1. May 2016 SE & NE District In-Service
Horticulture Update
May 2016 SE & NE District
In-Service
Jim Shrefler
Area Horticulturist, SE District

2. Horticulture Specialist Input
Water conservation related Extension programming
Dr. Schnelle, Dr. Moss, Joshua Campbell
Partnering with OKC Zoo to develop conservation demonstration at Zoo
A workshop will be held Tuesday, June 28 to address IPM, Plant selection for low water use and pest and disease resistance
Fee of $75 includes meals
Plan to offer CEU’s

3. Horticulture Specialist Input
Water conservation - continued
Major water conservation event for Nov. 7-9, 2017 (tentative)
Efforts are being “beefed up” to address water issues
Hope to have County Educators involved

4. Horticulture Specialist Input
Oklahoma Fruit and Vegetable Grower Association (OFVA)
Changed focus
Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association (OPGA)
Annual meeting June 2, 3 & 4

5. Horticulture Specialist Input
Organic Oklahoma Group
OSU, NRCS, Cross Timbers
Annual Conferences for 3 years
More a sustainable and soil emphasis focus than a serious “Certified Organic” focus
Upcoming Farm Tour June 13 & 14
Out of Stillwater – one day possible
$70 fee includes meals and transportation

6. Container Gardening Increasing interest in general
Feed tub availability
Can make small scale gardening more accessible

7. Container Gardening – 4H Activity Bryan County
Made self watering container gardens
Unit has a reservoir in the bottom of a 5 gallon pail
Fill tube doubles as a means of plant support

9. Container Gardening

10. Feed Bunk Gardens Can potentially be used year around
Cool and Warm season crops grew satisfactorily in 2015

11. Feed Bunk Gardens A cross between a raised bed and a container garden
Is similar to other types of gardens

12. Feed Bunk Gardens (Cowboy Bunk Bed Gardens?)
A cross between a raised bed and a container garden
Is similar to other types of gardens
Have several useful attributes
Can potentially be used year around
It may make gardening more accessible for some people

13. Health & Hunger Feed Trough Garden Project
Gardens in Atoka, Johnston & Bryan Counties
2015 the first year
Getting 2016 started
Fall may be best for use with schools

14. Feed Bunk Gardens Have several useful attributes
Elevated for easy access
Exclude some pets from garden
Insects and animals living in soil are excluded
Has good drainage if designed properly
Weeding needs are reduced
Soil derived diseases can be reduced
Others?

15. Feed Trough Garden Set Up
Place weed barrier material on ground
Place 1½ pvc pipe that was cut lengthwise in trough.
Notch and place upside down – this is for drainage

16. Feed Trough Garden Set Up
Watering
We installed an irrigation system
This can be used with an automatic timer. We will set that up for this year.
Once plants are established, daily, but brief, watering periods will be needed.
Fertilizer can be a soluble type mixed in the water.

17. Feed Trough Garden Set Up
Fill trough with growing media
Potting mix type material
True soil would be:
very heavy
have weeds, insects, diseases
be more difficult to wet
would not drain as well
We are still trying to determine the best growing media to use.

18. Protected Production Techniques
Row covers
Influence air temperature
Keep things away from plants
Keep things near plants
Prevent things from falling on plants
Reduce the impact of wind
Modify color of plant environment
A form of “Insurance”

19. Protected Production Techniques
Row cover materials
Netting
Clear or color plastic
Glass
Fabric
Spunbound materials
Others?
Use the correct material used for the conditions needed

20. Feed Bunk Gardens
It may make gardening more accessible for some people

21. Economics?

23. Row Cover Use for Insect Management in Summer Squash
Jim Shrefler, Merritt Taylor, Eric Rebec,
Kenda Woodburn, George Driever
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
Oklahoma State University

25. 2015 Squash Trial Locations
Bixby *
* Shawnee
Lane *

26. Demonstration Treatments
No row cover use and treat with insecticides based on insect presence.
Cover treatment plots until 50% of plants have female flowers, then remove covers.
Cover treatment until 50% of plants have female flowers, wait 2 more weeks, then remove covers.
Cover treatment until 50% of plants have female flowers, uncover for 2 hours (8 a.m. – 10 a.m.)
Earlier (6:30 – 7) until 9 am
Cover treatment until 50% of plants have female flowers, uncover for 5 hours (8 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
Earlier (6:30 – 7) until 11 am

29. Shawnee, OK
Number of Squash

30. Atoka, OK

31. Organisms observed Beneficial Pests
Bees – honey, bumble, carpenter, metallic
Moths and butterflies
Parasitoid wasps
Wheel bugs
Assassin bugs
Eastern firefly
Toads
Field mice?
Squash bugs
Stink bugs
Flea Beetles
Cucumber beetle
Cabbage moth larva
Southern Corn Billbug

32. Questions?