May 12, 2021 Issue, Page 4 of 12

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4 May 12, 2021 Agriculture when the right air inversions a more appropriate size make than if you left the long leggy Garden tips for May in place. Frequently I receive ques- sure to take out any of the taller stems by cutting them stem above ground. Tomatoes are set two feet apart. Plant- tions about using sprinklers back to a side branch. For a ing them in a line will make it Trees and Shrubs in late-May or early June, 1. Use common sense and for freeze protection. Water- bit more modest pruning just easier to stake the plants later. Prune and feed azaleas im- depending upon timing of first ask yourself if the damage has ing the ground underneath cut back the tips a couple of A stake and weave system mediately after blooming. application. Check label for perhaps rendered this tree the trees a few days prior inches. works very well in holding up Insect Alert: (EPP-7306) details. hazardous? In other words, to a spring freeze will allow After your azaleas have the plants. Bagworms on juniper and Vegetative establishment does it now look vulnerable the soil to stay warmer. Wet finished blooming make sure It is best to set out tomato arborvitae. (Late May) of warm-season grasses can to any additional wind or ice ground can hold more heat to fertilize. After all, they just plants in the evening or on a Elm leaf beetles and larvae continue. (HLA-6419) event that could cause it to while dry ground will cool off spent a lot of energy to create cloudy day to keep the plants on elms. (Late May) Flowers fall in its entirety or at least more quickly. Plants in areas a beautiful floral display, so it from wilting and getting too Mimosa webworms on Annual bedding plants can “drop” one or more large with sandy soils may have is time to reward them. Be- dry. Mulching tomatoes is mimosa and honeylocust. be set out for summer color. branches that could damage more damage than clay soils cause azaleas prefer a slightly very important to provide Lace bugs on sycamore, Plant summer bulbs such nearby property or prove fatal due to water holding capacity acidic soil, get a fertilizer that even moisture and prevent pyracantha, and azalea. as cannas, dahlias, elephant to people and pets? is for azaleas or one that is and heat storage. Spraying the fruit from cracking. Place Soak new transplants and ear, caladiums, and gladiolus. 2. Educate yourself as to acid based and apply about trees once prior to a freeze 1/4 to 1/2 cup in a circle start- a two- to three-inch layer newly planted trees unless Shake a leaf over white pa- the potential growth rate and really will not give much of organic material such as ing about 1 foot away from the rainfall is abundant. per to look for spider mites. If commercial availability of protection. The energy or heat compost, leaves or hay around base of the plant. Don’t apply Pine needle disease treat- the tiny specks begin to crawl, replacement trees. released is made possible due the growing plants. Com- any fertilizer after August be- ments are needed in mid-May. mites are present. 3. Even if the tree can be to the water freezing. So, for cause this can cause possible post, which is dark, will help Turfgrass Water Gardens salvaged, assess whether it will sprinkler freeze protection, winter damage. Azaleas prefer keep the soil warm. Once the Cool-season lawns can be Clean out water garden ever look “right” again with the water must be continu- a slightly acidic, organically temperatures rise, cover the fertilized again. If you did not and prepare for season. Divide some semblance of symmetry. ously freezing during the rich, moist but well drained compost with straw, which has fertilize cool-season grasses in and repot water garden plants. 4. If significant bark has critical temperatures until soil and thrive in Eastern more of a cooling effect. March and April, do so now. Begin feeding fish when been ripped or loosened from Oklahoma. How to Produce High the temperatures warm above Warm-season lawns may water temperatures are over the trunk, be realistic about While pruning is not nec- freezing. This can be difficult Quality Tomatoes the tree’s potential for attack essary each season, applying be fertilized again in May. 50°F. to accomplish due to the 1. Select or prepare soil from opportunistic microor- an acidic fertilizer is necessary (HLA-6420) Fruits and Vegetables amount of water needed or high in organic matter and ganisms and damaging insects in order to maintain that true Seeding of warm-season Plant watermelon, canta- the amount of ice building up sufficiently loose to allow outlined later. on the trees. Once the water southern garden with colorful