june 2013 compost bin - aggie horticulture · queen sirikit botanical garden, chiangmai thailand...
TRANSCRIPT
A Publication of the Travis County Master Gardeners a volunteer program of Texas AgriLife Extension
In this issue ...
June Speaker: Mike Quinn
In the Vegetable Garden
Stinging Caterpillars
The Traveling Gardenista
Lawn Gone! ...a Book Review
June 2013
The Compost BinA Publication of the Travis County Master Gardenersa volunteer program of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
The Compost Bin June 2013 Page 2
Inside this Issue....• Meeting, June 5• In the Vegetable Garden• Stinging Caterpillars• The Traveling Gardenista• Lawn Gone! ...a Book Review• Coming Events• 2013 TCMGA Board• Credits
..... Page 2
..... Page 3
..... Page 6
..... Page 9
..... Page 10
..... Page 11
..... Page 13
..... Page 14
Mike Quinn, President of the AustinButterflyForum, will speak aboutgardeningforbutterflies,andfocusonidentifyingbutterflies
andtheircaterpillars.
Mike’sentrywayintoinsectswasthroughbutterflies.HeholdsaMaster’sdegreeinentomologyfromTexasA&MUniversity.He
alsohasakeeninterestinbeetlesofTexas,andhasphotographedovertwentypercentofTexas’7,500beetlespecies.HisphotosofbeetlesandotherinsectsarepostedonBugGuide.net and on Tex-asEnto.net.ListsofAustinandTravisCountybutterfliesalsoare
on these sites.
Austinishometoabout170speciesofbutterflies,sowehaveoverhalfthespecieslivinginTexas.TheAustinButterflyForum,Inc.isanon-profitorganizationdedicatedtobutterflyconservation
andtoenrichingpeople’slivesthroughbutterflies.
Comelearnwhichcaterpillarsyouwanttokeepinyourgardenso
youcanenjoythebutterflies.Ifyouhaveabutterflyorcaterpil-larorchrysalisyouwouldlikeidentified,bringitwithyoutothe
meeting.
Master Gardener Meeting information: Wednesday,June5,2013startingat7pm
ZilkerBotanicalGarden
MasterGardenermeetingsareopentocertifiedMaster Gardeners and trainees.
June Speaker - Mike Quinn
CoverPhotoby:BruceLeander Squirrels that pilfer tomatoes areoftenseekingmoisture;tryquenchingtheirthirstwithafewsaucersofwaterplacednearyourplants. Right: Patio Squash Photoby:LiathAppleton
The Compost Bin June 2013 Page 3
Junebringsthelong-awaitedharvestoftomatoesalongwithsquash,greenbeans,cucumbers,peppers,eggplantandokra.Waterrequirementswillincreaseasplantsgrowlargeranddaysgrow hotter, so pay attention to your plant’s cues, and adjust watering times to sustainhealthygrowthandproduction.Sidedressplantsevery3-4weekswithacompletefertilizer;approximaterateforgranularorganicfertilizer(suchasan8-2-4or6-2-2formulation)is1/2cupper10feetofrow.Syntheticfertilizers,thekindwemightuseforlawns(like15-5-10formulation),arealsosuitableforvegetablegardens.Sincethesecontainhigheramountsofnitrogen,useonly¼cupper10footrow.Tosidedressvegetableplants,pullbackthemulchanddistributethefertilizeralongtherow,severalinchesfromthecenteroftheplant.Scratchthefertilizerintothesurfaceofthesoil,waterwellandreplacemulch.
Keep up with the harvest so you can enjoy your home-grown vegetables at their peak.Overgrownvegetablescantastebitter,fibrousand/ortough,andoverripevegetablesleftontheplantwilldivertenergyintoseedproductionratherthanfruitproduction.Squashshouldbecutwhen4-6” long, cucumbersshouldbepickedbefore theystart toyellow,eggplantshouldhaveashinyskin,andokrashouldbepickedwhenitisonly3-4”long.
