LSU AgCenter to hold Tomato Field Day

The LSU AgCenter will hold a “Tomato Field Day” on Wednesday, June 11 at 5:00 PM at the Waterproof Ridge Farm located on 3719 Bayou Black Drive in Houma. Registration will begin at 4:00 PM and the program will begin at 5:00 PM and conclude by 7:00 PM. This educational program is free and open to the public.

LSU AgCenter experts will discuss traditional tomato varieties as well as those more disease resistant, using plastic mulch and drip irrigation, tomato disease prevention as well seeing what variety of tomato tastes the best. According to Area Extension Agent Bobby Fletcher, Jr. a largest vine ripened tomato contest will be held in conjunction with this field day so residents can bring in their largest vine ripened tomato to be weighed between 4:00 and 5:00 PM. This is open to anyone and we are really trying to involve school students from the area plus adults as we have in the past.

The Largest Tomato contest will have three categories: youth (13 years and under); teen (14-18 years); and adult (over 19). The tomatoes for this contest must be vine ripened to be entered. Fletcher said there will be other contests for all ages to enjoy.

* The Most Perfect Tomato contest: the tomato must be vine ripened.

* The Smallest Tomato contest: the tomato must be vine ripened.

* The Ugliest Tomato contest: any ugly tomato can be entered.

* Best Decorated Tomato: children ages 13 and under and 14 to 18 are encouraged to decorate a tomato and bring it to the event to be judged for creativity.

Residents can also join in a tomato variety “taste test” to help the LSU AgCenter determine which variety being tested tastes the best. In addition, Debbie Melvin with the LSU AgCenter will be discussing the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables plus the importance of a healthy lifestyle. LSU AgCenter plant pathologist, Dr. Don Ferrin will also be discussing major tomato diseases and what you can do to prevent them in your garden.

Fletcher also states “Residents will also have the opportunity to view peach, plum and fig trees planted on raised rows with a trickle irrigation system in place.” Over 20 varieties of figs are in this demonstration plot.

Directions to the farm: From the downtown Houma area, travel to the Barrow Street and Bayou Black Drive intersection and turn right onto Bayou Black Drive and continue 4.7 miles, turn left and go one mile. From the Thibodaux area, travel Hwy 311 until the Savanne Road intersection and turn right, go to the end of Savanne Road, cross the bayou and turn left on Bayou Black Drive, travel 1.6 miles and turn right and go one mile.

If you have a disability that requires special attention for you to be able to participate in this educational program, call 985-446-1316 at least 48 hours prior to the event. Contact me at 985-446-1316 or bhfletcher@agctr.lsu.edu or dmelvin@agctr.lsu.edu.

Residents will have the opportunity to view tomato varieties, learn how to grow tomatoes like commercial growers, plus enter a largest tomato into the ‘Largest Tomato” contest during the 2008 LSU AgCenter Tomato Field Day on June 11th.

Summer Irrigation

According to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill, dry weather and high temperatures often make it necessary to water landscapes occasionally during the summer. Even established trees, shrubs, flowers vegetable gardens and lawns may need irrigation during especially long drought periods.

Still more critical is the need to regularly and properly water new plantings and plants growing in containers.

When it comes to recently planted lawns, ground covers, trees and shrubs, they will not make it through their first summer in the ground without supplemental irrigation. Their roots have not had time to grow out into the soil, and these plants do not yet have well-established root systems. With their root systems still limited to a relatively small area of soil, they are especially vulnerable to drought stress.

Trees

The first summer after planting is the most critical time for newly planted trees, and proper watering plays a major role in whether or not they survive. Here are two ways to properly provide water to newly planted trees during hot, dry weather.

For the first method, turn on a hose to a trickle, lay the end on top of the ground within 6 inches of the trunk, and let the water trickle for about 20 to 30 minutes.

The second method – the best I’ve found – is to use a heated metal skewer or ice pick to pierce 10 holes through the bottom of a plastic five-gallon paint bucket or similar container. Put all the holes on one side. Place the bucket next to the tree trunk with the hole side closest to the trunk. Fill the container with water, and the water will slowly seep through the holes to provide excellent irrigation.

Use either of these techniques during hot, dry weather whenever seven to 10 days pass without substantial rainfall. Then continue to water once or twice a week until you get a good rain of one-half inch or more. Drought-stressed trees may exhibit wilting, leaf drop, yellow or brown leaves, scorched leaf edges or even death.

Shrubs

Generally, newly planted beds of shrubs may be watered with soaker hoses or sprinklers, just as you would established shrubs. They will, however, need to be monitored more carefully and watered more frequently.

Situations can arise where newly planted shrubs are damaged or killed by drought stress despite your best efforts. Remember, all of a newly planted shrub’s roots are in a small area about the size of the pot the shrub was growing in before it was transplanted. This is especially true for shrubs planted after March because they have had little time to grow roots into the surrounding soil.

A shrub can use up all the water in its root ball and become drought stressed even though the soil in the bed outside of the root ball is moist. In this situation, it is best to water each shrub individually, as needed, with a hose trickling water as described for trees. (Leave the hose by each shrub for about 10 minutes.)

Watch new shrub plantings carefully for the same drought symptoms described for trees. Summer-flowering shrubs – such as hibiscus and crape myrtle – may abort and drop their flower buds if they’re drought-stressed.

Lawns

Summer is a great time to lay sod to install a new lawn or repair an established one. Just remember that newly laid sod needs special attention for watering.

Apply one-quarter to one-half inch of water every day for the first seven to 10 days after the sod is laid. Then apply one-half inch of water every other day for another seven to 10 days. Continue to irrigate the lawn with 1 inch of water once a week as needed to encourage the roots to grow deep into the soil. Do not water every day for more than 10 days, or you may encourage fungal diseases.

For more information on these and other horticultural topics, call me at 985-446-1316, email me at bhfletcher@agctr.lsu.edu or stop by any Extension Service office.