Happenings February 2024

February 2024

Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale: Online Orders Open February 9th!

Winter Farming Workshops Bring Growing Success

Who Rules The Feeder?

Winter Seed Sowing – Farmers Edition

Road Salt, De-icers and Plant Injury

Ringing in the Lunar New Year with Food

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Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale: Online Orders Open February 9th!

Cornell Cooperative Extension and Soil and Water Conservation have teamed up again to offer a wonderful selection of trees and shrubs. The seedling sale has a long-standing tradition of planting trees and shrubs that create habitat and protect water quality. Trees reduce the amount of storm-water runoff, which reduces erosion and water pollution while stabilizing shorelines, reducing the effects of flooding. And our selection of plants includes native trees, shrubs, and perennials that support birds and pollinators.

Why native plants? Plants native to our area provide food and shelter for nesting birds and nectar and pollen for specialist pollinators like many of our native bees. "Our backyards, gardens, and parks can provide vital habitat for pollinators and birds, especially if we choose native plants well suited to our growing conditions," according to Jen Lerner, Senior Resource Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension. Look for gorgeous fall color from shining sumac, and clouds of white flower from beach plums and sand cherries.

We have widened our selection of cost-effective native plant plugs. These small perennial starts are a thrifty way to get a head start on creating your backyard habitat. From shade to sun we have you covered. Be sure to shop before the deadline of March 22. Plants will be sold online only, on a first-come first-reserved basis, and there are limited quantities of seedlings.

New this year! We listened to your requests: larger shade trees are available in smaller pack sizes so you can try a few! Bareroot strawberries complement our selection of fruit-producing plants. Fruit trees this year include seed-grown pawpaws, and bareroot New York grown apples selected for disease resistance; a great start to your home orchard.

All proceeds of the sale will be dedicated to Cornell Cooperative Extension's new education center at the Tilly Foster Farm Institute. Help support Cornell and Putnam County with your purchase.

Shop opens February 9th! Visit cceputnamcounty.org/2024TreeShrub to see available plants and wildlife boxes, and details on the order deadline and pick-up dates. 

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Winter Farming Workshops Bring Growing Success 

We're delighted to share the success of our Winter Farmer Workshop Series! The workshops on Growing Small Fruits, Exploring Agroforestry, and Beginner Sheep and Goats attracted nearly 60 attendees in total.

During the Growing Small Fruits session, participants learned facts, including the best varieties for early June strawberries, such as Jewel and Allstar. These varieties offer sweet and juicy berries, ensuring a delightful harvest. One attendee at our small ruminants event noted, "I loved all the info about grazing and pasture management! The kinds of woody forage that they like and all the resources for grazing were awesome. I will definitely be using that info!! Thank you!"

As we support both new and experienced farmers, our commitment to stewarding the land remains steadfast. Together, let's nurture agriculture in Putnam County for a sustainable future!

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Who Rules The Feeder?

If you feed wild birds, you’ve probably noticed that they seem to squabble over the best feeding spots. Maybe you’ve noticed that your chickadees get out of the way when the nuthatch swoops in? The nuthatch is bigger than the chickadee you say? Dominance is not just about size, sometimes it’s about swagger!

New research also suggests it’s about who you travel with. Using the ever-growing Project Feeder Watch data sets scientists are picking up where a 2018 study left off. Birds like White-breasted Nuthatches and Red-Bellied Woodpeckers often travel as “lone-wolves” rather than in social foraging flocks. In one study, it was observed that these lone wolves were more likely to push out other birds at the feeder. But social birds, like American goldfinches, were more successful at fending off the lone wolves, when feeding together in larger groups.

In another study researchers looked at what happens to new birds on the block. “It all comes down to energy,” says researcher Gavin Leighton, “You don’t want to get into fights you know you’ll lose.” Leighton is also studying how bad weather changes subordinate birds’ willingness to fend off an attack at the feeder.

Read more about these two new studies study here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/who-wins-at-the-bird-feeder-the-lone-wolf-or-the-social-butterfly/

And the original here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/when-136-bird-species-show-up-at-a-feeder-which-one-wins/

Photos

Birds at a snowy feeder, Vicki DeLoach via Flickr CC

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Winter Seed Sowing – Farmers Edition

For farmers, winter seed sowing is a strategic approach to kickstart the upcoming growing season. Winter seed sowing is not just for native plants and perennials, but crops like brussels sprouts and kale too! As temperatures drop, the opportunity to sow certain vegetable seeds outdoors presents itself, offering a head start for a bountiful harvest. Look for seeds that lend themselves towards cold tolerance. Follow the same guidance for winter seed sowing native plants – watch our video on how here.

Winter Seed Selection:

Choosing the right seeds is key. Opt for cold-hardy varieties like Bloomsdale Spinach or Avon Spinach. These varieties can withstand the colder temperatures and provide an early yield. Look for quick yielding varieties as opposed to bolt tolerant. February is a great time to start Kale, Peas, Broccoli, Thyme, Sage, Oregano and Cilantro. March can kick off Lettuce, Basil, Parsley, Bok Choy, and Beets.