Despiteourbestefforts,someplantswillsuccumbtoheat,pestsand/ordisease.It’snormalforbushbeanstofizzleoutafterabout3weeks,andfortomatoestoshutdownoncethenighttime temperatures surpass the mid-seventies. With water at a premium it’s sometimes besttogoaheadandpullupplantsthatareindeclineratherthansprayingandfrettingoverailingplantsthatwillstruggletorecoveroncetheblisteringheatofsummerarrives.Oncespentplantsareremoved,givethesoilarest,andbesuretospreadalayerofmulch,suchasshreddedbark,roughcompost,leavesorhaytoprotectthesoiluntilfallplantingtimerollsaround.
Ifyouareadie-hardgardenerwhoenjoysthechallengeofsummervegetablecultivation,thenanyofthefollowingvegetablesareworthyofyoureffort:okra,cowpeas,sweetpotatoes,hotpeppersandeggplant.Thoughtheseheatanddrought-tolerantplantsareknownforbeingTexastough,theystillmusthavearegulardrinkofwatertothrivethroughoutthesummermonths.Forthoselessinclinedtobeoutintheheat,earlytomid-JuneisanappropriatetimetostarttomatoseedsundergrowlightsinordertohavetransplantsreadyforplantinginJulyor August.
Lookingforatrulydrought-tolerantvegetabletogrow?Tryournativechilepequín!Hereitgrowsthroughacrackinastonewallwhereitcomesbackeveryyear.Thesmall,fierypeppersaddziptomanydishesandbirds,especiallymockingbirds,willappreciateallyourleftovers.
The Compost Bin June 2013 Page 4
Manygardenersliveforthosethick,juicyslicesofsun-drenched,fresh-from-the-gardentomatoes,butiftheycomeonalittletoofast,hereareacoupleofrecipesforusingupanysurplus:Fried Green TomatoesThis is a non-traditional take on a Southern classic from the folks at Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company.
6largegreentomatoes,sliced¼”thickOil
Batter1pkgMoriNufirmsilkentofu2-3 Tbsp water Crumbletofuinblenderandblend,addingwatergraduallyuntilthemixturebecomescreamy.Pourbatterintopieplateandsetaside.
Breading1cuppankobreadcrumbs½cupcornmeal2tbspnutritionalyeastflakes1 tbsp onion powder1tbspgarlicpowder1tbspturmeric½tspcayenne½ tsp saltParsleyflakes
Stir all ingredients together and transfer to a shallow pan. Diptomatoesinbatter,thenintopankomixture,pattingthebreadingontotomatoessoitadhereswell.Heatabout¼”ofoilinacastironskillet,andfrytomatoesonbothsidesuntilbrowned.Servewarm.
In the Vegetable Garden Continued...
The Compost Bin June 2013 Page 5
Roasted Whole Cherry Tomatoes
Ilikethedeep,concentratedtomatoflavorthatcomesfromroasting,especiallywhenslightlycharred.Theymakeasavorysnackorcanbeusedinsauces,pasta,salsaorsandwiches.Tosswholecherrytomatoesgenerouslyinoliveoil,seasonwithsaltandpepper,androast4-6hoursat300°.Watchcarefullytobesuretheydon’tburnandadjusttemperatureortimeifnecessary.Theseroastedtomatoesmaybestored1-2weeksintherefrigerator.
In the Vegetable Garden Continued...
avarietyofcherrytomatoesreadyforovenroasting
Theprocessofroastinggiveseachtomatoaburstofconcentratedflavor
Photos:BruceandPattyLeander
The Compost Bin June 2013 Page 6
Didyouknowthatsomecaterpillarsareable to inflictapainfulsting?Variouscaterpillarshaveurticatinghairsorspinesthatareconnectedtoapoisongland.Whensomething,suchasyourarm,brushes against the hairs, the hairs stick in the skin, injectingvenomandsometimescausingarash.
There are several caterpillars in central Texas that can sting,including the Iomoth caterpillar, the buckmoth caterpillar, thesaddlebackcaterpillar,andtheasporpusscaterpillar.
Buckmothcaterpillarsarebrownish-black,butcanalsobelighterin color. These caterpillarshave long,multi-branched spines inrowsalongthebody.
Iomothcaterpillarsareyellowishtogreenwithapinkish-redlinealongthesideofthebody.Thesecaterpillarsalsohaveclustersofyelloworgreenspinesinrowsalongthebody.
