Spiced Apple Cider The Emerald Ash Borer Femme Fatale Note: Always read the label and A research team from Pennsylvania State University has make sure you are created a battery-powered, faux purchasing pasteurized female emerald ash borer that is apple cider. Raw, designed to give a lethal shock to unpasteurized cider may any amorous males. As he contain harmful bacteria. approaches and initiates Ingredients: physical contact he is zapped by 1 gallon naturally 4,000 volts. Initial tests look sweet apple cider promising. Source: National Geographic

1 cup brown sugar When are melons ready to harvest? 4 cinnamon sticks, broken in half 1 Tablespoon whole cloves A good method for determining the proper har- 1 Tablespoon whole allspice vest time for watermelon is when the underside 1/2 teaspoon mace (optional) or “ground spot” turns yellowish or cream in color. Ripe watermelons also tend to lose their glossy Tie cinnamon, cloves, allspice and mace together look and have a dull appearance. in cheesecloth or use a coffee filter tied with string. Muskmelon is ready to eat when the stem slips easily away Combine cider and brown sugar in a large pot. Add from the fruit. It should pull off with little or no effort. Also look at spices. Bring mixture to a slow boil. Then turn heat the muskmelon’s appearance. The netlike skin becomes rough- down and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove textured and turns tan to yellow in color. You should also be spice bag from pot. Serve hot cider in mugs. able to smell that muskmelon aroma from the fruit.

Spiced Apple Cider may be kept warm in a crock- For honeydew, knowing when to pick the fruit is a little more pot (slow cooker) on low setting. Yield 18 servings. difficult. Unlike muskmelon, honeydew fruit does not slip off the vine when mature. The most common way to check for ripe- Source: University of Illinois Extension ness is to press on the flower end. It should feel slightly soft.

It’s the season for autumn décor. Pumpkins, of course, dominate the scene but gourds are a close second. Originally grown to make storage containers and utensils, today, most people grow (or buy) them for their decorative qualities. Gourds are members of the Cucurbit family, which includes cucumbers, squash and melons.

The three most common types of gourds are cucurbita, lagenaria and luffa. Cucurbita gourds come in a range of shapes and colors. Many have warts, ridges, stripes and patterns that make for fun fall decorations. These gourds are usually good for one season. Members of the lagenaria group come in shapes suited for making utensils and other items like storage containers, dishes, bowls and birdhouses. When properly dried they last for years. Their durability makes them popular for use in crafts. Lastly, luffa gourds are primarily used to make bath sponges.

Fun Fact: Some varieties of gourds are edible when the fruit is young.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Newsletter on Yard, Garden and Local Food Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 Click underlined links for more information on a topic…

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Labor Day Click here for information on fall lawn care

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

If necessary, Don’t forget Water established spring blooms, trees if we have plant trees and inadequate rainfall shrubs & keep plant some hardy bulbs to prepare for watering until winter ground freezes 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Divide spring- 1st Day of Autumn Plant garlic in blooming peren- late September nials and replant or early October, as soon as depending on possible first freeze

25 26 27 28 29 30 1

Place herbs you How to wish to winter overwinter your indoors into pots geraniums October

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Stop fertilizing Remember to houseplants remove and until spring destroy diseased plants with fall cleanup

SEPTEMBER 2016 ISSUE GARDEN TO TABLE NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 Master Gardener News

Notes: Due to low enrollment, we have cancelled the 2016 Master Gardener Core training this fall in Sibley.

Food Security Project with Iowa Master Gardeners We recently had a nice write up about our food pantry garden project at the ISU Demonstration Garden in Rock Rapids by the Lyon County Reporter. Here’s the link to view the story.

Produce from the pantry garden is being donated to 6 different food pantries including Atlas of Lyon County, United Church of Christ in Larchwood, Hull Food Pantry, Hope Food Pantry in Sioux Center, Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc. in Sibley and in Primghar. Through August, 1049 pounds of produce has been given away. As part of the food security project produce is sorted by variety, weighed, determined whether it is marketable, washed, bagged and distributed.

For the 2017 season, funding will be available to continue with Master Gardener Food Security projects. There are a few changes — $5000 instead of $1000 will be available to a county or partnering counties and only one application can be submitted per county (or partnering counties). Applications are due online by January 6, 2017. There will be an informational call on October 26 at 11:00am about the grant opportunity. I will send out more information as it becomes available. Also, all the ISU Demonstration Gardens will again be pantry gardens in 2017.

