Farm & Ranch
[AgriLife Today] It’s go time for vegetable gardeners
By: Adam Russell
- Writer: Adam Russell, 903-834-6191, [email protected]
- Contact: Dr. Joe Masabni, 903-834-6191, [email protected]
“It’s time to plant potatoes, onions and other cool-season crops like mustard greens, kale, peas and spinach,” he said. “It’s your last window to begin seeding plants like tomatoes and peppers indoors for spring gardens.”OVERTON — Dr. Joe Masabni, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist, Overton, said it’s time for gardeners to plant some vegetables and prepare seedlings for others.
Potatoes
Masabni said potatoes are a great crop because there is a wide range of varieties for gardeners in various regions of the state. Potatoes should be planted in soil that drains well.
He recommends planting a full small potato about the size of a golf ball with sprouts, but golf ball-sized pieces of larger potatoes that are sprouting can also be planted shallow in the soil, 2-3 inches deep, about 2 feet apart.
“Then as the potato grows, you want to add soil on top of the stem,” he said. “When the stem gets about 8 inches tall, bury about 4 inches of the stem, leaves and all, with more compost or soil mix. That lets the lateral roots develop and form new potatoes.”
He said that this method works well for container gardening, such as 5-gallon buckets, grow bags or large pots. For example, cut the bottom out of a white 5-gallon bucket and plant according to Masabni’s instructions. When the potatoes are ready for harvest, lift the bucket to expose the potatoes.
“It’s an easy way to harvest potatoes and separate them from the soil,” he said. “I recommend a white bucket because dark colored buckets absorb more heat and can stress the plants.”
Masabni said gardeners should take soil samples and have them tested to make sure the area where potatoes are planted meets requirements for potassium and phosphorous, which are important for good quality and yields.
Onions
Masabni said sets of onions should be cleaned and sorted by size before planting. Dirt and dead leaves should be removed and ill-looking slips should be discarded to avoid transferring possible pathogens to the garden.
Gardeners should also remove any onion slips that are smaller than the diameter of a phone charger cord, he said. He said 10-20 percent of plants in slips are typically subpar and can be discarded. Pencil-sized sprouts typically perform best.
“They should be sorted by size and planted together based on size so they will grow in uniform,” he said. “Bigger onions grow faster. You don’t want to pick one here and one there when you can have a block or row of onions ready this week and then another ready in subsequent weeks.”
Tomato seeding
Masabni said it’s late but not too late to start tomato seedlings.
“They take 6-8 weeks to be ready, so start them as soon as possible if you haven’t,” he said.
Masabni starts his tomato seeds in small containers filled with potting mix or compost. Be sure they drain well, he said. He recommends placing containers outside in a cold box or other cold frame structure or inside a greenhouse.
“Seedlings that are grown indoors under constant warm temperatures and poor light conditions tend to grow tall and spindly,” he said. “The cool nighttime temperatures in a cold frame or greenhouse slow the plant and you have a shorter, sturdier plant. They get warm temperatures and sun during the day and cool temperatures at night. The plants love it.”
After germination, add some half-strength ratio fertilizer, he said. It is also best to allow the soil to dry between waterings.
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Farm & Ranch
Hazards of Backyard Poultry
By Barry Whitworth, DVM
Having backyard poultry is a popular agriculture enterprise. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 0.8 percent of all households in the United States have chickens. People keep chickens for a variety of reasons with table eggs being one of the more common reasons.
Unfortunately, some of these poultry producers are not aware of the hazards that come with keeping poultry because many times they carry pathogens but appear healthy.
Chickens are carriers of several zoonotic diseases. These are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. According to a recent survey in Pennsylvania, a majority of backyard poultry producers were aware of the dangers of avian influenza. However, this study also revealed that far fewer producers were aware of the risk of possible exposure to Salmonella and Campylobacter.
The lack of knowledge about the hazards of raising poultry likely contributes to the continued issues of Salmonella outbreaks associated with backyard poultry. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,072 illnesses of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry, and 272 of those patients required hospitalization. Oklahoma reported 43 individuals with the disease.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
Farm & Ranch
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By Tressa Lawrence
Babies are tucked away in every nook and cranny. Many ranchers across Wyoming have baby animals popping up all over this time of year.
Farm & Ranch
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