The longer this spring stays wet and the warmer it gets, there are more chances that we'll see problems with apple and pear scab in our fruit-growing areas such as the Willamette Valley, Hood River, Milton-Freewater and the Medford and southern Oregon areas," said Jay Pscheidt, a plant pathologist for the OSU Extension Service....
Vege starts By Denise Ruttan When the first daffodils bloom to let us know that spring is around the corner, it is time to start vegetable seeds indoors or in the greenhouse. It's best to start cool-season crops such as lettuce, cabbage, kale and chard in late February to early March in western Oregon, said Weston Miller, a horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. Warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should be started in late March to early April. Tomatoes should be "stepped up" from flats into a four-inch...