grasses such as bermudagrass, loupe, cucumber, eggplant, for extensive vigorous root Oklahoma’s Weather Af- stops sprinkling and freezing, azaleas. buffalograss, zoysiagrass and okra, sweet potatoes, etc. growth. fects Fruit & Pecan Crops the heat protection stops. Transplanting Tomatoes centipedegrass is best per- Fruit spray programs 2. Apply needed fertilizers Once again, Oklahoma’s Site selection and sur- Tomatoes are one of the and mix into the soil prior to formed in mid-May through should be faithfully continued unpredictable weather has hit rounding areas can make a most popular vegetables for planting. the end of June. The soil tem- during the next several weeks. many of our state’s fruit and big difference in how much homeowners to grow and 3. Obtain husky plants of peratures are warm enough Late May is the best time damage may be received due pecan growers. If the negative now is the time to get them recommended nematode and for germination and adequate to control borers in the or- to cold temperatures. Higher February temperatures did not planted if you have not done wilt resistant varieties. Set growing season is present to chard. Check for label recom- elevations and sloping areas affect the fruit buds and, in so already. them into the garden as early promote winter hardiness. mendations and controls. will benefit in that cold air, as weather and recommended some cases, mature wood, the Two main types of toma- Dollar spot disease of Rehabilitation or Re- like water, flows downhill and planting dates permit. late April spring freeze may toes are available, determinant lawns can first become visible moval? collects in the lowest areas. If 4. Water in newly set have wreaked havoc on the and indeterminate types. in mid-May. Make certain fer- The decision to save or your pecan orchard or vine- plants with a starter solution. upcoming crop. Determinate types set all tilizer applications have been remove a storm-damaged tree I have heard from many yard is at the bottom of a val- 5. Provide protection from ley or hill, there is nowhere for their fruit at one time, while adequate before ever applying is usually a subjective one, that their peach trees did cutworms and other possible the cold air to go and it will fill indeterminate types produce pests of the transplanting a fungicide. (EPP-7658) with the choice relying more not bloom this season. For up the site with cold air. If the fruit over a longer time. We season. Nutsedge plants become on opinion than fact. Emo- early blooming fruit trees like peach, nectarine, and espe- site is on a hillside or at the typically grow indeterminate 6. Use mulching materi- visible during this month. tions often are the overriding cially almond and apricots, top of a hill, the cold air can types in the home garden; als around plants within one Post-emergent treatments factor in the decision process, the loss of the fruit crop is settle away from the planting however, determinate toma- month following planting. are best applied for the first especially when the damaged usually the result of a late site and can protect the plants. toes are ideal for small spaces 7. Apply supplemental wa- time this month. Make certain tree is a very large, old or and containers or if you plan spring freeze event. This year Be aware that even though the ter as needed, drip irrigation warm-season grasses have ‘heirloom’ tree. Here are a few for many peach and nectarine plants are on a hill, something to can your tomatoes for later completed green-up. points to keep in mind when being preferred. growers, the winter tempera- impeding the cold air can use. 8. Control insects and The second application of deciding whether to rehabili- tures in February were just too have the same effect as being When selecting tomato spider mites as well as leaf and pre-emergent annual grass tate or remove your storm- cold and damaged the fruit at the bottom of the hill. An cultivars for the vegetable fruit diseases if numbers are herbicides can be applied damaged tree: buds prior to bud swell. When overgrown fence row, brush garden one consideration is the trees began to push buds, increasing week to week. pile, building or anything that disease resistance. Consider 9. Windbreaks may be only leaf buds were seen. The slows down the cold air from selecting varieties resistant to especially desirable as hot, dry Follow BQA fruit buds or blooms did not break because they were se- verely damaged. I was amazed draining can cause it to pool on the side or top of the hill Fusarium wilt and nematodes since these are problems in all weather develops. 