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by Linda Geist, University of Missouri-Extension
The phrase “waste not, want not” goes back to a time when the essentials of life were difficult to obtain, but it continues to be good advice today, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. It applies even to ashes produced this time of the year by wood-burning fireplaces and stoves. “When collected and spread on the garden, wood ashes are an excellent and free source of calcium and other plant nutrients,” Trinklein said. Wood ashes are highly alkaline. As a safety precaution, wear protective glasses, gloves and a dust mask when spreading on the garden. Ashes from burning cardboard, trash, coal or treated wood of any type may contain potentially harmful materials and should not be used on the garden. Ashes are the organic and inorganic remains of the combustion of wood. Their composition varies due mainly to the species of wood. As a rule, hardwood species produce three times more ashes and five times more nutrients than softwood species, he said. Since carbon, nitrogen and sulfur are the elements primarily oxidized in the combustion process, wood ashes contain most of the other essential elements required for the growth of the tree used as fuel. By weight, wood ashes contain 1.5%-2% phosphorus and 5%-7% potassium. If listed as a fertilizer, most wood ashes would have the analysis of 0-1-3 (N-P-K). Calcium content ranges from 25% to 50%. Because of the high calcium content, it’s probably best to think of wood ashes as a liming material to adjust soil pH rather than a regular fertilizer to supply an array of nutrients, said Trinklein. The ideal pH range for most garden plants is about 6.0 to 6.5. When soil pH falls below this range, certain essential mineral elements become less available to the plant. Since garden soils tend to become more acidic as plants take up nutrients, periodic adjustment to decrease soil acidity (increase pH) is necessary. Most wood ashes have an acid neutralizing equivalent of about 45%-50% of calcium carbonate (limestone). In other words, it takes about twice the weight of wood ashes compared with limestone to cause the same change in soil acidity. For example, if soil tests indicate you need 5 pounds of limestone per 100 square feet of garden area to raise the soil pH to an acceptable level, you would need 10 pounds of wood ashes to make the same change, Trinklein said. Apply small amounts of wood ashes to the garden on a yearly basis to supply other nutrients such as phosphorus and potassium. Trinklein recommends a soil test every two to three years where light applications are made on a regular basis. Excessive application of wood ashes can lead to a buildup of pH above the optimum range. This can result in other nutritional problems because of reduced nutrient availability at high pH values. Wood ashes not applied to the garden immediately should be stored under dry conditions. Ashes piled outdoors lose most of their potassium in a year’s time due to leaching from rains. Additionally, weathered wood ashes’ ability to act as a liming agent also is greatly reduced. Because of the fine nature of wood ashes, they cannot modify soil structure and, therefore, are not considered a soil conditioning agent. The carbon compounds that act as a soil conditioner when sawdust, leaf mold or compost are applied to garden soil, for the most part, have been consumed by the fire. For more reliable, research-based information on gardening, contact Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City Gardeners Hotline- 816-833-TREE (8733) or email- mggkc.hotline@gmail.com
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by Tamra Reall (@MUExtBugNGarden) is a horticulture specialist for MU Extension – Urban West Region (Article used with permission from the Kansas City Gardener.) Get ready for a magical cicada spectacle this spring! Billions of buzzing insects from periodical cicada Broods XIII (13) and XIX (19) are emerging in April and May. Last seen together in 1803, they won't appear together again for another 221 years. In Missouri, we will just be seeing Brood XIX, while Brood XIII will be mostly in northern Illinois. I hope you will join the excitement, enjoy the rhythmic buzz, and marvel at nature’s spectacular show! What is the difference between periodical cicadas and the cicadas that come out every year? Periodical cicadas are like nature's timekeepers, following a mysterious, prime number schedule that scientists are still learning about. Having the longest life cycle in the insect world, periodical cicadas seem to magically appear together every 13 or 17 years. This is why their genus name is Magicicada! They spend most of their lives underground as nymphs feeding on the sap of tree roots. Then, as if waiting for the perfect moment, groups of Magicicada species, called a “brood,” emerge together all at once. These small, black cicadas with red eyes appear in such large numbers that they can cover trees. These clumsy fliers are easily captured by birds, squirrels, raccoons, and even dogs and cats. With so many emerging at the same time, many will survive to lay eggs for