Category Archives: Horticulture Reports

Powdery Mildew-Resistant Pumpkin & Squash

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This list is reprinted from the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000617_Rep639.pdf

Powdery Mildew-resistant Pumpkin & Squash Varieties

Pumpkins – Large

18 Karat Gold R
Aladdin H
Gladiator H
Golden Condor M
Hercules H
King Midas S
Magician H
Magic Lantern H (BWS)
Merlin H (BWS)
SuperHerc H
Spartan SW

Winter Squash – Acorn
Autumn Delight R
Royal Ace H
Sweet Reba HM
Table Star R
Table Treat R
Taybelle PM R
Tip Top PMR J

Summer Squash – Yellow
Fancycrook HPS (crookneck)
Patriot II R (straightneck, TG)
Prelude II R (crookneck, TG)
Sunglo R (crookneck)
Sunray R,J, H (straightneck)
Success HM (straightneck)

 Pumpkins – Medium

Charisma H
Hobbit H
Oktoberfest S
Scarecrow M
Pumpkins – Pie
Cannonball H
Harvest Princess M
Iron Man H (phyt)
Mystic Plus H
Prankster S
Pure Gold M
RockaFellow S
Touch of Autumn R, S, CW, CS

Winter Squash – Butternut
Betternut 401 S
Bugle R
Indian Brave NES
JWS 6823 PMR J
Metro PMR J
RB3106 r

Summer Squash – Zucchini
Ambassador HPS
Hurakan H (gray zucchini)
Judgment III (TG) SW
Justice II R (TG)
Lynx St
Payroll R, S, SW
Sebring (yellow zucchini) SW
Wildcat St

 Pumpkins – Specialty

Bumpkin M (mini)
Gold Dust R (mini)
Hooligan (tricolor mini) CS
Gooligan (bicolor mini) CS
OneTooMany R (white/red
veins)
Sweet Lightning R (bicolor
mini)
 

Winter Squash – Specialty
Bush Delicata J, HPS
Celebration R (y/or acorn hybrid)
Harlequin R (gr/wht acorn hybrid)
MardiGras NES (gr/whtacorn hybrid)

All pumpkins and squash will develop powdery mildew symptoms if weather conditions favor the fungus. Resistant or tolerant varieties develop symptoms more slowly and maintain leaf coverage later in the season. For more information about controlling powdery mildew, see the New England Vegetable Management Guide, found online at http://www.nevegetable.org/.

 All varieties should be trialed on a small scale to determine whether they are suitable for your growing conditions, and markets.

 Legend of seed sources: R Rupp Seeds, M Meyer Seed International, H Harris Moran Seed Co, J Johnny’s Selected Seeds, HM High Mowing Seeds, HPS Horticultural Products & Services, N New England Seeds, SW Seedway, St Stokes, S Siegers, CS Carolina Seeds.

This information is presented as a guide only. No endorsement is implied, and sources listed are not necessarily sole sources.

Comments: Phyt – also tolerant to Phytophthora. BWS – Highly susceptible to bacterial wilt.

TG – transgenic virus resistance, not compatible with USDA Organic Certification.

Chojuro Asian Pear

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20140901_154846

Plant Type:  Fruit Tree
Bloom Time:  Early
Fruit Ripens: Late August, Early September
Plant Height: Upright 16-18 feet
Exposure:  Full Sun
Soil: Medium Fertile
USDA:  Zone: 5-8

Attributes: Very productive, Golden fruit with butterscotch-like flavor when tree-ripened. Medium to large fruit. Fruit Keeps.

Other Info: Thin fruit to increase fruit size. Best pollinators: Other variety of Asian pear or Bartlett pear.

California Giant Zinnia

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             Zinnia elegans (California Giant Zinnia)  
California Giant Zinnia

California Giant Zinnia

Plant Type: Annual
Bloom Time: Early Summer to Frost
Flowers: Large 4” – 5” Double Flowers
Plant Height: 30” – 48” tall
Vibrant Mixed Colors: Orange, Red, Yellow, White, Cherry, Pink, Scarlet, Purple
Exposure: Full sun
Soil: Loamy – Well Drained
Attributes: Excellent Cut Flower, Easy to Grow, Long Lasting, Attracts Humming Birds & Butterflies, Drought Tolerant, Very Showy especially in mass plantings, Terrific for Drying.
USDA Zone: All

 

20140810_C Zinnias20140810_Cal Zinnias

 

 

 

 

 

 

Submitted by: Carlotta Lucas

Ashland Prepares for Drought

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The City of Ashland is preparing for the impending drought
and water curtailment for the summer of 2014.

For more information contact:
Julie Smitherman- City Water Conservation Specialist.  541-552-2062

Check out the city’s website on how to conserve water.
http://www.ashland.or.us/citynews.drought

Horticultural Report : Rhododendrons and Azaleas

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THE BASICS

Overview:
Rhododendrons are native to Asia, North America, Europe and Australia, with the highest

Rhododendron_'Black_Magic'_(1)

Black Magic Rhododendron

species diversity in the Himalayas. There are over 1,000 species of rhododendron, woody plants in the Heath family that may be evergreen or deciduous. Azaleas make up 2 subgenera of the rhododendron family.

Some species are poisonous, both the pollen and nectar, yet we have observed honey being sold specifically from bees feeding on rhododendrons.

Growing Conditions:
After over 48 years experience growing both rhododendrons and azaleas in diverse conditions in the U.S., I believe these plants are much tougher than most people appreciate.

Among the false assumptions:
Rhododendrons and azaleas are best grown where summers are cool and moist—not so!
Azaleas are mostly deciduous—not so!

There are two conditions that are critical to success in growing these acid loving plants whose fine roots are primarily at the soil surface:

>>Good Drainage
>> Cool Roots

Whether your soil is clay or decomposed granite, it can be amended to meet the plants needs.

