May 21, 2019 Issue, Page 5 of 20

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iculture How to Produce High- Quality Tomatoes Select or prepare soil high month following planting. row vegetable gardens. How- Benefits of Raised Beds -— be covered in landscape in organic matter and suf- Apply supplemental water Growing in Raised Garden ever, foot traffic on each side fabric or mulch to choke out ficiently loose to allow for ex- as needed, drip irrigation be- Beds of a single row can severely Higher Yields - Raised weeds. tensive vigorous root growth. ing preferred. compact soil by the end ofa beds allow more garden Apply needed fertilizers Control insects and spider Raised bed gardens are growing season. The exces- space for growing plants, Extended Season — Soil in and mix into the soil prior to mites as well as leaf and an ideal way to grow veg- sive row spacing also wastes with less space utilized for raised beds can be worked planting. fruit diseases if numbers are etables and small fruit. They garden space that can be walking paths. Individual earlier in the season, because Obtain husky plants of increasing week to week. are elevated a few inches or planted with crops. plant yields may be slightly it warms up faster than soil in recommended nematode and Windbreaks may be espe- more above the soil level, and less with less space per plant traditional in-ground gar- wilt resistant varieties. Set cially desirable as hot, dry just wide enough to reach Raised bed gardens can than in traditional rows, but dens. Rainy weather is less them into the garden as early weather develops. across by hand. Plants can range from a simple rect- more plants can be grown in a of ahindrance to working in as weather and recommended Maintain the identity of be grouped together ina bed angular plateau of soil to a given space. the garden, since mud is not planting dates permit. different varieties to evaluate with permanent walkways on more elaborate bed framed Better Soil - Amendments an issue. Water in newly set plants their qualities and thus deter- either side. The soil does not in wood, stone and mor- such as compost and fertil- with a starter solution. mine the more appropriate get compacted, since the soil tar, straw bales or modern izer are only spread on beds Better Pest Control - Provide protection from kinds for future plantings. in which plants are grown is snap-together plastic blocks. and not wasted on pathways. Raised bed gardens are easy cutworms and other possible For more information on never walked on. Although more expensive and Looser (non-compacted) soil to cover with insect screening pests ofthe transplanting growing tomatoes see OSU ‘The idea of growing plants time consuming to build, per- also drains better. Frequent fabric. Crops are easy to ro- season. Extension Fact Sheet HLA- in single file or “row crops,” manent structures will keep tillage ofthe garden can be tate from bed to bed — pre- Use mulching materials 6012 - Growing Tomatoes in started with the use of a horse soil in place during heavy elimination. venting a buildup of pests. around plants within one the Home Garden. and plow to cultivate crops rains and will look nicer in Water Conservation ~ For more information about on alarge scale. The straight the landscape. However, for using raised beds see OSU rows, far enough apart to alarge garden, several beds Plants grown close together Extension Fact Sheet L-6033 drive a horse between, made of mounded soil are very shade the soil, decrease evap- ~Raised Bed Gardening. OKLAHOMA HAY plowing easier. Wider spaces adequate to achieve desired oration and keep roots cooler. later accommodated tractors results. Just make sure plenty Water is only provided to the and their implements. Not of mulch is used on the soil beds and not the pathways. For more information contact Greg Hartman Beck- MARKET REPORT knowing the reasons behind to hold it in place during growing crops in rows, many drenching rains. Fewer Weeds — Closely planted crops keep weeds ham/Washita County OSU Extension at 580-928-2139 or home gardeners plant single crowded out. Pathways can 580-832-3356 Alfalfa trade very light as first cutting finally began this week. A good amount of alfalfa is on the ground but very little baled at this point. Yields are expected to be very good. No sales confirmed Battling a newer strain but most pricing ideas near steady with last reported old crop. Wheat hay swathing also very active and a few sales were confirmed. Record rainfall so far this month has held up early haying. More rains, some very heavy, are expected over the weekend. Alfalfa Central Oklahoma: New crop Premium quality two loads of canine influenza 200.00. Eastern Oklahoma: No recent sales confirmed. Anew dog flu is making its almost every major city. — being around an infected influenza, The initial series Western Oklahoma: New crop Premium quality alfalfa way across the country. The typical case of canine dog who may have coughed requires two injections first cutting contracted The original canine influ- influenza looks identical to or sneezed. A dog who within four weeks. Protec- at 200.00. enza virus, identified since kennel cough. Just like in hu- gets within a few feet of an tion is good, but similar to the 2000, mutated from a horse man influenza, some dogs can infected dog can be exposed. human flu shot, it may only strain and spread from in- develop a much worse condi- Signs — typically lethargy minimize the signs. After the Old Crop Grass Hay fected dogs for about a week, tion due to the complication and a harsh cough —may initial series, dogs require an Central Oklahoma: No sales confirmed. meaning outbreaks were few of bacterial pneumonia. This develop in a week or less. The annual booster to maintain and brief. can also happen in traditional lethargy rapidly improves, protection. This is a separate Western Oklahoma: New crop wheat hay 80.00-90.00 per However, in 2015, anew kennel cough. Since our dogs but the cough can persist for ton, mostly 85.00. Good strain of canine influenza in America had never seen weeks. In most cases, the vaccination from the tradi- quality mixed grass round bales 90.00-110.00 per ton. emerged in Chicago. This this Chicago virus before, disease is self-limiting and tional kennel cough vaccine Mixed grass 5X 5 1/2 strain lasts for up to a month they had not developed dogs recover without specific most veterinarians recom- to 5 X 6 bales 55.00-70.00 per bale. and even dogs without clini- protection from previous ex- therapy. Unless it develops mend. Like all vaccines, side cal signs can spread it. Thus, posures. And since it can be into a secondary bacterial effects are rare and typically Eastern Oklahoma: Mixed grass hay in 4 x 5 bales 55.00- more dogs have been infected spread from dogs who are ap- infection, antibiotics have no mild, such as lethargy for a 65.00 per bale. for longer periods oftime, parently healthy, controlling effect on recovery. day or two. leading to the spread of the an outbreak is very difficult. Today, a vaccination Ifyou have more questions Prices are dollars per ton and FOB unless otherwise virus across the country, The virus is spread primar- exists to immunize dogs about canine influenza, talk noted. where it has been identified in ily through aerosol exposure against both strains of canine with your veterinarian. Delivered to your inbox. Read your local news from anywhere Subscribe Today Online, Print, and Print+Online _ Subscribe on line at. www.elkcityoknews.com