Plantorama

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ARE THOSE WINGED ANTS OR TERMITES? – Both termites and ants are able to swarm and may have wings during part of their lives. Since these insects are close to the same size, people often misidentify flying ants as termites. K-State horticultural entomologist, Raymond Cloyd, discusses the differences between flying ants and termites. He also covers the early steps for managing the Eastern tent caterpillar.

START PLANTING VEGETABLE GARDENS – Most cool season crops can be planted outside by the second or third week of March. In Kansas, a variety of cool season vegetables can be planted, including onions, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes and turnips. K-State Extension horticulture expert, Matt McKernan, explains how to get started with planting cool season crops.

ARE THESE OLD SEEDS VIABLE? – Many gardeners have seeds laying around from previous growing seasons. The question then becomes whether the seeds are still viable and can be used in the upcoming growing season. To determine the viability of old seeds, K-State Extension horticulture expert, Matt McKernan, explains how to conduct a seed germination test with items that are probably already in your kitchen.

DO YOUR HOUSEPLANTS NEED REPOTTING – Spring’s increased light makes this an ideal time to check your houseplants and repot them if needed. Kansas State University consumer horticulture Extension associate, Matt McKernan, says over time, roots fill the container, causing the plant to become root-bound. When this occurs, it’s time to transfer the plant to a larger, deeper pot.

BLISTER BEETLES AND MIMOSA WEBWORM – The K-State Extension Bookstore recently released two new publications authored by K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd. The title of the first publication is Mimosa Webworm: Insect Pest of Honey Locust and Mimosa Trees and the second is Threestriped and Ashgray Blister Beetles. Raymond discusses both publications which provide information on the biology and behavior, and management of all three insect pests.

CONSIDER THE SOIL TEMPERATURE – We’ve reached that point where gardeners are considering selections for early-season planting. K-State Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, discusses why soil temperature – not the date on the calendar – should be the determining factor in planting cole crops, such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. He also discusses things to keep in mind as gardening season approaches.

BEEKEEPING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES – Honey bee behavior is influenced by the seasons and availability of flowering plants. To raise healthy and productive colonies, beekeepers must perform various tasks throughout the year. As part of the February K-State Garden Hour, Golden Prairie District Horticulture Agent, Ryan Engel, covered the standard beekeeping management practices and essential food sources for honey bees in Kansas.

GETTING READY FOR SPRING PLANTING – It’ll be weeks before outdoor gardening gets underway across the state. However, there are things gardeners can do now to get ready for planting this spring. K-State Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, says this includes determining what to plant in this year's garden, checking the viability of leftover seeds from previous years, and placing orders for new seeds.

INSECT PESTS CAN SURVIVE EXTREME COLD – One of the reasons insect pests that overwinter in Kansas have a high survival rate is because their systems have evolved to withstand extreme cold. K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd says they have substances that are almost like antifreeze. He also covers how to control insect pests that emerge in the spring.

STARTING VEGETABLE SEEDS – Starting vegetable seeds involves several steps – and a little math. K-State instructor and Extension horticulture specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, discusses how to start seeds, including using reputable seeds, consulting the Kansas Garden Guide to determine when seeds should be started for each vegetable, the starting mix, containers, water and light needed to successfully grow seedlings.

BEST PRACTICES TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH – For the January K-State Garden Hour, Pottawatomie County Extension Agent, Shannon Blocker, discussed ways to improve soil to boost resilience, create a thriving landscape, and provide long-term soil vitality. As part of the presentation she covered the powerful combination of physical, chemical, and biological functions that can improve soil health.

Program

Date

Segment Title and Description

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and/or

Download

USING SEED TO START TRANSPLANTS – For gardeners, planning and starting vegetable and flower transplants from seed can make the winter months pass much quicker. Kansas State University Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, explains the process and equipment needed to start transplants from seed.

WINTER COMPOST MAINTENANCE – Gardeners with compost piles know the decomposition process is much slower during winter. However, compost materials can still be added because active composition is still occurring. K-State instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, explains how to properly maintain a compost pile throughout the winter.

HOW TO CARE FOR HOLIDAY PLANTS – Whether it’s a Christmas cactus, poinsettia or an amaryllis, Kansas State University instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, says water, light and temperature are all important factors in successfully caring for these holiday plants.

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS FOR GARDENERS – Avid gardeners typically have an extensive collection of tools and supplies, so finding the perfect holiday gift can be a challenge. K-State Extension horticulture agent for Butler County, Calla Edwards, conducted a survey among Master Gardeners and gardening enthusiasts that revealed their favorite tools, supplies and plants.

