February 17, 2021 Issue, Page 4 of 10

Page Text

February 17, 2021 News/Education For Valentine’s Onion Care and Handling Day, nothing Whether in a home or market garden, onions area favorite of many vegetable years include thrips, purple quickly destroy healthy blotch, and black mold. There plants. Purple blotch is are additional pests that one of these and it is first control measures are to store onions at temperatures below 60. Note that storage says “love” growers. If you planted onions from transplants this year, they should begin affect onions one should also watch for. Thrips are tiny insects that feed on the vigorous growth soon, if they leaf surface. Heavy infesta- observed as tiny water- soaked lesions on the leaves. If conditions are suitable the lesions can enlarge and at temperatures cooler than provides additional benefits. Avoid bruising onions during harvesting and handling. like onions have not done so already. Do tion will result in leaves destroy the leaf. The way CONTACT: Greg Hartman | not overlook the need for taking on a silvery appear- to control purple blotch is Beckham County OSU Extension nitrogen fertilizer for pro- ance. Thrips are most easily to use preventive fungicide Center | ducing large onions. Unless observed when leaves are applications. This means (580) 928-2139 | greg.hart- you have a garden with very gently separated at the onion the fungicide needs to be [email protected] A few years back I remem- way to growing the biggest, fertile soil, now is the time neck. The insect will appear _ applied before the disease is Oklahoma State University, ber talking with, Ray Ridlen sweetest onions you ever to apply nitrogen fertilizer as tiny yellow or dark colored _ observed. ‘The threat of this in compliance with Title Vand from Oklahoma County imagined. The secret to to enable vigorous growth. specks that move when disease is greatest under VIl of the Civil Rights Act of Extension, the topic of Val- growing large, bragging-size Two possible sources are disturbed. Although tiny, rainy, wet and humid condi- 1964, Executive Order 11246 entine’s Day came up. I asked onions is soil fertility. ammonium nitrate or urea. A thrips can be very damagin, g __ tions. When conditions such as amended, Title IX of the what he was getting for his 1. A soil test should be rough estimate of how much to onions. Two species are as these are forecast, the Education Amendments of 1972, wife. He said, “nothing says taken with potassium and of these fertilizers to use is commonly present: onion use of fungicide in advance love like onions.” I said you phosphorus applied at the % of a pound for 20 feet of thrips and western flower of the wet weather is highly Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and must bejoking. And that is recommended rates. row. Scatter the fertilizer thrips. The two species are recommended. Your County forever howI will remem- 2. Three weeks after along the 20 feet distance not readily distinguished Extension Office can provide regulations, does not discrimi- ber when to plant onions in planting, start applying so that it covers 1 % feet on by an untrained observer. _ information on suggested nate on the basis of race, color, Oklahoma. The following is nitrogen, use ammonium ni- each side of the row. Do not Insecticide treatment for national origin, sex, age, religion, fungicides for purple blotch disability, an article he wrote several trate or Urea. Apply at rates put the fertilizer directly on thrips will depend on the and other vegetable diseases. or status as a veteran years ago that has seemed to of one cup per 20 feet of row the plants and do not con- producer’s situation. Inspect Finally, black mold is a in any of its policies, practices or hold onto its timelessness. and apply every two to three centrate it at the base of the onions frequently to deter- disease that was observed procedures. This includes but is After a long winter, gar- weeks. Nitrogen stimulates plants. Doing so could cause mine if the plants have an in onions harvested last not limited to admissions, employ- deners can hardly wait to get leaf growth and every leaf injury to shallow plant roots. infestation. Contact your summer during a rainy ment, financial aid, and educa- out into the vegetable garden represents an onion ring. Fertilizer can be left on the County Extension Office for _period. The onion bulbs ap- tional services, References within and experience the smell of More leaves equal more rings surface or scratched lightly information on insecticides peared normal at harvest this publication to any specific freshly tilled soil and the feel and more rings mean a big- into the soil surface. Water to use for thrips. but began to develop a black commercial product, process, or of the soil running through ger onion. gently following fertilizer ap- Fungal diseases are powdery material under the service by trade name, trademark, their fingers. 3. Once the neck starts plication. another concerninonions. dry outer scales. This was a service mark, manufacturer, or Hey, wait a minute, we feeling soft do not apply any Primary pest problems Healthy leaves are needed mold that infected onions otherwise does not constitute or are talking February here, more fertilizer. This should observedin onions in south- to produce an onion bulb. due to extremely wet condi- imply endorsement by Oklahoma aren’t we? occur approximately 4 weeks east Oklahoma in recent Diseases of the foliage can _ tions at harvest. Suggested Cooperative Extension Service Yes, I know it is February, prior to harvest. but February marks the start 4. Always water immedi- of the vegetable gardening Cotton, Herbicide and Dicamba Training ately after feeding and main- season. The ideal time to tain moisture during the plant onions is in the middle growing season. The closer to of February, or Valentine’s harvest the