NASTURTIU >>> CELEBRATING 7 >>> CELEBRATING 70 YEARS OF ANSWERING YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS.

"BACKYARD FARMER" IS A CO-PRODUCTION OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION.

TONIGHT ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE'LL SEE A FANTASTIC COMMUNITY GARDEN AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HELP SOLVE SOME OF YOUR TOMATO PROBLEMS.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP NEXT, RIGHT HERE ON "BACKYARD FARMER."

♪ >> WELCOME TO "BACKYARD FARMER.

"” I'M KIM TODD, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER GREAT SHOW TONIGHT.

OUR NUMBER IS 1-800-676-5446 IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR OUR PHONE VOLUNTEERS.

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SO, KYLE, YOU HAVE A BEASTY THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> YEAH, TONIGHT MY GUEST IS AN EASTERN CICADA KILLER.

THIS IS A FEMALE HERE.

AND YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, SINCE THE NEWS OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ASIAN GIANT HORNET OR SOMETIMES CALLED MURDER HORNET, IN WASHINGTON, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE SO-CALLED MURDER HORNET.

BUT UNLESS YOU'RE A CICADA, IT IS NOT.

SO THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF OUR NATIVES.

IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST WASPS WE HAVE IN NEBRASKA, AND THEY'RE PRETTY DISTINCTIVE.

THEY HAVE THIS DARK BLACK ABDOMEN WITH THREE BROKEN YELLOW BANDS ACROSS THAT ABDOMEN.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY -- THEY'RE SOLITARY WASPS.

THE FEMALES ARE REALLY QUITE GENTLE ACTUALLY.

THEY'RE NOT REALLY CONCERNED WITH PEOPLE AND NOT A THREAT.

AND THEY HAVE THIS REALLY COOL BIOLOGY -- THEY BURROW INTO THE SOIL WHERE THEY -- YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DIGGING THESE TUNNELS, AND THEN THEY HAVE THESE DIFFERENT CELLS WHERE THEY WILL STING A CICADA, PARALYZE IT, AND THEN DRAG IT INTO THIS BURROW, PROVISION THOSE CELLS WITH SOMEWHERE BETWEEN ONE TO FOUR DIFFERENT CICADAS DEPENDING ON THE SIZE, LAY A SINGLE EGG IN THAT CELL AND THEN SEAL IT UP.

AND THEN THE LARVAE CONSUME THE -- THE CICADAS, THOSE PARALYZED LIVING CICADAS IN THAT CELL.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE REALLY FASCINATING WASPS.

IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, STINGING SOMETHING YOUR SIZE AND CARRYING IT -- CARRYING IT AROUND.

IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE THE WAY THEY DO THAT WITH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE 60 DIFFERENT CICADAS.

SO OVERALL, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE FAIRLY BENEFICIAL AS SOMETHING THAT HELPS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF CONTROL POPULATIONS OF CICADAS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BUT THEY ARE SCARY TO PEOPLE.

>> THEY'RE SCARY, BUT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PRETTY HARMLESS.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, ROCH.

A WEED.

>> YES, HONEY VINE MILKWEED, AND IT IS A MEMBER OF THE MILKWEED FAMILY, BUT IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT THE MOST PREFERRED SOURCE FOR MONARCHS, SO IT'S ONE THAT CAN BE REALLY INVASIVE IN THE GARDEN.

AND AROMATIC RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ALL SMELLING IT, BUT IT -- IT CAN JUST PRETTY MUCH TAKE OVER A GARDEN.

AND LAST WEEK I MISSPOKE, AND I SAID THAT THE -- LIKE BUR-CUCUMBER, YOU COULD SNIP IT OFF AT THE BASE, BUT YOU ACTUALLY BREAK DORMANCY IN SOME AUXILIARY BUDS, SO, WHERE YOU HAD ONE, YOU'LL HAVE THREE TO FIVE, AND THEN IF YOU CONTINUE TO PULL ONE AGGRESSIVELY, GET THEM OFF --UNFORTUNATELY, THEY USUALLY GROW IN THE LANDSCAPE, SO WE ACTUALLY SUGGEST PRE-EMERGENT CONTROL WITH PREEN, DOES A PRETTY GOOD JOB.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS IN THE SPRING, AND RIGHT NOW, ALL YOU CAN DO IS TRY TO PULL THEM OFF SO THAT THEY DON'T SMOTHER YOUR PLANTS, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE SPRAYING ANY KIND OF PHENOXY OR BROAD-LEAF HERBICIDE IN AND AMONGST YOUR LANDSCAPE PLANTS.

BUT IT'S AN INTERESTING PLANT, AND SOME PEOPLE SAY "OH, IT'S A MILKWEED, WE SHOULD KEEP IT ALIVE FOR THE POLLINATORS, ESPECIALLY THE MONARCHS."

AND IT REALLY ISN'T A PREFERRED FEEDER OF THE LARVAE.

AND MY COLLEAGUE DOWN AT THE END, JOHN, WILL TALK ABOUT IT MORE.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND IT IS THE KUDZU OF THE NORTH.

>> IT REALLY IS.

>> IN OUR "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

>> WELL, IT'S TAKEN OVER, WHAT, RASPBERRIES, I THINK IT IS, RIGHT?

IT'S PRETTY HORRIBLE.

>> ALL RIGHT, KYLE, WHAT DID YOU BRING?

OTHER KYLE.

>> OTHER KYLE.

>> THIS IS GONNA BE CONFUSING.

>> THE, UH, I GUESS "BUG KYLE" AND "SPOT ROT KYLE"?

>> "ROT KYLE."

ROTTEN KYLE.

>> WE'LL GO "ROT KYLE," I LIKE THAT.

SO I HAVE SOME SCAB, AND SO THIS IS APPLE SCAB.

IT'S ON A -- ON ONE OF MY PEAR TREES.

SO APPLE SCAB IS -- IT'S A FUNGAL PATHOGEN, OFTEN STARTS OFF AS JUST KIND OF THESE, KIND OF GRAYISH, LIGHT-COLORED LESIONS.

YOU'LL TYPICALLY ONLY SEE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LEAF.

LET'S SEE, IF WE FLIP IT OVER, WE SHOULDN'T REALLY -- SHOULDN'T REALLY SEE THOSE LESIONS.

BUT AS IT PROGRESSES, IT TURNS THE LEAVES A NICE YELLOW COLOR.

AND THEN THESE -- THEN THOSE LESIONS DO BECOME MUCH MORE -- MUCH MORE NOTICEABLE ON THERE AS WELL.

BUT THE REST OF THE LEAF, THE REST OF IT THAT'S STILL YELLOW IS REALLY NOT INFECTED WITH THE FUNGUS.

BUT ONE THING ABOUT THIS -- ABOUT THIS DISEASE IS IT'S REALLY ONLY A PROBLEM IN COMMERCIAL SETTINGS.

AND SO IT MAY LEAD TO SOME -- SOME EARLY DEFOLIATION, BUT IT'S GENERALLY NOT GOING TO HARM THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE PLANT.

IN FACT, YOU CAN EAT THE FRUIT.

YOU CAN EAT SCABBY FRUIT, WHICH WORKS GREAT FOR CIDER AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO SELL IT AT THE FARMERS MARKET, PROBABLY AN ISSUE THERE.

BUT IF YOU JUST HAVE AN APRICOT OR AN APPLE TREE IN YOUR BACKYARD, AND YOU'RE SEEING SOME OF THIS, REALLY NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT SOME SORT OF CONTROL OPTIONS, THOSE CULTURAL CONTROLS -- SO RAKING UP THE LEAVES, TRYING TO PRUNE OUT ANY BRANCHES TO INCREASE AIR FLOW -- ARE REALLY GOING TO BE YOUR BEST BET.

FUNGICIDES CAN BE AN OPTION.

GENERALLY -- AGAIN, GENERALLY NOT RECOMMENDED FOR MOST HOME LANDSCAPE USES, BECAUSE YOU'LL HAVE TO DO A FUNGICIDE APPLICATION KIND OF RIGHT WHEN THOSE LEAVES ARE BEGINNING TO BUD OUT, AND THE FUNGICIDES KEEP GOING UNTIL YOU'RE DONE HARVESTING THE TREE FOR THE FALL.

SO REALLY, JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS, ENJOY SEEING SOME NICE YELLOW LEAVES ON YOUR OTHERWISE GREEN APPLE TREE.

>> THANKS, KYLE.

ALL RIGHT, JOHN.

YOU GET TO WEIGH IN ON MILKWEED.

>> RIGHT.

SO ROCH HAD THE HONEY VINE MILKWEED.

LIKE HE SAID, NOT A GREAT FORAGE FOR THOSE MONARCHS, AND IT IS INVASIVE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO WHEN WE HAD THE LISTING OF THE MONARCH ON AN ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED ABOUT MILKWEED.

AND SO WE HAVE -- THIS IS COMMON MILKWEED.

IT'S ACTUALLY LIKE A WEED THAT COMES UP.

YOU'LL SEE IT POP UP EVERYWHERE.

YOU CAN LEAVE IT IN PLACE.

YOU CAN EVEN PLANT THIS.

IT'S NOT THE PRETTIEST OF PLANTS.

I THINK IT SORT OF IS TALL, AND GANGLY, AND THE FLOWERS ARE KIND OF THIS UGLY, DUSTY, PINK COLOR THAT AREN'T REALLY -- I MEAN THEY'RE KIND OF INTERESTING WHEN THEY SET TO SEEDPODS.

THERE'S ALSO THE BUTTERFLY MILKWEED WHICH I LOOKED AROUND CAMPUS AND COULDN'T FIND ANY.

AND ALSO I HAVE SOME AT HOME, BUT ONLY LIKE NEW PLANTS, AND I'M NOT GOING TO, LIKE, HARVEST MY ENTIRE PLANT TO BRING IN HERE FOR THIS SHOW.