Volunteer Service Opportunities — please share your volunteer projects  A few more weeks of produce harvest at the ISU Demonstration Garden in Rock Rapids  we count, weigh, wash, bag and distribute the food to area pantries  harvest days are Monday or Tuesday (I send out an email at the end of the week for the following week’s day and time)

 Fall garden cleanup at the at the ISU Demonstration Garden in Rock Rapids—date TBD

 Help with clean up of the downtown flower pots in Rock Rapids (contact me if interested, will need to set a date soon)

 Looking for volunteers to help with our Local Foods Autumn Harvest Dinner on October 20—will need help during that week as well as at dinner—let me know if you want to help

 Help answer yard and garden questions either in the office or accompanying me on site visits

 Help with administrative tasks for the master gardener & local food programs

Continuing Education Webinars Food Security in Iowa Webcasts

All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar Series Watch live webinars or previous recordings about insects. These webinars from eXtension count towards Master Gardener continuing education credits.

Trainings Extension Master Gardener Social Media Training

Master Gardener Conferences The 2017 International Master Gardener Conference will be July 10-14, 2017 in Portland Oregon. Please visit the conference website for more information.

Please log all of your volunteer service and continuing education hours at www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener/volunteers

SEPTEMBER 2016 ISSUE GARDEN TO TABLE NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 Autumn Planters Celebrate the season’s change by creating fall containers that capture autumn’s colors. Replace tired-looking summer-annuals with brightly colored fall blooms and showy foliage.

With today’s flower choices, you can now find blooms in shades of bronze, copper and terra cotta in addition to the purples, yellows and oranges. Cool- season flowers that do well in fall planters include calendulas, pansies, sedums, asters, and goldenrod. Of course, we can’t forget mums, which come in an amazing array of autumn colors. Ornamental peppers make a nice addition plus, plants such as coral bells, Swiss chard, ornamental kale, mustard and cabbage can be used for their decorative foliage. They offer leaves in different shades of green, deep reds and dark purples.

When designing a container, consider the height and spread of the plants you choose. Spikes and other eye-catching, upright plants add vertical interest and are usually the focal point of the container. Ornamental grasses and tall flowering plants work well for adding height to an arrangement. Mounding or spreading plants add fullness and should help show off the vertical centerpiece. Trailing plant varieties that cascade over the edge help soften and anchor the pot to its surround- ings.

Creating a design using all three types (often called thrillers, fillers and spillers) is the traditional container blueprint; however, containers with just one type of plant or all one color can work just as well.

For containers that will be viewed from all sides, place the thrillers in the middle and build out from there. With pots seen just from the front, place the focal plant in the back and build the design forward.

Plant fall containers fuller than you would a spring container. In spring, plants will quickly fill in the container but in fall plant growth is slower plus, we have less time to let the plants fill in the pot. So start with mature plants already in bloom or have large, interesting foliage. Space pants closely together for an instant full effect. You can also add decorative gourds, attractive twigs or branches or seasonal ornaments to fill out the pot.

Grouping your containers together by mixing different heights, colors and forms can have a huge, eye-catching impact. Containers with contrasting designs and colors definitely create more of a pop while placing together several containers with a repeating design pattern can bring a more harmonious feel. You can also arrange pots vertically by stacking them into a tower.

Surround your containers with pumpkins, gourds or other seasonal odds and ends that you come across. As we get closer to Halloween, you can easily find straw bales, cornstalks and decorative scarecrows to help put together an autumn harvest theme.

For something different, scoop out a pumpkin, put in a drainage hole, then fill with potting soil and plant pansies or mums to create a pumpkin planter. Have fun and enjoy your fall decorating!

SEPTEMBER 2016 ISSUE GARDEN TO TABLE NEWSLETTER PAGE 4

Herbs...Sage

To the ancients, sage was associated with immortality or at least longevity and credited with increasing mental capacity. It is native to the Mediterranean region.

Garden sage is a perennial though in our climate it is usually grown as an annual. Sage grows easily from seed; however, it usually takes a couple of years for the plant to provide a full harvest. Transplants are preferred to get a harvestable plant quicker. Leaves can be harvested as needed through the season making sage a “cut-and-come-again” plant.

Sage is a good garden companion to cabbage, beans, carrots, strawberries and tomatoes although it does not get along well with onion.

Young leaves can be eaten fresh in salads, soups, omelets, marinades, meat dishes and bread. Sage is often used to flavor savory dishes containing poultry, stuffing and hearty vegetables such as asparagus, eggplant, squash, corn, potatoes, and cabbage. Pineapple sage works well for drinks, or with cheese and in jams.

Fall is the Time to Plant Hardy Bulbs

Crocus, daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips are spring flowering plants commonly referred to as hardy bulbs. They require a cold period to break dormancy and start their spring flower development. These spring bloomers are planted in the fall so our winter can provide the prerequisite cold. Hardy bulbs require little care once properly planted and offer an explosion of color at a time of year we can really appreciate it. By planting a variety of bulbs, you can enjoy blooms from March to June for years to come.

Select bulbs that are large and firm. If not planted right away, store in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight. Full sun is recommended for most spring blooming bulbs but some varieties do fine in partial shade. Well-drained soil is essential for hardy bulbs so avoid planting near down spouts and sprinkler systems.