Stinging Caterpillars
by Wizzy Brown
Buckmothcaterpillar.PhotobyGeraldLenhard
Iomothcaterpillar.PhotobySturgisMcKeever
The Compost Bin June 2013 Page 7
Saddleback caterpillars have a slug-like body with two largetuberclesoneachendof thebody. Saddlebackcaterpillarsaregreenwithbrownends(includingthetubercles)andhaveabrownspotinthecenterofthebodythatisringedwithwhite(itlookssimilartoasaddle).
Aspsareaboutaninchandahalflongwhenfullygrown,teardrop-shapedwithlong,silkyhair.Theyareusuallytan,butcanbeavarietyofcolors.Aspcaterpillarsaretypicallyfoundontreesandshrubsaroundhomes,andgenerallydonotharmtheplants.
Ifstung,painwillimmediatelybefeltandblood-coloredspotsmayformatthesiteofthesting.Othersymptomsthatmayoccurarenausea,headache,vomitingorevenrespiratorydistress.Coverthestingareawithtape.Removetaperepeatedlytoremovespinesfromtheskin.Applyinganicepacktothestingareamayhelptosooththeskin.Anoralantihistaminemayalsobetakentorelieveitching.Ifrespiratorydistressoccurs,seekmedicalattention.
Stinging Caterpillars Continued...
Saddlebackcaterpillar.PhotobyJoePase
Asporpusscaterpillar.PhotobyLacyHyche
The Compost Bin June 2013 Page 8
There aremany dangerous-looking caterpillars that are safe tohandle,butunlessyouaresuretheydonotsting,Iwouldadvisenottotouch!
If thecaterpillarsneedtobemanaged,tryproductswithactiveingredientssuchasBacillusthruingiensisvar.kurstaki,spinosad,azadirachtinorapyrethroid.
Formore information or helpwith identification, contactWizzieBrown,TexasA&MAgriLifeExtensionServiceProgramSpecialistat512.854.9600.
Stinging Caterpillars Continued...
The Compost Bin June 2013 Page 9
Since last fall, my husband and I have been taking a long sojourn traveling around the world and the United States. One of the sweetest pleasures has been discovering and exploring public gardens on our journey. I wanted to share with you some of the special places so that you too might appreciate a new place or add it to your travel wish list. Warmly, Heidi Roure
Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden, Chiangmai ThailandBesidesspendingadaywiththeelephants,discoveringtheQueenSirikitBotanicalGardeninthemountainsofChiangMaiwasoneofthehighlightsofourthreeweektripinAsia.Holdinganabundanceofnative,exoticandrarenorthernAsiaticplants,thisgardenwasestablishedbytheThaigovernmentinresponsetodeforestationandthelossofnativespecies.Todayitservesasacenterforresearch,andplaceofnaturalbeautyforthepublic.Nestledinthenorthernmountains,onemustreachitthroughawinding,narrowroad.Asyounearthisbeautifulspot,thegardenunfoldswithmanysurprises.Enteringthegarden,youcrossabeautifulriverflowingoverdarkbrownboulders.Onceinside,youseeahillsideofbeauty.GorgeousfountainsandTheTropicalRainforestHouse,alargeglassarchitecturalstructure,immediatelycapturesyourattention;asdothesmallergreenhouses,eachwiththeirownspecialty:theOrchidandFernHouse,theWaterLilyhouse,theAridHouse,oneforBromeliadandBegonias,andoneforMedicinalplants.Outside,everycolorroseyoucanimaginelinesthehillside.Trailsleadyouthroughthegardenswhereyouseebreathtakingpanoramicviewsofthemountainsand the garden itself. Continue walking to the Arboretum and rest among some of the tallest native treesinThailandasyoupinchyourselftobelieveyouarehere.
The Compost Bin June 2013 Page 10
Lawn Gone! ...a Book Review
by Frankie Hart
Popular Austin garden blogger, Pam Penick, has written a book, Lawn Gone! Low-Maintenance, Sustainable, Attractive Alternatives for Your Yard.Theideaofnolawn,oratleastreducingtraditionallawns,iscertainlyacurrenttopicintheAustin/CentralTexasarea.Yes,we’veactuallyhadsomerainfallthisspring,butweallknow,andtheexpertopinionis,thatthisdoesnotmeanour3-yeardroughthasended.Thecontinueddroughthascausedmostgardenersandhomeownerstothinkaboutwaterconservationasneverbefore,andthisbookisanexcellentresource.