BUT THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS MILKWEED IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S THE LARVAL FOOD FOR THE -- FOR THE CATERPILLARS, BUT IT IS NOT THE ONLY FOOD SOURCE THAT YOU NEED.

THE ADULTS ACTUALLY NEED FLOWERS OF ALL DIFFERENT KINDS.

SO THEY WILL GATHER FROM THE HONEY -- OR FROM THE MILKWEED PLANTS THEMSELVES, THE FLOWERS.

BUT THEY NEED A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PLANTS BLOOMING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND FALL.

AND SO THOSE CAN BE NATIVES LIKE CONEFLOWERS, BLACK-EYED SUSANS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT ACTUALLY, WE ALSO SEE THAT THINGS LIKE ZINNIA AND LANTANA AND PLANTS LIKE THAT, THAT WE SORT OF INTRODUCE INTO THE GARDEN, ARE ALSO IMPORTANT FOOD SOURCES FOR THOSE.

SO YOU NEED A BALANCE OF THOSE BLOOMING FLOWERS FOR THE ADULTS, AND THE MILKWEED FOR THE LARVA.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, JOHN.

ALL RIGHT.

KYLE -- "BUG KYLE," YOU GET THE -- YOU GET THE FIRST PICTURE.

AND WE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE SEND THIS IN.

IT IS -- WHAT IS THIS -- WHAT IS THIS BEAUTY ON THE PARSLEY PLANTS, AND WHAT WILL IT BECOME?

>> SURE.

THIS -- THIS WILL BECOME A BLACK SWALLOWTAIL.

SO YEAH, THEY FEED ON MEMBERS OF THE CARROT FAMILY, INCLUDING PARSLEY.

>> MM-HMM.

LOVELY, LOVELY.

AND YOUR NEXT ONE COMES TO US FROM WAYNE.

THIS IS OUR 6-YEAR-OLD VIEWER, AND FOUND THIS ONE CRAWLING ON THE HOUSE, WONDERS IS THIS A GOOD GUY OR A BAD GUY?

>> A GOOD GUY, I WOULD SAY.

IT'S ANOTHER SWALLOWTAIL.

SO THIS IS THE CATERPILLAR FOR THE EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL.

THEY'RE NORMALLY GREEN, KIND OF A BRIGHT GREEN, BUT AS THEY MATURE AND GET READY TO PUPATE, BUILD A CHRYSALIS, THEN THEY TURN THIS DARKER COLOR, SO IT'S PROBABLY WANDERING OFF TO DO THAT.

>> ALRIGHT, AWESOME.

AND ONE MORE.

THIS ONE IS -- SAYS, "ALL BLACK, LOOKS LIKE A WASP."

THIS IS FROM HASTINGS.

WHAT IS THIS?

GOOD GUY OR BAD GUY?

>> UM, GOOD GUY.

YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY A WASP.

YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE ANY DETAIL IN THE PICTURE.

PROBABLY A SPHECIDAE, THREAD-WAISTED WASP.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GENERALLY SOLITARY WASPS, THAT THEY -- THEY PARALYZE OTHER ARTHROPODS -- YOU KNOW, SPIDERS, CRICKETS, A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS, AND THEN PROVISION THEIR NESTS WITH THOSE OTHER THINGS.

SO A COMMON EXAMPLE WOULD BE MUD DAUBERS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

THANKS, KYLE.

OKAY.

ROCH, YOUR FIRST ONE HERE, SHE SENT TWO PICTURES.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

SHE'S CONCERNED ABOUT THIS VINE GROWING ON THE FENCE ON THE NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTY.

SHE SAYS IT'S COMING ACROSS, COMING UNDER.

SHE WANTS TO CONTROL IT.

WHAT IS IT, AND WHAT DO WE TELL HER ABOUT THIS?

>> SO THIS IS HARTLEAF PEPPERVINE.

IT'S A PERENNIAL, A VERY AGGRESSIVE, AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S IN A NEIGHBOR'S YARD AND ENCROACHING INTO THEIRS.

AND YOU KNOW, THEY CAN CONTROL IT UP TO THE FENCE LINE BY PRUNING BACK, BUT IT'S JUST GOING TO KEEP ON COMING OVER THE SIDE.

IF ANYTHING WERE TO ROOT AND SPROUT IN THEIR YARD, THEY COULD CERTAINLY SPRAY IT, AND USUALLY THE CUT STEM APPROACH WITH A GLYPHOSATE-TYPE PRODUCT, OR A TRICLYOPYR-TYPE PRODUCT SEEMS TO WORK THE BEST.

BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST BE -- BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND IT'LL BE -- DON'T, YOU KNOW, CUT IT UP TO YOUR FENCE LINE AND THEN PUT SOMETHING ON THE CUT STEM BECAUSE CERTAINLY THAT'S GOING TO GO BACK AT LEAST A FOOT OR TWO AND PROBABLY IRRITATE YOUR NEIGHBOR.

>> ALL RIGHT, INCLUDING THE VINE.

THE VINE WILL BE IRRITATED.

>> AND THE VINE WILL BE IRRITATED, OF COURSE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT TWO PICTURES COME TO US ALSO FROM OMAHA.

THIS JUST APPEARED IN THE PARKING, WHAT IS IT?

IS IT GOOD FOR ANYTHING?

CERTAINLY HEALTHY IN A RATHER DRY AREA.

>> THIS IS BUR-CUCUMBER, WHICH IS ALSO A VINE.

IT'S AN ANNUAL, UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS SAMPLE, AND SO IT'S RELATIVELY EASY TO CONTROL WITH PRE-EMERGENTS IN THE SPRING, AND BROADLEAF HERBICIDES NOW.

BUT YOU REALLY -- ONCE AGAIN, IT'S IN THE LANDSCAPE, AND YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE SPRAYING THOSE.

SO I WOULD JUST CUT THEM BACK.

AND THIS IS THE ONE, UNLIKE HONEYVINE MILKWEED, THAT IF YOU JUST SNIP IT AT THE BASE, IT PRETTY MUCH RUNS OUT OF GAS.

>> THANKS, ROCH.

ALL RIGHT.

"ROT KYLE."

>> I LIKE IT.

>> THIS IS ONE THAT PROBABLY BELONGS TO "BUG KYLE," BUT THIS WAS REALLY FUNKY.

THIS COMES TO US FROM HEBRON.

HE SAYS THESE ARE A HARD, ALMOST NUT-LIKE GROWTH.

THEY FOUND IT IN THE SOIL OF AN UNKEMPT LAWN.

WHAT ARE THESE?

AND THEN, WHAT'S INSIDE?

SO YOU GOT IT BECAUSE IT KIND OF LOOKED SHROOM-Y.

>> YEAH, AND SO I GUESS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, "WHAT IS IT?"

NONE OF US KNOW EXACTLY.

IT REALLY DOES NOT LOOK TO BE FUNGAL, ESPECIALLY IN THAT SECOND PICTURE.

WHEN YOU CUT IT OPEN, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S SOME GREEN THERE.

FUNGI, BY DEFINITION, DON'T HAVE CHLOROPHYLL SO THEY'RE -- THEY WON'T PRODUCE ANYTHING GREEN.

THERE ALSO LOOKED LIKE THERE IS SOME -- SOME INSECTS THAT WERE IN THERE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT WE WILL FIND IN THE SOIL ON OCCASION ARE STINKHORN EGGS.

SO STINKHORN EGGS, WILL LOOK VERY SIMILAR TO SNAKE EGGS.

BUT JUST KIND OF ROUND, OVULAR, BUT SMOOTH AS WELL.

AND THEY CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM SIX INCHES TO A COUPLE OF FEET DOWN IN THE SOIL.

THEY LOOK -- DON'T REALLY LOOK LIKE THIS, BUT, YEAH, WE'RE NOT -- WE'RE NOT SURE.

WE HAD WONDERED MAYBE IT WAS A JERUSALEM -- >> KIND OF LOOKED LIKE A JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE ROOT, BUT IT LOOKS MORE -- I DON'T -- IT'S LIKE AN ALIEN, I THINK.

WE'LL SAY IT'S THAT.

>> YEAH.

A COCOON, RIGHT?

WE'RE READY FOR WILFORD BRIMLEY TO COME OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT, KYLE, YOU HAVE ONE MORE.

THIS VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT ARE THESE, AND ARE THEY POISONOUS?

>> THEY ARE NOT POISONOUS.

YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO EAT THEM.

BUT THOSE ARE THE START OF DEAD MAN'S FINGERS, OR -- SO SOME TYPE OF XYLARIA MUSHROOMS.

AND I GUESS THAT'S KIND OF STRANGE TO SAY THAT DEAD MAN'S FINGERS AREN'T POISONOUS.

BUT YOU WOULD NEVER -- YOU DON'T WANT TO EAT THEM ANYWAY, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT VERY COMMON ON A LOT OF HARDWOODS.

YOU TYPICALLY SEE THEM OFF -- GROWING OUT OF STUMPS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS KYLE.

JOHN, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES FROM THIS VIEWER ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS OMAHA.

THIS APPEARED AMONGST THE BEETS.

THEY WONDERED IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME IN WITH THE BEET SEEDS AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WE GO.

AND THEN IT HAS THIS LONG SORT OF SEMI BEET-LIKE ROOT ON IT.

WHAT DO WE THINK THIS IS?

>> SO THIS PROBABLY DID COME IN THE PACKET OF BEET SEEDS BECAUSE THAT IS SWISS CHARD, AND SWISS CHARD AND BEETS, EVEN THOUGH THEY LOOK VERY SIMILAR BUT VERY DIFFERENT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY ARE THE SAME SPECIES.

SO IT PROBABLY GOT MIXED IN SOMEWHERE AT THE SEED COMPANY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO INSTEAD OF HARVESTING IT FOR THE ROOTS, YOU HARVEST IT FOR THE STEMS AND THE LEAVES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, JOHN.