Planting bulbs at the correct depth is also important. If your bulb package doesn’t Common reasons include planting depths, the rule of thumb advises planting bulbs 2-3 times as deep as bulbs fail to flower: they are wide. Plant the bulb tip up. If the top and bottom of the bulb are not obvious,  planted too shallow plant the bulb on its side. Once planted, thoroughly water the area to get the bulbs or too late in the started on their rooting process. season It is not recommended to place fertilizer in the hole before planting the bulb as this  bulb rot due to bulb might burn the bulb’s young roots. Instead, use a light application of slow-release getting too much fertilizer on top the ground. The fall is the best time to fertilize hardy bulbs since this is water when their roots are developing. If fertilizing in the spring, use a water-soluble fertilizer just as the shoots begin to emerge. Using modern day bone meal as a fertilizer is  poor quality bulbs

discouraged by many bulb experts. Bone meal isn’t a complete bulb fertilizer and may  if bulbs flower the encourage rodents and dogs to dig up the bulbs. first year but not the

Come spring, sit back and enjoy the fruits of your fall labor. Deadhead the spent second, the area blooms to keep your bulb garden looking fresh and tidy. After the bulbs are done may be too shady blooming, leave the foliage until it and plant was not turns yellow. The green leaves able to produce produce sugars that are stored in enough food for next the bulb to use next spring. year’s flower

SEPTEMBER 2016 ISSUE GARDEN TO TABLE NEWSLETTER PAGE 5

Sunday, September 25 Thursday, October 20 Herbs in the Hills Festival Harvest Dinner Featuring Local Foods & Local Growers Peters Park, Rodney, IA Join us for a harvest dinner featuring locally raised shrimp and Festival is from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Free Admission pork on Thursday, October 20. We'll welcome autumn with Visit Flavors of Northwest Iowa website or call Monona County hearty dishes of squash, potatoes, carrots and an apple Extension at (712) 423-2175 for more information custard dessert. Local growers will be joining us to talk about their work.

Planning & Designing Wedding Flowers at Appetizers, wine tasting and meeting the local growers will Reiman Gardens - Starts Wednesday, September 21 begin at 5 p.m. Dinner will follow at 6 p.m. Cost is $35/person.

A three-week course on Wednesdays September 21, Location for this event is at the Willow Creek County Park September 28, and October 5 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Lodge, 5545 Hwy 9, Ocheyedan (1.5 Mi. East of Highways 9 & 59 junction or 5 Mi. West of Ocheyedan on Hwy. 9 ). Join award-winning florist Marical Greenwood for a 3-week course in creating DIY special event arrangements. Classes Contact the Lyon County Extension office at (712) 472-2576 or include an overview of elements/principles of floral design, [email protected] for more information and to sign-up. professional tips for selecting florists and materials, and hands Seating is limited so save your place today! -on practice creating your own final individual table arrangement from a class-selected theme and/or color palette. Save the Date 2017 Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference Preregistration and prepayment is required by Monday, 01/26/2017 beginning at 8:00 am through 01/27/2017 5:00 pm September 19. Class price includes materials. Cost is $100 for At the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny members and $125 for the general public. Contact Reiman

Gardens to register online or call 515-294-2710.

Pest of the Month three to four days after treatment. If a fall herbicide application is done, then a spring Perennial Broadleaf Weeds application is generally not necessary. Find us on Facebook

Fall is the time to control perennial broadleaf Keep in mind that some broadleaf herbicides weeds. For small areas, weeds may be may harm new grass seedlings. For areas Iowa Master Gardener managed by manually pulling or digging recently seeded, wait to apply herbicide until them. For lawns with a more extensive weed you have mowed the new seedlings two to MG Hours Online problem or weed varieties that are deeply three times. With the use of any chemical rooted, herbicides may offer more successful control always read and follow the label control. Yard & Garden FAQs directions.

In the fall, weeds are actively storing food in For more information on managing weeds, Hort & Home Pest News their root system for winter. When applying a view or download ISU broadleaf herbicide at this time, the herbicide Extension and Flavors of Northwest Iowa is transported through the plant so is more Outreach publication, effective than at other times of the year. Weed Control in Home Questions or Comments Apply herbicides when there is little to no Lawns. For more infor- wind to avoid drift. Be sure to keep the mation on protecting herbicide away from shrubs, fruits and bees, view or down- flowers. load ISU Extension and Outreach Publica- To promote the effectiveness of the herbi- tion, Protecting Bees cide, apply when rain is not forecast for at from Pesticides. least 24 hours and do not mow your lawn for

For questions, comments or to contribute an article or photo Contact: Margaret Murphy, Horticulture Educator & Regional Food Coordinator Iowa State University Extension and Outreach - Lyon, O’Brien, Sioux and Osceola Counties (712) 472-2576 / [email protected]

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach programs are available to all without regard to race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Compliance, 3280 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.