Cold!

The weather people got it right.
However, my celery!, Brussels sprouts, and mescalin lettuce are still OK.
The cabbage and chard aren't looking to good.
Be aware, the ground was frozen 2-3 inches and some big pots were frozen thru.
We still have three more cold nights.

Snow

Wet snow was seen on the valley floor. Be aware!

Rain + Cold = Snow

Watch the weather until Sunday with lows in the 20's. Cover sensitive plants with mulch, cover outside faucets, remove hoses from the house, drain water system if you haven't. Any place that collects water may freeze.
Crank up the heat in out building with water or protect the faucets.
Tie up bushes that would break if they get heavy snow.
Find the chains if needed or just stay home. Usually after a snow, the wild people will be in the ditch before 10 Am.

Colder weather

Colder weather predicted.
Make sure that tender plants are protected.
Mulch blueberries, strawberries, rose bushes and other sensitive plants.

Merry Christmasn, Happy Holidays

Enjoy this time of year.
Celebrate as community members, families, individuals and be thankful for all of blessings we have living in this great country.

St Johnswort ground cover

The ornamental St Johnswort is heavily infested with orange rust spots. A good copper spray will clean up the patch. The leaves are covered with reddish spots where the severe rust was this summer.
Lime lawns to help reduce the excessive moss.

BUDS BREAKING

VARIOUS PLANTS ARE BREAKING BUDS ALL READY. MAPLES HAVE BROKEN BUDS. ITS A LONG TIME TO SPRING SO NOTHING CAN BE DONE.
COPPER OR LIME SULFUR SPRAYS MAY BE NEEDED APPLIED ANY PLANT THAT BUDS HAVE BROKEN. WE ARE WAY EARLIER THAN NORMAL.

December

Other than the rain we had great weather this past week end.
For pruning, community gardening, compost and general gardening classes, see the following link: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/lane/gardens

Garden

Harvest lettuce, chard, parsley and Brussells sprouts.

Rain - rain

Gardens may need ditches to re route water.
Good time to have raised beds.
Be sure compost piles are covered.
It will be cooler for a while.

Peaches

Dec.5 - spray peachews first copper or lime sulfur spray.
Continue pruning.
Continue to feed worms.

Rain perspective

Precip to date: down 1.32inches
Precip year to today: down 2.05 inches

Hard to believe

Rain

Prediction of up to 1 1/2 inches of rain tomorrow and this weekend.
Get all equipment and tools out of the rain.

Nice weather

Except for all for the rain. Actually we are still down on rain per yearly average.
Continue pruning.
If good weather one last time to mow the lawn.
Control moss on trees, roof and sidewalks.
Control slugs in greenhouses.
Control white flies on nursery crops.

This week

Great weather so far.
Do your final raking or mowing of leaves.
Prune roses, berries and tree fruits.
Vacation!!!Skiing!!

Weekend

Finish raking leaves.
Start pruning.
Spray trees and berry bushes with copper.
Celebrate.

December

More holidays coming!!
Cole crops, chard still growing good.
Purchase or rent a living Christmas tree.
Time to start pruning.
Go to the OSU Extension Service - Lane County web site for info on: pruning, Sustainable landscape ad community gardening classes.

Get Ready

Get ready for the holidays.
Put the garden to bed.
Harvest cole crops weekly.
Do the final rake of leaves.
Mulch the plants you want protect.
Harvest Brussell's sprouts.

Happy Holiday

Enjoy the holiday weekend.

Cold weather

Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Use some of the garden produce for dinner.
Time to enjoy family and friends for the next 4 days.
On black Friday, get some extra food items for food storage.

Snow

Protect plant with mulch.
Watch for prolong cold and bare ground with will damage plants in pots and in the ground.
Apply straw or mulch around roses, carrots, turnips, chard, lettuce and other cole crops.
Tie spirally plants to keep the snow from breaking branches.

Pre holidays

Protect tools from the rain.
Protect cole crops with cloche or small plastic greenhouse.
Use remaining veges for holiday dinners and meals.
Protect outside water faucets.

Today

Sign up for the Master Gardener program ASAP
Challenge - since the economy is bad: buy 1 case of water and 10 cans of food.

Winter holidays

Continue to keep leaves under control, ie - rake, mow or mulch leaves.
Look out for cutworms, ie- Bt or carbaryl if numbers are over 15 per sq foot.
Tie up bushy shrubs with rope to prevent ice damage.

Friday

Beautiful day.
Still good crops of broccoli, Brussels sprout, lettuce, chard, sage, parsley, celery, cabbage head and regrowth.
Lots of leave have follow in the last week.

Wednesday

Rake the down leave as it is too wet to mow them.
Prune florabunda and tea roses to about 3 feet o protect against winter damage and then 6 inches in February.
Cole crops still doing well.

Nov.8th

Warm, old, wet, dry.
The Master Gardener office is open M-
TH 10-1, 2-5. We are getting clients to bring samples but we can accommodate more people.

There is still rooms for people interested in become
Master Gardeners, in Lane County or around the US! Just contact your local county Extension office. Lane Co is 541 344-0265. Call ASAP.

Thursday

More cutworms showing up.
Lawns slowing down.
Wait to prune trees until they are
dormant or have lost their leaves.

Plants

Most plants loosing leaves.
Cutworms in lawns excessive - use Bt or carbaryl.
Lawns really affected by cutworms - eating the lawn leaves.

November

November is a great month.
Lawns to bed.
Flower beds weeded and mulched.
Prune roses down to 3 foot tall.
Wrap scraggly bushes with cord to protect them from wind wind, ice and snow.
Wrap arborvitae bushes.
Clean gutters.
Control moss in lawns and on roofs.

VOTE

Voting is a privilege.

Saturday

Another amazing day.
Fall and winter are coming and the signs are looking like a wet, cold winter so prepare.
Store empty hoses. Get tools out of the rain and the wet. Remove rust and cover in a little oil.
I am not quite ready to drain my irrigation system yet, but with the rain, maybe next week.

Tasks

Continue racking leaves - mulch, mow, put into flower bed, around blueberries or raspberries.
Prune out dead raspberries.
Control weeds before mulching.
Lots of cutworms and army worms in lawns and on plants. Swish,spray with Bt. The excessive water is bringing them out of the lawns.

Wednesday

Rake leaves into the flower bed.
If dry mow leaves and use as mulch.
Harvest cole crops weekly.
Go get pumpkins - visit farm stands.
VOTE

Rain

Clean the gutters.
Put tools away after cleaning.
Start putting hoses and sprinklers away.
Think about draining water lines.
Plan vacation!

What is happening?