the next generation emerging in another 13 or 17 years later. Another fascinating feature of these insects is that the males sing together to attract females. In contrast, the large, green cicadas we see each summer have a shorter life cycle of 2-5 years and are known as annual or dog-day cicadas as some become adults every year. While these cicadas also sing in the trees, they give solo performances and do not synchronize like the periodical cicadas. Are periodical cicadas everywhere in the world? Although annual cicadas are found on every continent except Antarctica, periodical cicadas are only found in the eastern half of North America. Scientists do not know why they aren’t found anywhere else. There are four species of periodical cicadas in Brood XIX and these will emerge in Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. In Brood XIII, there are three species, and they are emerging in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, and possibly Michigan. Brood XIX, also known as the Great Southern Brood, emerges every 13 years, and Brood XIII (the Northern Illinois Brood) emerges every 17 years. 17-year broods tend to be in the northern states with cooler temperature zones, and 13-year broods tend to be in the warmer, southern states although there is a lot of overlap between 13- and 17-year broods. Why do cicadas shed their skin? Cicadas shed their skin to grow bigger. Like other insects, they have a hard outer covering called an exoskeleton. As they grow, their old exoskeleton becomes too small, so they shed it in a process called molting leaving behind old exuviae and growing new, larger exoskeletons. Do periodical cicadas hurt people, animals, or plants? Cicadas may land on people, but they won’t eat you – you don’t taste, feel, or smell right to them. That said, if one lands on you, gently brush it off, just in case the cicada is curious about what you might taste like! But, the cicadas can affect trees. Females lay their eggs in small twigs in trees. Large healthy trees aren’t harmed in the long term by this, although there may be dead twigs that fall after the cicadas are gone. Smaller trees can be damaged or even killed if not protected. Consider covering small, or newly planted, trees with a fine mesh material or cheesecloth to protect them during the 4-6 weeks the cicadas are out. Why do they make that loud sound? Males use a drum-like structure on their abdomen called tymbals to sing their loud, repetitive buzzing song, attracting female companions. A female will fly to the males and respond by quickly flicking her wings together if she likes his song. Periodical cicadas can be tricked by other vibrating sounds. They may be attracted to people mowing their lawns or using power tools. Periodical cicadas are loud! Because the males sing together, the buzzing sound can reach up to 100 decibels, which is as loud as a hair dryer, lawn mower, or a motorcycle. Consider wearing hearing protection if you will be outside for more than 15 minutes when the cicadas are singing to protect your hearing. What happens to cicadas after they mate and lay eggs? After mating, female cicadas lay their eggs in the branches of trees. They use a sharp ovipositor to make tiny slits in the bark, where they deposit their eggs. Males die soon after mating and females die after laying their eggs. A couple of weeks later, the eggs hatch and young cicada nymphs fall to the ground and burrow into the soil where they'll spend the next 13 or 17 years before starting the cycle all over again! ~~~~ Did you know that there is a Kids Ask Dr. Bug video series? Check it out! https://bit.ly/KADBvideos Do you have questions for Dr. Bug? Send them to https://bit.ly/KidsAskDrBug To help me learn what you learn from this column, or to share feedback, please consider filling out this survey: https://bit.ly/KidsAskDrBugSurvey Known for their red eyes, cicada eyes actually can be several colors. Photo courtesy of Gene Kritsky, Mount St. Joseph University
by Cathy Bylinowski, Horticulture Instructor, University of Missouri Extension EMGs of the Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City chapter are here to help you learn to grow. We are volunteers under the auspices of University of Missouri Extension. We help you learn more about gardening by providing researched-based information and reliable best practices for a wide range of gardening topics. We receive fourteen weeks of training by MU Extension horticultural specialists and then pass that knowledge on to you and your families at educational gardening projects, children’s programming, and special events in Clay, Jackson, and Platte Counties. You can find information about our chapter and volunteer program by going to our website- mggkc.org or by finding and following our Facebook Page– Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City. How EMGs can help you:
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Saturday, March 9 is the first Annual Spring Fling Gardening Celebration at the Young School at Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity, 505 N. Dodgion Avenue, Independence, MO 64050. Free event for interested gardeners and families.
