Life Sciences Commons^™

Ec92-1248 Growing Squash And Pumpkin For Food And Ornamentation, Laurie Hodges, Frederick P. Baxendale, David S. Wysong

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Pumpkin and squash are American members of the plant family Cucurbitaceae. Cucumbers, originally from India, muskmelons from the Middle East, and watermelons from Africa are other members of this important family of vine crops. Squash, like corn, was domesticated by Indians of Central America and spread to the 48 contiguous states of the United tates before the arrival of Columbus. Squash was among the first vegetables to be planted in Nebraska.

These crops can be used in many ways. The quick-growing, tender-skinned summer squash, when harvested and used while still immature, are delicious either steamed and buttered or sliced and …

Nf92-108 Sources Of Information — Organic Or Sustainable Vegetable Production, Laurie Hodges

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact is a list of companies, organizations and government offices that supply information for the gardener and small farmer who are looking at instituting organic or sustainable vegetable production.

Nf92-107 Resource List For Marketing Alternative Crops, Laurie Hodges

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact is a resource list of companies, organizations, and government offices who offer and supply information for helping the small farmer/gardener market their alternative crops.

G92-1069 The Poinsettia, Jay Fitzgerald, Don Steinegger

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Growing poinsettias so that they rebloom is easier if you understand and follow some basic horticultureicultural and pest management procedures.

Poinsettias are the most popular decorative plants for the Christmas and New Year holiday seasons. The newer cultivars often remain colorful until spring and do not have to be discarded when they finish blooming. Following a few basic principles can bring the plants back into full bloom.

The poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima is a native to the area around Taxco, Mexico, and was introduced to the United States by Joel R. Poinsett, the first United States ambassador to Mexico. Poinsettia or …

G92-1084 Culture Of Cole Crops, Laurie Hodges, R.E. Neild

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

How to grow successfully broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and kohlrabi.

Cole crops, which include broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and kohlrabi, can be successfully grown on most soils if drainage is good and the crop is supplied with adequate water and nutrients, particularly nitrogen. Light-textured soils usually produce earlier crops but heavier soils hold more moisture and tend to produce crops that hold quality longer at maturity.

Cole crops have shallow root systems. Inadequate moisture may cause small cauliflower heads to form prematurely. Rainfall or irrigation following a prolonged dry spell may cause splitting of cabbage and kohlrabi. Supplemental …

G92-1123 Spinach And Swiss Chard, Laurie Hodges

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This is a guide to the growing, harvesting and use of spinach and swiss chard.

Spinach

Spinach is a cool season crop and belongs to the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae), along with Swiss chard and beets. Spinach is low in calories. It is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, and minerals, especially iron. After washing the leaves, cook them in a covered pan using only the water clinging to the leaves. After cooking, add salt and butter, vinegar, or mustard for added flavor. Spinach may be prepared in a souffle, creamed soup, or used raw in salads.

Swiss Chard …

G92-1121 Winter Deicing Agents For The Homeowner, Jay Fitzgerald, Donald E. Janssen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Information on deicers and how they affect plants is covered here.

Slick sidewalks and roads are hazardous. Removing compacted snow and ice with shovels or snow blowers is not always an easy task. Deicers can help by "undercutting," or loosening the snow or ice because they lower the freezing point of water.

Do not use deicers to completely melt snow or ice, but to make their removal easier. Deicers melt down through the ice or snow to the hard surface, then spread out underneath. This undercuts and loosens the snow so shoveling and plowing can be done.

G92-1108 Evaluating Corn Rootworm Soil Insecticide Performance, J. F. Witkowski, Lance J. Meinke, Gary L. Hein, Keith J. Jarvi

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This publication describes a technique used to evaluate the relative performance of insecticides in protecting corn roots from feeding damage by corn rootworm larvae.

Insecticides applied at planting or cultivation time are commonly used in continuous corn to protect the roots from damage by western and northern corn rootworms.

Measuring the relative performance of these insecticides in protecting corn roots from rootworm larval damage is important.

G92-1081 Factors That Affect Soil-Applied Herbicides, R. S. Moomaw, Robert N. Klein, Alex Martin, Fred Roeth, P.J. Shea, G.A. Wicks, R. G. Wilson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Characteristics of soil-applied herbicides are discussed, including site of uptake by weeds, solubility, adsorption, persistence, leaching potential, photodecomposition, and volatility. For best performance, preemergence and preplant herbicides must be placed in the top 0 to 3 inches of soil. Placement is important because the herbicide must enter the germinating weed seedling in order to kill it. Herbicides can be blended into the soil by mechanical incorporation, rainfall, or sprinkler irrigation, depending on the herbicide. Herbicide characteristics that determine their performance are site of uptake by weeds, solubility, adsorption, persistence, leaching potential, photodecomposition, and volatility. An understanding of these factors will …

G92-1100 Sugar Beet Nematode, Eric D. Kerr, F.A. Gray, G.D. Franc

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Symptoms, life cycle and control of sugar beet nematodes are among the topics covered here.

The sugar beet nematode, schachtii, is a major parasite of sugar beets, causing serious stand and yield reductions. It was first identified in 1859 on sugar beets near Halle, Germany. It was first observed in the United States as early as 1895 and was reported in two fields near Gering, Nebraska in 1926.

G92-1120 Fire Blight Of Apple, Pear And Woody Ornamentals, John E. Watkins

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide tells how fire blight is spread among apple, pear and woody ornamentals. It describes the disease cycle and offers advice for treatment and protection.

Fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora, is the oldest, most serious bacterial disease of apple and pear. It was first reported in the late 18th century in the Hudson River Valley in New York. The disease is indigenous to North America, and probably occurred on native American plants such as crabapple, hawthorn and mountain ash and then spread to susceptible cultivated apples, pears and woody ornamentals planted by the early American pioneers. As …