WINTER HOUSEPLANT CARE – The K-State Extension horticulture agent for Riley County has a word of caution for individuals trying to nurse their houseplants through winter: make sure your plants need water before you give them more. Gregg Eyestone says the number one killer of houseplants is overwatering. This week, he discusses how to care for houseplants, a variety of holiday plants and live Christmas trees.

CLIMATE RESILIENT GARDENS – The November K-State Garden Hour explored ways to establish gardens that are resilient to tough growing conditions due to a changing climate. K-State Extension horticulture agent for Reno County, Pam Paulsen, says some methods include using native and adapted plants, soil improvement, efficient use of water and nutrients, and attracting beneficial insects.

EXTENDING THE GROWING SEASON – If you want to extend the growing season, there are some options for keeping the soil and air warmer around plants to promote growth and protect from freezing. K-State horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, discusses how cold season crops can be protected through the use of cold frames, low tunnels and plastic milk jugs.

NUISANCE INSECT AND MITE PESTS – Whether it’s Asian lady beetles, box elder bugs, or clover mites, a variety of nuisance insects and mite pests are trying to get into homes. K-State horticultural entomologist, Raymond Cloyd, says the best defense against this invasion is to seal up cracks and crevices. He also recommends cleaning up the garden to prevent insect pests from overwintering in the debris.

HORTICULTURE RESEARCH IN OLTAHE – Kansas State University conducts horticulture-related research at several locations across the state. Director of the K-State Horticulture Research and Extension Center in Olathe, Cary Rivard, highlights some of the research taking place at the center – grafting tomato plants, agrivoltaics and high tunnels.

STORING LAWN AND GARDEN PESTICIDES – A variety of lawn and garden pesticides are leftover at the end of the growing season. Rather than disposing of those pesticides, K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, explains how you can safely store pesticides and use them again next season.

ESTABLISHING A LOCAL COMMUNITY GARDEN – The October K-State Garden Hour explores the evolution of community gardens, different types of community gardens, pitfalls to avoid, and offers guidance on establishing and sustaining a successful community garden. K-State Extension horticulture agent for the Meadowlark District, Laura Phillips, discusses four components to successful community gardens.

FALL INSECT PESTS REMAIN ACTIVE – If you’ve seen recent damage to your honey locust trees, it’s most likely being caused by the second generation of mimosa webworm. K-State horticultural entomologist, Raymond Cloyd, says nothing can be done now, but you can manage the pest in the spring by applying insecticides targeting young caterpillars to control the first and second generations. He also covers fall webworm, fall armyworm, mosquitos and crickets.

DECORATING IDEAS FOR THE FALL – As leaves begin to fall and Halloween decorations start going up, many people are wondering how they can keep some interest in the home landscape. K-State instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, has several decorating ideas that involve the use of seasonal flowers, pumpkins, gourds, dried corn stalks and corn bundles.

SELECTING SPRING-FLOWERING BULBS – To give them enough time to root before winter, spring-flowering bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils and crocus, should be planted in early-to-late fall. That makes now a good time to select the bulbs you want. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, discusses the selection process for bulbs and the benefits of conducting a soil test before planting later this fall.

HARVESTING SWEET POTATOES – Harvesting homegrown sweet potatoes in Kansas generally stretches from about mid-September to mid-October. However, K-State instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, says sweet potatoes need to be harvested before the first freeze occurs. She explains how to harvest and cure sweet potatoes.

MIMOSA WEBWORMS AND GRUBS – K-State horticultural entomologist, Raymond Cloyd, discusses the visible damage caused by mimosa webworms and managing future infestations next year by using insecticides on young caterpillars. He also provides an update on fall armyworms, cicada killers and grubs.

SHRUBS THAT THRIVE IN KANSAS – The focus for the September K-State Garden Hour was shrubs that thrive in Kansas. Jason Griffin, Woody Ornamentals Horticulture Extension Specialist and Director of the John C. Pair Horticulture Center, highlighted a variety of shrubs that perform well in our climate and would be great additions to the home landscape.

PLANT, DIVIDE AND DEADHEAD – If you’d like to extend the growing season of your vegetable garden, it’s time to plant cool season vegetables, including leafy greens like lettuce and spinach and root crops such as carrots and beets. In addition, there may be some landscaping items that need to be addressed. K-State horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, says this includes dividing iris and peonies and deadheading flowers to promote blooming. But this is not the time to prune spring-flowering shrubs.

READ GRASS SEED LABELS CAREFULLY – Fall is an excellent time for lawn seeding or overseeding because the warm soil and cooler air temperatures promote healthy germination and root growth before winter. However, it’s important to purchase quality grass seed. K-State Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, says it’s important to read the label carefully – paying close attention to the percent of “other crop seed” contained in each bag of grass seed.