Thefirsttwosectionsofthebookcoverideasandhow-tos.Therearemanybeautifulcolorphotoswhichfurtherhelpinvisualizingideasdiscussedinthebook.Ifoundthepicturesanddescriptionsofactuallawn-replacementprojectsvery interesting,andthebook includedseveraldifferentoptionsforeasycareandreducingmaintenance,oratleastshrinkinglawnsize.Therearemanysuggestionsofvariouslawnalternatives, includingornamentalgrasses,groundcovers,hardscaping,andevenachapteronartificialturf.
AnideaIparticularlylikedistheuseofsedgesforashadyyardwheretraditionalgrassstruggles.Manytypesofsedgeactuallydobetterintheshade,andcanwithstandlightfoottraffic.Lilyturf(Liriope)isanothersuggestedalternativeforthoseshadyareas.
Howaboutreducinglawnsize?Asmallerlawnwillresultinreducedwateruseandlessmaintenance.Again,Penicksuggestswaystoaccomplishthis,andtherearephotostoillustratetheseideas.
Thehow-tosectionexplainsthedifferentmethodsofgrassremoval–diggingitup,solarizing,sheetmulch,vinegarspray,aswellastheuseofchemicals.Eachtopicliststheprosandconsandhow-tos.Thissectionalsocovershowtodesignandinstallahardscape,aswellasbedpreparationandplanting.
Part3givesideasonhowtodealwithhomeownersassociations,citycodes,andtheneighbors.Ifyouliveinaconservativeneighborhood,thesuggestion is thatyoumakegradualchanges. Rippingout theentire front lawnallatonce isprobablynotagood idea insomeneighborhoods.Youcanconvertonlytheleastvisibleareas,andthatisastart.Ifyoudohavelawn-lessareasthatarevisible,keepthosewellgroomed.Thissectionalsoincludesachapteronfireresistantlandscaping;anotherimportanttopicforourarea.Finally,thereareRegionalPlantRecommendationsbyregionalgardeningexperts.ElevenhorticulturalregionsoftheUSarecoveredhere.Eachplantislistedbycommonname,withthebotanicalnameanddescriptionalsoincluded.Colorphotosofeachplantareincludedaswell.
IrecommendLawn Gone!asavaluableresourceforanyonewhowantstoberidof(oratleastreduce)theirlawn,butisn’tsurewheretostart.Evenifyouhavestartedtheprocessoflawnremoval,you’llfindthisbookavaluableguideforfutureprojects.
The Compost Bin June 2013 Page 11
Austin Pond Society Pond TourSaturday and Sunday, June 8-9
NorthpondsareonSaturday,andSouth/CentralpondsonSun-day.Theshiftsare8:30am-1:00pmand12:30to5:00pm.There’salsoanightshiftSaturdaynight,7:30to10:30pm.
Thisyearisthe19thannualtour,featuring21ponds.Therewillbe a wide assortment of large and small ponds, both pro-built and
DIY.Tickets$20,orinadvancefor$5
More info at www.austinpondsociety.org
Green Thumb Series: What’s Eating My Plants
Thursday, June 1310am-12pm
TravisCountyAgriLifeExtensionOffice1600 B Smith Rd.
Austin TX
Yikes!Whatiseatingmyplant?WizzieBrown,TexasA&MAgriL-ifeExtensionServiceentomologist,willteachyoudetectiveskillsneededforcorrectlyidentifyinginsects.Knowingexactlywho
arethe“goodbugs”andthe“badbugs”isimportantbecausethemajorityofinsectsarenot“bad”!
Armedwithknowledgeofinsectmouthpartsandbiology,youcanfigureoutwhatmaybecausingdamagetoplantsevenwhenthereisnotaninsectinsight.Thinkaboutwhatkindofmouthpartcouldhavedonethedamage?Arethereholesintheplant?Are the holes small or are entire leaves eaten? Does the plant haveyellowingandcurlingonthefoliage?Knowingthetypesofdamageinsectscancausetoplantscanhelprevealwhatpestyouaredealingwithandhelptomakemanagementdecision.Identificationofcommoninsectswillalsobecoveredalongwithintegratedpestmanagementpracticestohelpreducepesticideuse. Integrated pest management programs start with non-
chemicalapproachesfirstandwhilechemicalsareincludedintheprogram,theyarealastresortstrategy.
