TURFGRASS
Lawn Seeding Deadline Nears
September is the best month to reseed cool-season lawns such as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass. We usually recommend not planting Kentucky bluegrass past early October. However, you can get by with an early to mid-October planting for tall fescue. October 15 is generally considered the last day for safely planting or overseeding a tall fescue lawn in the fall. If you do attempt a late seeding, take special care not to allow plants to dry out. Anything that slows growth will make it less likely that plants will mature enough to survive the winter
Seedings done after the cut-off date can be successful, but the success rate goes down the later the planting date. Late plantings that fail are usually not killed by cold temperatures but rather desiccation.
The freezing and thawing of soils heave poorly rooted grass plants out of the ground, which then dry and die. Keeping plants watered will help maximize root growth before freezing weather arrives. (Ward Upham)
VEGETABLES
Rotation of Vegetable Crops
Rotating vegetable crops is a standard way of helping prevent
disease from being carried over from one year to the next. Rotation
means that crops are moved to different areas of the garden each year.
Planting the same crop, or a related crop, in the same area each year
can lead to a build-up of disease. Also, different crops vary in the
depth and density of the root system as well as extract different levels
of nutrients. As a rule, cool-season crops such as cabbage, peas,
lettuce and onions have relatively sparse, shallow root systems and
warm-season crops such as tomatoes, peppers and melons have deeper,
better developed root systems. Therefore, it can be helpful to rotate
warm-season and cool-season crops.
As mentioned earlier, it is also a good idea to avoid planting
closely related crops in the same area as diseases may be shared among
them. For example, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplant are closely
related. Also, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and brussels sprouts share
many characteristics in common. For example, do not plant cabbage where
broccoli was the previous year or tomatoes where the peppers were.
So, why is this important to bring this up in the fall? Now is the
time to make a sketch of your garden so that the layout is not forgotten
when it is time to plant next year. (Ward Upham)
Harvesting Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes should be harvested no later than the first fall
freeze because cold temperatures can damage the sensitive roots.
However, you may want to harvest earlier if you prefer a smaller sweet
potato. Test dig a hill to see if they are the size you want.
Sweet potatoes should be cured after being dug. The digging process
often damages the tender skin, and curing helps these small wounds heal.
Place the roots in a warm, humid location for 5 to 10 days immediately
after digging. A location with a temperature around 85 to 90 degrees is
ideal. A space heater can be used to heat a small room or other area.
Raise the humidity by placing moist towels in the room. The curing
process not only heals wounds but also helps convert starches to sugars.
This process improves the texture and flavor of the roots.
Sweet potatoes should be stored above 55 degrees. Storage at
temperatures below that injures the roots, shortens storage life and
gives them an off flavor. (Ward Upham)
PESTS
Garden Spiders
People may become concerned when they see a large, noticeable
spider setting up shop in or near the garden. These garden spiders feed
on insects and are considered beneficial.
There are actually two common species of garden spiders in Kansas
that are active during the day. The yellow garden spider has a black
abdomen with yellow to yellow-orange markings. The black legs have a
yellow or reddish band.
The banded garden spider has numerous bands on both the abdomen and
legs. Those on the abdomen are alternating white and dark bands. The
legs have alternating black and orange bands. Both of these spiders are
orb weavers that spin large webs with the typical spider web shape.
Though these garden spiders have poor eyesight, they are extremely
sensitive to vibrations that pass through the web and use this
sensitivity to capture their prey. Since these spiders are beneficial
and harmless to humans, it is recommended that they be left alone. (Ward
Upham)
Mimosa Webworm on Honeylocust
Honeylocust trees in the Wichita area are browning due to mimosa
webworm. Damage is
caused by the larvae, which mat leaves together with webbing and use
them as a nest. These nests are normally found on the tips of branches
and appear as brown areas from a distance. Closer inspection reveals the
white webbing. Mature larvae are 0.5 inches long, light green to dark
brown and sport five longitudinal white stripes.
The adults are silvery gray moths with small black spots on the
wings. Mimosa webworm can severely defoliate trees. However, if the
damage occurs late (such as now), healthy trees are not significantly
harmed. Also, it’s late enough in the season that spraying will not help
the trees. If mimosa webworm is a yearly problem on your honeylocusts,
apply an insecticide such as BT
(Dipel or Thuricide) or spinosad. Spinosad is found in Natural Guard
Spinosad, Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew, Bonide Colorado Potato Beetle
Beater and Monterey Garden Insect Spray. Both of these products are
organic controls. Traditional controls that contain cyfluthrin or
bifenthrin are also effective. However, any of these products must be
applied earlier in the year when you first notice webbing. (Ward Upham)
MISCELLANEOUS
Ornamental Sweet Potatoes
We often receive the question as to whether ornamental sweet
potatoes are safe to eat. The answer is yes. Note that they are chosen
for ornamental qualities rather than flavor and so may not have the
quality of our traditional types. See the accompanying article on how to
cure them. (Ward Upham)
Contriubtors: Ward Upham, Extension Associate
Division of Horticulture
1712 Claflin, 2021 Throckmorton
Manhattan, KS 66506
(785) 532-6173
(K-State Research and Extension)
