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The Lowdown
WSU Spokane County Extension Master Gardeners January 2017 The Lowdown
Inside this issue:
Foundation News 2
Book Review 4
Book Review #2 6
Self-study Quiz 8
Upcoming Events 10
Extension Information
Dr. Jeremy Cowan 477-2145
Regional Horticulture Specialist
Tim Kohlhauff 477-2172
Horticulture Program Coordinator
Anna Kestell 477-2195
Food Preservation/Safety
Jackie Sykes 477-2193
Clinic Coordinator
Master Gardener County Site
http://extension.wsu.edu/spokane/
master-gardener-program
Master Gardener Foundation of Spo-
kane County
http://www.mgfsc.org/
WSU Master Gardener Site
http://mastergardener.wsu.edu/
HortSense Fact Sheets
http://hortsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/
Home/HortsenseHome.aspx
On Line Timelog Reporting:
http://ext.wsu.edu/Volunteers/logon.aspx
WELCOME TO 2017!
2017 will bring a new class of Master Gardeners to the program and
many opportunities to learn new things, do interesting projects, share
new information and enjoy our environment with other people who
share a passion for growing plants and friendships.
We look forward to the many exciting ways we will work together,
learn together and ‘play’ together as we grow as gardeners of all
types!
The Lowdown Page 2
Foundation News
By Tim Stiess
Happy New Year… I don’t know about you but the beginning of January is when I start thinking about what I am going to do differently in the garden. Usually this is way too early and I stop thinking about it by the end of January as I wonder why winter must be so long. Will spring never arrive!?!?
One new thing for the Foundation in 2017 is a new logo. First, let me start by saying Jan Shellen-berger is a ROCKSTAR! Jan puts in bazillions of hours for the Foundation, both in being a part of fund-raising event teams and in marketing all our events. As if there is not enough time in her day, she also concerns herself with the general image of the Foundation. With that in mind, she came to the Foun-dation board a few months ago, with the idea of updating our logo. I wasn’t even sure we had one, so I was all for it. Sometime in all of Jan’s free time (insert sarcastic tone), she created the logo you see above.
In my opinion (whatever that is worth), it is simple, beautiful and clearly differentiates us from the Master Gardener program. It is something that you want to carry around and show off to others, and guess what? You can. As part of your membership with the Master Gardener Foundation, you get a card that you can carry around with you that conveniently fits in your wallet/purse. If you show it to the right people, they might be so much in awe of the beauty of this logo that they may give you a dis-count on their wares.
Yes, this is a subtle (or not so subtle) way to point out that it is time to show your support of the work that the Foundation does for the Master Gardener Program. I know, at times, that it is difficult to sep-arate out where the Program ends and the Foundation begins.
The Foundation was created to support the Program by taking advantage of being a separate entity not tied to WSU or Spokane County and by being a not-for-profit business in Washington state.
There are many rewards for being a member of the Foundation, but there are a few rewards that I want to talk about.
* Your membership is a way to show the importance of the Foundation in its support of the Pro-gram.
* Your membership is a way for you to be a part of the Foundation – helping to guide its future through leadership or putting your two cents in.
* Oh, yeah, … and you get discounts on things!
You can become a member on our website (mgfsc.org).
If you don’t want to do it on-line, no problem. We will have the opportunity to sign up at the Master Gardener Winter meeting.
Enjoying my winter hibernation, but missing my MG friends.
The Lowdown Page 3
We are so glad you are with us!
Finkel Amy 2-Jan
Smith Andrew 3-Jan
Klapp Lisa 7-Jan
Eaton Denise 8-Jan
Stiess Timothy 10-Jan
Jackson Jodee 15-Jan
Ramerman Muriel 16-Jan
Sherry Karla 18-Jan
Garcia Clarice 24-Jan
Velasco Mathias 25-Jan
Davis Ann 26-Jan
Nelson Judy 29-Jan
Results of the November
Luminaria Class
The Lowdown Page 4
A Book Review by Susan Mulvihill
Epic Tomatoes: How to Select & Grow the Best Varieties of All Time
by Craig LeHoullier (Storey Publishing, 2015, 256 pp., $19.95)
Warning: Reading Epic Tomatoes will cause your mouth to water continuously and make you to yearn for warm summer days when you can feast on sun-ripened tomatoes.
If ever there was a queen of the garden, it has to be the tomato. Nearly everyone includes this de-lightful plant in their garden because we all know you can’t beat the taste of a homegrown tomato.
I’ve been interested in reading Craig LeHoullier’s book, Epic Tomatoes, ever since hearing he will be featured in an episode of PBS’ popular gardening show, “Growing a Greener World,” next year. Show host Joe Lamp’l made multiple visits to LeHoullier’s garden this summer and put together an episode that shows the care of tomatoes throughout a growing season.
After reading Epic Tomatoes, I have to tell you I am very impressed with the author’s knowledge and great depth of experience. This book covers everything you need to know to be successful at growing tomatoes.
