Gardening

OSU videos teach gardeners to detect, manage fruit-damaging fly

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OSU videos teach gardeners to detect, manage fruit-damaging fly

By Tiffany Woods, 541-737-2940, tiffany.woods@oregonstate.edu Source: Amy Dreves, 541-737-5576, amy.dreves@oregonstate.edu CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University has created a series of short videos to teach gardeners how to detect and manage a fruit-damaging fly that might be in their yards. Filmed amid blueberry and raspberry bushes in her backyard, OSU Extension Service entomologist Amy Dreves demonstrates in the videos how to look for the spotted wing drosophila fly. This invasive vinegar fly was first documented in Oregon last year when it damaged berries and peaches. This year it has been reported at low levels in 15 counties in the state, including Benton, Linn, Jackson, Marion, Polk, Wasco and Yamhill, Dreves said. It has also been seen this year in California, Florida, Washington and British Columbia, though only California has reported damage to fruit. “But it’s still early in the fruiting season,” Dreves said. The fly is an economic threat...

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Are you growing sage in your garden?

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Are you growing sage in your garden?

I am, and I have a pretty limited range of uses. I like it with butternut squash. In fact, butternut squash ravioli with a light topping of crispy sage & browned butter is my idea of a nearly perfect dish.  What else. Oh, it’s good on turkey & in the dressing at Thanksgiving, of course. And then I just kind of forget it’s out there. Like “sage = fall” in my mind or something. But my sage plant is lovely and healthy and I really want to use what I’ve got growing in the garden! I was happy, then, to see this post from from Chocolate & Zucchini yesterday on 45 things to do with fresh sage, many of which would make the basis for a wonderful summer dinner. How about you, readers? Anyone have some additional ideas for fresh sage?

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Upcoming Events: May 2-3

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Upcoming Events: May 2-3

Saturday, May 2nd Wine & Cheese Tasting Midway Farms, 6980 NW Hwy 20, Albany, OR 97321 1pm to 6pm “Come spend a relaxing day at Midway Farms sampling fabulous cheeses made by Willamette Valley Cheese paired with decadent wines of Eola Hills Winery. Walk through our gardens & gaze into the sky while listening to soft music. This is an adult event, 21 & older, please.” Master Gardeners 7th Annual Plant Sale Benton County Fairgrounds, Floral Courtyard, 110 53rd St., Corvallis 97330 541-766-6750 9am-2pm “The sale will feature perennials, grasses, iris, vegetable starts, herbs, vines, shrubs, shade/sun varieties, drought tolerant, and native plants specifically suited to the Willamette Valley’s climate and soils. There will be a clinic table where master gardeners trained by the Oregon State University Extension Service will be answering gardening questions. OSU entomology experts will address pest questions and there will be garden and vermiculture composting...

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Getting Started

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Getting Started

Yesterday I stopped at Noah’s for a decidedly un-local bagel and caught sight of a flier on their bulletin board for The Organic Homesteader. The Organic Homesteader is a small local business that will come out to your home and install and maintain an organic homestead garden in your backyard.  Their services are available in Corvallis and Eugene. From their site: We will custom design your own backyard mini-farm with your family size and preferences in mind.  You will have a bounty of fresh vegetables available throughout the growing season….and we will do the work for you! They also offer classes and consultations for people who prefer to do this on their own. Additionally, they offer care for backyard chickens, informal veggie and seed-saver swaps, and vacation maintenance and care services. If anyone out there has a testimonial, we’d love to hear about it. * * * * I’m...

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Weekend events

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Don’t forget, this Sunday is the Cooped up in Corvallis event, and there is once again organic fertilizer for sale on Saturday at First Alternative on SE 3rd in Corvallis. Saturday is also the date of the Rhapsody in the Vineyard wine walk in downtown Corvallis. For $5 you get a glass and a wristband, scrip is extra (50 cents to $1 per taste). The event runs from 4 to 7pm and is being hosted by various locations downtown. This is a fun event, if a bit crowded, and it is a nice chance to sample wines from some local vineyards. Information: 758-9095 or www.downtowncorvallis.org (the site has a list of the wineries at each location so you can plan your route accordingly). I’ve got to laugh a little at the “wine glass neck-slings”, though. Honestly. There’s a pruning workshop on Saturday from noon to 4pm at the Linn...

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Organic Fertilizer Sale

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The Corvallis Tilth Organic Gardening Club is holding an organic fertilizer sale during the first three Saturdays in March. From 9am to 1pm on March 7, 14 & 21, there will be discount prices on organic fertilizers at the First Alternative Co-op on SE 3rd Street in Corvallis.

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Organic Fertilizer Sale

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The Corvallis Tilth Organic Gardening Club is holding an organic fertilizer sale during the first three Saturdays in March. From 9am to 1pm on March 7, 14 & 21, there will be discount prices on organic fertilizers at the First Alternative Co-op on SE 3rd Street.

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Seed resources added

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I added a ‘Seeds’ category to the Resources page today. There are currently three Oregon companies listed. If you know of any more, send them my way!

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Winter gardening? It’s not too late.

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Winter gardening? It’s not too late.

According to the winter chart over at Territorial Seed Company (located in Cottage Grove, OR!), there’s still time to get several things into the ground in order to enjoy a winter harvest! What are some things you can plant? • Sow seeds for endive, kohlrabi and spinach now, the cutoff time is mid-August. • By the end of August, sow seeds for turnips, onion & shallot, and transplant seedlings for fall broccoli, Brussels sprouts, fall & winter cabbage, fall cauliflower, and Chinese cabbage. • By mid-September, sow seeds for corn salad (that’s a salad green, in case you didn’t know… like me), mustard greens, spring cabbage, and have carrot seeds sown by late September. Start planting radishes, peas & fava beans (and continue into October). • By the end of September, sow seeds for arugula and lettuce. Transplant seedlings for sprouting broccoli, overwinter cauliflower (harvest in the spring), and...

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Winter gardening? It's not too late.

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Winter gardening? It's not too late.

According to the winter chart over at Territorial Seed Company (located in Cottage Grove, OR!), there’s still time to get several things into the ground in order to enjoy a winter harvest! What are some things you can plant? • Sow seeds for endive, kohlrabi and spinach now, the cutoff time is mid-August. • By the end of August, sow seeds for turnips, onion & shallot, and transplant seedlings for fall broccoli, Brussels sprouts, fall & winter cabbage, fall cauliflower, and Chinese cabbage. • By mid-September, sow seeds for corn salad (that’s a salad green, in case you didn’t know… like me), mustard greens, spring cabbage, and have carrot seeds sown by late September. Start planting radishes, peas & fava beans (and continue into October). • By the end of September, sow seeds for arugula and lettuce. Transplant seedlings for sprouting broccoli, overwinter cauliflower (harvest in the spring), and...

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