Chard is growing good, nice red color. But lots of leaf miner in chard.
Cabbage - lots of head rot and white rot.
Brussels sprout doing very good- well aerated.
Pumpkins avoiding powdery mildew. Time to mow the lawn again.

10-20

Take time to get out ASAP to the local farmers markets and farm stores.
There is a lot of pumpkins, tomatoes, cucumbers and tree fruits.
Tree fruits will last thru the rain.
Tomatoes and grapes will suffer from the rain.
Hazelnut crops - many farms done.
Farm sales down.

Another great day

Continue to grow the garden and fruits.
Harvest a few late raspberries.
Harvest and dry apples and pears.
Mow lawn - again. With the rain and sun, it is growing again.
Mow leaves on the lawn and use a mulch in the garden paths.
Cover compost soon to keep form getting tooo wet.

Extension office opens

The OSU Extension Service- Lane County Master Gardener/hort programs open to the public Monday, Oct. 18. The office hours are M-Th 10-2 and 3-5.

The MG hotline is 541 344-0265.

Bring in your samples!

Come visit the new office. Turn in your Master Gardener application ASAP.

Master Gardener Class- apply today

Applications ONLINE or at NEW EXTENSION OFFICE !
Deadline Monday, November 1, 2010

Application, More Information and Class Options at

extension.oregonstate.edu/lane/gardens

OSU Extension Service Lane County
Master Gardener/Horticulture programs
783 Grant Street (between Garfield St. and Chambers St.)
Phone: 541-344-0265

The Master Gardener hotline is scheduled to open on Monday, October 18.
Hours will be 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday.

Putting the garden to bed

Control weeds.
Leave the chickweed, it is a great cover crops.
Remove all unwanted weeds.
1- Remove all plants, add compost to keep the soil from being compacted.
2- Or do 1:, then replant cole crops, chard, garlci, cabbage, Brussellsw sprouts.
Mulch to keep soil from compacting. Control weeds.

Fall garden

Keep up with fall garden.
Decide to pit the garden to bed or keep going into the winter.
Control weeds, then heavily mulch.
Cover carrots, beets and potatoes.
Control aphids on broccoli and Brussell sprouts.
Replant garlic.
Basil still growing good.
Cut or pick chard and lettuce once a month.

More rain

With additional rain, it may be time to drain the irrigation system. During an Indian summer, the weather CAN be good until Nov. 15th.
Drain irrigation sprinklers and drain hoses.
Use sulfur on powdery mildew if good weather continues.

Rain

Watch for grape and tomato splitting. Harvest ASAP.
Lawns are growing again :( may need mowing.
Mow leaves that hit the lawn, they compost very nicely. If too may leaves, rake them into the flower beds and let the worms eat them.
Cole crops still doing nicely.
Found some very nice pumpkins out at the farm stands.
Don't delay!!!

Today

Pick fall raspberries.
Pick figs.
Pick apples.
Fall crops still doing well.
Cabbage, beans, basil excellent.

Great weekend

Great time to make basil mixes.
Apples - dropping.
Pick fall raspberries.
Rain causing grass to grow.

Box elder bugs

Box elder bugs are back. The bug is beetle like, black and red. The babies are very bright red. They like white sides of houses and the south sides.
Garden spiders are out in big numbers and are quarter size. Still must be a lot of other critters around.

Now what

Cool weather bring on white mold and rot in green beans and cabbage. Remove rot and space the plants so there is good air circulation.
Powdery mildew all over pumpkins and cucumbers.
Aphids attacking cole crops.

Let it sunshine

We have week of good sunshine.
Harvest crops: fall raspberries, blackberries; cole crops doing well. broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts all dong well; potatoes; beets; peas and beans still doing well.

Aphids

Aphids moving into the cole crops: broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprout.
Celery - bad year.
Tomatoes - slow at ripening.
Basil - excellent year.
Radish, beans, peas still doing well.

Now what

Fall raspberries tasting better now the rain has stopped.
Apples and pears OK.
Tomatoes - water splitting.
Grapes -with any versasion, splitting.
Cole crops still doing very good.

Now What

Tomatoes are splitting all over the county - tooo wet. Use them for sauce or salsam ,,,,ASAP.
Prune dead raspberries all the way to the ground. Leave green canes. After two or three cuts your know what I mean. Top the canes at about three feet.

Raspberries

Pick fall raspberries before they got too wet.
Cover tomatoes with a plastic greenhouse until the rain stops.
Prune June raspberries.
Keep up with chard, lettuce and cabbage harvest.

Sunday

Watch for splitting of grapes and tomatoes with the wet rain.
Weeds going crazy. Mow the weeds, cover them with mulch, cardboard or Roundup.
Cabbage, Brussels sprouts and chard are doing great in the cool weather.

Rain rain

So much for a nice Indian summer.
Rain is great for the lawns.
Grapes starting to change color.
If rain continues, pick the ripest tomatoes and store until ripe.
Pears ripening very quickly after they are picked.
PRUNES finally RIPE.

Weeds

Weeds are starting to show up. Take care of the weeds ASAP.
Turnips are growing well.
Lettuce and mixed musclins are growing well.Watch out for a weed called puncture vine. It have small multi thorned seeds.

Weather

This warm and wet weather is going to bring on blight and powdery mildew.
Powdery mildew on pumpkins, cucumbers, and grapes.
Cole crops still doing good.
Winter crops doing well also.

Fall berries

The fall golden raspberries, red raspberries and day neutral strawberries are doing well.
? Is anyone finding the spotted wing drosophia? Any finds in tomatoes?

Bugs

Watch out for chard lead miner - white trails in the leaf.
Sawfly - leaf slugs on cherries, asian pears.
Look out for voles - field mice eating tomatoes and other veges.

Grapes and crops

Powdery mildew showing up on grapes leaves, use wettable sulfur or thin out foliage.
Check tomatoes for internal jelly. If the toms have jelly, they will ripen. Or place a small plastic greenhouse over the tomatoes. Watch for blight - water soaked areas. Control with coppers.

Rain -- ++

Yeah rains, but watch out for tomato blight and powdery mildew on grapes and rust on blackberries.

Winter garden

Plant broccoli, cabbage, turnips, lettuce and radishes. The late planting will avoid the root maggots.
So far a fairly insect free year for many crops.
Grapes two to three weeks late.
Pears just ripening.

Great weather

The weather should be great for the next few day so get out and maximize the time you have in the garden or out in the fields.
Lots of ripe berries and tree fruits and veges.
Cole crops doing very well.
Tomatoes - still slow at ripening.
Watch out for the Spotted Wing Drosophila.

