In the News - April 2008
Now is a great time to plant
LITTLE ROCK - Do you love fresh produce and want a good reason to get out of
the house and relax after work? Home gardening is a great activity for you!
Janet Carson, extension horticulture specialist with the University of
Arkansas Division of Agriculture says, "May is a great month to plant the
vegetable garden. You can harvest the early season crops and plant all of the
warm season crops. From green beans and corn to tomatoes, peppers and eggplant,
there is plenty of time to get started. Growth will really kick in when the air
and soil temperatures begin to rise."
Watch for any insect or disease problems including powdery mildew, blossom
end rot on tomatoes and leaf spot diseases along with aphids, beetles and
caterpillars. Pay attention and keep your fungicide and insecticides ready.
Early detection is the key, and if you catch the problems as they begin, use the
proper treatment, most of these disease and insect problems can be controlled."
When selecting a site for your garden, look for a location that is
well-drained, has a nearby source of water, and receives at least six hours of
sunlight each day. Till the soil at planting and broadcast fertilizer, then
side-dress with additional fertilizer six to eight weeks later.
Mulch your garden well to prevent weeds, moderate soil temperature and keep
moisture levels more constant. Crop rotation -not planting the same vegetables
in the same site each year can also helps to reduce the incidence of disease.
The Division of Agriculture recommends doing a soil test of your home garden
site to determine the nutrient needs of your garden. This service is provided at
no charge by the Cooperative Extension Service, and will help you determine how
much lime and fertilizer to apply to your garden to promote the best possible
plant health.
Melvin Daniel, Garland County extension agent, says that if your lawn looks
like a meadow of wildflowers, resist the urge to use herbicides, because using
herbicides now might hinder your lawns green-up.
Daniel also remarks, "Many of these weeds are winter annuals, and will be
dying out in a few weeks. Keep your lawn area mowed to prevent seed set and wait
on your first application of fertilizer until your lawn has totally greened up,
which should be very soon."
For more information about home gardening and lawn care or having your soil
tested, please contact your county extension agent or visit
www.uaex.edu.
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.
April 23, 2008
By Rebecca Norman
For the Cooperative Extension Service
Media Contact: Lamar James
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2187 or (501) 753-0207
ljames@uaex.edu
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