Make the McKenzie Connection!
Make the McKenzie Connection!
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OSU tomatoes By Denise Ruttan As you pore over seed catalogs in these cold winter months, you'll likely include tomatoes in your vegetable garden dreams. Oregon State University's vegetable breeding program has developed several varieties over the past 40 years that are now mainstays in many Pacific Northwest gardens. Perhaps you know of Indigo Rose, the novelty purple tomato that OSU debuted in 2012. But did you know about the other varieties that the program has created? "In the past, the whole idea behind the breeding program has been to bre...
Blackberries By Denise Ruttan When you're planning this year's garden, don't overlook one of the unsung heroes of the fruit world – the blackberry. "Many people don't want to plant blackberries in their yard because they think it's an invasive weed," said Bernadine Strik, a berry crops specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. “But they're actually thinking of the Himalaya blackberry, which is an invasive weed introduced to Oregon in the late 1800s that is very difficult to kill.” Cultivated varieties do not bec...
Mummy berries By Denise Ruttan Watch your blueberries this spring for a type of fungus that has zombie-like qualities. A fungus called Monilina vaccinii-corymbosi can infect blueberry fruit with a disease called mummy berry. Fruit falls on the ground and withers into shriveled-up berries that seem deceased. But it turns out those "mummies" are actually the fungal version of the fruit — undead berry corpses, if you will. "Mummy berry has an interesting life cycle, it's truly like a zombie," said Jay Pscheidt, a plant pathology specialist f...
Winter plants By Denise Ruttan When you think ornamentals, flowers may immediately come to mind. But consider shrubs with vibrant leaves to add interest to your landscape all year. "Always look for different textures," said Barb Fick, horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. "I'm always looking for plants with different colors of foliage. Flowers are great but they don't flower all year and it's good to have diversity other times of year. When it's a time of year when flowers aren't in bloom, your eye is drawn to the...
By Denise Ruttan Your trees may still need attention even in the coldest days of winter. In the life cycle of a tree, winter is the time when trees go dormant and growth slows down, said Paul Ries, an urban forester with the Oregon State University Extension Service. The strongest parts of a tree are its trunk, branches and roots, so they normally survive winter weather quite well. In the spring, new growth emerges in the form of twigs, buds and leaves. But the success of this new growth depends in part on the tree over-wintering well, Ries...
Lettuce By Denise Ruttan Is this dry winter making you anxious to dig in the dirt again? There's some good news if you garden in western Oregon and are an optimist. Cool-season plants can be directly seeded into the ground in March in the Willamette Valley and southern Oregon, said Bob Reynolds, the Master Gardener coordinator for the Oregon State University Extension Service in Jackson and Josephine counties. Cool-season crops include peas, arugula, carrots, cabbage, cilantro, fava beans, kale, kohlrabi, spinach, chard, turnips and lettuce. Re...
Riparian replanting By Judy Scott The health of fish and wildlife and the quality of the water they call home depend in large measure on the trees and shrubs that grow in riparian areas along streams and riverbanks. Although the task is not easy, riparian areas that are damaged can be replanted. Six manageable steps are detailed in a comprehensive Oregon State University guide written by OSU Extension foresters Glenn Ahrens, Max Bennett and Brad Withrow-Robinson. The 27-page booklet, "A Guide to Riparian Tree and Shrub Planting in the Willamett...
Lawn moss By Denise Ruttan With the rainy season in full swing, it's time to count yourself in one of two camps: You either love or hate the moss that invades Pacific Northwest lawns. But if moss is your nemesis every winter, there are some things you can do to combat this ancient plant, according to Alec Kowalewski, turfgrass specialist for the Oregon State University Extension Service. Moss is a sign of too much shade and wet soil conditions, he said."One of the best ways to control moss is to increase sunlight," Kowalewski said. "If you...