Grapes

Prune grape foliage to increase air circulation to help slow powdery mildew or sue sulfur spray.
Scab and codling moth - bad this year.
A lot of gray mold showing up on garlic. Clean gray mold off the scales. The thick roots on the bottom of the garlic also have the gray mold. Break apart the garlic head and clean each clove. If you plant the garlic clove with gray mold, the whole plant garlic bulb will become infected next year.

Weather and Crops

The weather is set to be very strange, hot and cold, plus some more wet.
If it remains cold, put out plastic milk jugs with water to moderate the cold evening temps around tomato plants.
Pears and apples ripening nicely.
Peaches nearly done.

cool wet weather = tomato blight

With the rainy weather be aware that this is perfect weather for tomato blight, just as the tomato crop is trying to ripen. Watch for water soaked areas along the stems of the plant. If you suspect blight, aerate or spray with copper or Serenade.

Be Aware

Yellow rust is showing up on blackberry cultivars and could reduce yields.
Hazelnut yield predicted to be 47% lower than last year, down to 27000 tons from 47,000.
Crops still doing well even with the cool evening temps.

Cool temps

Temps re dropping to mid 50's in the AM. Good for pear and apple ripening.
Bad for corn, tomatoes, pepper.
If it turns wet,, watch out for tomato late blight.

Walnuts and tomatoes

Walnuts are showing Erinium mites or bumps on the under side of leaves.
Tomatoes in the field are showing sun burn on leaf margins - too hot.
Replant winter garden.
Peaches near done. Pears starting soon.

Weeds and lawns

Weeds seems to be less aggressive these last three weeks. Yeah.
Bugs seems to also be less than normal is many areas.
I am noticing a lot of lawns going dormant, which is normal for August. In Sept., they will come back.

Veges

Radishes are bolting and turning "hot".
Time to replant: cabbage, kale, broccoli, lettuce and radishes for fall crops.
Tomatoes - hearing about ripe tomatoes. Still come early blight in tomatoes but it can be pruned out.

Grapes

A wine grape sample came in and it was 80% infected with powdery mildew (while fungus). The grapes had already "exploded" from the PM.

Spray the grapes with a sulfur or open up the vines for better air circulation.

Observations #2

Maples trees showing a lot of leaf burn.
Cedar needles starting to turn brown - lack of ground water.
Still seeing Dec. 2009 winter damage on leaves.
Coast - late cherry leaf slug (sawfly) on plum, cherry, pear trees).

Observations

Early blight on tomatoes.
Tomatoes growing very well. Some need pruning.
12 spot beetle going after pumpkin and cucumber blooms.
Plant winter garden.

Lawns

Have only mowed the lawn once in the last two weeks. Only watered the lawn twice during the hot weather. Yes the lawn isn't dark green but not too back for the hot weather! Usually we let the lawn go dormant from now until Sept. 15. It comes back with the fall rains.

Insects

The 12 spot and stripped cucumber beetles numbers are increasing so be aware. Plant a sacrificial zucchini plant or leave a red root pig weed.
Many tomatoes are really going to be late this year.
Fresh produce is good though.
Aphids have even been low this year. August radishes don't have root maggots. What has happened!!!

Thursday

Tomatoes and potatoes are growing wildly! If too wild, prune back tops, especially tomatoes and don't fertilize.
SWD is NOT being found in the outer areas of Lane and Benton counties - yet.
Basil, cabbage, Brussells sprouts, lettuce, green beans doing well. Keep them picked.

Apples and pears

Apples and pears are sizing nicely. Early apples already!
Pears will be ready soon.
Celery, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, onions, garlic all doing very well.
Blueberries - excellent crop.

Potatoes

Potato storage - keep them cool. Garages can be very warm. Dig a small pit storage 3-4 foot deep and cover with old carpet and grass/sod.

When are potatoes ripe? - when they usually flower or the plant collapses. Reds - August. Yellow Finn or Russett as late as October. Just dig a hill to see how big they are.

Potatoes

Potato storage - keep them cool. Garages can be very warm. Dig a small pit storage 3-4 foot deep and cover with old carpet and grass/sod.

When are potatoes ripe? - when they usually flower or the plant collaspes. Reds - August. Yellow Finn or Russett as late as October. Just dig a hill to see how big they are.

Misc

Crops growing well in this weather.
Wild blackberries starting to ripen.
Please monitor for SWD so we know how far it has spread, especially in the wild blackberries. Put out pheromone traps of apple cider vinegar.
Contact info: 541 682-7313 or Blog or request Email. Typing my Email here got the site full of medical adds.

Insects

12 spot cucumber beetles are out. They are attaching cucumber and brussell sprouts. 12 spot like the weed, red root pig weed, a good catch crop.
Lots of aphids on cabbage, but also lots of lady bird beetles.

Insects

Great hazelnut tour in the McMinnville area. The crops looks medium to good in potential yields.
Still heavy weed pressure.

Hazelnut tour

Great hazelnut tour in the McMinnville area. The crops looks medium to good in potential yields.
Still heavy weed pressure.

More on SWD

10 sites so far for SWD,from Junction City to Creswell.
Found out that so far a 5 foot cattle fence is keeping the deer out!
Aug. 4th - hazelnut tour in McMinnville starting at the Christensen farm.

SWD - Creswelll and Country Club Road Eugene

SWD has been found in Creswell and Country Club Road, Eugene!

Winter garden

Time to start the winter garden. (Almost sounds strange since the summer garden is just getting going.)
Be aware that radishes are turning hot due to the warm weather.
Help spread the word about the SW drosophila.
Most gardens and market stands in full production.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes growing well - but slow at ripening fruit.

Multiple crops of great radishes, lettuce and chard.
Seems to be few insects than normal - if we can ever define that.

More SW Drosophila

More SWD found in east Albany and Scio.
Small infestations.
Green beans doing well.
Currantand gooseberry season - near done.

More bugs

12 spot cucumber beetle population is emerging so be aware to protect zucchini and squash plants.
Cabbage aphid population is growing.

Reporting and Misc

To report SWD, see Blog July 25th
Great corn available.
Early peaches - very good.
Blueberries - high quality

SWD Responses

Today we have detections of SWD:
2 River Road- in 2 raspberries
1 Santa Clara - Young blackberry
1 lower River Road - Marion berry

Keep the finding coming in. Thanks to those who responded.

More on the Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD)

Thanks to a reader, not everyone may not know about the spotted wing drophila (SWD). It is a new insect, very similar to the vinegar fly that shows up instantly when you can fruit. See: http://swd.hort.oregonstate.edu/

The first first paragraph in the web site has info for Concerned Growers and Concerned homeowners.

The SWD HAS been found in raspberries in two sits so far. The first siting was along lower River Road. The insect lays eggs in soft fruit: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, especially blackberries and peaches. The insect looks like a fruit fly with a spot on each wing. If found, please Blog, Email: ross.penhallegon@oregonstate.edu or call 541 682-7313. We need to track this critter. Controls are listed on the web site. Thanks.