It begins with the history of the tomato, which was much maligned in the early days due to its ap-pearance, smell and taste. That’s hard to believe, isn’t it? The author goes on to describe early efforts at developing tomato varieties with desirable traits. It turns out that Alexander Livingston Seed Co. figured out how to select for those traits... and the rest is history. It makes for fascinating reading, especially descriptions of the early varieties.
A longtime member of the Seed Savers Exchange, LeHoullier stresses the importance of saving and sharing seeds from heirloom tomatoes and teaches us the best way to accomplish this later in the book.
He then discusses the various shapes, sizes, colors and uses (i.e., cherry, grape, salad, slicing and canning) of tomatoes. He explains the different seed types: hybrid, open-pollinated and heirloom, as well.
LeHoullier covers the differences in growth habits of cultivars (i.e., indeterminate, determinate and dwarf) and how they will act in the garden. Here’s one of his tips: “Because of the way the flowers appear (on determinate varieties), any pruning of this type will significantly reduce yield.”
(continued on page 5)
The Lowdown Page 5
(continued from page 4)
Did you know that determinates tend to be less flavorful than indeterminates? Le-Houllier explains this is due to the high ratio of fruit to leaves, which means less photosynthesis can take place.
The third chapter covers helpful planning and planting methods, including how to start plants from seed and hardening-off seedlings, topics of great interest to gardeners everywhere.
He then moves into growing and maintaining plants, focusing on plant spacing, support options, and, per-haps most importantly, and growing tomatoes in containers, at which LeHoullier is an expert. He also an-swers the age-old question of whether one should prune suckers (I won’t give away the answer here).
The following chapter is about the best time to pick tomatoes using flavor, texture, color and perhaps even aroma as a guide. Included are profiles of differently-colored tomatoes and when to pick them, along with how best to store tomatoes (Do NOT refrigerate them!).
He shares some of his favorite recipes and, let me tell you, it was torture reading through them at this time of year, when fresh tomatoes aren’t even an option! His descriptions of the flavor of various toma-toes made me drool:
“After growing over a thousand different tomatoes over the years, it is still Brandywine that I think of when I ponder the perfect tomato-eating experience. An authentic Brandywine has an un matched succulent texture that melts in your mouth. The flavor enlivens the taste buds, with all the favorable components of the best tomatoes -- tartness, sweetness, fullness, and complexity -- in perfect balance.”
There’s a chapter that takes the reader through the different methods of preserving their tomato harvest (freezing, milling to make sauces, dehydrating, canning and roasting). Then he explains how to save seeds and store them for the longest possible time.
In chapter seven, he discusses three methods to create your own tomato varieties (why not?) and chapter eight is a terrific “Q&A” for tomato-growing. It’s a combination of myths, theories and legends on tomato-related topics. This is followed by a troubleshooting guide to damage on foliage or fruit and issues involv-ing plant growth. He even shares methods they’ve used to keep deer away from their tomato plants. He rounds out the book with 250 recommended varieties, which really made me want to try something new.
Epic Tomatoes is thoughtfully put together as a complete reference for tomato-lovers and well worth a spot on your book shelf.
The Lowdown Page 6
A Book Review by Susan Mulvihill
How to Prune Trees & Shrubs: Easy Techniques for Timely Trimming
by Barbara W. Ellis (Storey Publishing, 2016, 124 pp., $8.95)
We’ve all heard the old adage, “Good things come in small packages,” right? And when it comes to how-to books, there is something to be said for getting right to the point and telling us what we need to know.
Storey Publishing understands this and has created their “Storey Basics” line of how-to books so readers can find out exactly what they need to know quickly and for a reasonable price at that.
This is exactly the case with one of their newest books, How to Prune Trees & Shrubs. Author Barba-ra Ellis has divided it into two main parts. The first covers pruning techniques and tools and the sec-ond gets down to the details of pruning specific plants.
As she explains, “All pruning affects plant growth, whether you are removing a dead branch, or cutting back a shrub. A few basic rules of plant biology govern the effects a pruning session has on growth, and understanding those rules will make you a much more successful, confident and effec-tive pruner.”
Even though this is a book on pruning, the author frequently emphasizes that if a gardener is in-formed about making the right kinds of cuts, trees and shrubs will require less pruning, thus reduc-ing the gardener’s workload.
“Every pruning cut affects the future health, growth, and shape of the plant. Do not let this state-ment scare you away from tackling this essential task altogether. Instead, use it to inspire a sense of serious purpose when you pick up a pair of shears or a saw,” she writes.
In part one, Ellis discusses how plants recover from pruning cuts, the anatomy of tree and shrub branches, how the timing of pruning affects plant growth, as well as the different types of pruning cuts and the best methods for doing them. She also reminds us of the most important pruning rule: never remove more than 25 percent of a plant’s growth in a year.
She also covers the tools that work best, which includes bypass pruners, ratchet pruners, loppers and pruning saws.
(continued on page 7)
The Lowdown Page 7
(continued from page 6)
In part two, “Pruning Plant by Plant,” Ellis explains that knowing how to prune specific types of trees and shrubs can be tricky. To help with this, she covers the best ways to prune them and, even more importantly, the correct timing for prun-ing.