· Do you have a gardening question and need help? - Send your questions to our Hotline by calling or emailing our team- 816-833-TREE (8733) – 24-hour voicemail or mggkc.hotline@gmail.com Please include your county, phone number and any pictures that would help us assist you in your email)
Have more questions? Contact Horticulture Instructor Cathy Bylinowski, bylinowskic@missouri.edu for more information. Extension Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City maintain a Food Pantry Garden at 18th and Broadway where they demonstrate how to grow a wide range of vegetables and herbs and donate produce to local food pantries and community kitchens. Photo credit: Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City
by Dr. Tamra Reall, University of Missouri Extension (Article used with permission from the Kansas City Gardener.) Did you know that there is a Kids Ask Dr. Bug video series? Check it out! https://bit.ly/KADBvideos When will start seeing butterflies again? As the days lengthen, temperatures rise, and flowers begin to bloom, butterflies gradually reappear. Different butterfly species emerge at varying times. Some may flutter as early as March or April, while others wait for warmer weather and abundant flower nectar. Butterflies adopt different strategies to survive winter, either as eggs, caterpillars, pupae (known as chrysalises), or adults. They seek refuge in protected spots like under leaves, in tree crevices, under bark, or in sheds. As temperatures climb, they emerge, seeking flowers for food and places to lay eggs. Certain butterflies depend on specific flowers, appearing only when those plants bloom. For instance, Monarch caterpillars solely feed on milkweed, though as adult butterflies, they sip nectar from various flowers. This means they seek milkweed to lay eggs but linger longer if other flowers are available. So, keep your eyes open! Once consistently warm weather arrives, these vibrant creatures will dance around in gardens, parks, and even your backyard. By planting flowers that attract butterflies, you might create your own butterfly haven, encouraging them to visit. Can bugs see me? Insects perceive the world around them in fascinating ways, different from how we do! Most insects might sense you as part of their environment, but they don’t see you in the same way we see each other. Insect eyes are intriguing—typically, they typically have two compound eyes made up of tiny parts called ommatidia. The size of these compound eyes can vary; for instance, an ant has fewer ommatidia than a dragonfly. This means an ant’s compound eyes are smaller, while a dragonfly's larger eyes allow it to see more at a time, which is especially useful when hunting while flying. Additionally, many insects have three simpler eyes on their heads called ocelli, which sense light and dark, or even polarized light, helping insects orient themselves and find their way. Some insects, like butterflies and bees, have extraordinary eyesight for arthropods They can distinguish shapes and colors, even colors invisible to us. If you're in their way, wearing colors resembling flowers, or carrying something attractive such as food, they might notice you or even land on you. However, insects like ants or certain beetles perceive the world through shadows or movements rather than detailed images. Beyond eyesight, insects have incredible sensing abilities. Mosquitoes rely on detecting carbon dioxide and heat to 'see' you. Others use their antennae to feel air vibrations or detect heat and chemicals (known as pheromones) to navigate their surroundings. In short, insects might not see us in high definition, but their impressive senses allow them to detect our presence in their own unique and intriguing ways. Can ants swim? Ants might not swim like we do, but they're pretty clever when it comes to water! They have tiny hairs on their bodies and because they're so small and light, the surface tension of water helps them stay on the surface without sinking. But when there's a flood, the whole ant colony needs to stick together. They hold onto each other using their legs, antennae, and even their mouths, creating what's called an 'ant raft.' The ants at the bottom support the ones above, keeping them safe until they find dry ground. They're so good at this that they can live like this for weeks! Sometimes, when ants need to cross water, they use the same linking skill to create bridges. It's all about teamwork! Check out this link for more information: https://b.gatech.edu/48JM6ZB . So, even though ants don't swim like we do, they've got incredible skills to handle water and keep themselves safe when things get wet. What can we do to help insects during the winter? Helping insects during winter is fun and easy to do! One of the easiest things to do is to leave leaves in your yard. Think of leaves as a cozy blanket for insects—they use them to stay warm and protected from the cold, rain, and snow. Another great way to help is by keeping parts of your garden a little messy. It might sound funny, but having areas with old logs, twigs, or piles of leaves gives insects hiding spots to stay warm. Letting plant stems stand tall provides hiding places, almost like tiny hotels, especially for native bees that lay their eggs in these stems. Leaving them intact offers shelter until it gets warmer, helping the bees without putting them at risk from pests that might invade containers where we keep these stems. By doing these simple things, you're giving insects a helping hand to stay safe and cozy until spring returns. Do you have questions for Dr. Bug? Send them to https://bit.ly/KidsAskDrBug To help me learn what you learn from this column, or to share feedback, please consider filling out this survey: https://bit.ly/KidsAskDrBugSurvey Image: A close-up view of an insect's eye where each tiny bump is called an 'ommatidium.' When all these bumps team up, they make what's called a 'compound eye,' helping the insect see lots of things around them. Image by Woodturner, Pixabay. by Dr. Tamra Reall, University of Missouri Extension
