Welcome to the K-State Olathe Horticulture Center's quarterly newsletter. To read each article, just click on the + symbol to the right of the headline. If you prefer a printable copy of the newsletter, click HERE for a pdf of this edition.
Current happenings at ohc
Summer research projects are well underway so there will be plenty to see at our Commercial Vegetable Field Day scheduled for Monday, August 12. Current research projects include OREI (Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative) high tunnel cover crop studies; tomato rootstock comparisons using BHN 589 on five different rootstocks; pepper, cucumber, and tomato variety trials; Tasti-Lee® tomato study; and probiotic treatment comparisons. In addition to vegetable research, OHC has an industrial hemp research plot, licensed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, examining plant spacings, row cover variations, and high tunnel vs. outdoor planting of an oil-type hemp variety.
Speaking of research, HortTechnology, the journal of the American Society of Horticultural Science, has published a paper about sweetpotato slip research conducted at OHC and the John C. Pair Center in Haysville, authored by Zac Hoppenstedt, former graduate student, Jason Griffin, Eleni Pliakoni, and Cary Rivard. “Yield, Quality, and Performance of Organic Sweetpotato Slips Grown in High Tunnel Compared with Open Field” appeared in Volume 29, Issue 2 of HortTechnology.
Earlier in the Spring, OHC gave away an estimated 400 Cherokee Purple Tomato plants at K-State Olathe Open House. The tomato give-away has become a popular feature at Open House. Seedlings were started in the OHC Greenhouse and given away by faculty, staff, and students who were on hand to dispense plants, answer questions, and promote K-State Research and Extension, Horticulture and Natural Resources, and K-State Olathe.
Speaking of research, HortTechnology, the journal of the American Society of Horticultural Science, has published a paper about sweetpotato slip research conducted at OHC and the John C. Pair Center in Haysville, authored by Zac Hoppenstedt, former graduate student, Jason Griffin, Eleni Pliakoni, and Cary Rivard. “Yield, Quality, and Performance of Organic Sweetpotato Slips Grown in High Tunnel Compared with Open Field” appeared in Volume 29, Issue 2 of HortTechnology.
Earlier in the Spring, OHC gave away an estimated 400 Cherokee Purple Tomato plants at K-State Olathe Open House. The tomato give-away has become a popular feature at Open House. Seedlings were started in the OHC Greenhouse and given away by faculty, staff, and students who were on hand to dispense plants, answer questions, and promote K-State Research and Extension, Horticulture and Natural Resources, and K-State Olathe.
Turfgrass program update
Studying Horticulture at K-State
Horticulture undergraduates continue to be in high demand – we don’t have enough graduates to fill all the positions available. K-State has been tightening their relationship with Johnson County Community College to make the transition to K-State Horticulture very easy.
Know anyone in the Kansas City area interested in studying Horticulture at K-State? If so, have them reach out to Dr. Jack Fry (jfry@ksu.edu); 913-856-2335 Ext. 103. I’d be happy to sit down with them here in the KC area – they don’t have to go to Manhattan to learn more about the program.
Zoysia Research in Focus
Since 2004, K-State has worked with Texas A&M AgriLife Research - Dallas in the development of high quality, cold tolerant zoysiagrasses. Mary Lou Peter, Communications Specialist with K-State Research and Extension put together a great summary of the progress that has been made, including information on ‘Innovation’ zoysia, a cultivar that was recently released through this effort. Here’s the link to the article: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/stories/2019/05/zoysia-for-home-lawns.html
Along these lines, we recently planted 10 experimental zoysiagrasses at Shadow Glen Golf Club (on their driving range) for further evaluation. These particular zoysias have shown good quality throughout the central and southern U.S. and also have tolerance to a large patch, a disease which is common in this species. We appreciate the support of the United States Golf Association in establishment and evaluation of this trial, and the cooperation of Mr. Scott Johnson, golf course superintendent at Shadow Glen (and K-State alum!).
In the next couple of weeks, 39 experimental zoysias will be planted at the Olathe Center as part of the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program 2019 Zoysia Trial. There is lots of variability among these grasses and it will be interesting to see how they perform here in Kansas.
Turf Field Day on August 1
The Kansas Turfgrass Field Day will be held Thursday, August 1 at the K-State Olathe Horticulture Center in Olathe (35230 W. 135th). The field day program is designed for all segments of the turf & ornamentals industry - lawn care, athletic fields, golf courses, landscape, nursery, and grounds maintenance. Included on the program are research presentations, problem diagnosis, commercial exhibitors, and equipment displays. There will be time to see current research, talk to the experts and get answers to your questions.
One hour of pesticide recertification credit in both 3A and 3B are available, as well as GCSAA education points. Click here the program brochure with registration form, or you can register online at https://2019turfday.eventbrite.com
Horticulture undergraduates continue to be in high demand – we don’t have enough graduates to fill all the positions available. K-State has been tightening their relationship with Johnson County Community College to make the transition to K-State Horticulture very easy.
Know anyone in the Kansas City area interested in studying Horticulture at K-State? If so, have them reach out to Dr. Jack Fry (jfry@ksu.edu); 913-856-2335 Ext. 103. I’d be happy to sit down with them here in the KC area – they don’t have to go to Manhattan to learn more about the program.
