WSU Extension Q&A: Not too late to plant sweet corn
Q. Is it too late to plant sweet corn in our area?
A. Sweet corn can be planted anytime from the beginning of April to the second week in June in the Columbia Basin. Earlier plantings are subject to frost damage and rot, while later plantings may not have enough time to reach full maturity and may be susceptible to corn earworm infestation.
Q. A friend brought me a gallon of fresh strawberries. What is the best way to preserve them?
A. Freezing is one of the simplest and least time consuming methods. Select fully ripe fruit that is not soft or mushy. Color, flavor and nutritive value can be affected by freshness of the produce selected. Carefully wash and sort the fruit. Trim and discard parts that are green or bruised. Prepare fruit for freezing by packing with or without sugar (or syrup). Use ascorbic acid to prevent darkening of light-colored fruit. Strawberries may be frozen in syrup, in sugar or packed without sugar. Pack fruit in suitable containers and store in the freezer. The WSU Extension publication “Freezing Fruits and Vegetables” is available at the Kennewick Extension office for more information.
Q. I would like to attract some beneficial insects to my garden. How would I go about doing that?
A. Adequate habitat is the most important factor, like plants that flower for a long time. Avoid the use of insecticides in the garden is another key factor. Only use narrow-spectrum insecticides when needed, and apply only to plants infested with pest insects.
Q. What are some activities my 4-H club can participate in besides animal projects?
A. Your 4-H members can participate in any of the following activities: public presentations, where 4-H’ers can show and tell others how to do something they have learned; community service projects, where the entire club can plan a project to improve their community; county contests and fairs, 4-H members can choose to take part in judged contests where they learn how to improve their projects; and record keeping, where members keep a written record of what they have done during the 4-H year, which helps to develop their business sense.
Questions should be called in to the WSU Extension offices in Kennewick at 509-735-3551 or Pasco at 509-545-3511.
This story was originally published May 30, 2016 at 4:19 PM with the headline "WSU Extension Q&A: Not too late to plant sweet corn."