AND YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A NORFOLK VIEWER.

SHE PLANTED WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS A BUTTERNUT SQUASH, BUT THIS IS WHAT SHE GOT.

WHAT IS IT, AND WHEN DOES SHE HARVEST AND EAT?

>> SO THIS NOT A BUTTERNUT SQUASH.

THIS IS A TYPE OF ZUCCHINI, AND YOU HARVEST IT BEFORE IT GETS TO THIS BIG.

ONCE ZUCCHINI GET OVER MAYBE LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, A FOOT OR SO, THEY'RE NOT THE BEST EATING.

YOU CAN MAKE ZUCCHINI BREAD OUT OF THEM.

SO I WOULD HARVEST IT AT A MUCH SMALLER LEVEL.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, JOHN.

WELL, A LOT OF OUR SCHOOLS HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS WHEN THEY START A GARDEN.

SOME PROSPER AND ARE A GREAT LEARNING TOOL FOR THE STUDENTS, AND OTHERS WITHER AND DIE.

TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO SEE A WONDERFUL GARDEN PROJECT AT HASTINGS THAT WENT FROM JUST A FEW ROWS A FEW YEARS AGO TO A PLACE THE COMMUNITY CAN BE PROUD OF.

♪ >> TEN YEARS AGO, JAYSON STODDARD WALKED INTO MY OFFICE AND SAID, "WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO PLANT A GARDEN ON THE MIDDLE SCHOOL GROUNDS?"

I HAD BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE.

I HAD SEEN THINGS GROWN ON SCHOOL PROPERTY THAT DIDN'T LAST VERY LONG.

THIS IS A FANTASTIC GARDEN.

MORE SO, IT IS A FANTASTIC COMMUNITY CENTER.

>> THERE IS A NEED FOR KIDS TO BE OUTSIDE, SO TEN YEARS AGO, WE RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT TO HAVE OUR OWN LITTLE DIG-IN HERE.

WE STARTED WITH SOME RAISED BEDS AND SOME ROW CROPS.

AND, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS OUR 10th SEASON, AND SINCE THEN WE'VE GROWN A LOT.

WE JUST INSTALLED A NEW GROWING SPACES DOME SO THE KIDS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THAT ALL YEAR-ROUND.

AND WE BUILT A PRETTY SOLID GARDENING COMMUNITY HERE IN HASTINGS.

STUDENTS STARTED PLANTS INSIDE THE CLASSROOM, A VARIETY OF FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES.

SO WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, 40 DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF TOMATOES, PROBABLY 20 TO 30 VARIETIES OF PEPPER.

WE'VE GOT CORN, BEANS, I MEAN ANYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE.

VERY, VERY LARGE VARIETY OF FLOWERS.

A LARGE FOCUS OF WHAT WE DO IS BUILD BOUQUETS WITH STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY ON MONDAY NIGHTS.

LOTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF BRASSICAS THAT ARE A LOT -- THAT COMPOSE A LOT OF OUR MEAL FOOD.

WE'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO HAVE JUST A GIGANTIC VARIETY OF FOOD.

SO A LOT OF THE PEPPERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE FIND HERE, OR THAT WE GROW HERE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE FINDING IN THE STORES.

>> SO ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT THIS GARDEN IS JUST INTERACTING WITH LOTS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO SHARE MY SAME HOBBY.

IT'S AMAZING TO SEE EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER TO PRODUCE THIS BIG THING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT GARDENING.

I'VE ACTUALLY GOT ENCOURAGED TO START MY OWN GARDEN AT HOME.

>> YEAH, I USED TO BE A STUDENT HERE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I JUST REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THIS PLACE WAS THE COMMUNITY.

IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY THAT CAME OUT, THE COMMUNITY THAT CAME TO SUPPORT THIS PLACE, AND JUST THE WAY THAT IT HAS GROWN SINCE THEN HAS JUST BEEN UNBELIEVABLE.

AND I REMEMBER SOME OF THE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE WOULD DO, WHETHER IT'D JUST BE PLANTING SEEDS IN OUR SEVENTH GRADE CLASSROOM STARTING IN JANUARY TO GET READY FOR THE NEXT GROWING SEASON.

IT'S JUST BEEN AN AWESOME COMMUNITY THAT I HOPE WE'RE ALWAYS PART OF, AND CONTINUES TO GROW.

>> WHEN I LOOK OUT AT THE GARDEN AND THE DOME, I SEE STUDENTS THAT THAT'S REALLY THE ONE CONNECTION THEY HAVE.

LIKE, SPORTS AREN'T THEIR THING, OTHER THINGS AREN'T THEIR THING.

BUT THEY FEEL HE -- THE TEAM OUT HERE, MR. STODDARD AND THE TEAM, REALLY GET THEM INVOLVED IN A WAY THAT USES THEIR TALENTS.

ONE STUDENT USING TECHNOLOGY, JUST TIMING THE CAMERAS, AND THEN ANOTHER STUDENT JUST WATERING, BUT THEY ALL FILL A PURPOSE.

>> OUR PLAN IS TO CONTINUE TO MOTIVATE THE COMMUNITY TO COME SHARE THESE EXPERIENCES WITH US, AND SHARE FOOD, AND THEN CONTINUE TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ABOUT GROWING PLANTS, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY ABOUT GROWING INTERGENERATIONAL COOPERATION, AND JUST KIDS WORKING WITH OLDER PEOPLE.

I LOOK IN 5 TO 10 YEARS FOR THIS TO CONTINUE TO BE A HOTBED OF INNOVATION, WHETHER IT'S GARDENING INNOVATION, WHETHER IT'S SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION, WHETHER IT'S JUST DEVELOPING DIFFERENT KIND OF COMMUNITY.

I MEAN, WE JUST LOOK FOR THIS PLACE TO CONTINUE TO INNOVATE, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO CONTINUE TO BE A CENTER OF COMMUNITY.

>> WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THOSE PEOPLE AT THE HASTINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR LETTING US COME OUT AND FEATURE THEIR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY GARDEN.

AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT OVER THE YEARS.

MAYBE WE'LL MAKE ANOTHER VISIT AND SEE WHETHER IT STILL SURVIVES.

I'LL BET IT DOES.

ALL RIGHT.

KYLE -- HOOPER, NEBRASKA, SAW THIS COLORFUL INSECT ON THAT CONEFLOWER.

AND YOU CAN JUST SEE IT ON THE EDGE OF THE CONE THERE.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> YEAH, STRIPED-SWEAT BEE.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THE NATIVE -- NATIVE POLLINATORS, SO GOOD GUY TO HAVE AROUND.

>> EXCELLENT.

YOU HAVE ANOTHER I.D.

THIS IS CONCORD.

SEVERAL OF THESE ARE FREQUENTING HER WILDFLOWER GARDEN, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE YARROW.

GOOD GUY OR BAD GUY?

>> YEAH, GOOD GUY.

IT'S A RED-SPOTTED ROVE BEETLE.

SO ROVE BEETLES, INTERESTINGLY, IT'S THE LARGEST FAMILY OF ANIMALS, THERE'S OVER 50,000 SPECIES.

BUT THESE IN PARTICULAR, THIS SPECIES, THEY'RE ASSOCIATED WITH LIKE, FLESHY -- DECAYING, FLESHY FUNGI, AND SOMETIMES CARRION OR DUNG, SO DECOMPOSERS.

>> OKAY COOL.

AND THEN ONE MORE.

THIS IS FROM EAGLE.

ALSO, WHAT IS THIS?

>> THIS ONE IS A NORTHERN MOLE CRICKET.

SO THEY'RE, OVERALL THEY'RE REALLY NOT A PROBLEM.

IN THE SOUTH, THERE ARE SOME SPECIES THAT CAN BE TURF PESTS AND CAUSE SOME DAMAGE, BUT SPECIES HERE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT REALLY TOO PROBLEMATIC.

BUT THEY DO LIKE KIND OF SANDY -- BURROWING IN SANDY, WET SOILS, WHERE THEY WILL FEED ON ROOTS OF DIFFERENT PLANTS, INCLUDING TURF.

>> I SEE THE TURF GUY NODDING HIS HEAD WHEN YOU SAID THEY'RE A PROBLEM IN THE SOUTH.

>> OH, NO DOUBT.

NO DOUBT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO, ROCH, YOUR FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM PROSSER, NEBRASKA.

SHE SAYS, "SHORT OF DYNAMITE, HOW DO YOU GET RID OF THE SANDBURS?"

SHE'S TRIED PULLING, BUT APPARENTLY DIDN'T GET THE ROOT.

IS THERE SOMETHING YOU CAN USE AFTER YOU PULL IT OUT?

>> AND SHE REFERRED TO AS TEXAS SANDBUR, WHICH IS WHAT WE CALL PUNCTUREVINE OR GOATHEAD, RIGHT?

IT'S A BROADLEAF WEED.

SOME ARE ANNUAL, VERY AGGRESSIVE, AND VERY PAINFUL IF WALKED UPON WITH BARE FEET, AND IT CAN STICK TO CLOTHING AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT.

AND IT REALLY IS MORE EFFECTIVELY CONTROLLED PRE-EMERGENT IN THE SPRING OF THE YEAR.

IF IT'S IN THE LAWN -- AND THIS ISN'T A LAWN OBVIOUSLY.

BUT IF IT'S IN THE LAWN, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN USE ANY OF THE COMMON PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDES WILL WORK.

AND IF IT'S IN THE GARDEN, PREEN DOES A PRETTY GOOD JOB.

ONCE AGAIN, WITH PREEN, IT'S GOT A VERY SHORT RESIDUAL, SO YOU HAVE TO PUT DOWN MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS.

PULLING IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE ONCE IT GETS A BUR ON IT, IT'S PAINFUL, AND SO NOT RECOMMENDED.

AND THEY CAN BE, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S YOUNG, YOU CAN JUST TOE IT OFF BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE A REAL AGGRESSIVE ROOT SYSTEM.