SWD

Spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) found in raspberries, but light infestation. Be aware that it is showing up in the soft berries. Prediction - raspberries, maybe blueberries, blackberries and then peaches. Be SURE to start trapping for this critter!!

Harvest

Broccolli, caluliflower, onions, garlic.
New corn copming on.
Blueberries, Marion berries.
Enjoy.

Codling moth

Codling moth have come out in big numbers this past week. Caught over 55 in one trap. The summer flight has begun.
Still few filbertworms.
Cucumber beetles are also low in number.
Box elder populations have been high and are now dwindling.
Be aware that there seems to be a lot of herbicide drift happening this year. Be careful to not drift pesticides.

Filbertworms

Only a few filbertworms caught so far!

More harvests

Sugar peas - near done.
Winter and spring onions - sized nicely.
Garlic falling over - time top harvest as leaves
turn yellow and light brown.
Severe deer damage in some areas.

SUNDAY and MONDAY

Days of REST!!!

Saturday

Another great growing day.
Marion berries ready.
Veges growing very well.
Irigation needed.
Cauliflower, brocolli, peas ready.

Harvest time

Take advantage of all of the great produce being produced in the Willamette Valley.
Attend local farmers markets, fresh produce stands or harvest the great produce from your own gardens.
Time to start thinking about fall gardens.
Harvest garlic and onions.
Sugar peas nearly done, unless picked daily.
Tomatoes and green beans doing well.

Thank You

Thanks to all of those who are food producers, big and small. You are doing a vital service to the people of Lane County, Oregon and the world!

The safe production of food has become so important in our lives and you are a critical part of producing that safe food! Food producers get little praise for the hard work that you do!

7-13-2010

As the hot weather continues, EFB will turn branches red/brown and is easy to see. The leaves will be stuck to the branch buds.
Plants may need more fertilizer.
Keep the peas picked.
Keep deer away from the garden :(
Keep an eye out for the Drosophila fly.
Grass has finally slowed down from growing 6 inches per week.

Hort

Raspberries are showing poor pollination.
Goose and currants doing well.
Strawberries nearing the end.
Cherries - depending on location are available.
Prune and peach crop yields look down.

Harvests

Garlic - nearing harvest.
Strawberries, cherries, raspberries and early blues ripe.
Plants will need watering soon. Dig down 6 inches to check the water level in the soil.
Typical filbertworm spray time, but few months so far.

SWD

Spotted wing drosophila verified along Rive Road in raspberries. The trap caught a lot of flies.
Set out apple vinegar traps ASAP.

Moths

More codling moths
Few filbertworms caught so far.
Plants growing nicely in the warm weather.

July 5

Harvest snow peas, carrots, beets
Garlic will soon be ready to harvest.
Continue to harvest strawberries, raspberries, early blues, cherries. Such a great time of year.
Harvest lettuce.
Warm season plants really growing. Peppers and egg plant still being slow do to cold nights.

Happy 4th

Happy 4th and have great harvests!

Plant away

Have a great weekend.
The weather will be warm, coll and wet - only in Oregon.
Be aware of scab, rust, leaf spot and powdery mildew.

Spotted Wing Drosophila

SWD found near River Road in raspberries!

HELP!

Garlic getting rust bad but will soon be harvested.
Ripe - cherries, strawberries, raspberries, some early blues, currant and gooseberries.
Yes it is summer time.
Need everyone's good vibs from 8-10 tomorrow AM. Meeting with LCC!

Box elder bugs

Plants are growing very nicely.
Lots of box elder bugs. For controls - see Kezi In the Garden for 6/29/2010

Saturday

Shallow soil is dry but deep soil is still wet.
Tomatoes, pumpkins - like the warm weather.
Dang deer wiping out my green beans :(
Garlic nearing harvest time.

Continue

Continue to pick strawberries and cherries.
Visit the local farm stands and farmers market.
Continue to plant. Irrigation will be needed soon.
Wild warm season plants are coming up so that is a good sign summer is here.
Some blueberries over 1/2 inch already in size.

More insects

More codling moths and more filbertworms
Warm season veges doing very well.

Insects

Yesterday - 6 codling moths caught. Last week - 50 caught in Harrisburg.
2 filbertworms - Springfield, small and immature
Garlic - gray mold, white mold, orange rust and leaf problems

Plants

Warm season plants still slow growing due to cool night temps.
Grapes really growing strong.
Grass, lawns and weeds still almost out of control.
Lesser celandine weed doesn't like mowing.

Insects

Saturday there was a trap with 50 codling moths. So Harrisburg must be where they are all at.
Also, saw vinegar flies in a trap. The ones looked like the regular vinegar fly not the spotted wind drosophila, so GET THE SWD traps out asap near the berry and cherry crops.

Weekend

A great weekend to go to the farmers market, down town Eugene. Fridays visit the SPrigfield FM, down town, by the museum.
Beans and pumpkins are coming up from seed. The seeds are signs that the weather and soil are above 60 degrees.

Plant away. The soil surface is getting dry so check in the PM to see how dry the soil is.

6-17

strawberries getting better each day.
Raspberries -near ready. Still no codling moths. They may have been drowned out!
Many cherries suffering from dead bud..Psuedomonas syringina entered the flower bud as it was freezing and killed the bud. Next spring, chuck fall spray.

Blueberries

Look out for botrytis (gray mold) on blueberries. Use a good fungicide to protect the new foliage and berries.
Peaches and apples sizing nicely. Initial hazelnut crop - looks very good.
Keep up with mowing the lawn.
Weed still growing at a fast rate.

Plant, plant, plant

Now that the weather has changed, time to plant.
Some soil is still wet.
No codling moth or cherry fruit.
Protect tender transplants or seedlings.

Sun

Wow, sun and it was actually warm.
No codling moth. Have to check the pheromone.
Soil still very moisture.
Strawberries - being harvested but not a dark red.

6-9-2010

It could be snowing :)
Apple and pear that are out there are sizing and need thinning.

Codling moth and cherry fruit fly have been recorded up north. No recent catches.

Today

Gee, at least least some peoples plants are growing!!!!
Few apples or plums this year. Blue and straw berries doing very good. Cole crops are bolting due to the warm and cold weather. Most plants are still in the leaf stage.

Phenology

According to OSU phenology reports, strawberries are 5-7 days later at ripening than Normal.

6-5-2010

The soil should NOT be wet or it will rot the seeds. My soil was just right today but waiting a few days will be OK. Check the Facebook - Garden Hints for the most uptodate on what is happening in the garden. If you can squeeze water out of soil, it is too wet. It is still cool for eggplant, pumpkins and peppers.