10. Maintain the identity to see several apricot trees which can result in cold injury. areas of Oklahoma. of different varieties to evalu- Principles When flowering in March. Apparent- ly, apricot dormant buds are This was recently observed at the Cimarron Valley Research Station where brush piles kept The ideal tomato trans- plant should be six to eight inches tall and dark green, ate their qualities and thus determine the more appropri- ate kinds for future plantings. more cold hardy than peach. Working Cows Now, that does not indicate that we will have apricots but there is a chance unless they cold air up on the higher pecan orchard causing more damage than the lower orchard that with a stocky stem and well-developed root system. Normally, six to eight weeks For more information on growing tomatoes refer to Exten- sion Fact Sheet, HLA-6012 had air drainage available. are required to produce this and Calves were damaged by the recent April 21 freezing tempera- tures. Some pictures surfaced Many vineyards reported freeze damage from both type of plant from seed. When selecting plants at the garden Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden. Powdery Mildew Following BQA guidelines planning ahead, remember on Facebook of peaches that winter and spring freeze center, do not be fooled into Powdery mildew is a com- is a commitment to consum- needles should be changed were flowering but most that I events. Those vines with to buying the biggest, tallest mon foliage disease in late ers by producers for a quality with damage, contamina- have observed were not. Why severe winter injury (many tomato plants, a short, stocky April and May. This disease product. It also ensures the tion, and biosecurity in mind. the difference? Well in some European grapes) may need to plant is a better choice. causes a white, powdery-like safety, health, and welfare of When refilling syringes, a new cases, those peaches that did be replaced or if new growth The number of plants covering on the upper por- both the processing team and needle should always be used. sprouts from own-rooted needed, will depend on your tions of the leaf. Powdery mil- flower were seen in towns vines, they can be re-trained. planned use. If your family is cattle. A little planning can en- Finally, it’s time to pre- and neighborhoods where the dew starts off as small circular interested in having only fresh sure that processing day runs pare the team. Experienced trees were in warmer micro- Those vines that lost new areas, but soon covers large fruit, plant three to five plants smoothly and follows BQA individuals on the processing climates that protected the shoot growth may have an per person. If you intend portions of the leaf surface. Guidelines. The first step is to team may simply need an buds. opportunity to still produce a to can or freeze fruits, then Plants commonly attacked consult with your veterinarian update. Individuals new to the Apples, pears and cherries crop. Some varieties will pro- five to ten plants per person by powdery mildew include for herd specific recommenda- team may need more exten- seem to have fared better. duce on secondary buds but should be grown. apple, crabapple, crapemyrtle, tions. The next step involves sive training and coaching. These types of fruit trees have not all types. Tomatoes should be set in honeysuckle, lilac, oak, pecan, planning for administration BQA training of all personnel higher chilling requirements Pecan growers will need to the garden when the weather phlox, photinia, rose, willow, and team training. involved in handling and pro- and do not normally bloom assess their damage. If female has warmed and the soil tem- and zinnia. Powdery mildew is When planning for vacci- cessing cattle is recommended. as early but are also better flowers were killed, the poten- perature is above 60°F. These sometimes found on catalpa, nations, consider that vaccines Most cows and calves are adapted during dormancy for tial crop will be lost. Careful conditions usually occur about euonymus, quince, privet, and should not be saved from one likely to be handled individu- cold winter temperatures. The observation for an upper crop April 5 in southern Oklahoma sycamore. processing day to another as ally. BQA guidance recom- fruit development in some should be made. Continued and about April 25 in north- When choosing new plants the possibility of contamina- mends the following records areas may be affected by the zinc applications when new western Oklahoma. Tem- for the landscape, look for tion is high. Additionally, be maintained for individuals: mid-20 temperatures experi- growth begins will help with peratures below 50°F impair species and cultivars that are modified-live vaccines are no Individual animal identifi- enced on April 21. Cell damage replacing new healthy