Saturday, February 20, 2010

Almanacs “Sprouting to life: Timing is critical for starting tomato seeds - Green Bay Press-Gazette” plus 3 more

Almanacs “Sprouting to life: Timing is critical for starting tomato seeds - Green Bay Press-Gazette” plus 3 more

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Sprouting to life: Timing is critical for starting tomato seeds - Green Bay Press-Gazette

Posted: 20 Feb 2010 03:08 AM PST

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For many, there's nothing like the satisfaction of slicing into a juicy August beefsteak or heirloom tomato you've known since it was a seed. If you want to be along for the ride as your tomatoes make the journey from tiny sprouts to sprawling fruit producers, you'll be delighted to hear that it's almost time to start the trip.

Because tomatoes are semi-tropical, they can't go outdoors in the ground until the risk of frost is past and the soil is warm enough to be hospitable. That's about May 20 in this area — check a local almanac for the best timing.

Count back six to eight weeks for starting tomato seeds. Start too early, and plants could get stalky. Here's how to get started:

  • Choose your pots: You can sow lots of seeds in shallow flats or trays with many small cells and later transplant them to larger pots where they have space to develop more roots. If you only need a few tomato plants, start out in 3- or 4-inch-diameter pots and skip the transplanting step. Sow three seeds in each pot to be sure one will make it.

    You can use any thoroughly clean, freely draining container (old cell packs, yogurt cups with holes poked in the bottom, peat pots). If you are re-using containers, sterilize them in a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.

  • Get the right soil: Sterile, lightweight seed-starting mix — not garden soil or potting soil — is essential to deter diseases. Moisten the soilless mix and fill the containers just below the brims. Tuck the seeds in about 1/8 inch deep. Set the containers in a deep waterproof tray. Cover the whole thing with a plastic bag to hold in moisture, but don't seal it up; you want some air to circulate.

  • Warm 'em up: Light isn't needed for the next part of the process. But a gentle warmth is. There are special seed-starting mats to buy, or you can germinate seeds on top of the refrigerator or dryer.

  • Take a peek: Check the seeds every day. In five to 10 days you should see tiny green sprouts. As soon as they appear, remove the bag or lid. Move the seedlings under adjustable lights and keep the lights just a few inches above the seedlings.

  • Water: Water the plants from the bottom by pouring ½ to 1 inch of water into the tray. Keep the soil moist but never soggy:

  • Transplant and thin: If you planted in flats or little plugs, move the best-looking seedlings to larger, deeper pots when the first little leaflike structures that sprouted are followed by a set of true leaves.

    If you planted three seeds in a larger pot, snip off the two weakest-looking ones at soil level when they are about 3 inches tall.

  • Don't forget to feed: When they are about 3 weeks old, fertilize with a weak solution of water-soluble organic fertilizer. Do it again every couple of weeks.

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    Almanac needs community input - Port Huron Times-Herald

    Posted: 20 Feb 2010 03:29 AM PST

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    Don't be left out.

    The Times Herald is putting together Blue Water Almanac 2010, your guide to St. Clair County's government, schools and health and social services.

    If you missed out on being listed in last year's edition and want to make sure you're included in this year's, give us a shout. It's free.

    Some of the areas covered in the Almanac include parochial and charter schools; colleges and career training programs; support groups; and social/human services such as food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and Angel Food Ministry programs.

    The Almanac also will include information on senior living, which includes nursing homes, independent living, assisted living and senior adult day services.

    Contact Jill Carlson at jacarlson@gannett.com, (810) 989-6213 or send a fax at (810) 989-6294. Or you can send a note to Jill Carlson, custom content manager, Times Herald, 911 Military St., Port Huron, 48060.

    Please send us your information, including a contact number, by the end of today.

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    SHP boys wrap up WBAL basketball title - The Almanac Online

    Posted: 20 Feb 2010 12:59 AM PST

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    It was more difficult than expected, but the Sacred Heart Prep boys' basketball team nonetheless achieved a big season goal by winning the West Bay Athletic League title with a closer-than-expected 61-58 victory over visiting King's Academy on Friday night.