Strawberries and mosquitoes

Strawberries being picked. Pray for sunny weather the next 6 weeks!
Lots of spittle bugs and slugs and snails.
Cherry fruit fly - out in Portland. I think our insects have drowned!!!!
Mosquitoes love the water - dump out old buckets.

Plant away

The weather is suppose to break so head to the local farmers market or garden store to pick up garden plants and - plant away.
Lawns are over grown.
Weeds are out of control.

Rain

In the last two weeks I have emptied my rain gauge twice, 3 1/2 inches twice.
No codling moth other than a quick emergence May 14-15.
Cherry fruit was found up north and in Hood River. They are drowning down here.

Say what

Strawberries are actually ripening.
We don't need any more rain for four weeks for the strawberry crop.
Cherry fruit arrived in Hood River today.
Time to check the codling moth traps again after a few warm days.

Go forth and plant

Sunshine.
Mulched or cover cropped soils will still be wet. Roto till the fields and go forth and plant ASAP. More slugs and snails.
Weeds and lawn are out of control. My rain gauge had 4 inches of new rain.

Weather

Get out the water wings and boats.
No more codling moth or filbertworms yet.
Best to transplant rather than using seed for the next week.

Raspberry rust

Raspberries are coming into the Extension office with severe yellow rust on the leaves.
Pick off the infected leaves. Clean up infected leaves. In the fall prune out old stalks.
Use a good fungicide, such as lime sulfur or wettable sulfur to control the rust.

Grass

Try and keep with the mowing of grass. It is growing very fast in the cool weather.
Weeds are growing very fast. Roto till, hand weed or mulch to slow the weed population down.

BRRRRR

Another wet and cold weekend. Plantings continue between rain storms.
Codling moth emergence has slowed greatly. Be aware during the next warm spell.
Strawberries and blueberries blooming.
Some late apple blooming- long bloom time.
Start thinning peaches, pears and apples when they get nickel to quarter size.

Wet and Cold

More rain for the next few days.
No codling moths since the weather turned colder.
Cedar apple rust on apples and pears.
12 spot beetle on the move.
New batch of slugs and snails coming.

Insects and Extension

No more codling moths since it got cold.

May 18 - the levy for Extension was turned down. Very shocking. May 18-20 scrambling to determine our future. We are working very hard to look for alternative funding and housing. Being here since 1914, there is too much to loose. Keep tuned.

Codling moth control

Codling moth his out. Put pheromone traps in the upper 1/3 of the tree to monitor populations. Controls: Bt, black lights, Surround or kaolin clay, malathion. Or use small paper bags or old nylons, to cover and protect the apples/pears. More info. go to: http://uspest.org/pnw/insects, and look up apples.

Codling moth outQ

Codling moth has emerged in Albany, Scio and Eugene/Springfield due to the warm weather. The rain will slow the continued emergence.

Weekend

A great weekend to garden and farm.
Dry weather reduces the diseases that are out on the tree fruits.
Peaches - a lot of secondary peach leaf curl.
Codling moth - out or soon to be out in the lower valley.
May 15 - should be OK for warm season veges, but watch the weather forecasts.

CM and SWD

Codling moth due out this weekend.
Spotted wing Drosophila found last year: River Road, Hayden Bridge, South Hills and Springfield in large numbers.
Strawberries still 2-4 weeks out.

Pear and apple rust

There is a lot of orange rust showing up on pears and apples.
Apple and pollination looking good.

Monday

Rain - have to wait for a few more days to plant.
Watch out for slugs and snails.
Seeing lots of freeze and water damage to tomatoes in greenhouses and outside

Vote for the Lane County measures!!!!

Soil

Tilling was excellent today. It was fine but down 6 inches was still very wet.
Tree fruits look like there will be - variable this year.
Cherries - spotty.
Peaches - spotty
Plum/prune - spotty
Apples - will see soon, look OK so far before June drop.

Weekend

Most were lucky and avoided the frost.
Time to till - and plant.
Soil temp was actually - 53 degrees Tuesday.
Spittle bugs still out in fair numbers.
Wash them off or use insecticidal soaps.

FROST WARNING

May 5, 2010
The National Weather Service in Portland has issued a frost advisory for tonight. Details are below: SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...EUGENE...CORVALLIS...ALBANY
...FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM PDT THURSDAY FOR THE
SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A FROST
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM PDT THURSDAY.

* TIMING: LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.
* TEMPERATURE: LOWS DIPPING INTO THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 30S.
* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: EUGENE...CORVALLIS...ALBANY
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A FROST ADVISORY MEANS THAT FROST IS POSSIBLE. SENSITIVE OUTDOOR PLANTS MAY BE KILLED IF LEFT UNCOVERED.

To Does

Plant dahlias, glads and begonias.
Fertilize bushes and trees, especially rhodies and azaleas.
Plant cole crops as soil dries. Figure mid May for war rm season plants. Seeing a lot of tomato cold damage.

To Does

Check for spittle bugs on strawberries and annuals.
Use floating row covers for bugs...Remay.
Control slugs and snails.
Soils still wet in some areas.

High winds

SPECIAL SUNDAY EVENING STATEMENT... STRONG WINDS (>35 mph) are now possible for NW Washington and northern end of Willamette Valley over the next 24 hrs. Rapidly forming storm center will deepen and push strong winds and HEAVY RAIN into NW Washington. Snow levels will also plummet overnight.
-Rufus http://www.ovs.com/weather_cafe.htm

General info

Garden spiders had a big hatch.
Codling moth emerged north of Salem.
Blueberries and apples in full bloom.

Spotted Wing Drosophola

New information on the Spotted Wing Drosophila.

Go to: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/lane/farms

Look at the Spotted Wing Drosophila information and web sites

The way it is

This year has had some really long pollination periods. In general, the longer the pollination period, the less viable the fruit, and the shorter the pollination time, the greater the chance for good fruit. Time will tell.

Weather

Monday April 26 - The PNW is in for absolutely delightful weather, but we must be patient for another few days. Cool moving into the west coast region. Pattern will favor some rain, showers, breezy conditions.

Ag patrons: it's quite possible that DRY, WARM conditions will impact the region for over 14 days. Plan ahead for irrigation needs. Bloom period for many should be favorable into mid-May.

Projecting a nice weekend for May 1, 2. Sunday could turn out some 70+ temps for many in the PNW. Week of May 3-7 will bring on the warmest temps. Should help strawberries 'sweeten up'. PNW temps will climb into the upper 70s and low 80s.
-Rufus http://www.ovs.com/weather_cafe.htm

4-24-2010

Apples - full bloom.
Aphids hitting the maples trees. Good ladybird populations.
Quince - has a yellow rust problem.
Time to mow the grass again!