There are yellow, orange, red ladybugs - are they all actually ladybugs? Yes, they are all part of the ladybug family! Ladybugs, also called ladybirds, belong to a big beetle family. Ladybugs are oval-shaped and can be yellow, orange, or red like what you have found. They can also be gray, black, brown, or even pink! Sometimes they have spots, but not always. So, if you see a little beetle with an oval body and different colors like yellow, orange, or red, it might just be a ladybug, even if it doesn’t have spots. Ladybugs come in lots of beautiful colors! Why can bugs and spiders live inside our house during winter, but there aren’t any insects outside in the cold? Think of our homes as cozy hideouts for insects and spiders during winter! Just like we find our houses warm and comfy, these critters seek refuge from the freezing cold outside. Those who come indoors may not be built to be active outside in the chilly temperatures, so they move inside where it's warm and there's food. Our homes offer refuge for them to stay snug until it gets warmer outside. You might be happy to know that not all arthropods can survive the winter indoors because our homes are usually too dry for them. Common arthropods that come inside are nonnative ladybugs, stink bugs, or spiders. If you find them indoors, you can gently scoop them up and release them back outside. Or you can use a vacuum. But watch out—some insects, like stink bugs, can give off a funky smell if vacuumed up! Also, after cleaning, remember to empty the vacuum and take out the trash to keep these uninvited guests from returning! How do insects survive when it gets so cold or warm in the same week? Insects are experts at handling changing weather. As fall and winter arrive, some insects enter a dormant stage called diapause, almost like hibernation, to prepare to survive harsh conditions. Many insects rely on light to let them know what season we are in, rather than the temperature because it can change so much during our winters. So, even if it warms up for a day or two, they will stay in their dormant stage. Other insects can adjust to the changing temperatures and emerge or become active as the weather is favorable. Still, others do not survive when it gets cold enough, so they die off for the winter. Then, either their offspring emerge in the spring, or others of their species migrate here from southern climates as the weather warms up here. Insect abilities to change behaviors, life stages, and even body functions help them handle changing weather without skipping a beat. How does climate change affect bugs? Climate change affects insects in some big ways. Because of their short lifespans, many insects are super adaptable, but even they struggle when things get too out of whack. With the changing weather patterns, insects might have to move around more to find food and the right conditions to live in. Unfortunately, some insects can end up causing problems by moving into new places where they shouldn't be, like invasive pests crashing in where they don't belong and eating plants we don’t want them to eat. Brown marmorated stink bugs and Japanese beetles are examples of invasive pests. You know how some insects and plants work together, such as bees and butterflies that pollinate flowers that create fruit? Well, the changing climate can affect that, too. Pollinators and their favorite flowers might not sync up like they used to, meaning flowers might bloom before the bees or butterflies have emerged to pollinate them. It's like they're playing different tunes in a band and it gets confusing! This is a big issue, and it will take a lot of cooperation between governments, corporations, and organizations. However, we can help! Planting more flowers is awesome because it gives pollinators more food and we get more beautiful flowers. Using IPM (that's Integrated Pest Management, a fancy term for controlling pest insects without using too many chemicals) is very helpful too for the survival of beneficial predators who capture pests, so we don’t have to. Turning off lights at night is good because it helps insects that rely on the stars, moon, or Milky Way at night to navigate. So, creating more bug-friendly places for insects to live is a win-win. We can make a difference by helping our arthropod friends adapt to a changing world! What's something strange about insects? One incredibly unusual thing about insects is their diversity in communication. While many insects use sounds to communicate, some have really unique methods. For instance, treehoppers communicate by vibrating stems, honey bees dance to tell their sisters where to find the best nectar and pollen, and fireflies use light to attract mates. Also, many insects use pheromones, which are like special perfumes, to signal danger, attract partners, or create trails to find food and their way home. Their communication methods are exceptionally diverse and fascinating, showing just how creative nature can be! Do you have questions for Dr. Bug? Send them to https://bit.ly/KidsAskDrBug To help me learn what you learn from this column, or to share feedback, please consider filling out this survey: https://bit.ly/KidsAskDrBugSurvey Did you know that there is a Kids Ask Dr. Bug video series? Check it out! https://bit.ly/KADBvideos by Cathy Bylinowski, M.S. Horticulture, Horticulture Instructor