    With the triumph, the Gators (13-1, 19-5) clinched their first league title since 2006 while King's (6-8, 10-14) finished in fifth place.

    "Way too close," said SHP coach Tony Martinelli. "Kings needed the game to get into CCS and played like it. They gave us everything they had!"

    The league title most likely will earn SHP a No. 1 seed in the Central Coast Section playoffs, which begin next week. The section seeding meeting is this weekend.

    Sacred Heart Prep trailed by one at halftime, but appeared to blow the game open with a 22-9 third quarter. King's, however, bounced back with 20 points in the final period to make a game of it as Amir Carlisle poured in a game-high 24 points. SHP got 16 points from Reed McConnell, 11 from his twin brother, Will, plus 10 points and solid rebounding from Ty Cobb.

    Sacred Heart Prep got itself in foul trouble, sending King's to the line 26 times, where the visitors scored seven more points than the Gators from the charity stripe. SHP help offset that by making 10 three-pointers.

    In Los Altos Hills, Pinewood was still missing three of its starters (still injured), so the Panthers turned to five sophomores who stepped up and 52 points to spark the Panthers to a 71-63 victory over visiting Priory on Friday to cap the WBAL regular season. Pinewood finished in third at 10-4 (17-6) while Priory finished 4-10 (9-14).

    Priory held a three-point lead late in the third quarter on the strength of 23 points in the period. Pinewood, however, exploded for 28 points in the final quarter to pull away. Sophomore Solomone Wolfgramm led Pinewood with 23 points, 12 rebounds and two assists despite battling cramps throughout the game. Senior Max Lippe also made a major contribution with 14 points 12 rebounds, eight assists and four blocks.

    Priory welcomed back 6-foot-9 senior Levente Juhos from a foot injury and he made his presence felt with a season-high 32 points, 19 coming in the third quarter. Priory, however, could not overcome Pinewood's 23-of-31 free throws. Pinewood's five sophomores shot 17 of 22 from the free- throw line, including 14 of 16 in the second half. Priory was just eight of nine. Pinewood out-rebounded Priory, 36-18, but turned the ball over 16 times to Priory's 13.

    In the SCVAL De Anza Division, getting another balanced scoring effort with unselfish lay, the Palo Alto boys' basketball team finished off its league championship season with an 85-57 blasting of host Wilcox on Friday night. The regular-season finale matched the league's best against the worst. Paly finished 13-1 in league (18-6) with its 10th straight win.

    "Brendan Rider, Joseph Lin and Davante Adams got us off to a good start in the game with their passing and scoring," said Paly coach Bob Roehl. "Steven Kerr contributed 10 (points) and excellent defense."

    Winless Wilcox was no match for the Vikings, who grabbed a 43-23 halftime lead and coasted from there. Lin led the way with 18 points while junior Max Schmarzo added 14 and Adams had 12.

    Boys' soccer
    Menlo School earned the WBAL's second automatic berth for the CCS playoffs with a 2-1 victory over visiting Harker on Friday in the championship match of the league playoffs. The Knights (12-7-2) needed to win to assure themselves of a postseason berth. Otherwise, an at-large berth was the team's only hope.

    In a exciting and close match, Menlo held on for the victory over Harker, which eliminated the WBAL's second-place team, Priory, in the semifinals. Only two teams from the WBAL receive automatic berths to the CCS playoffs.

    With the flow of the game switching back and forth between the two sides, both teams managed to find the net in the first half. Menlo struck first with Dawson Williams scoring for the third consecutive match. In the second half, Sam Parker made a long run down the flank and unleashed a wicked shot from outside the box with barely enough room to squeak past the keeper and the far post for the winning goal.

    Menlo coach Mary Arya singled out center backs Coby Joseph and Henry Bard for their standout play. Menlo will discover where it will be playing next week when the CCS seeds are decided on Saturday.

    -- Palo Alto Online Sports

    Food and fiber have an Achilles heel - Shelbyville News

    Posted: 20 Feb 2010 12:37 AM PST

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    If you're wanting to eat a meal while you read this column, don't. Skip to the next article and come back after you've finished eating. It's nothing more than a county nurse or ag agent might talk during their meal, but both career fields are fairly small.