Weather

Friday April 23 - Next two or three weeks will not be too bad. A weak system that could bring some Saturday showers in the Seattle area & north, the weekend should remain decent. A cold, damp system remains on track to impact the PNW beginning late Monday. RAIN likely, if not heavy showers. Hail possible. Overall pattern should begin to dry out and shift to a more spring-like pattern by late next week. Expect dry and mild conditions to continue into early May, with warmer 75 - 85 F temps arriving for all in the May 6 - 10 period. -Rufus

Great Plant Sale!

Master Gardener Plant Sale will be held at the OSU Extension Service, Lane County, 950 W 13th Avenue, Eugene, OR on Saturday, April 24, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Come early for best selection. Enjoy great plants, baked goods and coffee, garden art, informational booths, used book sale, and silent auction. All proceeds will go to support the Master Gardener program in Lane County.

Critters

The spotted winged drosophila was catch across from Hood River. So it is coming.

http://swd.hort.oregonstate.edu/

Lots of cutworms in the soil

Lawns are full of crane flies, some with over 100 per square foot!

OM, fertilizer and transplant

Time to add lots of organic matter (OM). Add 2-4 inches and rototill in. Fertilzer everything if you haven't. 1 lbs actural N per 1000 sq feet of lawn. Begin transplanting flowers, bushes and trees.

Weather and Insects

Weather Update - Monday April 19 As the current system arrived overnight with some moisture possible for the PNW. The PNW will clear out by Wednesday, with another set of dry days going into the weekend. Overall, the next real threat for moisture shows up next Tuesday, mirroring today's pattern. A mild and DRY period looks to be ahead for the April 29 - May 4. Weekend of May 1-2 continues to look delightful. Enjoy the relatively dry run for the next 2 weeks.

http://www.ovs.com/weather_cafe.htm

In the near future I will be communicating as insects start to emerge.

Time to plant cole crops

If this weather remains, we will be able to till the soil and get the cole crops into the ground.

Pear blister mite

Pears

Some pears are getting some insect damage called "pear blister mite". This is a small mite that gets between the tissue and causes red blisters. It doesn't have any negative affect on the leaves or fruit.

For more info: http://uspest.org/pnw/insects?21TFRT15.dat

see pix

Raspberries

Our first sample came into the Extension office with raspberry root rot. Root rot is caused by wet soils and clay soils. The raspberry will leaf out but as the weather warms, the plant will collapse. The roots have been rotted by too much water (Oct-April) or too clay of soil or mulch being added around the plant base. Solution: Remove mulch, have loamy raised beds, build loamy berms or replanting every three-five years.

The raspberries also had Dec. 2009 winter freeze burn on the canes from ground level to six inches up on the stems.

Soil and garden journals

Use a soil thermometer to check soil temp. If 50+, plant cole crops: cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli. If soil is 60+, plant warm season veges.
Review your garden journal to see what worked, what didn't work and changes you want to make this year.

Mosquitoes

Check all buckets, old tires, small swimming pools, and anything that will hold water. I checked several buckets and they were teaming with mosquitoes, some of which will be adults in 2-4 days. Empty containers or use DUNKS in larger water troughs or standing water.

Brown rot

More brown rot blossom blight on cherry trees out on our experiment farm (in Corvallis) than I have ever seen in 22 years. Trees have anywhere from 50 to 90% of the blossoms blighted where there has been no fungicide application. I suspect you might start getting calls about it today if you have not gotten any yet.

Jay Pscheidt -OSU

http://plant-disease.ippc.orst.edu/disease.cfm?RecordID=272

Gardening

Good day to get garden "sore", i.e.-worked outside tooo much.
Soil still pretty wet.
Spittle bugs and lots of snails showing up.
Discovered that my blackberry patch was 95% dead. The 4'X20' area is now level.

Time Too..

Prune forsythia bushes and other spring bloomers when they are done blooming.
Fertilize blueberry, gooseberry, currents, and trailing berries.
Fertilize asparagus and rhubarb.
Dethatch and demoss lawns now that they are growing.

Helping Crops

With the cold and then warm weather, the use of a row cover called REMAY helps to keep the soil warmer for transplants and seeds.
Weekend is suppose to be colder and rainy.
When the sun IS out, bees are pollinating.

What's up?

Peas, Rhubarb, Garlic
Raspberries - full leaf; blueberries - near bloom; blackberries - full leaf
Peaches - near done bloom; pears - cherries - full bloom but bad pollination; early apples - showing pink.

Tree fruits

Pears and cherries are heading to full bloom.
Early apples showing pink and white blooms.
Soil - saturated again.
Early planted peas - up and growing - slowly.

Weather

Monday April 5 Cold, upper level air will continue to periodically push down over the Gulf of Alaska, opening the door for stormy, damp, CHILLY weather pattern. As each 'cold finger' of air passes over the PNW, expect rain/showers and chilly late-winter like temperatures. Mountain snow will continue to pile up. Biggest issue could be the COLD TEMPS Saturday morning. Sub-freezing temps, on both sides of Cascades, if sky clears /no wind. Ag patrons be alert.

Rufus http://ovs.com/weather_cafe.htm

:)

Life is good. Even thought we are in rough times, we need to be thankful for all we have. Easter is a time to celebrate.
Enjoy the day, life and the great opportunities that we have!

Weather!!

Friday 4/2 The much advertised system is on track. While the entire area west side of the Cascades may not experience sustained winds > 40 mph, some places could. WIND GUSTS likely to top 70 mph at the coast; 55-60 mph inland. There will be power outages in many locations, esp with the water-logged soils. BE PREPARED. Patrons: might be prudent to have some water stored. Higher elevations likely to have stronger winds. More HEAVY RAIN and over 2.5 ft of SNOW above the passes; snow at very low levels around the region with heavy showers. Foot hills; coast range – rain and snow. For report, go to: http://ovs.com/weather_cafe.htm

Two "be awares"

Variegated cut worms in the soil are going after strawberry plants or anything green in the garden. The cut worm is an inch long and black stripping on its back.

High wind warning from the coast to the cascades. Heavy snow predicted for the cascades.

More rain and Snow

Snow up near Vida and a LOT more rain on the valley floor.

Time to haul out some plastic to cover the raised beds shed the water.

Grass is growing out of control.

Keep plants covers for a while

Another cold wet day. It was snowing in Noti this AM. Keep the plants covered.

Cover the plants!!!

Monday March 29

The blustery weather pattern has arrived. A lot of wind. from eastern WA / OR to the coast have been clocking in with gusts over 35 mph. Plenty of moisture arrived, with more on the way. “It was snowing heavily at Hoodoo at 2:30 pm this afternoon.”