Zoysia Research in Focus
Since 2004, K-State has worked with Texas A&M AgriLife Research - Dallas in the development of high quality, cold tolerant zoysiagrasses. Mary Lou Peter, Communications Specialist with K-State Research and Extension put together a great summary of the progress that has been made, including information on ‘Innovation’ zoysia, a cultivar that was recently released through this effort. Here’s the link to the article: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/stories/2019/05/zoysia-for-home-lawns.html
Along these lines, we recently planted 10 experimental zoysiagrasses at Shadow Glen Golf Club (on their driving range) for further evaluation. These particular zoysias have shown good quality throughout the central and southern U.S. and also have tolerance to a large patch, a disease which is common in this species. We appreciate the support of the United States Golf Association in establishment and evaluation of this trial, and the cooperation of Mr. Scott Johnson, golf course superintendent at Shadow Glen (and K-State alum!).
In the next couple of weeks, 39 experimental zoysias will be planted at the Olathe Center as part of the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program 2019 Zoysia Trial. There is lots of variability among these grasses and it will be interesting to see how they perform here in Kansas.
Turf Field Day on August 1
The Kansas Turfgrass Field Day will be held Thursday, August 1 at the K-State Olathe Horticulture Center in Olathe (35230 W. 135th). The field day program is designed for all segments of the turf & ornamentals industry - lawn care, athletic fields, golf courses, landscape, nursery, and grounds maintenance. Included on the program are research presentations, problem diagnosis, commercial exhibitors, and equipment displays. There will be time to see current research, talk to the experts and get answers to your questions.
One hour of pesticide recertification credit in both 3A and 3B are available, as well as GCSAA education points. Click here the program brochure with registration form, or you can register online at https://2019turfday.eventbrite.com
Ten experimental zoysias were planted at Shadow Glen Golf Club in Olathe, KS.
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Thirty-nine experimental zoysias in trays and ready to be planted in the field as part of the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Zoysia Trial.
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rosedale middle school field experience
Twenty-two, 7th graders from Rosedale Middle School (RMS) visited OHC for a Field Experience on May 8. (photos). OHC staff, Extension Master Gardeners, and KSU graduate students staffed learning stations about: Underground arthropods, the difference between water infiltration and runoff during a rainfall event, plant propagation, soil composition, and more during the 3-hour visit. Their teacher even had time to launch the school’s drone to film the OHREC site.
Field Experiences for Junior High and High School students for Fall 2019 are available on Wednesdays in September and October. Contact Martha Nowak at K-State Olathe, msnowak@ksu.edu or Kerri Ebert at OHC, kebert@ksu.edu to schedule a class Field Experience. The fee for a Field Experience is $5 per student.
Field Experiences for Junior High and High School students for Fall 2019 are available on Wednesdays in September and October. Contact Martha Nowak at K-State Olathe, msnowak@ksu.edu or Kerri Ebert at OHC, kebert@ksu.edu to schedule a class Field Experience. The fee for a Field Experience is $5 per student.
ohc spotlight -- ashlee skinner
Ashlee Skinner is a Graduate Research Assistant at the OHC pursuing a Master’s Degree in Horticulture with an emphasis on Urban Food Systems at K-State Olathe. Originally from Tampa, Florida, Ashlee earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Florida at Gainesville in plant science and sustainable food production. Knowing that she wanted to pursue higher education outside of Florida, she chose K-State because of the Urban Horticulture Program. Her research focuses on the use of cover crops and their impact on soil health in high tunnels.
In 2018 she was awarded an $11,999 North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) Graduate Student Grant to analyze the relationship of cover crop mixtures in high tunnels and belowground arthropod communities. In addition to her research, Ashlee has become a go-to teacher for OHC Field Experience educational sessions with her interactive session helping students sieve soil to find hidden insects. Her talents will be missed as she anticipates graduating from KSU in December 2019.
Following graduation, she plans to work in urban areas on food insecurity and one day start a not-for-profit focused on food insecurity and human health issues in urban areas. First, however, Ashlee plans to take some well-earned time off to travel and relax after graduate school.
In 2018 she was awarded an $11,999 North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) Graduate Student Grant to analyze the relationship of cover crop mixtures in high tunnels and belowground arthropod communities. In addition to her research, Ashlee has become a go-to teacher for OHC Field Experience educational sessions with her interactive session helping students sieve soil to find hidden insects. Her talents will be missed as she anticipates graduating from KSU in December 2019.
Following graduation, she plans to work in urban areas on food insecurity and one day start a not-for-profit focused on food insecurity and human health issues in urban areas. First, however, Ashlee plans to take some well-earned time off to travel and relax after graduate school.
backyard garden news
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Open Garden Wednesdays at The Backyard Garden (BYG) at OHC have begun. Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) are available every Wednesday between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. (weather permitting) to answer questions, share expertise, and guide garden tours. Special BYG events for Summer include: July 10 – All American Selections (AAS) Display; August 28 - Tomato Tasting Day; and August 28 - Arranging Flowers From Your Garden (reservations required for flower arranging).
The BYG hosted 90+ kindergarteners, teachers, and parents from Prairie Center Elementary on May 15. Students rotated through educational stations in the Backyard Garden to learn about plants, soil, and insects in the garden. |
EMG Paula Dix leads an educational session for kindergarteners from Prairie Center Elementary at the BYG.
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upcoming field days & events
All American Selections Display – July 10
Turf Field Day – August 1
Commercial Vegetable Field Day – August 12
Tomato Tasting Day – August 28
Turf Field Day – August 1
Commercial Vegetable Field Day – August 12
Tomato Tasting Day – August 28
