No Tomato Tastin' at this year's Como Cookout

I am sorry to report that the 2010 Tomato Tastin' Experience scheduled for Sept., 19th at the Como Cookout is canceled. The outlook for tomato availability is poor. Chalk it up to a wet season that lead to lots of disease, and not enough consistently high temperatures to ripen fruit. We have reports of vines producing a few here and there, but the rest remain green, or the plants have succumbed to blight. The homegrown tomato dearth is an unexpected outcome with all the excitement in April of Minnesota's early spring warm-up. To see the past 6 years of results of the Tomato Tastin' Experience, sponsored by the OWLS Community Garden, check out this past post.

Those folks who planted some early producing, and determinate tomato varieties have had better luck at getting a bumper crop. Growing a diversity of crops and varieties wins out again! If you would like to augment your own crop, look-up a nearby farmer's market.

If you want to learn more about tomato diseases, look over this U of MN Extension bulletins:

Tomato Diseases

		Early Blight of Tomatoes and Potatoes
		Late Blight of Potato and Tomato
		Nonparasitic Disorders of Tomatoes
		Parasitic Diseases of Tomato
		Tomato Anthracnose
		Septoria Leaf Spot of Tomato
		Verticillium Wilt of Tomato and Potato

Extension also has been supporting seed trials grown and reported by Master Gardeners. Tomatoes get a lot of attention during the seed trials and below summarizes their results which are published every year in The Northern Gardener magazine. Tomatoes of various kinds were tested against each other since 1988. Past winners are:

• 1988 (determinate early): Celebrity VFNT hybrid
• 1989 (determinate midseason): Mountain Pride VF hybrid
• 1990 (cherry): Sweet Million FNTL hybrid
• 1991 (paste): Square Paste
• 1993 (yellow, orange, gold): Lemon Boy hybrid
• 1994 (Beefsteak): Supersteak hybrid
• 1995 (main season hybrid large red determinate): Celebrity Hybrid
• 1998 (container types): Cherry Gold
• 2000 ((indeterminate red hybrid main season): (tie) Park's Whopper and Big Boy
• 2003 (heirloom varieties): Brandywine
• 2005 (grape types): (tie) Juliet and Yellow Jelly Bean
• 2007 (heirlooms): Pineapple
• 2008 (slicing types - past winners): Lemon Boy
• 2010 (paste): not yet evaluated
  

Several varieties selected as best by Master Gardeners have also been favorites at the Tomato Tastin' Experience (bolded above), a useful correlation for tomato fiends.

image credit: University of Minnesota

Ramsey County Master Gardeners supporting Midway and Frogtown neighborhoods

This is a moment to shout out to Ramsey County Master Gardeners (RCMG) in the Midway. So many Midway and Frogtown garden projects are nicely highlighted in the RCMG year end report from 2009. I particularly want to shine a light on Diane's work. She is successfully working hard within this organization to bring in intern Master Gardeners from diverse backgrounds. She also takes her Master Gardening service time to our urban neighborhoods, augmenting community efforts in growing their own food. She would want you to check out another organization she works for called "Growing Food and Justice for All".

Here is that Master Gardener 2009 report (pdf). In it you will find summaries of Hamline Midway and Frogtown community garden projects including Aurora-St. Anthony Peace Garden, Horton Park Community Garden, Snelling Avenue Planter Project, Frogtown Gardeners, Frogtown Orchard Project. Also supported and not mentioned are projects at Galtier Elementary, Hamline High Rise, LEAP Academy, HUMC Rain Gardens, and Midway Green Spirit Garden.

Master Gardeners are a well used resource in our St. Paul neighborhoods. Many thanks to their members!

What to do about my Ash Tree?

U of Mn Extension compiled a resourceful list of FAQ's, links and resources on the topic of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) for the Ramsey County Master Gardeners. I am sharing an edited version of it here because of its completeness. The Hamline Midway Environment Group made a key addition though- Don't forget to plant trees!

You cannot move untreated firewood out of the quarantined counties of Houston, Hennepin and Ramsey:

• Quarantine info
• the MDA website’s site maps for quarantine boundaries
  
• Want to learn how to treat your wood so you can move it? Call the MDA’s “Arrest the Pest Hotline” 651-201-6884.

Think you have a tree with EAB?

• Read the “Do I Have EAB” sheet.
  
• Call the MDA’s “Arrest the Pest Hotline” 651-201-6884(Metro) or 1-888-545-6884 (Greater MN).

Should I treat for EAB? You should treat for EAB ONLY if:

• The environmental, economic, and time costs of treating is less than the cost of replacing the tree
  
• You are willing to treat your ash tree every 1-3 years for the tree’s ENTIRE LIFE
  
• Your ash is less than 10-15 miles from a known EAB infestation.
  
• Your ash is a beautiful specimen worth saving.
• You properly apply, store, & dispose of any leftover chemicals.

What Can I Do to Help?

• The Hamline Midway Environment Group says "Plant a tree!"
• Do Not Move Firewood, not even within MN. Respect the quarantine.
  
• Prune trees & shrubs at the right time (to avoid the sap attracting EAB).
• Be aware of EAB and its symptoms.
  
• Understand that you CANNOT IDENTIFY EAB by looking at a tree, as an Ash tree can look bad for other reasons.

Where do I get rid of Ash wood?

• Do you live in Ramsey County? Then see this MDA list of Ash Tree Disposal sites or the Ramsey County yard waste site info .
  
• Or visit the MDA website’s site maps for further information:
  
• Grinding your ash wood down to chips less than 1’ in any direction should theoretically kill the borer.
  
• Apparently, there IS some demand for urban wood for sale.
  

EAB websites

• Extension Service
  
• MDA
  
• Especially see: “Q&A for Homeowners in EAB-Infested Neighborhoods”
  
• DNR
  
• www.emeraldashborer.info

Want Even More EAB details?

• Best Management Practices for Known EAB Infested Areas
  
• Interactive Minnesota Survey Map
  
• Emerald Ash Borer University
  
• E-mail Eab.Review@state.mn.us to receive monthly updates on the EAB quarantine
  
• Guidelines for EAB Management in Minnesota Communities
  

Tetanus booster shots- not optional

Tetanus immunizations are an over-looked gardening tool. My fellow U of Mn Master Gardeners are reminding folks to check their shot status. Those who have not had a booster within 10 years need to get this taken care of--over 40% of us are overdue. Scraps and cuts are pretty routine while working in the garden and the Tetanus bacteria can enter the bloodstream through the dirt. Its reported that nearly twenty-percent of tetanus cases result in death.

While you are planning your plant list, tool needs and compost needs, put your booster shot on there too. For more information : http://www.nfid.org.

Oh yeah, gloves help too.