Farmer’s Markets Open

The next time you are passing on Tunnel Boulevard in Houma or in the downtown area of Thibodaux on a Saturday morning, you may want to stop at the farmers market to purchase locally grown produce.

The Houma market is known as the “Cajun Farmer’s Market” and is located on the corner of Tunnel Boulevard and Naquin Street in Houma. This market is open six days a week from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM and offers locally grown produce from Terrebonne and the surrounding parishes. You will find locally grown satsumas as well as mustard and turnip greens and other fall vegetables at this time.

The Thibodaux Farmer’s Market is only open on Saturday mornings from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM and is located just off La 1 on Maronge Street next to City Hall. This market offers locally grown produce as well as other value added items.

If you are interested in becoming a vendor at the Cajun Farmer’s Market, contact Hugh Paul Fanguy at 872-5275 and at the Thibodaux Farmer’s Market you can contact Joyce Benoit at 448-1474.

Fall Grower’s Meeting

A fall grower’s meeting is being held on Tuesday, October 16th at 6:30 pm at the Terrebonne Cooperative Extension Service office located at 511 Roussell Street in Houma. We will cover diseases of vegetable crops plus have a meeting of the Cajun Farmer’s Market membership. Please call 985-446-1316 to register for this meeting.

Woolly Oak Gall

There have been several calls and samples brought into local Extension offices of oak leaves with light brown cottony or woolly growths attached to the underside of leaves. This is usually attached to the mid-rib of the leaf and has been in individual to numerous groups.

As their descriptive name implies, the woolly leaf gall looks like someone stuck a dense wad of light brown wool to a leaf vein. The galls are produced by the cynipid wasp, Andricus fullawayi, and are found on the underside of leaves where they are usually attached to the midvein, although they occasionally arise from lateral veins. They range in size from pea-sized to the diameter of a quarter. When oak leaves turn color in the fall, the galls often detach and fall to the ground. Large numbers littering the ground beneath an oak tree may cause concern, but no harm has been done to the tree.

According to LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Dale Pollet, “They are thought to have a dual cycle so that one generation is on the foliage and the next year possibly on the stems. One can try to treat by using a systemic insecticide labeled for trees and shrubs at bud swell to get in to the system before ovisposition in the spring.” In addition, good sanitation of the fallen galls and leaves with them attached will help to reduce the populations. Homeowners can rake them up and burn, bury, or put in trash.

Bulb Time

October also is the month for bulb planting. Many people add color and beauty to their gardens early in the spring by planting hardy spring-flowering bulbs at this time. The various kinds of narcissus and daffodils are general favorites. But you can plant several other hardy bulbs as well. These include Anemones, ranunculus, snowflakes, flowering onions and snowdrops.

Tulip and Dutch hyacinth bulbs should be placed in the refrigerator this month and left for six weeks so they’ll be ready for planting in late November or December. Do not freeze these bulbs.

Question of the Week: Do centipedes cause problems other than being a nuisance to some people?

Answer: They are actually very beneficial soil dwellers and feed on small insects as well as pesky young snails and slugs. They primarily feed on organic matter that helps to improve the condition of the soil by creating humus. Centipedes look somewhat like worms with numerous legs. They are flattened and brown in color.

Centipedes can be controlled in the home by using a household insecticide such as any pyrethrin containing product. Always read, understand and follow all label directions.

For more information on these and other horticultural topics, give me a call at 985-446-1316 or email me at bhfletcher@agctr.lsu.edu or check out our web site at www.lsuagcenter.com.