Advantages for Farmers:

Winter seed sowing provides farmers with a jumpstart on the growing season. It's particularly beneficial for regions with shorter growing periods, extending the time available for cultivating these cold-hardy vegetables. The natural stratification process during winter contributes to the overall resilience of the plants.

Conclusion:

From a farmer's perspective, winter seed sowing is a practical and resource-efficient technique. It aligns with the agricultural calendar, offering an early start for the growing season without the need for elaborate setups. By leveraging the natural processes of winter, farmers can cultivate robust and early-yielding vegetables, setting the stage for a successful and productive year on the farm.

Adapted from All the Dirt on Winter Sowing and Spinach from University of Arkansas Extension

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Road Salt, De-icers and Plant Injury 

Adapted from “The Impact of Salts on Plants and How to Reduce Plant Injury from Winter Salt Applications,” Mandy Bayer and Geoffrey Njue, University of Massachusetts (2016)

Across the country, more than 22 million tons of road salt is used every year. Despite the benefits of improving safety on roads, streets, sidewalks, driveways and parking lots, deicing salts can contribute to the decline and death of landscape plants. An understanding of the impacts salts have on plants and salt application management strategies can help to protect plants or reduce plant injury due to salt.

How Salt Affects Plants

Salt damage occurs on plants when salt is deposited by spray from passing cars on stems and buds of deciduous woody plants and on stems, buds, leaves, and needles of evergreen plants. Salt spray can cause salt-burn on buds, leaves, and small twigs. Salt spray can also cause damage by desiccating the bud scales, exposing tender tissues of the developing leaves and flowers within. These unprotected leaves and flower buds dry out and are often killed by cold temperatures and winter winds. Damage to deciduous plants is not seen until growth resumes in the spring.

Plants are also affected by dissolved salts in runoff water. Sodium and chloride ions separate when salts are dissolved in water. The dissolved sodium and chloride ions, in high concentrations, can displace other mineral nutrients in the soil. Plants then absorb chlorine and sodium instead of plant nutrients such as potassium and phosphorus, leading to deficiencies. The chloride ions can be transported to the leaves where they interfere with photosynthesis and chlorophyll production. Chloride accumulation can reach toxic levels, causing leaf burn and die-back.

The most used salt for deicing roads is sodium chloride (rock salt) because it is inexpensive, effective, and readily available. Rock salt also causes damage when salt laden snow is plowed or shoveled onto lawns and garden beds. Salts in the soil can absorb water. This results in less water being available for uptake by the plants, increasing water stress and root dehydration. This is referred to as physiological drought, which, if not corrected, can lead to reduced plant growth.

De-icing salts without sodium are safer for plants than sodium chloride. Salts applied in late winter generally result in more damage than salts applied in early winter because there is a better chance the salt is leached away before active root growth in spring. The volume of fresh water applied to soils also impacts the amount of salt leached away, while rainfall can wash salt from leaves.

Common Symptoms of Salt Injury:

Damage from salt in the soil can be delayed, with plant symptoms not appearing until summer or even years later. Symptoms may also become evident during periods of hot, dry weather. Symptoms include damage mostly on the side of the plant facing the road or sidewalk. Browning or discoloration of needles beginning at tips. Bud damage or death. Twig and stem dieback. Delayed bud break. Wilting during hot, dry conditions. Needle tip burn and marginal leaf burn. Discolored foliage. Nutrient deficiencies. Early leaf-drop or premature fall color

Management Strategies for Mitigating Salt Injury

1. Reduce salt use. Combine salt with other materials such as sand, sawdust, or cinders that can provide grittiness for traction.
2. Switch no No-Sodium. De-icing materials that use salts other than sodium chloride, including calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, or calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) are more expensive but can reduce injury to plants.
3. Target applications carefully towards walkways and roadways, not landscape beds or lawns. The flow of salt-laden snow melt should be considered. Avoid planting in areas where runoff naturally flows. Leaching soil by watering heavily can help remove salts from well-drained soils. This is not possible with poorly draining, heavy clay soils. Improve drainage of poorly drained soils by adding organic matter. To determine if you have high salt buildup in the soil, send a soil sample to a soil nutrient testing laboratory
4. Protect plants from salt spray and spreaders with physical barriers such as burlap, plastic, or wood. Use salt tolerant plants in areas near roads, driveways, and sidewalks. Remember that salt-tolerant does not mean injury free.

Salt Tolerant Plants: https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/impact-of-salts-on-plants-how-to-reduce-plant-injury-from-winter-salt and https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/impact-of-road-salt-on-adjacent-vegetation/

Photo Joseph LaForest U of GA, via Bugwood.org

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Ringing in the Lunar New Year with Food

Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year, celebrated in China, East Asia, and the US, follows the lunar calendar between Jan 21-Feb 20 . It's a time for family gatherings and symbolic foods like Dumplings for wealth, Sweet Rice Balls for unity, and Spring Rolls for prosperity. Festivities emphasize blessings for the new year. Click for more from EatRight.org

Find some thrifty, holiday recipes for Lunar New Year here: https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/nutrition-education/healthy-thrifty-holiday-menus/lunar-new-year

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Last updated January 30, 2024