SO THERE ARE SOME NON-CHEMICAL OPTIONS, AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, ROCH.

YOUR NEXT ONE, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES.

FOUND WHAT HE THINKS IS A WEED.

DIGGING IT OUT, APPEARS THERE ARE MANY UNDERGROUND ROOTS.

WHAT DO WE THINK THIS IS?

>> THIS IS KOCHIA, WHICH IS AN ANNUAL THAT CAN GROW FAIRLY TALL, UP TO FOUR OR FIVE FEET IN A SINGLE GROWING SEASON.

AND IT IS A WEED, AND YOU WANT TO -- IT'S SIMPLE TO CONTROL, JUST HOE IT BACK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE MORE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LEWELLEN.

WHAT TYPE OF WEED IS THIS?

IT HAS TAKEN OVER HER YARD.

>> YEAH, IT'S SPOTTED OR PROSTRATE SPURGE.

THEY'RE THE SAME SPECIES.

THEY EITHER HAVE SPOTS ON THEM, OR IN THIS CASE THEY DON'T.

BUT IT'S -- IT HAS A MILKY SAP IN IT.

BUT BEYOND THAT, ONCE AGAIN, PRE-EMERGENT OR A BROADLEAF HERBICIDE IN THE LAWN AND NOT IN THE GARDEN.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, ROCH.

OKAY KYLE, WILTING CUCUMBER PLANTS.

YOU GET IT BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THIS.

IT'S EITHER THAT KYLE OR THIS KYLE.

SO SHE DID POWDER THIS WITH SEVIN AFTER SEEING A GREEN AND YELLOW STRIPED BUG ON IT.

BUT THEY'RE IN FULL SUN ON A SECTION OF -- SO IS THIS YOURS, OR YES?

>> POSSIBLY.

I MEAN IT'S REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT JUST SEEING -- JUST SEEING THE WILTED CUCUMBERS.

YOU KNOW, SEEING THE SPOTTED BUG ON THERE, IT'S PROBABLY A SPOTTED CUCUMBER BEETLE.

AND SPOTTED CUCUMBER BEETLES DO -- THEY ARE THE VECTOR FOR BACTERIAL WILT OF CUCUMBERS.

AND SO THAT'S AN ERWINIA DISEASE.

BUT ONE WAY TO CHECK JUST TO SEE IF YOU DO HAVE BACTERIAL WILT, WHAT YOU CAN DO IS YOU CAN CUT ONE OF THOSE WILTED VINES RIGHT NEAR THE BASE, AND THEN TRY TO PUT THAT CUT BACK.

AND AS YOU SLOWLY PULL THE TWO PIECES APART, YOU SHOULD SEE SOME STICKY BACTERIA JUST KIND OF OOZING BETWEEN THE TWO PARTS.

AND THAT IS ACTUALLY DIAGNOSTIC FOR BACTERIAL WILT.

IF YOU'RE NOT SEEING THAT STICKY BACTERIAL OOZE, PROBABLY SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THEY'RE WONDERING WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE BLUE LAKE BUSH GREEN BEANS.

SHE'S USED SEVIN, COPPER FUNGICIDE.

GARDEN'S OUT IN THE OPEN.

THIS IS ALBION, AND THEY HAVE NOT SEEN ANY INSECTS.

THEY DID USE A CRABGRASS PREVENTER ON THE LAWN BUT THEY WAITED FOR THREE CUTTINGS BEFORE THEY USED THE CLIPPINGS.

>> SO I THINK THERE'S A FEW THINGS GOING ON.

THIS LAST PICTURE HERE LOOKS VERY SIMILAR -- WELL, THIS PICTURE HERE LOOKS LIKE IT'S ONE OF THE BACTERIAL DISEASES THAT BEANS GET.

THERE'S ABOUT THREE OF THEM.

BUT I THINK THIS IS MOST LIKELY BROWN SPOT.

SO AGAIN, YOU CAN PUT ALL THE FUNGICIDE IN THE WORLD ON IT.

FUNGICIDES DO NOT CONTROL BACTERIAL DISEASES.

THE OTHER PICTURE, THOUGH, WHERE WE HAD KIND OF THE -- YEP -- THE LEAVES THAT ARE KIND OF MOTTLED WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A MOSAIC, I THINK THAT MAYBE THERE'S SOME COMMON BEAN MOSAIC VIRUS GOING ON THERE AS WELL.

AND NOT A WHOLE LOT OF GOOD CONTROLS FOR THAT, ASIDE FROM -- ASIDE FROM REMOVING THE PLANTS.

NICE THING IS, IS THAT THIS VIRUS WILL NOT MAKE THE FRUIT -- WILL NOT MAKE THE HARVEST INEDIBLE.

IT JUST WON'T PRODUCE AS MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, KYLE.

AND TWO MORE ON THIS NEXT ONE, TOO.

THIS IS, "WHAT ARE THE BROWN PATCHES IN THE YARD THAT CONTINUE TO SPREAD?"

DOES NOT THINK IT'S SOD WEBWORM.

>> NO.

THIS LOOKS LIKE SUMMER PATCH TO ME.

AND SO, TO HAVE KIND OF THE ROUND, OR ALMOST FROG-EYE -- FROG-EYE TYPE SYMPTOMS.

SUMMER PATCH BE -- REALLY CAN BE A BEAR TO CONTROL.

UNFORTUNATELY PREVENTIVE FUNGICIDES ARE YOUR BEST BET.

AND SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE CONTROLLING YOUR THATCH, AND THEN ALSO DOING SOME DEEP AND FREQUENT WATERING TO PROMOTE A DEEP -- DEEP ROOT ZONE.

BUT THEN REALLY A FUNGICIDE FOR SUMMER PATCH IS BEST GOING TO BE APPLIED IN THE SPRING WHEN THE SOILS ARE FIRST REACHING ABOUT 65 DEGREES, AND THEN AGAIN 4 TO 5 WEEKS LATER, COME BACK AND HIT IT WITH AN AZOXYSTROBIN FUNGICIDE, SOMETHING LIKE HERITAGE WORKS PRETTY WELL.

BUT AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, NOT A WHOLE LOT OF CONTROL FOR IT.

>> KYLE, THIS IS WHERE I WOULD SUGGEST THEY RESEED.

>> OKAY.

>> OR OVERSEED WITH -- MOST OF THE NEWER CULTIVARS ARE RESISTANT, AND EVEN THOUGH SUMMER PATCH IS RESIDENT IN THE SOIL, IT'S A PATCH ORGANISM, RIGHT?

BUT IT'S STILL -- WE WOULD SUGGEST THEY OVERSEED THIS FALL, AND MOST OF THE INFORMATION ON SUMMER PATCH RESISTANCE -- OR, EXCUSE ME, TOLERANCE, IS READILY AVAILABLE ONLINE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, GUYS.

JOHN, YOU HAVE A BISHOP'S GOUTWEED, AND THE WHOLE PATCH WAS VARIEGATED AND NOW IT'S GRADUALLY TURNING GREEN.

IT'S A HUGE PATCH.

THIS IS IN FRIEND.

IS THERE ANY WAY SHE CAN GET THIS TO RETURN TO VARIEGATION?

>> SO THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE VARIEGATED-TYPE PLANTS IS IT'S SORT OF LIKE A GENETIC MUTATION OF THE GREEN VARIETY, AND IT'S NOT STABLE.

SO YOU'VE GOTTEN SOME OF IT GOING BACK TO GREEN.

REALLY THE ONLY WAY TO NOT HAVE MORE GREEN IS TO REMOVE ALL THE GREEN, AND TO -- THAT'S REALLY ALL THAT YOU CAN DO.

SO IT REALLY IS JUST REMOVE THE GREEN.

>> OKAY.

THREE PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS IS ALSO BEANS.

THIS IS COUNCIL BLUFFS.

SHE'S USED A COPPER FUNGICIDE FOR RUST.

THEY DO HAVE SHADE BECAUSE BURNING HAS HAPPENED.

YOU GET THIS BECAUSE THESE GUYS' BUCKETS WERE FULL.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS?

>> SO JUST LIKE "ROT KYLE" SAID THAT FUNGICIDE DOESN'T WORK ON BACTERIA, FUNGICIDE ALSO DOES NOT WORK ON INSECTS.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND I SEE "BUG KYLE" SHAKING HIS HEAD BECAUSE THIS IS SPIDER MITE DAMAGE ON THE BEANS FROM WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME.

SO I WOULD TAKE A LOOK ON THE UNDERSIDE TO SEE IF YOU SEE LITTLE SPIDER MITES.

YOU MIGHT SEE SOME WEBBING.

YOU CAN KNOCK THEM OFF WITH WATER SOMETIMES.

YOU COULD DO, LIKE, AN INSECTICIDAL SOAP, OR NEEM OIL AS WELL, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET CONTROL ON THOSE.

AND THAT AMOUNT -- USUALLY WE DON'T SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD WORRY ABOUT SPIDER MITE DAMAGE, BUT THAT WAS A LOT OF SPIDER MITE DAMAGE.

>> IT WAS.

>> SO I THINK YOU'RE TO THE POINT THERE WHERE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET A GOOD HARVEST.

SO YOU EITHER NEED TO CONTROL IT, OR YOU NEED TO RIP THOSE OUT AND START OVER.

>> START OVER.

ALL RIGHT.

>> AND YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO PLANT BEANS AND HAVE A FALL CROP.

>> EXACTLY.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT SOME FANTASTIC "ALL AMERICA" SELECTIONS AT OUR GARDEN OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON SOME OF THE VEGETABLES.

HERE'S TERRI OUT IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN TO TELL US MORE.

♪ >> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN WE'RE TAKING A BREAK FROM LOOKING AT OUR 2022 "ALL AMERICA" SELECTION WINNERS.

THE REST ARE ALL GOING TO BE TOMATOES, AND WE'RE WAITING FOR THEM TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE RIPE FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEM ON THE CAMERA.