K-STATE HORTICULTURE RESEARCH – For the August K-State Garden Hour, K-State professor and Extension specialist of ornamental nursery crop production and marketing, Cheryl Boyer, and several colleagues, highlighted recent and emerging horticultural research across the state and beyond. Boyer discusses her three areas of focus: production, culture and use of ornamental nursery crops; new-media, marketing and E-commerce for horticultural businesses; and scholarship of Extension.

HORTICULTURAL INSECT ACTIVITY – Japanese beetle adults, green June beetle adults, mimosa webworm and fall armyworm are all active in Kansas. K-State horticultural entomologist, Raymond Cloyd, discusses the potential damage they can cause and whether any control measures should be taken.

EXTEND THE GROWING SEASON – Radishes, spinach, turnips, mustard, lettuce and other leafy greens can be planted from mid-August to early September to extend the harvest into fall. Kansas State University instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, explains how to establish a salad garden.

TOMATOES MAY TEST OUR PATIENCE – This year’s tomato crop may test the patience of Kansas gardeners. A K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, says weather has been the driving force behind a slow maturing tomato crop. He discusses this year’s crop and some of the issues gardeners may face.

KANSAS DEMONSTRATION GARDENS – The July K-State Garden Hour focused on demonstration gardens in Kansas. As part of the webinar, Extension horticulture agents Matthew McKernan, Markis Hill, Jason Graves and Jay Harris, along with Johnson County Master Gardener coordinator, Mary Matthew, took participants on a journey of demonstration gardens from Hays to central Kansas to Johnson County to Sedgwick County. We focus on how demonstration gardens are used to promote education, sustainability and community engagement and learn about the Sedgwick County Extension Arboretum.

INSECT PESTS TO WATCH FOR – In this week’s lawn and garden segment, K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd covers several insect pests, including Japanese beetle adults, bagworms and mimosa webworms. He explains the potential damage they can cause and the treatment options available.

GROWING TOMATOES TAKES WORK – Tomato growers know there are several things that can cause trouble. K-State instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, (dahm-ehn-gee-nee) discusses how hot weather, fungal diseases and hornworms can all create problems for tomatoes.

SUBSTRATE STRATIFICATION RESEARCH – As container gardening continues to expand in the U.S, research is aimed at reducing water use, especially in large containers. Kansas State University nursery crop and marketing specialist, Cheryl Boyer, says a study using substrate stratification – the layering of different substrates or different textures of the same substrate within a single container – is producing some promising results.

POTENTIAL INSECT PESTS – Depending on the plants and trees in your home landscape, there may be insect pests that you should be on the lookout for. K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd has an update on bagworm activity, European elm flea weevils and grasshoppers. He also mentions a new tomato publication for commercial growers.

DEADHEADING PLANTS – Deadheading is the practice of removing faded, damaged or dead flower heads from plants to encourage more blooms and improve the aesthetics of the flower bed. K-State instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, discusses how to deadhead plants and the benefits of deadheading plants, such as snapdragons, geraniums, marigolds and petunias.

NATIVE AND ORNAMENTAL GRASSES – Native gasses are typically associated with the prairie or a wide-open space. However, it is possible to incorporate native and ornamental grasses in the home landscape. For the June K-State Garden Hour, Johnson County horticulture Extension agent, Markis Hill, discussed native and ornamental grasses that are suitable for Kansas's conditions.

OPTIONS FOR WEED CONTROL – Weed control often seems like an endless battle. As soon as you think they’re under control, they magically reappear. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, discusses four options for controlling weeds in the garden and home landscape: hand removal, applying pre or post-emergent weed killers and using mulch.

HEAT TOLERANT PERENNIALS – The May K-State Garden Hour focused on the use of heat loving perennials in Kansas. K-State Research and Extension Central Kansas District horticulture agent, Jason Graves, discussed heat impacts, heat proofing the landscape and heat tolerant perennials that perform well in Kansas. He says the prairies of Kansas have taught us that soil health is critical in helping plants manage heat stress.

INSECT PESTS BEING NOTICED – As we get further into spring, insect activity in the home landscape is on the rise. K-State horticultural entomologist, Raymond, Cloyd, says four insect pests are currently active: bagworms, brownheaded ash sawfly, rose sawfly and clover mites. He discusses the steps that can be taken to control each insect pest.

MULCHING AND WATERING TREES – K-State Extension horticulturist Cynthia Domenghini has more information on tree care. This week, Cynthia covers mulching around young trees and providing enough water to keep trees healthy this spring and summer.

TREE CARE IN THE HOME LANDSCAPE – Trees are considered an investment in a home landscape and need to be protected against disease and damage. K-State Extension horticulture specialist Cynthia Domenghini discusses evaluating storm-damaged trees to determine if they should be salvaged or replaced and why suckers near the trunk of a tree should be removed.