foli- tomato growth. Tomatoes will resistant to powdery mildew. longer viable after about an cation to the fruit can cause mis- age. If the 2021 crop is lost, produce roots along portions Newer cultivars of many hour following mixing. Plan Date treated shapen fruit but it is too early trees should continue to be of the buried stem. So, to help shrubs and flowers have been to routinely use a permanent Product administered to tell just yet. managed with reduced inputs increase the root system, plant selected for powdery mildew marker to write mixing time and manufacturer’s lot/serial Wind machines, helicop- since next year’s crop can be your tomatoes fairly deep. Pull resistance. on the bottle. Purchase medi- number ters, propane heaters, and affected by management this off the lowest set of leaves or Lime-sulfur and cop- cations from reliable distribu- Dosage burning haybales were being season. even two sets if the stems are per fungicides are organic tors as close to processing day Route and location of used in different areas of the Pruning and Feeding very compact, and then set products that can be used for as feasible. If products are on administration state on April 21 to try to pro- Azaleas the plants to the depth of the powdery mildew control. Do hand, make a note to review Earliest date animal will tect different fruit crops. Some The Azalea is a true plant lowest set of remaining leaves. not use sulfur or oil within expiration dates. have cleared withdrawal growers were successful and for the south. They come in an This is much different than one month of each other or Select syringes that align period protected the crop and some array of colors and can range the way we plant most other plant damage can occur. Some with treatment amounts. If Name of individual admin- methods did not produce the from one foot to ten feet plants but is very beneficial cultivars of roses are sensi- using a multi-dose syringe, istering each treatment results that they had hoped. tall. With their large, showy for establishing a strong root tive to sulfur products and calibration and treatment An easy method to docu- Mixing the warm layers of air blooms, southern landscapes system. may have leaf damage after an volume verification ensures ment product information, with the colder layers near are painted with color in late Sometimes the only toma- application. Some species and accurate administration. Sy- especially in adverse weather, the ground when using wind spring. to transplants we can find are cultivars may be sensitive to ringes can also be color coded is to take a cell phone pic- machines and helicopters Because azaleas are typi- long and leggy. To plant these, copper sprays, discontinue use with tape to make sure cross tures of the boxes or bottles can raise the temperatures cally spring blooming shrubs, we will dig short trenches if plant phytotoxicity occurs. contamination of products including expiration date and a couple of degrees. Two to they need to be pruned imme- about four inches deep and lay Other plant protection does not occur. Spare parts serial number. Each picture three degrees may be enough diately after they have flow- the plants down in the trench. products available for pow- for all equipment should be will be time and date stamped to save a crop of peaches or ered, to prevent cutting off Set the plant in the trench and dery mildew include synthetic on-hand processing day and and the information can later pecans. In pecan orchards, any new flower buds that de- turn the top upward, leaving fungicides such as Funginex®, disposable backups too. be transferred to electronic it is not uncommon to see velop going forward. Azaleas the top six inches of the plant Halt®, Immunox®, Fung- Select smallest size needle records or even paper. the lower half of a tree lose do not need to be pruned each exposed above the soil line as Away®, and Fungi-Fighter®. based on cattle size and medi- CONTACT: Greg Hartman| the crop and the upper half year, instead it is typically just you fill the soil back in. This These products are systemic cation choice. BQA requires all Beckham County OSU Extension produce a large crop due to to maintain the shape or size will allow roots to develop fungicides and provide 10-14 injections to be given ahead of Center | the radiational freezes settling of the plant and to remove any along the buried portion of days of control. the slope of the shoulder un- (580) 928-2139 | greg.hart- near the ground. Mixing the damaged or diseased tissue. If the stem and you will end up See more garden tips less otherwise directed. When [email protected] air can give some protection pruning azaleas to maintain with a much stronger plant next week.