Most insects are not pests. Only those that feed on desirable plants or transmit disease cause problems for gardeners. Many insects are very useful. Some are pollinators of fruits, flowers, and vegetables, while others help control insect pests.
There are three types of beneficial insects: predators, pollinators, and parasitoids.
With a little extra planning and care, you can enjoy fresh vegetables from your garden most of the year. Many cool-season crops produce well in the fall and, in mild-winter areas of the Pacific Northwest, hold through the winter if protected. You can plant these vegetables in mid- to late...
This publication is a technical and practical guide for soil acidification in commercial fields. It explains the soil chemistry involved, how to determine whether pH adjustment is feasible, and methods for acidifying soil. This guide is divided into five sections:
• Understanding soil pH
• The problem—iron chlorosis
• Causes...
When you establish a new pear orchard, the proper choice of rootstock is as important as the choice of variety and site. This is true because the rootstock is involved in determining two key factors: your variety’s susceptibility to several serious diseases, and your tree’s performance
in your climate and...
While the objectives of pruning and tree training have changed little over the years, the need for attention to pruning and training has increased dramatically. Pacific Northwest cherry growers now compete in a world market, making fruit size and quality increasingly important. In addition, labor is less available and more...
Revised July 1997. Reprinted January 2001. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
Winegrape production in the Pacific Northwest has expanded into areas where low winter
temperatures periodically cause cane damage or death. In the Walla Walla Valley, for example, minimum temperatures plummeted to below -20°F for several days in 1996 and 2004, killing most exposed canes. Cane temperatures most certainly remained below...
Paterson’s curse is a member of the borage family (Boraginaceae). It is native to Mediterranean Europe and North Africa but has spread to southern Africa, South and North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Outside of its native habitat, it is an aggressive, drought-tolerant plant that adapts to many soil moisture...