BUT AS WE'VE WALKED AROUND THE GARDEN, WE'VE REALLY NOTICED HOW WELL AND HOW FULL THIS GARDEN IS REALLY STARTING TO LOOK.

IT'S REALLY COMING INTO THE PRIME.

THE VEGETABLES ARE STARTING TO COME IN THAT WE ARE DONATING TO THE EAST CAMPUS AREA FOOD BANKS.

SO FAR WE'VE COLLECTED ABOUT 75 POUNDS OF PRODUCE FROM OUR GARDEN, AND WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO START SEEING THOSE TOMATOES AND PEPPERS BE READY TO BE PICKED FOR OUR DONATIONS.

WE'RE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PICKING ALL OF THOSE JAPANESE BEETLES OUT OF OUR GARDEN.

REMEMBER, PICK THEM OFF AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

THROW THEM IN THAT SOAPY WATER TO GET RID OF THEM.

THAT'S THE BEST WAY OF CONTROL.

SO STOP BY THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN AND CHECK IT OUT.

♪ >> YOU KNOW, OUR GARDEN REALLY IS PUTTING ON A SHOW.

WE DO HOPE YOU STOP BY AND VISIT SOON.

WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES FOR A BREAK.

WE DO HOPE YOU'LL STAY WITH US FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND AND THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

THERE'S MORE "BACKYARD FARMER" COMING RIGHT AFTER THESE MESSAGES.

♪ [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] >>> WELCOME BACK TO "BACKYARD FARMER.

"” COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW, SCOTT EVANS IS GOING TO BREAK DOWN SOME TOMATO PROBLEMS YOU MIGHT BE SEEING, HELP YOU WITH SOME OF THOSE ANSWERS.

YOU CAN STILL PHONE IN THOSE QUESTIONS TO 1-800-676-5446.

SEND US PICTURES AND EMAILS TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

AND RIGHT NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

ARE YOU READY, JOHN?

>> ALWAYS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO HAS AN OLD ASPARAGUS BED, AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE BEST TIME IS TO ACTUALLY TRANSPLANT ASPARAGUS.

>> IN THE FALL AFTER IT GOES DORMANT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO BOUGHT A BASIL IN A FIVE INCH POT.

SHE PUT IT IN A 10 INCH POT.

IT'S AN INSIDE BASIL, BUT IT'S DROOPY.

WHAT'S THE DEAL?

>> COULD BE TRANSPLANT SHOCK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A CLARINDA, IOWA, VIEWER, WHO WONDERS WHETHER PURPLE CONEFLOWERS WILL REVERT TO WHITE IN A MIXED PLANTING.

>> POSSIBLY.

>> WE HAVE A GENEVA VIEWER WHO HAS A 4-YEAR-OLD HARDY HIBISCUS.

THE LEAVES ARE SLIGHTLY CURLED AND THE FLOWERS ARE ONLY THE SIZE OF A SILVER DOLLAR.

>> SOUNDS -- I DON'T KNOW.

PASS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW IN A SMALL GARDEN, IS IT OKAY IF SHE PUTS HER KITCHEN SCRAPS UNDER GRASS CLIPPINGS TO COMPOST THEM LIKE THAT.

>> YOU COULD, THOUGH YOU COULD HAVE LITTLE CRITTERS COMING AND EATING THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AN AURORA VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER POTTING SOIL FROM THE PLANTERS CAN GO INTO A HOLE LEFT AFTER REMOVING THE POND.

[ THUNDER ] >> YES.

>> NICE JOB.

OKAY, YOU ARE UP NEXT, KYLE.

ARE YOU READY?

>> BORN READY.

>> MM-HMM.

WE'LL SEE.

WE HAVE A VIEWER IN CENTRAL NEBRASKA WHO HAS A NICE-SIZED WALNUT TREE THAT IS CURRENTLY YELLOWING.

IS THAT A SIGN OF THOUSAND CANKERS OR WHAT?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

THOUSAND CANKERS HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED IN -- NOT REALLY IN NEBRASKA, SO NO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A DAVID CITY VIEWER WHO THINKS THEY HAVE SMUT IN THEIR SWEET CORN.

WILL THIS SPREAD TO THE REST OF THEIR SWEET CORN PATCH?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

IT INFECTS THROUGH THE -- THROUGH POLLEN, SO NOW YOU CAN JUST HAVE SOME NICE MEXICAN TRUFFLE TACOS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A KEARNEY VIEWER WHO HAS A SMOKE TREE, AND IT LOOKS WILTY.

SHE'S WONDERING IF VERTICILLIUM WILT WOULD BE SHOWING UP NOW.

>> IT CERTAINLY COULD BE, SO YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE SEVERAL VIEWERS WHO WANT TO KNOW HOW THEY CAN GET RID OF SLIME MOLD ONCE AND FOR ALL.

>> DON'T GET RID OF SLIME MOLD.

SLIME MOLDS ARE A LOT OF FUN.

THEY'RE AN INTELLIGENT FUNGUS THAT CAN MOVE.

AND SO THERE'S REALLY NOTHING TO DO WITH SLIME MOLDS.

AGAIN, THERE'S -- YOU SHOULD LOVE SLIME MOLDS.

THEY'RE SO MUCH FUN.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> ON THAT NOTE, YOU JUST -- YOU JUST BLEW IT, OKAY?

[ LAUGHTER ] [ THUNDER ] >> YOU ARE ON TRACK FOR A NEW RECORD, KYLE.

>> I WAS GOING SO WELL BUT IT'S -- [ LAUGHTER ] >> OH, BROTHER.

>> WHEN SHE WAS GOING TO LAUNCH INTO ANOTHER QUESTION, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU TO TELL, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT, LIKE, THE VIDEOS OF, LIKE, MAKING THE STREETS OF TOKYO WITH SLIME MOLD.

>> IT'S -- THEY'RE FASCINATING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ARE YOU READY, ROCH?

>> I'M NOT SURE AFTER THAT, BUT GO AHEAD.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THIS IS A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO CONTROL WILD VIOLETS.

HE KNOWS IT'S FALL, BUT HE WANTS SOMETHING THAT WON'T HURT THE DEER, AND COULD HE PUT DOWN A FERTILIZER AT THE SAME TIME?

>> CERTAINLY CAN PUT DOWN A FERTILIZER AT THE SAME TIME.

I'M NOT SURE WHY YOU WOULD IF YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF FERTILIZER ON THE LAWN.

BUT TRICLOPYR IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH WILD VIOLET, AND AS LONG AS THE DEER DON'T COME UP WHEN IT'S STILL WET, AND USUALLY IT DRIES ON THE LEAF WITHIN AN HOUR.

JUST DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

BUT TRICLOPYR FOR WILD VIOLETS.

>> OKAY, THIS IS KIND OF YOURS, BUT IT'S KIND OF YOURS.

SO WHAT IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR GRUB CONTROL IN FESCUE?

>> DEPENDS ON WHICH -- I WOULDN'T BE PUTTING GRUB CONTROL DOWN FOR FESCUE ANYWAY.

IT DOESN'T -- IT'S ROOT SYSTEM CAN PRETTY MUCH HANDLE ANY POPULATION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A NEBRASKA CITY VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER THEY SHOULD STILL MOW WHEN IT'S REALLY, REALLY HOT.

>> IF YOU CAN AVOID MOWING, 'CAUSE IT'S NOT GROWING, CERTAINLY THAT'S A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE THAT'S A STRESS ON THE TURF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE AN OVERTON VIEWER WHO WANTS TO OVERSEED WITH SOMETHING, A FESCUE BLEND, AND WHEN.

>> WAIT 'TIL THIS FALL OR LATE AUGUST, EARLY SEPTEMBER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HOW DO YOU CONTROL JAPANESE KNOTWEED?

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

>> THERE'S A NUMBER OF, YOU KNOW, BROADLEAF HERBICIDES THAT'LL DO IT.

[ THUNDER ] ROUNDUP, COMBINED WITH 2,4-D IS SMOKE ON JAPANESE KNOTWEED BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE PERSISTENT AND MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

OKAY, KYLE, ARE YOU READY?

>> READY.

>> SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE SENT THIS ONE IN AGAIN.

THEIR PHLOX ARE COMPLETELY DEVASTATED BY SOME SORT OF A CREATURE.

WHAT'S THE CREATURE, AND WHAT CAN THEY SPRAY IT WITH?

>> JAPANESE BEETLES.

CARBARYL IS AN OPTION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND WE HAVE OTHERS WHO HAVE PHLOX THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S MOTTLED.

IS THAT JAPANESE BEETLES, OR IS THAT SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

>> I WOULD SAY SO.

>> OKAY.

BELLEVUE, WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO IS USING WATER TO GET RID OF APHIDS ON WHORLED MILKWEED.

THE APHIDS COME BACK.

WHAT DO THEY DO INSTEAD, AND WILL IT KNOCK THE MONARCH EGGS OFF?

>> UM, I DON'T KNOW.

I WOULDN'T THINK IT WOULD KNOCK THE MONARCH EGGS OFF.

I -- REALLY THE APHIDS ARE FINE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HURT ANYTHING, SO I'D JUST LEAVE 'EM ALONE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IS MILKY SPORE POWDER SAFE TO CONTROL JAPANESE BEETLES IN A FLOWER BED?

>> YES, THOUGH IT ISN'T NECESSARILY THE MOST EFFECTIVE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE A SYSTEMIC THAT WOULD WORK ON BAGWORMS ON TREES IN THE SPRING?

>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, NO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TINY, TINY ANTS.

IS THERE A PET-SAFE BAIT?

[ THUNDER ] >> YEAH, SO GENERALLY SPEAKING, YOU WANT TO AVOID PUTTING THOSE IN ANY PLACE THE PETS CAN GET ACCESS TO THEM.