First, she talks about tree forms (i.e., single leader and feathered trees) and how to prune them through the first four years of training them. Then she delves into specific trees, listed by their Latin name (but don’t worry, the common names are listed in the index) and when and how to prune them. She also co-vers the pruning of conifers and weeping trees and shares a lot of details on pruning fruit trees.
Next, she addresses how to prune shrubs based on one’s goals of, say, gaining privacy or having an attractive accent plant in the landscape.
As with the tree section, there is a guide to pruning all sorts of shrubs. Forsythias immediately popped into my head since everyone wants to get maximum bloom from them each spring yet many struggle with making pruning cuts. In the shrub guide, Ellis takes the mystery out of when and how to prune them.
She also includes information on how to prune roses based on the type of rose, such as hybrid teas or climbing roses, and a section on pruning vines. Think of how puzzling it can be to prune clematis vines at the right time!
At the end of the book, a glossary is included with helpful definitions of both botanical and pruning terms.
How to Prune Trees & Shrubs is a concise, useful guide that is sure to help any gardener learn how to prune the right way and to keep their pruning to a minimum!
The Lowdown Page 8
JANUARY 2017 QUIZ
1. What two types of things will 2017 bring the Master Gardener program?
2. What new thing did Jan Shellenberger create for the MG Foundation for 2017?
3. What does the MG Foundation support with its fundraising efforts?
4. True or False? Membership in the MG Foundation will give you discounts on things.
5. True or False? Luminaria are intended to be used as winter decorations indoors.
6. What does Susan Mulvihill consider to be the ‘queen of the garden?’
7. What did the Alexander Livingston Seed Company figure out how to do that has had an impact
on human consumption of tomatoes?
8. What are three growth habits of tomato cultivars?
9. Which tomato growth habit produces less flavorful fruit, indeterminate or determinate?
10. Why does the above happen?
11. Which book should you read if you want to learn if you should prune off tomato suckers?
12. Should you refrigerate tomatoes after picking them?
13. Which line of books from Storey Publishing gives readers quick information at a reasonable
price?
14. What governs the effects a pruning session has on a plant growth?
15. According to Barbara Ellis, what is the most important rule of pruning?
16. Besides knowing how to prune a tree or shrub, what else is important to consider when pruning?
17. Do different types of roses have different pruning needs?
18. Which book will help you learn how to maximize flowering of a forsythia bush?
19. Will this book help you determine which tool is best for which
pruning job?
20. When can you attend a training class on Soils?
The Lowdown Page 9
DECEMBER 2016 QUIZ ANSWERS
1. Pulses
2. Carbon, Nitrogen
3. Carbon
4. Pulses and nitrogen-fixing plants
5. Commercial fertilizer runoff
6. Fritz Haber
7. Ammonia (NH3)
8. 2% - 10%
9. Vaclav Smil
10. Air, water
11. Right plant, right place
12. Insects and wildlife
13. True
14. Weeds
15. Imperfection!
16. C130 Soil Amendments Fact Sheet
17. Tim Kohlhauff
18. C048 Geraniums and C049 Gladiolus
19. Fact Sheet C094 Poisonous Plants and Your Pets
20. All of my MG friends!
Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, sex, religion, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin; physical, mental, or sensory disability; marital status, sexual orientation, or status as a Vietnam-era or disabled veteran. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office.
Calendar of Events
Sunday 1 New Year’s Day
Thursday 5 MG Trainees Orientation 9 a.m.— 2 p.m. Extension class rooms
Monday 9 MG Foundation Meeting 10 a.m. Extension conference room
Tuesday 10 MG Advisory Board meeting Extension atrium
Wednesday 11 Speechcraft class 4:30 p.m. –5:30 p.m. Extension conference room
Thursday 12 MG Training/Hort. Class series 9 a.m.— 3 p.m. (Botany)
Monday 16 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
Wednesday 18 Speechcraft class 4:30 p.m.—5:30 p.m. Extension conference room
Thursday 19 MG Training/Hort. Class series 9 a.m.— 3 p.m. (Soils)
Wednesday 25 Speechcraft class 4:30 p.m.—5:30 p.m. Extension conference room
Thursday 26 MG Training/Hort. Class series 9 a.m.— 3 p.m. (Urban Forestry & Firewise)
Thursday 2 MG Training/Hort. Class series 9 a.m.—3 p.m.
Friday 3 Master Gardener Winter Meeting 8 a.m.—3 p.m. Classrooms
Thursday 9 MG Training/Hort. Class series 9 a.m.—3 p.m.
Monday 13 MG Foundation Meeting 10 a.m. Extension conference room
Tuesday 14 MG Advisory Board Meeting (tentative) Extension conference room
Thursday 16 MG Training/Hort. Class series 9 a.m.—3 p.m. (Pesticides & Weeds)
Monday 20 President’s Day
Thursday 26 MG Training/Hort. Class series 9 a.m. –3 p.m. (Diagnosis -Cindy Deffe’)