University of Missouri Extension- Jackson County, MO For decades, the USDA plant hardiness zone map has been the "gold standard" for gardeners and other growers wanting to know if a perennial plant (herbaceous or woody) will survive the cold temperatures of a typical winter in their area. Additionally, scientists incorporate the plant hardiness zones as a data layer in many research models, such as those predicting the spread of exotic weeds and insects. Recently, the USDA unveiled a revised version of the map, updating the 2012 edition of the document. The new map was jointly developed by the USDA's Agricultural Research Service and PRISM, a highly sophisticated climate mapping technology developed at Oregon State University. The revised version of the map is more accurate and contains greater detail than prior versions. As a U.S. Government publication, the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map as a graphic is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Map graphics may be freely reproduced and redistributed. Available online at https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/, the 2023 map is based on 30-year averages of the lowest annual winter temperatures at specific locations. It is divided into 10-degree Fahrenheit zones and further divided into 5-degree Fahrenheit half-zones. The 2023 map incorporates data from 13,412 weather stations compared to the 7,983 that were used for the 2012 map. Plant hardiness zone designations represent what is known as the "average annual extreme minimum temperature" at a given location during a particular time period. In the case of the 2023 map just released, that period was 30 years. The annual extreme minimum temperature represents the coldest night of the year, which can be highly variable from year to year, depending on local weather patterns. In other words, the hardiness designations do not reflect the coldest temperature ever recorded at a specific location, but simply the average lowest winter temperature for the location over a specified time. Low winter temperature greatly influences the ability of a perennial plant to survive in a particular area. Like the 2012 map, the 2023 version has 13 hardiness zones across the United States and its territories. Each zone is broken into half zones, designated as "a" and "b." For example, zone 6 (which includes most of Missouri) is divided into half-zones 6a and 6b. When compared to the 2012 map, the 2023 version reveals that about half of the country shifted to the next warmer half zone, and the other half of the country remained in the same half zone. That shift to the next warmer half zone means those areas warmed somewhere in the range of 0-5 degrees Fahrenheit. However, some locations experienced warming in the range of 0-5 degrees Fahrenheit without moving to another half zone. Once a draft of the map was completed, it was reviewed by a team of climatologists, agricultural meteorologists, and horticultural experts. If the zone for an area appeared anomalous to these expert reviewers, experts doublechecked the draft maps for errors or biases. These national differences in zonal boundaries are mostly a result of incorporating temperature data from a more recent time period. However, temperature updates to plant hardiness zones are not necessarily reflective of global climate change because of the highly variable nature of the extreme minimum temperature of the year. Additionally, some changes in zonal boundaries are also the result of using increasingly sophisticated mapping methods and the inclusion of data from more weather stations. Consequently, map developers involved in the project cautioned against attributing temperature updates made to some zones as reliable and accurate indicators of global climate change. The latter usually is based on trends in overall average temperatures recorded over long time periods. In addition to the map updates, the Plant Hardiness Zone Map website was expanded in 2023 to include a "Tips for Growers" section, which provides information about USDA research programs of interest to gardeners and others who grow and develop new varieties of plants. For more information about MU Extension Horticulture Programs in Jackson County, contact Horticulture Instructor Cathy Bylinowski, bylinowskic@missouri.edu. Editors Note: This is the final column from Denise Sullivan, who has contributed outstanding "Plants on your Plate" articles for several years. Denise is retiring in January. Congralulations and thank you, Denise! by Denise Sullivan Nutrition & Health Education Specialist MU Extension-Jackson County This month’s feature fruit often gets a little more attention during the holiday season, due to its higher availability and bright ruby red color. Oddly enough, this fruit has no real ‘flesh,’ as the true treasure of the pomegranate are the juicy seeds, called arils. The juice is commonly extracted and consumed as is or processed into sauces, jellies, or grenadine syrup. As with most fruits consuming the arils whole, as opposed to juice, will also provide the benefits of fiber.