ThisclassispartofTheGreenThumbseries.Mustregisterat:https://agriliferegister.tamu.eduorbyphone979-845-2604.Oneclassis$15,withpricediscountsforsigningupfor3ormoreclassesatthesametime.Classislimitedto40people.
Austin Area Garden Events
The Compost Bin June 2013 Page 12
Composting and Soil HealthSaturday, June 159:30am - 3:40pm
AustinCommunityCollegeSouth Campus, Rm 1130
1820StassneyLane,AustinTX
Learnaboutcompostpositiveimpactonsoilhealthwithanin-credibleprogrampackedwithinformationandhow-totopics.
Thisiseverythingyouneedtoknowtotreatyourgardenbyem-bracingcomposting.Topicsincludeanoverviewofcomposting,equipmentneededforsuccess,anoverviewoftheGroundtoGroundprograminAustin,vermicomposting,composttea,and
AustinResourceRecovery.
$35registrationfeeincludesboxlunch,water,andsnacks.At-tendees must register at https://agriliferegister.tamu.eduorbyphoneat(979)845-2604.ThiseventispresentedbytheTra-visCountyMasterGardeners,avolunteerarmoftheTexasA&MAgriLifeExtensionServiceinTravisCounty.www.tcmastergar-
deners.org.Forinformation,call(512)854-9600.Itisnotspon-soredbyAustinCommunityCollege.
Austin Area Garden Events
The Compost Bin June 2013 Page 13
Joe Posern, PresidentJackieJohnson,ImmediatePastPresidentJaNetBarkley-Booher,Vice-PresidentforPrograms ChristinaJeskey,Vice-PresidentforEducationRosalie Russell, Volunteer Coordinator forProjectsLiath Appleton, Volunteer Coordinator for TraineesSusanJung,SecretaryMaryLouBell,Co-TreasurerTina Landers, Co-TreasurerSusanGoodrich,MembershipDirectorPatMokry,GreenhouseManagerMaryAnnNeely,AustinAreaGardenCouncilRepresentativeMargarineBeaman,StateCouncilRepresentative MaryKastl,StateCouncilRepresentative
Past Presidents (Non-voting):
Bill BaldwinBillBoytimSusan CashinTommieClaytonSusanDeckerDonFreemanManda RashPeggyStewartBeckyWaakWill Walker CarolynWilliams
Ex Officio Member of the Board (Non-voting):
TexasAgriLifeExtensionTravisCounty HorticultureAgentDaphneRichards1600-BSmithRoad,Austin,[email protected]
TRAVIS CounTy MASTER GARdEnER ASSoCIATIon 2013 ExECuTIVE BoARd
The Compost Bin June 2013 Page 14
ThisissueoftheCompostBinhasbeenpublishedthankstothecontributionsofthefollowingTravisCountyMasterGardenersandWizzieBrown—TexasAgriLifeExtensionPhotographers:Liath Appleton BruceLeander Contributing Writers:JaNetBarkely-Booher WizzyBrown FrankieHart PattyLeander HeidiRoure
© 2013TravisCountyMasterGardenersAssociationwww.tcmastergardeners.orghttp://travis-tx.tamu.edu512-854-9600
Editor and Layout:Liath Appleton Webmaster:Paula Middleton
The Compost Bin SubmissionsWearealwayslookingforMasterGardenerswhoareinterestedinwritingforourmonthlynewsletter,andwewouldloveto
seeyourarticles,photographs,bookreviewsandgardeningideas.
General Guidelines• Pleasefirstemailtheeditortodiscusspotentialarticleideas.• Emailcontributionsasattachments(preferablyinWordwitha.docor.rtfsuffix).• Pleasesendimagesasseparateattachments(preferably.jpgsuffix).Don’tforgettoincludephotographeracknowled-mentsandcaptions.
Sendyoursubmissions,announcements,questionsandsuggestions to: [email protected]
“AcrossthesummerstreamWithsuchjoyMysandalsinmyhand.”―YosaBuson