Clay Soil:
With clay there are two approaches, the easiest is to amend the existing soil with good acid compost to loosen it up and allow for drainage. As long as the planting site is elevated from the surrounding soil, you can plant directly into the soil. Another approach is to build a raised area about one foot above the existing soil level using river rock or another material and fill with good soil mulched with acid compost.

Decomposed Granite:
Typically decomposed granite drains rapidly so the addition of a good amount of acid compost will help it retain sufficient moisture to support plant growth.

Keeping Roots Cool:  In Southern Oregon it is very easy to keep plant roots cool as we have easy access to conifer forest detritus. Although fir trees are the dominate locally, we have pine trees which serve as the ideal mulch for azaleas and rhododendrons. Unlike compost, which can get soggy and compacted, pine needles piled around the base of the plants provide a cool, moist environment with good air circulation. As the pine needles breakdown, they help maintain soil acidity.

Selecting Plants

2012_Purple_Azaleas

Azalea

A factor to consider in purchasing rhododendrons and azaleas, is how the plant will fit into your landscape scheme. If you desire the tall lacy feel of rhododendrons reaching for the sky, then look for plants that exhibit an 8 to 10 inch or greater annual growth rate. In contrast, there are many species which grow in a dense, bush-like growth habit or , with the deciduous species, they retain a shrub like height, but exhibit a lacy open growth habit.

Spring is the ideal time to purchase these plants as they are in full bloom, giving you good color selection and an appreciation of some of the perfumed varieties. The disadvantage is often nursery suppliers push the plants causing the roots of some of them to be so compacted that they cannot be pulled a part. Under these conditions the plant will never perform well and I would suggest returning the plant to the nursery.

Submitted by:
Donna Rhee

Eight OSU-Developed Tomatoes To Try

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CORVALLIS, Ore. – As you pore over seed catalogs in these cold winter months, you’ll likely include tomatoes in your vegetable garden dreams.

Oregon State University’s vegetable breeding program has developed several varieties over the past 40 years that are now mainstays in many Pacific Northwest gardens. Perhaps you know of Indigo Rose, the novelty purple tomato that OSU debuted in 2012. But did you know about the other varieties that the program has created?

In the past, the whole idea behind the breeding program has been to breed seedless types that are adapted to the cooler springs we have in Oregon and tomatoes with determinate growth so that they bloom earlier and set fruit under cooler conditions,” said Jim Myers, OSU’s vegetable breeder.

Under Myers’s leadership, the program has focused on two areas in recent years – developing varieties with late blight resistance and increasing phytonutrient potential.

“We try to build on the material previously developed in the vegetable breeding program,” Myers said.

Myers suggested the following OSU varieties, many of which were developed by his predecessor, Jim Baggett.

  • Legend: A tomato that produces large fruit that is good to eat straight off the vine. Resistant to some forms of late blight. Ripens 60-65 days after transplanting. You can get a larger-sized, earlier-ripening fruit by growing them first from seeds in gallon-size pots then transplanting them, Myers said.
  • Gold Nugget: Among the first to ripen, this prolific variety grows cherry tomatoes with a deep yellow color and mild, juicy flavor. Ripens in 60 days.
  • Oroma: This tomato makes good tomato sauce and paste. Early to mature; average ripening time of 70 days. Prolific after ripening. Fruit is meaty and thick-walled.
  • Oregon Spring: Ripens in 60-70 days. Slicing variety that can be eaten fresh in salads or straight from the vine. It will produce high, early yields of silver-dollar-sized juicy tomatoes.
  • Oregon Star: Ripens in 80 days. An early-maturing, red paste-type tomato. Large, seedless fruit. Good for fresh eating and for canning.
  • Santiam: Ripens in 65-75 days. Suited for salads and fresh eating; good, tart flavor.
  • Siletz: Ripens in 70-75 days. Reliable tomato with good flavor; ideal for eating fresh from the vine. Not resistant to late blight.
  • Indigo Rose: Ripens about 80-90 days after transplanting. First of a new class of tomato that is high in antioxidants. Its purple color comes from the anthocyanin pigment in its fruit. This open-pollinated variety is semi-determinate – or larger than a determinate type but smaller than indeterminate types – and a prolific producer. Get the best flavor by picking the tomato at its ripest; it will turn a muddy brown, dull purple color in September when ripe.

Find these tomatoes in the seed catalogs from Territorial Seed Co., Victory Seed Co., Ed Hume Seeds, Johnny’s Selected Seeds and Nichols Garden Nursery. 

Except for Indigo Rose, these tomatoes are determinate types, meaning that they are bushy in form and have fruit that sets on the bud at the tip of the stem, Myers said. They continue growth from side branches. All tomatoes from determinate type plants ripen in a concentrated period of time. Indeterminate tomatoes, on the other hand, will grow vigorously to heights of up to 12 feet and produce fruit until frost kills them.

If you’re overwhelmed by all the tomato choices and only have limited space, Myers has some advice.

“Find a few tomato varieties that work really well for you and use them as standbys, but reserve some space every year for experimental types that you want to try,” said Myers, the Baggett-Frazier Professor of Vegetable Breeding in OSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

By Denise Ruttan, denise.ruttan@oregonstate.edu, on Twitter at @OregonStateExt
Source: Jim Myers, myersja@hort.oregonstate.edu
This story is online at: http://bit.ly/OSU_Gardening2324

About Gardening News From the OSU Extension Service: The Extension Service provides a variety of gardening information on its website at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/community/gardening. Resources include gardening tips, videos, podcasts, monthly calendars of outdoor chores, how-to publications, information about the Master Gardener program, and a monthly emailed newsletter.