Pomegranates are part of the Punicoideae family and grow in a bushy shrub that can reach 20 feet tall. They are centuries old with a rich botanical, medicinal, and cultural history. Pomegranates are referenced in many religious writings and are seen in ancient drawings and sculptures. Ancient writings often described pomegranates as a sacred fruit that provided fertility, abundance, and luck. With origins in the middle east and the Mediterranean region, pomegranates are primarily grown in India, Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkey. They are also grown domestically in California and some parts of Arizona and Florida. Pomegranates are rich in Vitamin C, potassium, manganese, thiamin, folate, a variety of antioxidants, and a good amount of fiber. Half of a pomegranate contains around 70 calories and 5.5 grams of fiber. 20 plus years of research on pomegranates at UCLA has revealed benefits in heart and blood vessel health, urinary health support, gut health and digestive health benefits, and antimicrobial properties that fight oral germs that cause gum disease and bad breath. Extracting the arils from a pomegranate can be a challenge, but these steps can make the task easier:
Pomegranates have a keeping quality that is similar to that of apples. They should be kept in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, out of direct sunlight. Whole fruit can be refrigerated and will keep as long as 2 months. Fresh seeds or juice will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Consider using the arils in this salad recipe for a tasty and colorful addition to your holiday table this year. Spinach Salad (Makes 4 servings) 10 oz. fresh spinach ¼ medium red onion, thinly sliced ¼ cup alfalfa sprouts ¼ cup chopped walnuts ¼ cup feta cheese crumbles 1 pomegranate, arils separated 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon orange juice 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Nutrition information: Calories: 125, Total Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 300mg, Carbohydrates: 13g, Fiber: 2.4g, Protein: 4g Recipe adapted from University of Florida Citrus Research Center, analyzed by verywellfit.com By Extension Master Gardener (EMG) volunteers, Joanie Shover, Michele Cole, Sherri Carter, and MU Extension Horticulture Instructor Cathy Bylinowski, bylinowskic@missouri.edu The Blue Springs Historical Society Museum is where history lives in the garden! In 2019, the Blue Springs Historical Society Museum Garden became a University of Missouri Extension Partnership Garden. Museum staff and Extension Master Gardeners also work with the local MU Extension 4-H Classy Clovers, teaching the children the science of gardening. They apply what they learn to their Regional Fair. This year five qualified for State Fair Exhibition . As the project grew, the museum and garden staff needed direction, so we developed a vision statement and developed goals. Goal 1: To Provide education to youth and adults and encourage gardening in the historical section of Blue Springs. Goal 2: To provide education to the community and those who visit the museum about flowers and plants in the gardens. The vision was to create an educational “place of peace and beauty” that was easy to walk through and inviting for visitors of all ages. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the garden provides a respite for area walkers and visitors and gardening information through plant labels and signage. Historical Society members give tours three times a week during the growing season. The garden staff and Extension Master Gardeners developed a program of gardening classes during April through August. These classes are open to Extension Master Gardeners and the public. Extension Master Gardeners teach these classes to encourage people to grow vegetables, flowers, native plants, and use reliable, science-based gardening methods. Class includes hands-on learning in the garden. Museum staff work with Extension Master Gardeners to write and illustrate storybooks for the children to read as they walk through the garden. These storybooks connect the history of early residents to gardening and how gardening helped to grow the community in the 1800s. One story book focuses on a female doctor who used medicinal herbs to cure patients. A second tells how people traded farm products with merchants for staples like flour and sugar during winter months. The latest tells how residents grew pumpkins and shipped them through rail service which began in 1879 in Blue Springs. In addition to offering gardening classes at the museum, EMGs also hold plant sales to raise funds to support the museum, its grounds, and horticulture education programming. Blue Springs Historical Society Educational Garden. Photo used with permission of Extension Master Gardener Joan Shover Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City Plant Sale at Blue Springs Historical Society Museum and Garden photo used with permission on Extension Master Gardener Joan Shover
