News Article for March 23, 2009
From LSU AgCenter County Agent Kenny Sharpe
My grandfather would always say that when the pecan trees put out their leaves, then it is spring. I have not seen any with leaves yet, but I am sure the time is very near.
I hear from a lot of people each year who have pecans with a lot of little black knots on the leaves and twigs. These actually are galls caused by a small aphid-like insect known as phylloxera.
The phylloxera is in the egg form throughout the winter and emerges about this time of year just at pecan buds break. The insects feed on pecan buds and new leaf tissue. As they feed, a gall forms and will completely enclose the insect. While in the gall the insect lays its eggs. These eggs develop into a small wasp which will emerge when the galls split open in May to disperse the insects further. The next stage of the life cycle is a wingless insect that will find a protected area within the tree to overwinter and produce eggs to start the process over.
Only the initial stage of the life cycle causes damage and only then can you get control. That small window of opportunity for control is between bud break and ½ inch of leaf growth at the beginning of spring. When you see the black galls in May it is too late for control.
Many times the trees are too large to spray or the trees are too close to the neighbors to spray. For those who are in a position to spray and have the equipment to do it, spray Malathion, Lorsban, Provado, Warrior, Centric or Proaxis. Homeowners are limited to Malathion. Make your first spray when you have ½ inch of bud growth. If you have had heavy infestations, make a second application seven days later.
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There has been a definite trend in America toward consumers who want to purchase fresh, locally grown produce. With many highly publicized health scares, they want to know the person who grows their food. There has also been a resurgence of people wanting to grow their own vegetables and fruits.
The No. 1 crop grown in the home garden is the tomato. Some people only plant tomatoes in their gardens. Many will vie every year for the bragging rights to the earliest ripe tomato and the biggest tomato.
There are two types of tomatoes, indeterminate (vining) and determinate (bush type). The indeterminate tomato varieties need to be pruned, and determinate varieties do not. Both types should be planted 18-24 inches apart within the row.
Recommended indeterminate varieties include Better Boy, Big Beef, Champion, Fantastic, Terrific, Sun Gold, First Lady, Jet Star (low acid) Monte Carlo and Pink Girl (pink). Cherry varieties include Sweet Chelsea, Sweet Million, Jolly, Small Fry and Cherry Grande.
Recommended varieties of determinate varieties include Celebrity, Carolina Gold, Florida 47, Mountain Spring, Mountain Crest and Mountain Fresh. Determinate varieties that also have spotted wilt resistance include Bella Rosa, Amelia, Crista, BHN 640, Mountain Glory and Muriel.
Heat-tolerant tomato varieties that will produce in summer are Florida 91, Sun Leaper, Sun Chaser, Sunmaster, Solar Set, Heatwave II, Solar Fire and Talladega.
For more information on these or related topics call Livingston Parish county agent Kenny Sharpe at (225) 686-3020.