By Denise Ruttan The Arctic blast that recently chilled much of Oregon might make you worried about your plants. Ross Penhallegon, a horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service, advises several ways to protect your landscape from frigid conditions. "Insulation is the key thing for people to think about," said Penhallegon, a horticulture professor in OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences. "The biggest issue is that it's only December. This is the first of many cold spells. We still have the rest of December, January,...
Fruit trees The OSU Extension Service and the Lane Small Business Development Center are partnering to offer a class in Eugene titled All about Fruit Trees. The Willamette Valley is a great place to grow tree fruits, but some fruit trees are more difficult to grow than others. Whether you are a homeowner with a few trees or a small acreage farmer planning to plant an orchard, this class will teach you how to grow trees successfully in this region. Information about apples, prunes/plums, pears, cherries and peaches will covered including what...
Maple and hedge As the fall colors begin to fade across Oregon cities, this is a good time for homeowners to pay some attention to the trees in their yards. Collectively, the trees around us make up the urban forest - a place where 68 percent of all Oregonians live. Remnants of the pre-development forest and the planted landscape in and around our cities, comprise this urban forest - a forest that produces many benefits for homeowners and the public alike. These benefits include improved environmental quality via cleaner air and water, ecosyste...
By Denise Ruttan Tomatillos If the thought of green chile salsa makes your mouth water, consider designing a salsa garden for next summer. Kimberly Culbertson, who volunteers in dual roles as a Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver trained by the Oregon State University Extension Service, dishes up suggestions for a garden blueprint starring short-season tomatoes, peppers and tomatillos. The three are cousins in the same family. Culbertson, who cultivates a front-yard garden at her Hillsboro home, is passionate about teaching people how to...
Mountain mahogany By Denise Ruttan On your next hike, instead of puzzling over the name of that large upright shrub with tiny white flowers and small red fruits, reach for the new field guide "Shrubs to Know in Pacific Northwest Forests" to quickly identify it as the native red elderberry. Ed Jensen, a professor in Oregon State University's College of Forestry, authored the full-color, easy-to-use field guide for the OSU Extension Service. The soft-cover, glossy book, available at http://bit.ly/OSU_ShrubstoKnow, describes nearly 100 different s...
Flowerbox By Denise Ruttan It is good to cultivate a container of fresh herbs indoors in the fall. Picture this: You take garden potatoes from storage, lay them in a roasting pan and dab them with olive oil. Then you pluck fresh sprigs of rosemary, sage and thyme and sprinkle the herbs on the potatoes. The best part? These fresh herbs grew in your kitchen – on the windowsill. This scenario could be yours by cultivating a container herb garden in your kitchen this fall, said Weston Miller, horticulturist with the Oregon State University Ex...
Daffodil By Denise Ruttan Photo by Betsy Hartley. Daffodils bloom in early spring. Daffodils are one of the first flowers to bloom in the early spring. Fall is a good time to plant shrubs and trees that will cheer up western Oregon's often gloomy winter days. "Fall is often a better time of year to plant trees and shrubs because the soil is still warm and plantings can get their roots established," said Barb Fick, a horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. It's also a forgiving time of year if you forget to water your...
Honeybee By Daniel Robison Photo by Lynn Ketchum Sensor data will eventually inform the design of horticultural landscapes that attract bumblebees to crops that depend on pollination to produce fruits and vegetables. Oregon State University will design miniature wireless sensors to attach to bumblebees that will provide real-time data on their intriguing behavior. Many aspects of bumblebees' daily conduct are unknown because of their small size, rapid flight speeds, and hidden underground nests. OSU plans to build sensors that will reveal how...
Purple grape By Judy Scott If you're looking for a colorful climbing vine and a non-invasive ground cover, Purpurea (Vitis vinifera), a purple-leaf relative of wine grapes, has both. Unlike its agricultural relatives, its fruit has an unpleasant taste. "Purple leaf grape is a real show-off in the fall, when its leaves turn a deep reddish purple," said Linda McMahan, horticulturist with Oregon State University Extension. Its ornamental features and use as a climber or ground cover, make up for the lack of fruit flavor, she added. Because of its...