Blue Springs Historical Museum Garden and Extension Master Gardener 2024 Schedule For more information on upcoming classes and how to register, please visit this MU Extension webpage for Upcoming Gardening Education Opportunities - https://bit.ly/GardeningEd Mark your calendars now! March 23, 2024 Location: Blue Springs Historical Museum Garden, 101SW 15th Street, Blue Springs, MO Topic: Tomatoes-Learn techniques for planting, pruning, watering, and disease management Presenters: Master Gardeners speakers Short description: Learn about tomatoes and how to manage plant growth and diseases Max number of registrants: 35 Time of Program: 9 AM-11 AM May 4, 2024 Location: Blue Springs Historical Museum Garden, 101SW 15th Street, Blue Springs, MO Topic: Managing your Garden in Extreme Conditions; Cold, Heat, Drought Presenters: Master Gardeners speakers and Garden staff Learn the needs of your plants during extreme weather conditions including when and how to water, mulch, feeding, and covering plants Max number of registrants: 35 Time of the program: 9 AM-11 AM by Denise Sullivan, MS, CNWE
Nutrition and Health Education Field Specialist MU Extension Health and Human Sciences We carve them into jack-o-lanterns and make lots of pie, but the versatility of the pumpkin goes far beyond these common uses. From muffins to soups, adding pumpkin can give a boost of nutrition a variety of recipes. This bright orange member of the squash family is loaded with an important antioxidant, beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is one of the plant carotenoids, that, when converted to vitamin A in the body, performs many important functions in overall health. When beta-carotene is mentioned, we often think of eye health, and rightfully so, as Vitamin A is key to how the retina absorbs and process light. Current research also indicates that a diet rich in foods containing beta-carotene may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and offers protect against heart disease. Beta-carotene offers protection against other diseases, as well as some degenerative aspects of aging. As a high fiber vegetable, pumpkin also helps to lend a feeling of fullness and satiety, and aids in maintaining digestive health. It’s important to remember that the pumpkin you choose for a jack-o-lantern won’t be the best pumpkin for cooking. When selecting a pumpkin for cooking, look for a "pie pumpkin" or "sweet pumpkin." These are smaller than the typical jack-o-lantern pumpkins and the flesh is sweeter and less watery. Look for a pumpkin with 1 to 2 inches of stem left. If the stem is cut down too low the pumpkin will decay quickly. Avoid pumpkins with blemishes and soft spots. It should feel heavy and shape is unimportant, so a lopsided pumpkin is not necessarily a bad pumpkin. Figure one pound of raw, untrimmed pumpkin for each cup finished pumpkin puree. To prepare your pumpkin, start by removing the stem with a sharp knife and cut pumpkin in half. Scoop out the seeds and scrape away all of the stringy mass. This is a messy job, so work on a newspaper covered surface for an easy clean-up. Separate the seeds for roasting for a tasty snack. Remove any pulp from the seeds with several cold water rinses and drain on paper towels. Toss seeds with a small amount of olive oil and season with your favorite spice…I like garlic powder and cumin. Roast on a foil covered pan at 250 degrees for 30-45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Pumpkins seeds make for a tasty, high fiber snack. Oven roasting is a common and easy way to prepare pumpkin and one of the best ways to bring out the flavor. Place pumpkin, cut side down on a foil lined pan at 350 degrees for one hour or until fork tender. When the pumpkin is cool enough to handle, remove the peel using a small sharp knife and your fingers. Put the peeled pumpkin in a food processor and puree or use a food mill, ricer, strainer or potato masher to form a puree. Pumpkin puree freezes well for later use. Measure cooled puree into one cup portions, place in ridged freezer containers, leaving 1/2-inch headspace or pack into zip closure bags. Label, date and freeze for up to one year. If you are considering canning pumpkin, it is important to note that it can only be canned in cubed form and not pureed, due to product density. As a low acid food, pumpkin must be pressure canned. For complete canning instructions, visit the National Center for Home Food Preservation website at: https://nchfp.uga.edu/tips/fall/pumpkins.html The pumpkin is the inspiration for all kinds of seasonal spicy concoctions, often on the sweeter side of the spectrum. This savory recipe is a great way to give a nutritional boost to another fall favorite…chili. Trust me- try this for your next tailgate party and your guests will never even know it’s there! Pumpkin Chili Makes 8 (1 cup) servings Ingredients 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 small yellow onion (chopped) 1 green bell pepper (cored, seeded and chopped) 2 jalapeño peppers (seeded and finely chopped) 2 cloves garlic (finely chopped or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder) 1 pound ground turkey 1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree (or 2 cups frozen) 1 cup water 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon smoked paprika salt and pepper (to taste, optional) 1 can kidney beans or black beans (or both!) Directions 1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium high heat. 2. Add onion, bell pepper, jalapenos, and garlic and cook, stirring frequently until tender, about 5 minutes. 