November - Oregon State University Extension Service

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Fall Festival Thanks to the over 55 Master Gardener and Master Food Preservers who helped come out and make the 6th annual Fall Festival a success. We were blessed with beautiful weather at a great location for this years event. From set-up to clean-up we had so many people who pitched in to make the day run smoothly. We still have a selection of beautiful and choice spring bulbs and garlic that can be purchased for fall planting in the office. It's not too late to plant! Garlic does well in large pots as do spring bulbs. Plant some as gifts for family and friends for spring bloom and summer harvest. We also have a selection of beautiful garden buckets for gifts for your favorite gardener or fisherman on your list, and purses made out of coffee sacks all made by Shirley Betournay. Special thanks to the Master Food Preservers who made us a delicious soup, salad and dessert lunch. Ronda and Dale Dietrick, along with Roseanna McArthur, created an outstanding MG Bazaar, Cindy Wise, MG and Ann Rollins went the extra mile with the tomato tasting. David Babcock, Tom Kulick and Jim Rundall juiced their special brand of apple cider that was a hit with everyone there. Sister Janet Marcisz and Shirley Eastman had a table full of wonderful door prizes, and the book sale with Nancy Renner and Nancy Sorenson had a little something for everyone. Thanks to Gwendolyn Scott for the Master Gardener committee displays, Christina Bixel for coordinating the Ask a MG booth, and to the speakers who gave of their time and knowledge to help other people learn and grow. And a very special thanks to the class speakers: John Fischer, Patty Driscoll, Bruce Newhouse, Pat Patterson, Paul Mickles, Cindy Wise, and Megan Murphy, City of Springfield. The educational outreach is what the Fall Festival is all about. Great speakers help us encourage people to garden sustainably and get the message out that the MG and Extension programs are still in Lane County. Tomato Tasting Notes by Ann Rollins The tomato tasting attracted a lot of attention, partly because there were many good tomatoes and also because the winner was an unknown tomato. Mike Renslow submitted the winner and called it “Pisanella.” He said it was an Italian heirloom that he got from his brother in California several years ago. It won the taste test by a mile, and people described it as “different,” “a real tomato taste,” “not sweet and bland.” The only place I could find anything similar to it was Seed Savers Exchange. They had two alternatives: a lady in Quebec offering “Pisanello da Bruschetta,” and a man in Iowa had “Pisanello Rampicante Marmande.” Both were listed as originating in Italy. Second prize also went to Mike for “Momotaro,” and third to Pat Patterson for “Bloody Butcher.” Veggie Contest Musings by Ann Rollins Did you know that there are at least two different systems of judging? In one system, each entry is compared with others in the class. There can only be one first, one second and one third. In the Danish System, which we used, each entry is evaluated against standards for the class. There can be multiple awards within each class. For example, if every squash is excellent according to class standards, then every one can get a first. At the Fall Festival we didn’t have a large number of entries, but the ones we had were top notch. The Garden Gate November 2013
Fund Development As the holiday season looms what better way to give back to our communities than helping to keep the Master Gardener and Extension programs in Lane County? We no longer receive a share of county revenues for our operations. We are dependent upon donations and what we earn through classes and events to keep our doors open. For a minimum donation of $25 you can help keep Cindy Wise, MG the lights on and the great programs and educational experiences you value in Lane county. Checks or cash donations can be made to the LCMGA, or you can make a donation to ARF #8122G for the Kaufman House. Give the gift of OSU Extension for another year. Make a donation in your family name or a favorite friend to help us keep doing the work in our counties we all value. Diagnostic Specialists Intro—I’m 68 years old and my brain cells have long since slipped away. Also, I’ve been in Eugene less than three years and don’t know names of half the plants, much less what’s wrong with them. I needed some tactics to get me through emergencies. This is not on the hotline; there are all kinds of people there to help. This is for cases where your neighbor comes by and says “My plant is dying. Could you take a look at it?” And you haven’t a clue. My Emergency Excuses - Blame past weather “Remember the warm temperatures we had in February? And the rain in June?” —It’s very complicated. “I think there are several different things going on here.” —No idea. “Hmm, [look pained] this plant just doesn’t seem to do well around here.” —Ask more questions until the neighbor gives up. Non-Living Causes - These excuses work because there is an element of truth in them. They often come back to non-living causes. My neighbor always assumes his plants have terrible diseases, but, in fact, it’s often a pattern of mechanical, physical or chemical causes. Even if the non-living causes aren’t immediately visible, they may very well precede and allow the invasion of diseases and insects. What Are Some of the Non-Living Causes We See? Ann Rollins, MG —Too wet, too dry. Raspberries regularly get root rot. I saw a MG convince a man that it was root rot even though he said he never watered. She was right. Gardeners inadvertently invite diseases by watering a little bit every day, keeping the foliage damp and the roots shallow. —Weather. Cold snaps, hot snaps. If it’s warm in February or March there will be trouble on roses. Peach buds here risk getting frosted because the buds often open too early for this climate. Grapes get powdery mildew when the weather is warm and dry. Mites love heat and dust. Frost, of course, dramatically damages foliage of tender plants, as my basil has demonstrated. —Too much, too little light. Leaf scorch looks like scorch, especially if the damage is on the south side. Leaves that are shaded and undamaged are a giveaway. Many of my vegetables pathetically crawl along the ground, looking for just a ray of sunshine. Sad. —Nutritional disorders. Just like in people, there may be a real nutritional deficiency in the soil or the plant cannot absorb the nutrients that are available. I think the second is more common. For example, if the pH of the soil is too high there can be iron deficiency, or the plant can be more susceptible to herbicide damage. Diagnosis can be complicated. Which came first: the stress from overwatering or the bug that’s eating it? 5 Lane County Master Gardeners TM Association
Page 1 and 2: November 2013 President’s Message
Page 3: Dear Friend of OSU Extension Servic
Page 7 and 8: GrassRoots Garden New people coming
Page 9 and 10: Special November Auction continued
Page 11 and 12: Master Gardener Volunteer Opportuni
Page 13 and 14: Adaptive Garden Committee The Adapt
Page 15 and 16: Six attractive plants to brighten w
Page 17 and 18: Board Candidates continued from pag
Page 19 and 20: 2013 MG Seminars The following two

November - Oregon State University Extension Service

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