Video of the Week:
Low Light Indoors? No Problem!
Upcoming Events:
Great Plains Growers Conference
January 7, 8 & 9, 2016
St. Joseph, MO
The Great Plains Growers Conference (GPGC) is a combination of two great conferences: Great Plains Vegetable Conference and Mid-America Fruit Conference. The three-day conference features presentations by knowledgeable speakers from throughout the nation. The conference showcases educational information from all five states: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota, along with vegetable specialists and growers from those states.
Some of the topics covered this year include: Greenhouse and hydroponic production; honey bees, scaling up worskhop, soil health & management , tree fruits, mushrooms, beginning organic, vegetable IPM, technology, equipment, irrigation, small fruit, advanced organic, cut flower, food safety/GAPS and market ready workshop.
The trade show consists of more than 50 exhibitors with the latest seeds, supplies, equipment, and grower information. There will be ample opportunities to visit with other growers, exhibitors, and speakers.
For more information, http://www.greatplainsgrowersconference.org
St. Joseph, MO
The Great Plains Growers Conference (GPGC) is a combination of two great conferences: Great Plains Vegetable Conference and Mid-America Fruit Conference. The three-day conference features presentations by knowledgeable speakers from throughout the nation. The conference showcases educational information from all five states: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota, along with vegetable specialists and growers from those states.
Some of the topics covered this year include: Greenhouse and hydroponic production; honey bees, scaling up worskhop, soil health & management , tree fruits, mushrooms, beginning organic, vegetable IPM, technology, equipment, irrigation, small fruit, advanced organic, cut flower, food safety/GAPS and market ready workshop.
The trade show consists of more than 50 exhibitors with the latest seeds, supplies, equipment, and grower information. There will be ample opportunities to visit with other growers, exhibitors, and speakers.
For more information, http://www.greatplainsgrowersconference.org
Final Newsletter of the Season
This will be the last issue of Horticulture 2015. The first issue of Horticulture 2016 will be sent on January 5.
Your current subscription for the newsletter will continue as is, so nothing will be necessary on your part to continue receiving it. Please tell anyone you know who might be interested in subscribing that they are encouraged and welcome to do so by sending an e-mail to Ward Upham at wupham@ksu.edu requesting a subscription.
We have included a very short survey asking for feedback on the newsletter. This will help us fine-tune our articles to better meet the needs of our subscribers.
On behalf of all of us at K-State we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. (Ward Upham)
Your current subscription for the newsletter will continue as is, so nothing will be necessary on your part to continue receiving it. Please tell anyone you know who might be interested in subscribing that they are encouraged and welcome to do so by sending an e-mail to Ward Upham at wupham@ksu.edu requesting a subscription.
We have included a very short survey asking for feedback on the newsletter. This will help us fine-tune our articles to better meet the needs of our subscribers.
On behalf of all of us at K-State we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. (Ward Upham)
Ornamentals:
Maybe One More Holly
It was brought to my attention last week that I may have overlooked a holly for Kansas: American Holly (Ilex opaca). American Holly does grow well here and it's a big 'un. It can grow to 20 feet easily, including in tough sites. Despite the literature references to significant pest and disease problems, it seems to be a winner. However, according to the same literature, there are plenty of superior hollies for the landscape (maybe not so many in Kansas, but elsewhere this would be true). Thus, American Holly is simply not grown commercially. If it's not available for you to purchase right now, I don't recommend it. Having said that, if you know of an American Holly in your area, try to propagate it. Cuttings taken after the first growth flush hardens off in the spring/summer are often the easiest to root. Try taking terminal growth cuttings about 3 to 4 inches long. Cut a wound about an inch long on the base of the cuttings and dip in a 3000 ppm IBA quick dip for 3 to 5 seconds. Stick the cuttings in a standard peat:perlite potting media with regular mist for the best rooting environment. Some cuttings may root with no other assistance, but if you need to try something else, bottom heat may help. You should have rooted cuttings in about 6 weeks. For more information on propagation with IBA products, see this publication: Use of Root-Promoting Products for Vegetative Propagation of Nursery Crops (https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3105.pdf ). (Cheryl Boyer)
What to Do With the Christmas Tree After Christmas
After the holidays, many municipalities allow old Christmas trees to be placed curbside. Trees are then collected and ground up for mulch or burned. If you miss the designated date, or your trash collector doesn't accept trees, there are several options to prolong the useful life of the tree.