BUT THE COMMON BAIT THAT HAS BORAX IS GENERALLY PRETTY SAFE FOR VERTEBRATES.

>> EXCELLENT.

NICE JOB, ALL.

OKAY.

JOHN, PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

>> OKAY.

WELL, WE HAVE A FEW THINGS THAT ACTUALLY LOOK VERY SIMILAR HERE THIS WEEK, AND SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, "WELL, THAT LOOKS LIKE A BLACK-EYED SUSAN."

IT'S ACTUALLY A FALSE SUNFLOWER.

WE HAVE THESE NICE LITTLE GUYS HERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN GET A CLOSE-UP OF THOSE.

THEY'RE ABOUT FOUR FEET TALL, FULL TO PART SUN.

MANY NEW CULTIVARS, SOME THAT HAVE ORANGE OR RED.

ZONES ON THE RAYS, WHICH ARE THESE YELLOW THINGS.

THOSE ARE NOT PETALS, BUT I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO A BOTANY LESSON RIGHT NOW.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MY LITTLE ARRANGEMENT HERE, WE HAVE HENRY EILERS SWEET CONEFLOWER.

YOU SEE THOSE SORT OF REFINED, QUILLED -- THEY'RE QUILLED RAYS.

THEY'RE SORT OF ALL ROLLED UP THERE, REALLY FUN.

AND THEN WE HAVE A LITTLE FOLIAGE IN HERE.

THIS IS FROM TIGER EYES STAGHORN SUMAC.

SO YOU CAN DO THAT AS CUT FOLIAGE.

IT'S A NICE CHARTREUSE-Y GREEN, AND IT WILL PRODUCE SUCKERS IN THE FALL BUT NOT LIKE THE SMOOTH SUMAC.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, JOHN.

ALL RIGHT.

KYLE, "BUG KYLE."

THIS IS A WESTON, NEBRASKA, VIEWER, HAS 200 PONDEROSA PINES.

HE SAYS THERE'S A BORING INSECT.

WHAT DO WE DO HERE?

>> YEAH.

THIS IS -- THIS IS A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

SO THIS LOOKS LIKE INJURY FROM ONE OF THE -- YOU KNOW, THE PINE PITCH MOTHS.

SO THERE'S A FEW DIFFERENT SPECIES IN THE SAME GENUS.

ZIMMERMAN PINE MOTH, PINYON PINE MASS MOTH.

THE CATERPILLARS, THEY BORE IN AND, YOU KNOW, CAUSE THIS SORT OF INJURY.

SO TREATMENT IS, IN THAT LARGE OF A SETTING, IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

YOU CAN -- YOU CAN TREAT WITH LIKE, PERMETHRIN, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT YOU REALLY HAVE TO COMPLETELY COVER THE TRUNK, AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR BECAUSE THOSE OVER-WINTERING CATERPILLARS, THEY COME OUT IN APRIL, SO YOU NEED TO TREAT THEN.

AND THEN WHEN THE ADULTS ARE ACTIVE AND LAYING EGGS IN AUGUST WOULD BE ANOTHER TIME TO TREAT.

MAYBE NOT THE MOST PRACTICAL.

SO, YOU KNOW, OTHERWISE TRYING TO JUST MAINTAIN HEALTHY TREES AS WELL AS YOU CAN.

THE -- BOTH OVERWATERING AND UNDERWATERING REALLY INCREASE THE SUSCEPTIBILITY TO THESE MOTHS.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU TRIED TO GET THOSE TREES, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S -- IF THEY'RE IRRIGATED AT ALL, BUT -- PROBABLY NOT FOR SOMETHING THAT LARGE.

BUT THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, KYLE.

THIS IS A PAPILLION VIEWER WHO SAID THEY'VE HAD A FEW OF THESE AROUND THE HOUSE.

WHAT ARE THEY?

AND HE WAS EATING A JAPANESE BEETLE.

>> YEAH, IT'S A WHEEL BUG.

AND THEY ARE -- THEY'RE GENERALIST PREDATORS, WHICH ISN'T ALWAYS A GREAT THING BECAUSE THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY ALSO TAKE OUT BENEFICIALS LIKE HONEYBEES.

BUT THEY ARE GREAT BECAUSE THEY'RE ONE OF THE FEW PREDATORS THAT DO FEED ON BOTH JAPANESE BEETLES AND BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUGS.

A LOT OF PREDATORS DON'T -- WON'T TAKE BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUGS, SO THEY'RE GOOD FOR THAT.

>> EXCELLENT.

OKAY, THIS IS A HEBRON VIEWER WHO HAS A PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS AND HAS THESE WORMS INSIDE.

HE SAYS THEY SECRETE A JELL-O-LIKE, BRIGHT BLUE SUBSTANCE.

>> YEAH, THESE ARE VERY COOL.

PYRALIDAE MOTHS, THEY'RE PRICKLY PEAR BORERS, AND THEY'LL FEED -- THEY PREFER PRICKLY PEAR, BUT THEY WILL ALSO BORE INTO ANOTHER CACTI AS WELL.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S REALLY -- THEY'RE -- I DON'T THINK THEY'RE PROBABLY VERY WELL STUDIED.

SO THERE'S NO SORT OF CONTROL OR ANYTHING.

MAYBE JUST REMOVING ANY INFESTED PADS IS PROBABLY THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A FORSYTHIA, DYING SHRUBS ONLY ON ONE CORNER.

SHE'S SEEN BROKEN BRANCHES AFTER THE LAWNMOWER HITS THEM.

BUT THEN SHE'S SEEN THESE GALL THINGS.

IS THAT WHAT THIS IS?

>> YEAH, SO DEFINITELY A GALL.

I DON'T -- I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS GALL IS INSECT-RELATED, THOUGH.

I WAS WONDERING ABOUT MAYBE LIKE, A CROWN AGROBACTERIUM OR SOMETHING.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF KYLE, IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS?

>> YEAH, IT'S -- IT DOESN'T -- TO ME, IT LOOKS LIKE IT EASILY COULD -- EASILY COULD BE AGROBACTERIUM GALL.

TYPICALLY WE CALL IT CROWN GALL BECAUSE THE BACTERIA IS IN THE SOIL.

BUT ANYWHERE THERE'S WOUNDING, THAT BACTERIA CAN SPLASH UP AND CAUSE -- CAUSE MORE OF THAT GALLING, ESPECIALLY WITH KIND OF HOW -- HOW ROUGH IT WAS, AND THERE WAS A BUNCH OF LIKE, KIND OF, ALMOST ADVENTITIOUS ROOTS THAT WERE COMING OUT OF IT.

YOU KNOW, CROWN GALL TRICKS THE PLANT INTO PRODUCING MORE HORMONES, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE RESPONSES THAT WE CAN GET.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ROCH, YOUR FIRST ONE HERE IS A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO THINKS THEY FOUND YELLOW STAR THISTLE.

WE THINK NOT.

WHAT IS IT, AND WHAT SHOULD THEY DO?

>> WELL, I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT IT'S NOT YELLOW STAR THISTLE, PRIMARILY BECAUSE THE LITTLE BASE OF THE SEED HEAD THING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S CALLED.

SOMEBODY IN -- THE BOTANIST IN THE ROOM CAN TELL ME WHAT THAT IS.

BUT IT HAS SPINES ON IT, AND THIS DEFINITELY DOESN'T.

PLUS THE LEAF ARRANGEMENT ISN'T REALLY TYPICAL OF STAR THISTLE.

I CAN TELL HIM IT'S NOT STAR THISTLE, BUT I CAN'T TELL HIM WHAT IT IS.

IT'S DEFINITELY A THISTLE, AND I WISH I COULD BE A LITTLE MORE CLEAR ON THAT.

AND THIS SAMPLE, AS THEY MENTIONED, HAD BEEN, YOU KNOW, THEY PULLED IT AND THREW IT OVER ON THE SIDE, AND IT WAS ALL DESICCATED.

SO THEY DID WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND, IS JUST TO GET RID OF IT.

BUT NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO I.D.

IT, I APOLOGIZE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE HERE IS, HE'S GOT CREEPING CHARLIE.

HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT AND WHEN?

>> IT'S -- YEAH.

THE PROPER AND COMMON NAME IS GROUND IVY -- >> YES.

>> -- BUT IT IS A CREEPER, AND IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S VINE NIGHT APPARENTLY OR IVY NIGHT.

BUT FALL APPLICATIONS OF PRODUCTS CONTAINING TRICLOPYR ARE PROBABLY YOUR BEST BET, 'CAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE CONSIDER ONE OF THE TOP FIVE MOST DIFFICULT TO CONTROL BROADLEAF WEEDS IN THE GARDEN AND YARD.

>> ALRIGHT, TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS ONE STARTED VOLUNTARILY NEAR A BRICK FENCE.

LIKES THE FERNY LOOK AND THE BRIGHT PINK.

IT'S GRAND ISLAND.

>> YEAH, THIS RUSSIAN THISTLE, WHICH IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO BE GROWING INTENTIONALLY.

IT DOES HAVE KIND OF A PRETTY FERNY GOOD LOOK.

AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE IN THE OLD WESTERNS, YOU KNOW, THEY USED TO HAVE TUMBLEWEEDS.

THIS IS WHAT THIS'LL BECOME WHEN IT DRIES OUT AND ROLLS ACROSS AND PLANTS THE RUSSIAN THISTLE EVERYWHERE.

BUT -- THE OLD WESTERNS HAD IT -- BUT THIS DIDN'T COME INTO THE UNITED STATES IN 1912 IN A SHIPMENT OF WHEAT FROM RUSSIA.

SO, BOTTOM LINE IS, IS THOSE WESTERNS WERE ALL WRONG.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOUR FINAL ONE HERE IS FALLS CITY.

IS THIS A WEED OR A FLOWER IN THIS PLANTER?

>> THAT'S DEFINITELY A WEED.

THIS IS ANNUAL RAGWEED, AND I THINK THEY WANT TO GET RID OF IT RIGHT NOW.

