Local Farmers Markets

The Cajun and Thibodaux farmers markets are in full swing this time of year. Make sure you go by to purchase locally grown produce. The Cajun farmers market is open from Monday through Saturday from 6 am to 6 pm at the intersection of Tunnel Boulevard and Naquin Street in Houma. The Thibodaux market is open on Saturday mornings from 7 am to 11 am at the intersection of La 1 and Maronge Street in downtown Thibodaux. You will find fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, corn and other vegetables at the markets this week. For more information pertaining to the Cajun market, call Hugh Paul Fanguy at 872-5274 or the Thibodaux market; call Joyce Benoit at 448-1474.

Success with Summer Tomatoes

Louisiana summers are a tough time for tomatoes to set and hold fruit. The heat causes irregular flower growth in most cultivars, and the result is poor fruit set. Heat set tomatoes are available at most local garden centers and feed stores. They may need additional care from the home gardener but there are simple practices that will help you have success. Assuming you have fertile soil and are controlling pests, you can follow four treatment practices found effective in LSU AgCenter research plots. These techniques give heat-set tomatoes their best chances to develop fruit.

First, choose summer growing tomatoes that have the heat-set genetic makeup. These include Sunmaster, Solar Set, Heat Wave II, Sunchaser, Sun Leaper and Florida 91. If you have trouble finding the cultivars you want, get into the habit of starting your own from seed a month or two ahead of time. At this time of year, no greenhouse or frost protection is needed.

Second, transplant deeper than the norm. Normally transplants are set to just cover the root ball. For a summer crop, plant deeper to access cooler soil and better soil moisture. In fact, shallow planting may even be lethal at this time of year. Set plants in 6-inch-deep holes, up to about the first true leaf.

Third, water your garden in the mornings. LSU AgCenter research plots were watered every other day, unless it rained, but the home garden must be watered according to soil needs. Water so that root zones are neither too soggy nor too dry. Morning watering is thought to keep roots cooler and plants less stressed than in the hot afternoon.

Fourth, mulch plants well to cool roots and even out soil moisture. Research revealed that white or light-colored mulch was much better than the black plastic that works so well on spring tomatoes. Dark mulches get too hot in the summer.

All these treatments combined yielded significantly more summer fruit and bigger tomatoes in the research fields. For more on these topics, see our AgCenter information on tomato pests and publication 1902, Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden.

Tomato Field Day

The 2008 LSU AgCenter Tomato Field Day date is set for Wednesday, June 11 beginning at 5:00 pm at Waterproof Ridge Farm located at 3719 Bayou Black Drive in Houma. This year’s field day will feature five tomato varieties that are resistant to tomato spotted wilt virus as compared to the standard Celebrity variety. In addition, we will taste these varieties plus look at fruits and vegetables regarding their nutritional value. A largest tomato contest will be a part of the field day so plan on bringing in your largest home grown vine ripened tomato to be weighed in between 4:00-5:00 pm. This contest is open to participants of all ages. Call 985-446-1316 for complete details.

Success with Containers

According to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill nearly any plant may be grown in a container outdoors as long as you provide the cultural requirements the plant needs. Even commonplace plants take on a distinctive quality when grown in a container. You can choose from small-growing evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs, ground covers, herbaceous perennials and annuals.

Indeed, containers filled with a variety of colorful, compatible plants are all the rage these days. In this planting style, plants are chosen almost as you would select cut flowers for a flower arrangement. The focus is on combining different plant shapes with colorful foliage and flowers in an aesthetically pleasing way.

Plants offer other considerations besides how they look (color, size, shape, texture). The amount of available light where the container is located is the most important factor to consider when selecting plants. Whether the location is sunny or shady, you must choose plants that will thrive in those conditions.

The hardiness of large specimen plants in big containers can be important. Generally, choose hardy plants that can survive winters outside in these situations so you won’t have to lug large, heavy plants and containers into protected locations when a freeze threatens.

A large variety of manufactured containers and found objects (varying in size, material, color, shape and design) can be used for planting. Only your imagination and taste set the limits.

Generally, try to use containers that are of muted colors and simple design, since brightly colored and heavily decorated pots will detract from the plants. In certain settings, however, you may feel containers with more elaborate decorations are appropriate.

Choose larger-sized containers whenever possible. Small containers are usually out of scale with outdoor landscapes and require more frequent watering.

Make sure the containers you use have one or more drainage holes in the bottoms to allow excess water to drain out of the pots when you water. This is critically important.

More than anything else, the soil or potting mix used in a container needs to drain well yet retain sufficient moisture to promote good plant growth. Make sure you purchase soil mixes specifically labeled “potting soil” for use in containers. Mixes labeled “top soil” or “garden soil” are not suitable because they are too heavy and will not drain rapidly enough. For the same reason, soil dug up from an outside garden bed is not suitable.

Many potting mixes are composed of peat moss, perlite and vermiculite in varying proportions. Their advantages are excellent drainage, light weight and good water retention. But they can dry out rapidly and may be hard to rewet when very dry. The main drawback is that they are relatively low in nutrients – a problem easily corrected by using slow-release fertilizers or soluble fertilizers.

Plants growing in containers are far more dependent on you for adequate water than plants growing in the ground. When you water, water generously until water runs out of the drainage holes. Water again whenever the potting medium begins to feel dry to the touch or at whatever interval past experience has shown to be appropriate.

Watering frequency will vary depending on the type of plant, time of year, temperature and size of the plant in relation to the size of the container among other factors. Avoid allowing your plants to wilt before watering because this is damaging and can lead to bud drop or leaf drop.

If the potting mix becomes especially dry, it may be difficult to rewet it. Apply water until the potting mix absorbs and retains it. To facilitate watering, a soil level a couple of inches below the pot rim provides a space to hold water while it soaks into the medium.

The roots of container-grown plants are growing in a confined space, and constant watering leaches nutrients rapidly from the soil. In this case, more frequent fertilizer applications generally are required than for the same plants growing in the ground. An adequate supply of nutrients is especially important when plants are in active growth.

The best choices for fertilizing container plants are either soluble fertilizers or slow-release fertilizers. Soluble fertilizers are easy to apply, especially when you use a hose-end applicator, but they must be applied every two weeks to maintain a constant supply of nutrients. Slow-release fertilizers provide nutrients over several months from one application so they cut down on labor.

Question of the Week: When is the time to fertilize citrus trees in the summer?

Answer: If you fertilized your trees properly in February, most home orchards should be fine unless the plants are exhibiting micro-nutrient deficiencies. Avoid fertilizing trees after the end of June. Late fertilization will encourage vigorous growth, delay fruit maturity, and decrease the cold hardiness of the tree.

If you have a disability that requires special attention for you to be able to participate in any of our educational programs, call 985-446-1316 at least 48 hours prior to the event. I can also be reached at bhfletcher@agctr.lsu.edu or check out our website at www.lsuagcenter.com.