Potential for some serious THUNDERSTORMS over the entire region. Heavy rain, HAIL, and very strong localized winds probable, esp late Mon into Tue. LIGHTNING STRIKES also in play.

Another set front is due in following Fools Day, with more heavy rain, winds, mtn snow. For the full story see - http://ovs.com/weather_cafe.htm

Asparagus

Perfect time to plant asparagus.
Time to plant potatoes if planting them into old bales of hay.

Thank You

Thanks to all who have started to control their celandine. I have heard from a lot of people working to get this weed under control. Extension and ODA thank you.

Weather Alert

SPECIAL UPDATE - Stormy, chilly, and potentially WINDY weather. This is geared towards patrons that have hoop tunnels and soft covered greenhouses.

Storms due to begin 3/28 lasting until at least 3/7. There is potential for rather STRONG WINDS (for late Mar/Apr) to the PNW. Wind gusts exceeding 35 mph can pose issues for hoop, tunnel, greenhouse coverings. BE PREPARED - use this week, while dry, secure and protect greenhouse materials JUST IN CASE winds next week. Moderate-to-heavy RAIN is also likely over the course of several days. Get ground work completed this week.

http://ovs.com/weather_cafe.htm

Lesser celandine controls

Controls: Celandine has specialized overwintering buds which makes it difficult to control. People can control lesser celandine by repeatedly digging it out and sifting through the dirt for the buds; removal and covering the area with 4-6 inches of sheet compost and/or cardboard; smother with old carpet or plastic; repeated mowing every 3-4 weeks; use of herbicides to control vegetation. Celandine has spread by well meaning neighbors who have “shared” the plant with others since it blooms in the early spring and has a very bright yellow flower.

Lesser celandine

Controls for lesser celandine will soon follow. This weed is taking over understory plants and needs to be controlled ASAP. It came in as an ornamental and has been given away as very colorful spring plant. HOWEVER, it spreads quickly. ODA and Extension need your help in controlling this weed!

This week

Control less celandine, a new noxious and invasive weed which is found in MANY of our yards. I have a patch 3x12!!.
Prune and fertilize gooseberry and currant.
Divide hosta, daylilies and mums.

Weekend

Finish pruning.
Compost garden.
Rototill garden - check soil. Dig hole, grab soil. If it is wet or is sticky...wait to till. If it is crumbly, go forth and till!!!!
Lane Co Farms market starts April 3rd.
Learn about GREAT Extension programs - got to: extension.oregonstate.edu/lane/

Weather

Forecast are for nicer weather,. Be aware of early AM cold.
March 15-April 1 - fertilize all fruit trees.
Fertilize rhodie, camellias, azaleas, with acid fertilizer: 21-0-0 or organic fertilizer with sulfur.
Soils temps OK for cole crops.

Two days

In two days it should be dry enough to start the gardening-farming expereince.
Be aware that some soils are still very wet. Peaching still doing OK. Cherries, pears and apples pushing.

Hints

Soil is still very wet.
When dry, plant peas, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, chard, lettuce.
Lawns are getting long.
Be aware of the "goo" coming from cedar trees is the Coast Cedar rust which affects apples and pears. Not much can be done. However, the apple and pears are NOT in bloom so the rust may go away before bloom.

Cedar rust and pears

OSU Extension Plant Pathologist has noted that serviceberry (Amelanchier) are in bud break and cedars have spores ready to go. Rain means a big infection period for rust. Rust spores on the cedars do not infect cedars. They infect the rosaceous host like Amelanchier or Pear.

http://plant-disease.ippc.orst.edu/disease.cfm?RecordID=254

General info

Seeing lots of damage to plants from the December freeze.
Prune roses to 6" ASAP.
Finish pruning.
Compost lawn clippings. Don't apply Weed and Feed to lawns and compost lawn clippings, this will contaminate the compost pile.

Cold

At 10:00 pm the temp outside is 30 degrees. If the temp goes as normal, 6:00 am could be rough on the peaches.

More on pruning

We can prune Nov.-March. Best to prune Feb. 15-Mar.1. After March the buds begin to open and as long as you are careful, only a few buds are knocked off. Fruit trees only need 25% of the buds to have a full crop.

Master Gardener Plant Sale

Attend the biggest plant sale in the area, the Master Gardener-Garden Fair and Plant sale, held April 24, 9am-2pm, at the OSU Extension Service, 950 W 13 Avenue, Eugene. There will be plants of all types, recycle garden art, live music, bake sale, compost specialists, info booths, Sustainable landscape info., garden products, kids corner, garden books and tools.

Gardens

It is after March 1st so gardens can start going in now.
Plat peas, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower.
The soil may still be a bit wet.
With all of the rain, add lime at 40 pounds per 500 sq feet.

Garden and Farms, pt. 2

Pt. – B 2-Facebook has two Groups: A-Garden Hints which covers current gardening ideas. The OSU Farm Forum, where farmers make daily comments. You can belong to all groups. The Blog and Garden Hints are similar. Please check out these sites and give comments as to how well they work. Send to those people who might have an interest in gardening or farming. Thank you for your support.

Gardens and Farms - pt. 1

Pt. A - Gardeners/farmers - I’ve developed sites for garden and farming information for people near and far. People are using different social media’s. This is a test to see which media is best for getting info out. Two sites have been designed. 1-Blog at: http://osuextensionlanecounty.blogspot.com/ or search for “Gardening Hints for Oregon”.

Rhubarb

The rhubarb plants are starting to grow so add a couple hands full of fertilizer and/or a lot compost or manure around the plants.

Weed around the plant so all of the fertilizer and water goes to the new plants.

Roses

Time to prune the hybrid roses down to around 6-8 inches. This way the roses only grow a few feet tall. If you leave the roses unpruned, the plant will grow to over 5foot tall.

Grafting Class

A grafting class will be held at the OUS Extension Service March 9, two sessions, 3-5 and 6-8, Eugene, Or. Call 1 541 682-7308 for registartion form.

Apples

Apple bud are breaking two weeks a head of schedule. With the first dry day, spray with lime sulfur or copper to clean up the trees from various fungus problems.

Peas

Time to think about planting peas - Perfection, Oregon Sugar Pod, Sugar Snap, Oregon Trail or Oregon Sugar Pod II.

Tree fruits

Peaches are showing pink bloom.
Some plums are blooming out.
Cherries and pears are pushing open.
Raspberries and roses have leaves over 1 inch long.
Blueberries - pushing hard.
Be wary - it has been 31 for two mornings.

This week

A question arose about grafting older grapes: It is easier to get cuttings from a good grape, root it and then replant. Grafting older plants is pretty difficult.
Peaches and plums are blooming in Coos County!
Lawns may need mowing if the weather stays warm.