Winter vegetables By Denise Ruttan Not ready to hang up your gloves and spade just yet? The fearless gardener still has a chance to plant some cold-hardy vegetables to harvest next spring, said Jim Myers, plant breeder and researcher at Oregon State University. But don't dawdle. "Winter gardening is a risky business," Myers said. "It may work one year with a mild winter but not another when the weather is more severe. If you plant some cold-hardy vegetables from mid-August to early October – depending on the crop – there's a good...
Raised garden By Melinda Myers Didn’t get enough gardening in this season? Don’t worry there is still time to grow garden-fresh vegetables and herbs this fall and winter. Purchase transplants and seeds that will grow and flourish in the cooler fall and winter temperatures. Lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, root vegetables, edible pansies and calendula as well as cole crops, like broccoli, are a few to consider. Those gardening in colder regions need to select short season crops like lettuce, spinach and radishes that will mature before ext...
Slug By Denise Rutan Stymied by slugs that can plod through your chard and cabbage, leaving a slimy trail of destruction? Put away that salt shaker, advises Robin Rosetta, an entomologist for the Oregon State University Extension Service. Table salt can build up in the soil over time and damage plants. "I have always believed that the best way to control a pest is to make the environment where you're trying to grow plants less advantageous to their happiness," Rosetta said. "So try to figure out what makes them happy. You have to think like a...
Bucket trap By Denise Ruttan Trap to monitor for the invasive Asian vinegar fly known as spotted wing Drosophila. Photo by Amy Dreves As backyard fruit ripens, it's time for gardeners to trap spotted wing drosophila. A new, easy-to-make trap design, based on recent research, will help gardeners monitor the invasive vinegar fly's presence in their backyards. The tiny spotted wing drosophila resembles other small fruit flies but is distinctive for its yellowish-brown body, red eyes and dark unbroken bands encircling its abdomen. This tenacious...
Bucket trap By Denise Ruttan Trap to monitor for the invasive Asian vinegar fly known as spotted wing Drosophila. Photo by Amy Dreves As backyard fruit ripens, it's time for gardeners to trap spotted wing drosophila. A new, easy-to-make trap design, based on recent research, will help gardeners monitor the invasive vinegar fly's presence in their backyards. The tiny spotted wing drosophila resembles other small fruit flies but is distinctive for its yellowish-brown body, red eyes and dark unbroken bands encircling its abdomen. This tenacious...
Canada thistle By Carol Savonen Weed seeds can survive in the soil for years before they germinate and grow, according to Jed Colquhoun, weed specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. Why should home gardeners care? "If you combine the longevity of seeds in the soil with the fact that weeds such as common lambsquarters can produce over 500,000 seeds per plant, the incentive to hand weed your garden becomes much greater," said Colquhoun. "Prevention is the most effective form of weed control," he said. Here are some basics o...
Pile of wood chips By Denise Ruttan Many people enjoy traditional grass lawns. But others are thinking of getting rid of grass and choosing low-maintenance landscaping for their yards. One option involves spreading mulch over ground you don't intend to plant. When choosing mulch, "The coarser the better," according to Al Shay, an instructor in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University. "We have a site at the Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture where we stripped out vegetation, like English ivy and added 3-4 inches of wood...
Crabgrass By Denise Ruttan Crab grass is a common summer annual weed that disturbs Oregon vegetable gardens. Photo by Ed Peachey. Vegetable gardeners declare war on weeds every summer. Knowing more about weeds can give gardeners a leg up in the fight, said Ed Peachey, a weed specialist for the Oregon State University Extension Service. "Different kinds of weeds require different kinds of strategies. Weed identification makes all the difference in how you approach the job," Peachey said. First, gardeners should know how to distinguish between pe...
