Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Read a good book

According to weather forecasts, time to find a good
book that you can read for the next few days until
the weather changes this weekend.
Work inside.
Build small greenhouses or cloches for outside.

Monday, May 30, 2011

The way it is

Some soil is ready to tilling and other is not.
On an afternoon drive, we drove past some soil that was tilled and it was big clumps of clay ,i.e.- still too wet to till.
Crops are still slowly growing, but growing.
Apple, pear and peach thinning will be u traps up ASAP but don't expect the real hatch until mid June.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Memorial Weekend

Still - plant away.
The weather isn't quite ready for warm seasoned veges but they will grow.
The soil temp isn't 60 degrees yet, but close.
The cooler temps will just slow down the potential growth if the soil temp was above 60 degrees.
Cloches, wager jugs and mini cold frames will help.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Weekend

Weather still cool and cold at times with days of rain.
Increased apple scab infection.
Lots of cherry gummosis, dead bud and canker due to the wet weather.
Bartlett pears got a lot of cedar apple rust.
Blueberries - noticing a lot of Pseudomonas or tip die back.
Pollination on all tree fruits and berries seems to be OK so far. Even cole crops slow at growing.
Grass and pastures are enjoying the cool weather. The first hay crop MAY not get cut in time for maximum yield and nutrient value...grass is too wet, weather too wet for drying.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Wednesday

Corn up and growing.
Commercial tomatoes have gone in.
Pumpkins going in this week or next.
All trees fruits looking good.
Cherries still not looking very good.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Warm and wet

With the next rain, it will be warm and wet.
Thus an increase in apple scab, cedar apple rust and rose black spot, peony leaf blight, rust on garlic and onions. Find a good fungicide or use wettable sulfur.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Warm season plants

Let's go out on a limb.....time to plant warm season veges.
Time for tomato (cherry), melon, pepper, cucumbers.
Wait for egg plant unless you have protection.
Hard to believe but are 5 weeks AHEAD of last year.
Remember finally planting the first of July :)

Friday, May 20, 2011

More good ??!! weather

More good weather for a while.
Spring will be here.....
Tree fruits looking better.
Blueberry - full bloom, some frost damage but so far just a little.
Strawberries - good bloom, slow leaf growth, some frost damage.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Wednesday

Plant away.
Still too early for tomato and other warm season plants, but hopefully next week.
Rain in the forecast.
Slugs and snails - massive amounts. Use beer, boards, copper, yeast, or even plastic sheeting to attracts slugs.
Till weeds.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Paradise

Another beautiful day in paradise.
We have the soil.
We have the climate.
We have the water.
Enjoy each day we have to grow bounteous food in the Willamette Valley.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Saturday

Spring slowly coming but more rain coming.
Peaches - some crop
Cherries - will waiting to see pollination.
Apples - Long pollination, different sized apples.
Spotted wing drosophia out in big numbers. Have vinegar traps out when strawberries turn pink.
Weather OK for cole crops. Still cool for warm season crops, was 38 last night.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Apple bloom looks good.

Apple bloom looks good.
Wait two to three weeks to thin. Wait until the fruit is about quarter size and then thin.
Plant away.
Weather still hot and cold.
Cole crops still slow growing.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Lawns

Mow lawn ASAP
I had some grass that was 6 inches tall...a pre pasture.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Saturday

Continue to plant the cole crops.
Still a bit cool for the warm season veges unless they are protected with Remay, Walls of Water or jugs of water.
Mow the grass, it is getting too long.
Soil can be rototilled.
Some aphids around.
Time to make the apple cider vinegar traps for spotted wing drosophila.
Go to: SWD OSU for more info or call your local Extension office.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Great day

Plant away before the rain.
Good pollination happening.
Crops looking very good.
Still too cold for warm season veges, maybe next week.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Today

Blueberries - good bee day.
Old brassicas going to seed.
Lots of bees out.
Soil still VERY cold.
Plants planted 30 days ago, cabbage, onion,s broccoli and peas really haven't grown very much.
Protect the plants from the cold AM's.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Plant away

Good weather, plant away.
Apples, sherries good pollinating the last few days. Yeah.
Good bee movement Saturday and Sunday.
Still Am very cool so not warm season pants yet.
If you have, protect them with Walls of Water or water jugs.