MOVING EASTER LILIES OUTDOORS – Easter lilies are not reliably hardy in Kansas. However, with proper care, they can survive outdoors. K-State horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, has some tips for adding an Easter lily to the home landscape.

EARLY SPRING INSECT PESTS – K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd provides an update on some early spring insect pests to be aware of, such as clover mites, lilac ash borer and ants. He says spring is a common time for ants to become more active and to seek out new nesting sites, often leading them indoors in search of food and water.

INCREASING YIELD IN THE HOME GARDEN – The April K-State Garden Hour covered methods for increasing fruit and vegetable yield in the home garden. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Sedgwick County, Abbey Draut, discussed selecting high-performance varieties, the difference between heirlooms and hybrids and where to find a list of high-yielding garden crops.

PREPARING FOR GARDEN SEASON – K-State horticulture Extension specialist Cynthia Domenghini discusses a variety of actions that can be taken to prepare us for garden season. This includes, a soil test, controlling broadleaf weeds, aerating cool-season lawns, removing flower stalks from spring flowering bulbs after blooming and mulching landscape beds.

GROWING ONIONS AND POTATOES – Time is running out for gardeners who want to grow onions or potatoes this season. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for the Post Rock District, Cassie Thiessen, (tee-son) says the suggested planting date for potatoes is mid-March to early April and for onions it’s late March to early April.

APPLYING CRABGRASS PREVENTER – Crabgrass is a summer annual grass that germinates in the spring and dies in the fall. A cool-season lawn, which often struggles during the summer, provides crabgrass an opportunity to take over the lawn. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, says you can apply a preventer on cool-season lawns in early spring to prevent crabgrass from germinating.

EARLY-SEASON VEGETABLE CROPS – Soil temperatures are beginning to reach a point where gardeners can begin planting some early cool-season crops. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, says potatoes and peas, along with perennial vegetables, such as rhubarb and asparagus, are a few of the earliest crops that can be planted.

ESTABLISHING A PRAIRIE HABITAT – The March K-State Garden Hour explores the process for establishing a thriving prairie habitat. Johnson County Extension natural resources agent, Amy Keigher, discusses the benefits of prairie landscapes, plant selection and maintenance techniques for creating a sustainable ecosystem in the home landscape.

VERMICOMPOSTING: FEEDING THE WORMS – Last week, we introduced the topic of vermicomposting – which involves raising worms in a contained area to harvest waste for fertilizing gardens and houseplants. This week, we continue that conversation with K-State horticulture Extension specialist Cynthia Domenghini as she explains what to feed the worms and how to maintain the worm bin.

FERTILIZE THE GARDEN USING WORMS – An effective way to utilize kitchen scraps and boost the soil in your garden is through vermicomposting – raising worms in a contained area to harvest waste for fertilizing the garden. K-State instructor and Extension horticulture specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, explains how to make a worm bin and how the castings and worm tea benefit the soil.

BENEFITS OF A THERAPEUTIC GARDEN – Gardening offers both physical and mental health benefits. This is especially true for therapeutic gardens which are designed to meet the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of the people using the garden as well as their caregivers, family members and friends. K-State horticultural Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, says a therapeutic garden is an accessible garden.

BENEFITS OF DRIP IRRIGATION – A variety of factors determine the success of a garden – and water is certainly at the top of the list. However, water needs to be used wisely. For the February K-State Garden Hour, K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, discussed how to maximize water efficiency through drip irrigation.

PLANNING THE SPRING GARDEN – For gardeners, now is an excellent time to think about last year’s gardening experience and decide if you want to make any changes this year. For example, did you eat all the vegetables you planted and was the size of the garden too big or too small? K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, says now is also a good time to check seed viability and determine which seeds you need for your spring garden.

STARTING VEGETABLE SEEDS – Starting vegetable seeds involves several steps – and a little math. K-State instructor and Extension horticulture specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, discusses how to start seeds, including using reputable seeds, consulting the Kansas Garden Guide to determine when seeds should be started for each vegetable, the starting mix, containers, water and light needed to successfully grow seedlings.

TIPS FOR BEGINNING GARDENERS (PART 2) – Harvey County Extension horticulture agent, Scott Eckert, has more information for those wanting to start a vegetable garden. This week, he discusses weed control, benefits of making a garden sketch and the difference between warm and cool season vegetables.

TIPS FOR BEGINNING GARDENERS – The number of people interested in gardening continues to grow. For this month’s K-State Garden Hour, K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Harvey County, Scott Eckert, discussed some of the things beginners need to know to grow a thriving garden.

STARTING TRANSPLANTS FROM SEED – Gardeners wanting to get started on the next growing season can do more than look through seed catalogs – they can start their own transplants from seed indoors. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Greg Eyestone, covers the steps involved in starting vegetable transplants.