>> YES.

BEFORE ANYBODY WITH ALLERGIES -- >> BEFORE ANYONE WITH ANY HINT OF AN ALLERGY, BEFORE IT FLOWERS OUT, SO LET'S GET THAT PULLED OUT AND DESTROYED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KYLE, TWO PICTURES ON THIS.

THIS IS LILACS.

LEAVES TURN BROWN AND DROP, EARLY AND LATE AUGUST, TRIED WATERING, WHAT'S THE DEAL?

>> IT'S CERCOSPORA LEAF SPOT.

VERY COMMON IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.

NOT -- IT'S NOT VERY WELL STUDIED.

YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT CERCOSPORAS ON OTHER ORNAMENTALS, THERE'S POTENTIAL THAT AN EARLY SUMMER FUNGICIDE APPLICATION WOULD BE EFFECTIVE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, BY THIS TIME OF YEAR, THE LILAC LEAVES HAVE REALLY DONE THEIR JOB FOR THE MOST PART, AND SO THEY CAN DROP.

AGAIN, IT'S OKAY TO HAVE SOME SHRUBS, HAVE TREES THAT DO HAVE DROPPED LEAVES.

REALLY NOTHING TO DO ABOUT IT, THOUGH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES FROM DEER TRAIL, COLORADO.

I SUSPECT YOU ALREADY HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS WHAT?

MAYBE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT MAYBE THERE'S A -- THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF SCAB IN HERE.

BUT WITH HOW -- WHEN I ZOOMED IN, EVERY LEAF IS SHOWING THAT TIP NECROSIS.

AND SO ANY TIME IT'S EVERY LEAF THAT'S SHOWING SOMETHING, TYPICALLY THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING ABIOTIC OR ENVIRONMENTAL.

I THINK TAT THERE'S -- IT'S PROBABLY JUST A LITTLE BIT THIRSTY, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY UNDER THE ROCKS.

THE ROCKS CAN HEAT THINGS UP, DRY THE SYSTEM OUT A LITTLE BIT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THREE PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM GLEN CARBON, ILLINOIS.

CANKERS ON A HICKORY.

SO THREE PICS ON THIS, AND THEN HE SAW A -- I THINK IT'S A SLUG PROBABLY.

BUT HE WONDERS IS THERE ANYTHING HE CAN DO TO SAVE THIS TREE?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

YOU KNOW, BY THE TIME WE'RE SEEING THIS MUCH INJURY, THE TREE IS PROBABLY NOT LONG FOR THIS WORLD.

THERE IS SOMETHING THAT'S KNOWN AS HICKORY DECLINE, WHICH AGAIN ISN'T VERY WELL STUDIED.

BUT THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUNGI THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A -- WITH A BORING BEETLE.

AND I THINK MAYBE THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

SO ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THE TREE HAPPY AND HEALTHY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE MORE.

THIS IS BROWN ON THE MILKWEED.

IS THERE ANYTHING SHE CAN DO ABOUT IT, OR JUST LET IT BE?

>> JUST LET IT BE.

COULD BE -- COULD BE ONE OF OUR FUNGAL LEAF SPOTS, OR IT COULD BE ENVIRONMENTAL.

BUT DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JOHN, TWO PICTURES HERE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM WAYNE.

THIS IS AN AMARYLLIS, AND HE DISCOVERED WHITE ROOTS, BROWN ROOTS, BUT SPOTS OF RED.

ANY BIG DEAL OR JUST INTERESTING?

>> I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY JUST THE NORMAL ROOT.

SO THE WHITE ROOT IS HEALTHY ROOT, AND SOMETIMES AT THE GROWING POINTS, WE GET DIFFERENT COLORS.

SO THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE NORMAL GROWTH TO ME.

>> PERFECT.

ONE PICTURE HERE.

THIS COMES FROM PLATTSMOUTH.

WHAT IN THE WORLD WITH THIS CORN?

>> SO I THINK SOMETHING INTERESTING IS HAPPENING HERE.

SO I THINK THE QUESTION WAS, "IS THIS LIKE A THROWBACK TO LIKE, ORIGINAL CORN?"

>> RIGHT.

>> AND CORN ORIGINALLY WAS SORT OF LIKE A WHEAT HEAD.

IT WAS SORT OF ENCASED IN LIKE, HUSKS.

IT WAS CALLED TEOSINTE.

AND I THINK THIS IS SOME SORT OF GENETIC THROWBACK TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO YOU CAN SEE SORT OF LIKE, IT LOOKS LIKE SORT OF A WHEAT HEAD UP ABOVE.

THERE'S ACTUALLY COBS OF CORN CALLED HUSK CORN THAT HAVE HUSKS ON IT, BUT IT IS A COB OF CORN.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST SOME SORT OF INTERESTING GENETIC ANOMALY.

>> EXCELLENT.

THIS NEXT ONE, WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ALL OF HER CABBAGES?

THIS IS SYRACUSE.

>> I THINK WHEN I READ THIS QUESTION EARLIER, THEY SAID THEY WERE USING SOAKER HOSE.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHICH IS GOOD FOR WATERING, BUT ALSO GOOD FOR OVERWATERING.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND I THINK THERE MIGHT BE -- AND "ROT KYLE" CAN HELP ME ALONG HERE -- PROBABLY SOME SORT OF ROOT ROT, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT GOING ALONG THAT'S COMING UP INTO THE PLANT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO MORE ON THIS ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM PIERCE.

30 TOMATOES -- SOME ARE GOOD, SOME LOOK LIKE THIS.

WHAT'S THIS?

>> SO THAT IS OUR OLD FRIEND HERBICIDE DAMAGE.

SO WHEN WE GET THE LEAVES THAT ARE ACTUALLY GROWING IN THAT CURLED MANNER, THAT GIVES US HERBICIDE DAMAGE.

I GOT THROUGH ALL THOSE VERY FAST BECAUSE THESE GUYS TAKE FOREVER, AND I HAVE NO TIME AT ALL TO TALK ABOUT THINGS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> EXACTLY.

>> I WANT TO SIT ON THAT END NEXT TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, ANYBODY WHO GETS INTO VEGETABLE GARDENING WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE A FEW TOMATO PLANTS.

IF YOU CARE FOR THEM, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TOO MUCH PROBLEM GETTING THEM TO HARVEST.

BUT OCCASIONALLY THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS THAT NEED OUR ATTENTION.

HERE'S SCOTT EVANS TO HELP US FIGURE OUT THE TROUBLE WITH TOMATOES.

♪ >> IT'S BEEN A HOT SUMMER THIS YEAR IN NEBRASKA, AND WE'RE STARTING TO FEEL THE EFFECTS OF THE HEAT ON OUR LANDSCAPE AND VEGETABLE GARDENING.

AND ONE OF THE PLANTS IN PARTICULAR THAT WE'RE GETTING CALLS ABOUT IS THE TOMATO.

CALLERS ARE ASKING US WHY THEIR PLANTS ARE NOT PRODUCING THE YIELD THAT THEY SHOULD, OR THEY'RE NOT PRODUCING AT ALL.

AND THIS IS COMING ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF CULTIVARS, ANYTHING FROM OUR BEEFSTEAK TOMATOES DOWN TO OUR CHERRY AND GRAPE TOMATOES.

AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE EFFECTS OF THE HEAT.

WHEN WE HAVE DAYTIME TEMPERATURES ABOVE 90 DEGREES, THIS CAN MAKE THE POLLEN STERILE.

WHEN THE POLLEN BECOMES STERILE, THE FRUIT PRODUCTION ACTUALLY SLOWS DOWN, OR IT CAN COMPLETELY STOP.

THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO ABOUT THE HEAT EXCEPT FOR WAIT FOR SOME COOLER WEATHER.

BUT WE COULD CONSIDER TRYING SOME OF THOSE NEW HEAT-TOLERANT CULTIVARS SUCH AS SOLAR FLARE, SUNCHASER, OR EVEN FLORIDA 91.

ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE ON TOMATOES IS BLOSSOM-END ROT.

THIS IS WHEN THE BOTTOM OF THE FRUIT BECOMES DARK AND SUNKEN.

IT IS NOT A DISEASE, BUT IT IS A CALCIUM TRANSPORT ISSUE.

CALCIUM IS DIFFICULT FOR THE PLANT TO MOVE IN DRY SOILS.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS KEEP THE SOIL EVENLY MOIST, CONSISTENT WATERING, AND MULCH THE PLANTS.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP GET THE CALCIUM FROM THE SOIL TO THE FRUIT.

CALCIUM IS RARELY MISSING IN OUR SOILS HERE IN NEBRASKA.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE CAN TAKE A LOOK WITH BLOSSOM-END ROT IS WHAT TYPE OF FERTILIZER ARE YOU USING?

HIGH NITROGEN FERTILIZERS OR FERTILIZERS THAT ARE AMMONIUM-BASED CAN ACTUALLY MAKE BLOSSOM-END ROT WORSE.

SO IF YOU'RE HAVING SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMS, MAKE SURE THAT YOU KEEP THE SOIL EVENLY MOIST, AND MAYBE CONSIDER SWAPPING OUT YOUR FERTILIZER.

AND FINALLY, WE ARE STARTING TO SEE A LOT OF OUR DIFFERENT DISEASES SHOW UP ON OUR PLANTS, RANGING FROM EARLY BLIGHT, ANTHRACNOSE, BACTERIAL SPECK, OR BACTERIAL SPOT.

THESE ARE FAIRLY COMMON DISEASES.

BESIDES GOOD PLANT HEALTH CARE, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT OUR PLANTS ARE MULCHED -- THAT'S GOING TO HELP REDUCE SPLASHING ONTO THE LEAVES.

WHEN WE DO WATER, WE WANT TO MAKE THAT SURE WE'RE WATERING THE SOIL AND NOT THE PLANT SO WE CAN KEEP THOSE LEAVES DRY.