This week

Plant new tree fruits and berry bushes between Feb. 15 and March 15.
Be aware that we MAY still have bad weather between now and the end of March.
Finish pruning. Collect scion wood for grafting between Feb. 15- March 1st, place in a cool place or refrigerator until you graft.

Lawns

Take a few minutes since it is still raining, to check the lawn mower. Yes, the lawn is growing.
Change the oil, clean the air filter and sharpen the blade.

If the lawn has moss, as most lawns will this time of year, add 80 pounds per 1000 sq feet of ag lime or any kind of lime.

Even in the rain

Check the plants under the eaves of the house. The plants will be in need of water soon. Check for soil moisture with a trowel or shovel.

While pruning today (another pruning class), I noticed that every bud on a pear tree had 2 mm of dead tissue on each bud from the December freeze. This will mean that the leaves will be deformed, have brown edges or the bloom may have been damaged. Time will tell.

Mice

In walking out into the orchard I noticed a lof wholes in the ground with the grass missing near the wholes. These are field mice or voles. Use baited traps to catch the voles. Remove ALL vegetation from around the base of the trees. Mice won't cross open ground.

Wow

I was out in the garden today, in the rain, and noticed that the raspberries had leafed out already.
The plum/prune trees had white buds - soon to bloom.
Spray these with copper or lime sulfur ASAP. Wait to much longer and the spray will burn the new flowers and leaves.

More Hints

Review your garden journal for what you did, what you liked and what you didn't like last year. (If you didn't keep a garden journal, start one for 2010.)
Have your soil tested at least every 5 years to see where you are with the different nutrients. Check with your local Extension office - Master Gardeners - for places to get your soil sampled. For MGs in Eugene, OR. - 541 682-4247.

Feb To Does

Prune grapes, take cuttings. Cut into pieces about 14-18 inches long; make sure there are three buds per pruning stick. Place two of the three buds in well drained potting mix. Keep the soil moist. By May the grapes will have rooted.

Feb. 1

With rain, wait to till soil.
Prep space indoor or a cold frame for outdoor new seedlings.
Fertilize rhubarb with a 6 inches of manure or compost.
Feb. 15 - prune grapes. It is OK if you prune them already.
Continue to prune or attend pruning classes- Lane County, Oregon.

More Hints

February can still be very cold.
Prepare soil when dry.
Do NOT walk on lawns when the lawn is icy and turns WHITE.
Spray copper or lime sulfur for canker on ALL apple trees.

Time To -

Clean up garden tools and get ready to use - clean mud off of working part.
Sharpen the edges of shovels and hoes.
Clean and sharpen pruners.
Re-apply mulches on garden, around roses and berry bushes.

Transplants

For transplants use good potting soil.
Starts seeds about 60 days ahead of planting out.
Pruning class, GrassRoots Garden, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1-3 pm.

Soil digging and tilling

Grab a handfull of soil. If it forms a shape or can made into clay pots, the soil is still too wet. If the soil breaks apart in your hand, it is ready to be dug or tilled.

More places for plants and seeds

Here is a small list of places to find seeds and plants:
Gray's - Eugene and Spring
Down To Earth - Eugene
Jerry's - Eugene and Spring
Coastal Farm - Eugene
Wilco - Spring
-many local nurseries

Remember, it can get cold between now and March 1st.

More on seeds and plants

Seeds and plants are starting to show up in different places.
Recommendation: Typically plant peas in mid February. Plant cole crops in mid March. Plant warm season veges AFTER May 1st.

January - To Does

If you dont' have your seed cataloges, go to:
Nichols Seed - Albany
Territorial Seed - Cottage Grove
Park Seed. S. Carolina
Johnny's Seed. Winslow, Maine

Visiting Nichols and Territorial is an expereince in itself. You CAN just look.

Weather Part 1

Friday January 15, Part One

According to Cliff Mass, atmospheric conditions are setting up next week that could result in the 'explosive' development of surface systems as they approach the west coast. True, we cannot forecast each storm track this far out with certainty, but the models have been consistent enough to warrant the 'heads-up' for patrons across the region. There could be three or four storms, which typically create powerful hurricane-force wind fields along the coast and even inland 50 - 60 miles.

Late Sunday night, the first strong storm will impact the PNW with strong winds on the coast and across SW OR.

Weather Update 2

Part Two - The second storm - even stronger - will form late Wednesday and deepen as it moves north toward Vancouver Is. Coastal wind GUSTS with this system could exceed 100 mph - motorists may want to stay off coastal roads for risk of falling trees/limbs. For the PNW, rain will continue and snow levels should begin to drop some with colder air aloft moving onshore. WINDY.

Third storm cell, is modeled to move onshore around Astoria sometime late Thur or early Fri. VERY WINDY esp for central and southern OR coast.

After a short 2 day break in the action (Jan 23, 24), another round of systems may begin to hit the west coast again in the Jan 25 - 30 time frame. This series could bring the heaviest rain into OR and SW Washington. Watch the storm on Jan 29th, as it could really hammer the PNW. For full story see: http://ovs.com/weather_cafe.htm

January Hints

Continue pruning. Big pruning class at Thistledown Farm, Sat., Jan.16th.

With this heavy rain, cover compost piles and keep them from getting TOO wet.

Review what grew well last year, do it again or chagne varieiters. REocrd all changes.

Weather

Several interesting weather events are becoming probable for January. Rain and showers for western OR, a few in Washington and a tad drier Sunday. Next week will usher in on-and-off rain & showers accompanying BREEZY conditions as relatively weak systems scramble by. PNW will get increasing RAIN and WIND Thur night thru Sat morning. The Jan 15 - 24 period may be quite STORMY. Surface systems, and cold air over the Gulf of Alaska, indicate a couple of these storms may develop as they approach the west coast. While some will likely spin north and not actually come onshore, the WIND and RAIN will be notable, depending on your location. The PNW will get plenty of rain as well, with winds potentially approaching damaging levels for coastal communities.

Bottom line: progressively wetter pattern in store for the PNW. Although warmer with relatively high snow levels to start, colder air for many of the late period storms should contribute to the new snow pack. For a full forecast, see - Rufus as: http://ovs.com/weather_cafe.htm

Apple trees

Apple trees need a copper or lime sulfur spray now and in mid March to protect the trees from anthracnose.

Anthracnose is a disease that causes splits in the bark.

January chores

With warmer weather, now is good time to spray roses, berries and tree fruits with a copper spray or lime sulfur.

A great time to prune. The Extension Service has 30 pruning classes coming up in the next 6 months to teach proper pruning techniques.

Order seed catalogs.