more water the 5. Onions are fully mature meeting is a go in Southwestern Oklahoma Day weekend, as I always like onion will require. to tell people, “Nothing says love like onions.” when their tops have fallen In Oklahoma we can over. After pulling from the Sayre, Okla. - Tuesday, extension offices: Greg Hart- [email protected] in any of its policies, practices or grow either short-day or ground allow the onion to March 9th at the Beckham man- Beckham County, 580- Oklahoma State University, procedures. This includes but is intermediate day onions. dry, clip the roots and cut the County Activity Center in 928-2139 or Washita County, in compliance with Title VI and not limited to admissions, employ- ‘The short-day onions are the tops back to one inch. Sayre, Oklahoma (310 E. Main 580-832-3356, Zack Hender- VII ofthe Civil Rights Act of ment, financial aid, and educa- sweet onions that we have ‘The flat “Bermuda Type” St. Sayre, Oklahoma 73662) son, 580-323-2291, Dan Cook, 1964, Executive Order 11246 come to love such as Vidalia, tional services. References within Texas 1015, Imperial Sweet onion is another onion that you may want to try a few Cotton, Herbicide & Dicamba Training at 8:30 am to 11:00 Roger Mills County, 580-497- as amended, Title IX of the this publication to any specific or OSO Sweet. Except for the of. They perform well here am, Please remember to social 3339 and Travis Tacker, Kiowa Education Amendments of 1972, commercial product, process, or Texas 1015, these varieties County 580-726-5643, or Americans with Disabilities Act of in central Oklahoma and distance 6 feet apart and Greer County 580-782-5502. 1990, and other federal laws and service by trade name, trademark, are all the same Texas Yellow come in reds and whites. I face masks will be provided if service mark, manufacturer, or Granex onion. recommend planting onion needed. CONTACT: Greg Hartman| regulations, does not discrimi- What makes them sweet plants also known as slips. Washita, Okla. - Tuesday, Beckham County OSU Extension nate on the basis ofrace, color, otherwise does not constitute or is where they are grown. The With slips we know exactly March 9th at the Washita Center | national origin, sex, age, religion, imply endorsement by Oklahoma Vidalia onion is grown in cal- what cultivar we are we are County Activity Center in (580) 928-2139 | greg.hart- disability, or status as a veteran Cooperative Extension Service. cium rich, low sulfur soils, in buying, as opposed to onion Cordell, Oklahoma (1005 E 20 specific counties around bulbs. With bulbs all we 8rd St. Cordell, Oklahoma Vidalia, Ga. The OSO Sweet know is what is on the bag 73632) Cotton, Herbicide & is grown in rich volcanic which is yellow, white, or Dicamba Training at 1:30 pm soils at the foot of the Andes red onion.CONTACT: Greg to 4:00 pm. Please remember iz Mountains in Chile. The Im- Hartman | Beckham County OSU to social distance 6 feet apart aoe ONE hospitalin perial Sweet is grown below Extension Center | and face masks will be pro- Carpiac Catcium ScREENING sea level, in the rich, loamy, (580) 928-2139 | greg.hart- | Western Oklahoma can scan vided if needed. It can detect your risk for desert soils in the California desert. [email protected] OXlahoma State University, Beginning at 8:30 am the meeting will consist of three your heart with 64 slice CT heart disease by Since we do not live in in compliance with Title VI and speakers which include Gary scanner that delivers an measuring calcium levels California, Chile, or Georgia, VII of the Civil Rights Act of Strickland, SW Resource attempting to grow sweet 1964, Executive Order 11246 and Extension Agronomy ultra-low-dose of radiation in your arteries. “Vidalia” type onions is not as amended, Title IX of the Specialist; Josh Bushong, that makes it safe for you Ptus IT Is... going to yield us much suc- Education Amendments of 1972, Area Agronomist Specialist, cess, We will end up with a Americans with Disabilities Act of Agronomy on Updates for and your loved ones. + Quick regular Texas Yellow Granex 1990, and other federal laws and Pesticide Applicators; Jerry onion that can be purchased regulations, does not discrimi- Goodson Entomology & Plant + PAINLESS at any supermarket, and that nate on the basis of race, color, Pathology on Insect Update , THE CHoIcE IS SIMPLE. is not what we garden for. national origin, sex, age, religion, Seth Byrd, Assistant Professor Here comes the Texas disability, or status as a veteran on Cotton Update and Todd 1015 to the rescue. It is in any of its policies, practices or Baughman, Research Professor genetically bred to be sweet. procedures. This includes but is on Herbicide Update & Dicam- Its sweetness is not depen- dent on a specific soil or a not limited to admissions, employ- ba Training. RSVP is highly ment, financial aid, and educa- recommended to reserve your LET US specific growing condition. CHECK YOUR 580.82 5565 $2 5 tional services. References within spot at both meetings (Pick So, we Oklahomans can grow this publication to any specific one location limited to first as sweet an onion as anybody commercial product, process, or 50 people per location). It is in Georgia, Chile, California, or anywhere else for that service by trade name, trademark, service mark, manufacturer, or important to social distance and we encourage everyone to SCHEDULE Topay! HEART. matter. If scheduled by February 28, 2021 GREAT PLAINSA® otherwise does not constitute or wear a mask. Here are a few grow- imply endorsement by Oklahoma RSVP to reserve a spot 1801 W. 3rp, Etk City ing tips to help you on your Cooperative Extension Service. by calling one of the county REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER WWW. GPRMC-OK.COM 6 Months 1 Year Add the e-paper to aprint subscription for / per north “ElkCityNews 109 w. Broadway 580-225-3000 - www.elkcityoknews.com