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Crops tour date setBy David G. Hallauer Meadowlark District Extension agent, crops/soils/horticulture Kansas The Meadowlark Extension District Tour of variety demonstration plots will be held Aug. 27 in Jefferson County. This year's tour will include two corn and one soybean variety plots, as well as a visit to a herbicide resistant weed research plot. The tour will kick off with a noon lunch at the Perry Community Center and conclude with an evening meal at Domann Farms at Winchester. More details will be available in the coming weeks or at www.meadowlark.ksu.edu under the Crops and Soils link. Liming alfalfa If alfalfa is in your plans for fall seeding in 2008, now is the time to be planning for lime applications. When pH drops below 6.5 in our area east of the Flint Hills, lime is likely necessary. Soil test now to see whether you need to have lime applied, and at what rate. Evaluating wheat seed options The 2008 wheat crop was quite a mixed bag. That means seed supplies will be as well. When selecting seed, make sure you are aware of its germination and test weight, or at least the potential to have it cleaned to get to acceptable guidelines. As a general rule, make sure germination is 80 to 90 percent and test weights are 56 pounds and above. A seed treatment is recommended, particularly if you are trying to clean some wheat that my have had scab as seedling blights can be a carryover this fall of this summer's disease. Wheat plot results to compare yield are available at www.meadowlark.ksu.edu for the results from our Sabetha plot. A link to KSU Crop Performance Test results is available there as well. Summer hot a time to slump When the forecast is calling for high temperatures and humidity, its hard to get excited about rushing outside to do much in the lawn or garden. August, is, however, a critical time when we should be. The following is a 'to do' list for you to consider: Mulch cucumbers to conserve moisture and reduce bitter taste. Water adequately. Consider picking tomatoes just as they start to turn so they'll ripen to normal coloration. Fertilize strawberries with one half to three quarters of a pound of actual nitrogen per 100 feet of row in mid-August in order to promote the growth of new runner, or daughter, plants. Water fruit plants if soil to a depth of 8 to 12 inches is hard, dry, and difficult to penetrate. Stress now may reduce development of fruit buds for next year's fruit crop. Add enough moisture so you can easily penetrate the soil in the root area of the plant with a shovel, spade, or probe. Check soil moisture at least once a week. Newly transplanted trees need at least 10 gallons of water per week, and on sandy soils they will need that much applied twice a week. Regardless of method used, soil should be wet at least 12 inches deep. Peony red spot is now present. To reduce inoculum and disease chances next year, remove all diseased tissue, including stems, at the end of the growing season. Mulch that contains plant debris should also be discarded and replaced with fresh mulch. 8/11/08 Date: 8/5/08
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