3. Add turkey and cook until browned. 4. Add tomatoes, pumpkin, water, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. 5. Reduce heat to medium low then add beans. 6. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes more. 7. Ladle chili into bowls and serve. Calories: 193, Total Fat: 8 g, Saturated Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 41mg, Sodium: 242mg, Total Carbohydrate: 17 g, Dietary Fiber: 6 g, Total Sugars: 5 g Recipe adapted from the USDA Mixing Bowl. by Cathy Bylinowski, University of Missouri Extension Horticulture Instructor, Jackson County Sugar maples, sweet gums, viburnums, and other trees and shrubs gave us a beautiful show this fall with their bright oranges, pinks, and yellows. When those leaves fall to the ground, what happens next? If you do not enjoy raking or blowing leaves and disposing of them, University of Missouri Extension Field Specialists in Horticulture suggest turning at least some of those fall leaves into a valuable resources- compost and mulch! The carbon content of fallen leaves is a great addition to the nitrogen content of old, annual landscape and garden plants and helps create good compost. Compost contains organic matter, an important component to fertile soil, which hold moisture and nutrients and improves drainage. However, it is unlikely that the proportion of fallen leaves to compostable plant material will result in the recommended 30-to-1 carbon-to-nitrogen ratio for a good compost pile. Since fall leaves have a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of about 50-to-1 and freshly uprooted green plants come in around 20-to-1 on average, a good approach is to add twice as much plant material as leaves to the compost bin or pile, if possible. This will come close to the recommended ratio and allow for contributions from the kitchen compost pail. Vegetable food scraps such as apple, banana, and winter squash peels, avocado shells, and salad scraps can be added to the compost pile, too. Because adding fallen leaves and garden plants in layers will allow for better decomposition, try to stockpile some leaves and add them in layers to the compost pile. This will result in several small contributions of leaf material to the bin—a better option than dealing with a lump sum of leaves at the end of the season. Couple this with regular culling of unproductive or fading garden plants and you’ll be able to contribute the appropriate ratio of each to the compost pile on a regular basis and make end-of-the-season cleanup in the yard and garden easier. If you have more leaves than the compost pile can take, that might mean that you have a lot of shade on your landscape. Heavily shaded areas where turf is difficult to establish may best be converted to a ‘forest floor’ landscape where leaves are allowed to aggregate among shade-tolerant native wild flowers and other perennial plants. You can also create a slowly decomposing pile of mainly leaves to create what is called leaf mold or leaf mulch. It might take two years for this kind of pile to turn into a crumbly, high organic matter amendment for your garden. Another use for surplus leaves is to spread them directly onto the vegetable garden to decompose over winter. Decomposing leaves add beneficial organic matter and nutrients such as phosphorus and potassium to garden soil. Add a layer of 6-8 inches of leaves and gently work them into the soil. Earthworms appreciate fallen leaves, too. Earthworms also help leaves decompose and add more organic matter to the soil. Leaves do not significantly alter the pH of garden soil. Even oak leaves, which are acidic when fresh, break down to be neutral to slightly alkaline after going through the decomposition process. One important item you can consider purchasing for your leaf composting project could be a compost thermometer. Compost thermometers are longer than a typical thermometer and usually have ranges of temperatures highlighted to let you know if the pile is actively composting or not. It is a good way to know if your leaves and other garden organic matter in your compost pile are biodegrading into a valuable and beneficial soil amendment. A light sprinkling of leaves over your lawn can be mowed to infiltrate and decompose into the soil. More information about composting and mulching is available in these MU Extension publications. These publications can be downloaded for free: “Making and Using Compost” https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6956 “How to Build a Compost Bin” https://extension.missouri.edu/g6957 “Mulches” https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6960 Have more gardening questions? Contact Extension Master Gardener Hotline at 816-833-TREE (8733) or Cathy Bylinowski, Horticulture Instructor, bylinowskic@missouri.edu Fall leaves at River Bluff Reserve, Jackson County, Missouri. Photo by C. Bylinowski, MU Horticulture Instructor
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