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Strawberry season for 2013 delayed due to cooler temps
SUFFOLK, Virginia - During a week officially kicking off the state’s farmers markets season, many strawberry growers here opened their fields sporadically to customers wanting to pick their own fruit.
Unlike last year in North Carolina and Virginia with its unseasonably warm temps and an early strawberry season start that began in mid-April, some growers report the cooler temps this spring have pushed strawberry readiness back a bit. Later this week, after a two-day warm up in Southeastern Virginia, rain and cooler temperatures once again arrived, leaving some fields closed over the weekend.
Stop, smell for healthy soil
As gardeners design plots and purchase seeds, preparing to plant crops, they may want to take time to stop and smell the soil.
Using the senses, a gardener can determine if the soil has good health by smelling it for an earthy, sweet smell and feeling its texture.
Smell the soil (Photo: USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service).
Watch for invasive pests
Dirty boots from a field trip or plants purchased over the Internet from a company thousands of miles away rank among ways invasive diseases and pests spread.
April being National Invasive Plant, Pest and Disease Month means use caution.
Imported red fire ant (Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org)
Wild bees pollinate better
Two reports from The Nature Conservancy find that wild honey-
bees do a better job of pollinating crops than managed colonies.
The studies found that "wild bee pollination nearly doubled” mature fruits or seeds compared to managed honeybees.
Wild honeybees pollinate crops more effectively (Photo: Joe Berger, Bugwood.org).
Tomatoes raised for needy
The U.S. Composting Council, a nonprofit based in Bethesda, Md., has kicked off a Million Tomato Compost Campaign.
The Campaign seeks to raise one million tomatoes grown in composted soil - in one season.
Communities can aid hungry through Million Tomato Compost Campaign.
Honeybee health report out
A U.S. Department of Agriculture report indicates that many factors, not just one, contribute to honeybee colony deaths.
Bee hive manage-ment practices, pests, pesticide exposure, pathogens and nutritional deficiencies all play a role.
Many factors affect honeybee health (David Cappaert, Michigan State U., Bugwood.org).
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