BESIDES THOSE PRACTICES, CONSIDER ROTATING YOUR CROPS.

AND IF YOU'RE STILL HAVING ISSUES, LOOK AT SOME OF THE NEW CULTIVARS BECAUSE THEY ARE RESISTANT TO SOME OF THESE DISEASES.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO DECIDE TO APPLY A FUNGICIDE, HAVE THAT DISEASE IDENTIFIED, BECAUSE BACTERIAL DISEASES ARE NOT WELL MANAGED WITH A FUNGICIDE.

THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO ABOUT THE HEAT.

WE STILL HAVE PLENTY OF GROWING SEASON AHEAD OF US, AND HOPEFULLY THAT WEATHER IS GOING TO COOL OFF, AND OUR TOMATOES ARE GONNA START PRODUCING FOR US, AND EVENTUALLY SOME OF US ARE GOING TO GET THOSE TOMATOES FOR OUR BLTs.

>> WITH THE WAY THE WEATHER HAS BEEN, IT'S A WONDER ANY OF US HAVE ANY TOMATOES AT ALL.

STAY ON TOP OF IT, AND YOU MAY HAVE A BUMPER CROP.

THERE'S MANY MORE VIDEO FEATURES ABOUT TOMATOES ON OUR "BACKYARD FARMER" YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

SO TAKE A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE SHOW, CHECK OUT OUR PAST SHOWS AND THOSE FEATURES.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE, DO NOT FORGET TO HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON SO YOU WON'T MISS OUT ON ALL OF OUR GREAT CONTENT.

ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COOL THINGS IN THE GARDENING WORLD -- THE LINCOLN IRIS SOCIETY RHIZOME SALE THE 30th AT ST. ANDREWS IN LINCOLN.

OUR SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT TONIGHT IS THE SCIENCE AND AG FAMILY FIELD DAY AT UNL HASKELL AG LAB ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3rd.

THERE WILL BE SOME FARMERS THERE.

AND OF COURSE EAST CAMPUS DISCOVERY DAYS, THE NEXT ONE IS SATURDAY, AUGUST 13th ON THE EAST CAMPUS MALL.

ALL RIGHT.

GENTLEMEN, KYLE, GOOD GUY OR BAD GUY?

RURAL STROMSBURG.

>> UM, THEY'RE -- THEY'RE FINE.

THESE ARE BOXELDER BUGS, SO THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY INVADE, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HURT ANYTHING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A BLAIR, NEBRASKA, VIEWER.

SINGLE INSECT TAKEN, SO ONLY ONE.

>> YEAH, THIS IS A TENERAL ADULT OF SOME --SOME TRUE BUG, SO IT JUST EMERGED, AND THAT'S WHY IT HAS -- THIS ISN'T ITS TRUE COLOR.

BUT THAT'S WHY IT'S THIS REDDISH -- PROBABLY A BOXELDER BUG AGAIN.

>> OKAY.

THIS IS A GRAND ISLAND.

WHAT IS THIS INSECT?

THOUGHT HE WAS TAKING A PICTURE OF A FUNGUS AND THEN IT JUMPED.

>> YEAH.

THEY ARE FLATID PLANTHOPPERS.

SO THIS FAMILY, THE NYMPHS, THEY PRODUCE THESE WAXY SECRETIONS.

>> AND SPRAY OF WATER?

>> YEAH, I SHOULD THINK SO, YEAH.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, AND THEN WE HAVE ONE MORE.

THESE ARE DEMOLISHING PLANTS.

PUT EIGHT ON THEM BUT NOT SURE IT'S THE CORRECT ANSWER.

>> YEAH WELL, PERMETHRIN SHOULD NORMALLY PROVIDE SOME CONTROL FOR BLISTER BEETLES.

YOU COULD TRY CARBARYL IF -- IF THAT HASN'T WORKED.

OTHERWISE, HAND PICKING.

THEY DO KIND OF MOVE IN SWARMS, SO IT MIGHT BE MORE CAME IN AFTER.

BUT IF YOU DO HAND PICK, MAKE SURE THAT YOU WEAR GLOVES BECAUSE THEY CAN -- THEY CAN CAUSE NASTY BLISTERS.

>> EXCELLENT, THANKS, KYLE.

ALL RIGHT, ROCH.

TWO PICTURES HERE FROM NORTH PLATTE.

WHEAT-Y GRASS IN THE BLUEGRASS.

IT'S IN A SMALL AREA.

>> IT'S SMOOTH BROME.

AND YOU -- GLYPHOSATE IS REALLY THE ONLY THING YOU CAN USE, AND THEN RESEED.

SO I WOULD START SPRAYING IT NOW.

SPRAY IT ONCE OR TWICE, AND THEN IN EARLY, OR LATE, EXCUSE ME, SEPTEMBER, PUT DOWN SOME SEED OF THE BLUEGRASS THAT YOU HAVE THERE AND YOU'LL BE GOOD TO GO.

>> ALRIGHT, THREE PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS IS INVADED LANDSCAPE BEDS IN A LARGE PARKING LOT IN WEST OMAHA.

ROUNDUP HAS NOT WORKED.

>> I'M SURPRISED THE ROUNDUP HASN'T WORKED.

THIS IS -- THE GENUS IS RUMEX.

NOT SURE WHICH ONE, 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A SEED HEAD ON IT.

THEY COULD BE ANNUAL AND PERENNIAL, BUT THE ROUNDUP SHOULD HAVE WORKED.

SO IT MAY HAVE BEEN A TIMING ISSUE, IT MAY HAVE BEEN TOO HOT, THE RATE MAY HAVE BEEN WRONG.

BUT GLYPHOSATE SHOULD WORK ON THAT, AND THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM AROUND THE PLANT TO GET IT SPRAYED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS AN ELK POINT, SOUTH DAKOTA, VIEWER WHO SENT IN THIS.

>> THIS IS COMMON PURSLANE.

YOU CAN BUY IT AS AN ORNAMENTAL, BUT WHY WOULD YOU BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF AN INVASIVE WEED.

VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHEN IT'S THAT BIG.

SO -- AND IF YOU TEAR IT UP INTO LITTLE PIECES, THEN A BUNCH MORE GROW BACK.

SO YOU WANT TO CATCH IT WHEN IT'S YOUNG, AND PRE-EMERGENT LIKE PREEN'LL WORK FINE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KYLE, THREE PICTURES.

FUNGUS ON TOMATO LEAVES.

WHAT TO DO?

>> I THINK THIS IS SEPTORIA LEAF SPOT ON THE TOMATO LEAVES.

CAN'T REALLY SEE IT ON THIS PICTURE.

BUT THIS ONE HERE, WE HAVE THE SPOTS THAT ARE KIND OF GRAYISH.

THERE SHOULD BE MAYBE SOME BLACK SPECKS INSIDE OF IT.

THEY HAD BEEN USING A PRODUCT THAT HAD A BACILLUS BIOLOGICAL CONTROL IN IT.

BACILLUS DON'T WORK THAT WELL AGAINST SEPTORIA.

AND THIS HERE JUST LOOKS LIKE BLOSSOM-END ROT TO ME.

>> ALRIGHT, AND THEN YOU HAVE A PEPPER PLANT SHOWING WHAT?

>> I THINK THAT THIS IS COMBINATION OF SUN SCALD, POSSIBLY SOME BLOSSOM-END ROT, AND THEN A SAPROPHYTIC FUNGI THAT HAVE MOVED IN AND KIND OF CAUSED THAT BLACK COLORATION.

>> ALRIGHT, AND THEN CONEFLOWER, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THIS?

>> IT'S ASTER YELLOWS.

PRUNE AT GROUND LEVEL.

>> ALRIGHT.

AND WE HAVE VERY LITTLE TIME LEFT, JOHN, BUT -- >> THE STORY OF MY LIFE.

>> YANKTON.

WHAT CAUSED THIS ONE BRANCH OUT OF THIS DWARF ALBERTA SPRUCE, AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

>> WELL, THE DWARF IS KIND OF A MUTATION.

SO NOW IT'S TRYING TO MUTATE BACK, SO PRUNE THAT OUT.

OTHERWISE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A GIANT TREE GROWING OUT THE SIDE OF THAT.

>> PERFECT.

DEAD BRANCHES IN BUTTERFLY BUSH.

WHAT TO DO?

>> I THINK JUST PRUNE 'EM OUT AND MONITOR.

THAT CAN HAPPEN FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS, SO JUST KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

PRUNE 'EM OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND ONE MORE.

THIS IS -- WE KNOW THIS IS MULBERRY, AND THE NEXT ONE IS ASPEN.

WHAT DOES SHE DO TO CONTROL THESE SUCKERS?

>> YEAH, SO WE HAVE THE MULBERRY AND THE ASPEN THERE.

SO YOU CAN PRUNE THOSE AT GROUND LEVEL.

SOMETIMES IF THEY TRY TO COME BACK FROM THE SUCKER, YOU MIGHT WANT TO HIT IT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF GLYPHOSATE -- JUST A PAINTBRUSH ON THERE RIGHT ONTO THE PLANT AND THAT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IT.

>> AWESOME.

GREAT JOB, GUYS.

AND THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR "BACKYARD FARMER" TONIGHT.

THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO SUBMITTED THOSE QUESTIONS.

ONCE AGAIN TO OUR PANEL FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW.

HELPING US ON THE PHONES THIS EVENING, WE HAD GEORGE MALY, LINDA HELTON, AND EXTENSION EDUCATOR TERRI JAMES.

NEXT TIME ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING A LOOK AT SOME NATIVE PLANTS AT MULHALL'S IN OMAHA.

MICK MULHALL WILL GIVE US A TOUR OF THEIR NATIVE PLANT PROGRAM.

SO GOOD NIGHT, GOOD GARDENING, WE'LL SEE YOU ALL NEXT WEEK RIGHT HERE ON "BACKYARD FARMER."

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