An old Christmas tree can be used to benefit birds, fish, and the landscape by placing it in a corner of your deck, and spreading some birdseed nearby, or tying it to a deciduous tree or post near a bird feeder. The birds benefit from having escape cover nearby when hawks or cats threaten, and the dense boughs reduce the wind chill on a cold night.
Sinking your Christmas tree in a pond is an easy way to improve fish habitat and fishing. The tree serves as little coral reef, in that the branches provide substrate for water plants to grow, and cover for minnows and other forms of small aquatic life. Larger fish are drawn by the shade and the presence of prey.
How do you sink a tree? Tie the base to a cinder block with a short, stout rope, and toss it in. Just be sure to get permission from the pond owner first! Using the little tree around the landscape requires clipping off all of the branches. Use the boughs to add extra insulation around semi-hardy perennials or to trees and shrubs that were recently planted. The leftover trunk may be used as a garden stake next spring.
Or cut and let it dry for a few weeks, and you will have some easy lighting firewood. Just beware that most conifer species tend to spark and pop more than hardwoods, as resin pockets in the wood make tiny explosions. This can delight the youngsters, but for safety's sake, keep an eye on the fire when burning Christmas tree logs! (Charlie Barden)
An old Christmas tree can be used to benefit birds, fish, and the landscape by placing it in a corner of your deck, and spreading some birdseed nearby, or tying it to a deciduous tree or post near a bird feeder. The birds benefit from having escape cover nearby when hawks or cats threaten, and the dense boughs reduce the wind chill on a cold night.
Sinking your Christmas tree in a pond is an easy way to improve fish habitat and fishing. The tree serves as little coral reef, in that the branches provide substrate for water plants to grow, and cover for minnows and other forms of small aquatic life. Larger fish are drawn by the shade and the presence of prey.
How do you sink a tree? Tie the base to a cinder block with a short, stout rope, and toss it in. Just be sure to get permission from the pond owner first! Using the little tree around the landscape requires clipping off all of the branches. Use the boughs to add extra insulation around semi-hardy perennials or to trees and shrubs that were recently planted. The leftover trunk may be used as a garden stake next spring.
Or cut and let it dry for a few weeks, and you will have some easy lighting firewood. Just beware that most conifer species tend to spark and pop more than hardwoods, as resin pockets in the wood make tiny explosions. This can delight the youngsters, but for safety's sake, keep an eye on the fire when burning Christmas tree logs! (Charlie Barden)
Miscellaneous:
Care of Gift Fruit Baskets
A holiday tradition is to give gifts of fruits and nuts (along with other products). Usually these are placed in an attractive basket, wrapped with cellophane covering, and brought (or shipped) to your house. It is important that the fruit contained inside is kept in cool conditions to maintain its quality for as long as possible. Thus, it is wise to disassemble the fruit basket as soon as you receive it and place the fruit in refrigerated storage. If all the products in the basket are tree fruits (such as apples, pears, oranges or grapefruit), you can place the entire basket in a cool place- around 40 degrees F for best results. If the basket contains any bananas or other tropical fruits (with the exception of citrus), remove those fruits and store them separately. About 3-4 weeks is about as long as you can expect to store these fruits without some shriveling and loss of crispness. (Ward Upham)
Storing Pecans and Other Nuts
During the holiday season, pecans and other nuts are commonly given as gifts or purchased for holiday cooking. Nuts can quickly lose quality if not stored properly. Excessive water loss can lead to shriveled nutmeats, and the fats and oils in nuts can quickly spoil – developing an off-flavor or rancid taste. Store shelled (or unshelled nuts) in the refrigerator, or preferably the freezer. Nuts quickly absorb flavors from other stored products, so store them in a tightly sealed container so they won’t lose water or absorb flavors from other fruits or vegetables. A solid plastic container with a tightly fitting lid is preferred. You can use a heavy grade resealable plastic bag as well. If nutmeats are tightly sealed, they can be stored in a freezer for up to one year, but using them within six months is preferred. (Ward Upham)
Contributors: Charlie Barden, State Extension Forester; Ward Upham, Extension Associate
Contributors: Charlie Barden, State Extension Forester; Ward Upham, Extension Associate
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