    No, I'm not disparaging county nurses; they are the best. They also stopped being squeamish about certain fluids and activities long ago.

    OK, you've finished your meal. Let me give you some food for thought and possibly motivate you to stand up for yourself. I cannot.

    Monday at the pesticide training program, a farmer lamented to me about the Office of the Indiana State Chemist. I relayed back to him that they are great for the farmers and Indiana's citizens. They understand off-site chemical damage (drift). They know farmers. They know Hoosiers.

    Moreover, not everybody that would like to tell farmers and Hoosiers how to live understand either one and almost assuredly do not understand both.

    To ram the point home, I reminded him how one of our farmers in the county actually gave a tour to regulators that have never been on the farm, sat in a combine or could identify a honey wagon. However, they did have regulatory powers if the farmer fell out of compliance.

    He grimaced, then inquired, "What do they want to do, import all of their food?"

    A flash of light burst in my brain, and I retorted "They already do." I paused and carefully considered my words before I continued, "They import it every Friday or Saturday from Kroger, Marsh, Mickey's or O'Malia's." 

    That is why science cannot trump emotion when it comes to food and fiber. The food comes in boxes and leaves in bags. The disconnect continues.

    One of the better Extension projects I've ever been associated with was the terminal livestock sale at the county fair in another state. Notice I wrote terminal.

    To obtain the overall grand champion in beef, sheep, or swine in that county, your project eventually went onto the hook. About seven days after the fair, I and two other regional Extension specialists would go to the meat locker and grade the carcasses. It took the entire day. We graded the carcasses and judged the rib-eyes. Scores were then added to the show scores, and the overall species champions were selected.

    That evening, the children were invited with their parents to come. Some, of course, chose not to come. I guarantee you it was a learning moment they would likely never forget, unless they had already been taught by their parents on the farm. They learned where their food — specifically, meat — came from that night. Appreciation would come later.

    Stephen King warned his readers (through Roland) to never forget the face of their father in the Gunslinger Series. In A Sand County Almanac, the renowned ecologist Aldo Leopold lamented the thought of becoming "supercivilized." Leopold's thesis on life was that conservation and wildlife husbandry could not be obtained if we lost focus and forgot the wild lands and fertile earth from which we came.

    Two of my colleagues have traveled the state holding workshops on how to properly field dress and butcher a deer. Some have questioned me: "Is this a waste of Extension time and taxpayer dollars?" If people learn how to better care for themselves, learn skills, appreciate where their food comes from (and the sacrifices made) and safely provide food for their families, yes, it was time, money and effort well spent.

    Everyone, of course, has blind spots. There are some things the world presents us that we will never comprehend. So when people prescribe the treatment of our food like they would a pet, it does not compute. When a pet has the same amount of "rights" as a human, I don't get it.

    The closer a person gets to their food source, the better off they and society are. Gardeners and hunters are gifts.

    Sows roll over and accidentally crush their piglets. Nursing sows are not the friendliest animals on the farm (or planet). Pigs left in a pasture, as some propose, on their own free will, ultimately smother themselves in piles if the temperature drops. None of these realities appease. Even so, that does not mean methods should remain the same.

    Actually, methods are changing. There may be a middle road between sows in crates and pigs in piles on pastures. Three issues must be addressed first. One, the practice must be profitable to the farmer. Two, it must be safer for the farmer and his workers. For it to be successful long-term, is the proposed method really helpful to society, or is it another ruse? We have enough ruses already.

    So if you wish to remain an omnivore, teach your children where their food comes from. They may determine whether you have a choice. They'll likely pick your nursing home.

    Go grow some food with your family (vegetables and meat preferred). Make mistakes. Learn what it takes. Then you won't be as bothered when others discuss the vagaries and disconcerting realities of life (and death). If you've done all the above, this last quote by Julia Child will make you smile instead of being disturbed: "It's so beautifully arranged on the plate — you know someone's fingers have been all over it."

    Bon appetit!

    Gabbard is the agriculture and natural resources educator for the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service in Shelby County, 1110 Amos Road, Suite D, Shelbyville. He can be reached at the Extension office at (317) 392-6460 or at (888) 671-2367.


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