“Spring has Sprung”

Shawnee County Extension Master

Gardeners’ Plant Sale

Saturday, May 7 from 9:00 AM to Noon

1740 SW Western Avenue

(behind the Expocentre just north of the livestock barn)

S pring has sprung and it’s once

again time to shop until you

drop! The Master Gardeners have

been working feverishly since early

January planting seeds and

transplanting seedlings making

ready for their 8th annual Master

Gardener Plant Sale Extravaganza!

Check out the new sale hours!

The sale has been well received in

the community and we look

forward to another bumper

attendance! Annuals, perennials

(straight from Master Gardeners’

gardens), vegetables, and herbs and houseplants are all on the sale bill. The proceeds go

toward educational programs and materials to teach and train the public. Come early.

The plants go quickly! See a listing of plants and sale prices at www.shawnee.ksu.edu.

(Click on Lawn and Garden.)

Baskets for Mother’s Day

12” hanging baskets and 14” Patio Pots of Flowers

There are many hanging baskets and 14” patio pots of flowers to

choose from including Prairie Star Annuals, plants proven to thrive

here in Kansas.

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Spring Has Sprung 1

Tractor Safety Training

for Youth

2

A Mild Winter’s Downside 2

Alfalfa Weevils 2

Controlling Nuisance

Moles

3

Starting Tomatoes Early 3

Master Gardener

Response Line is Open

3

Starting a Small Food

Business

4

Welcome Brenda Jarboe! 5

Strawberry Spinach Salad 5

Make a Plan for Meal

Time

6

Walk Kansas 6

Green Fair 6

Career Exploration Day 7

2016 Summer 4-H Camp 7

Calendars 8

April

2016

Shawnee County

Extension Office

1740 SW Western Avenue

Topeka, KS 66604

Phone: 785 232-0062

Fax: 785-232-0093

Email: sn@ksre.ksu.edu

Watch for plants that

attract Monarchs!

P A G E 2

Leroy W. Russell

County Extension

Agent

lrussell@ksu.edu

Tractor Safety Training for Youth June 7 - 8, Wamego 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Youth ages 14 or 15 years must

have completed a Tractor Safety

Course to work for anyone other

than a parent or legal guardian.

Registration is being accepted

now for the next class being

offered June 7 -8 at KanEquip in

Wamego. Each day begins at

9:00 am and concludes at 4:00 pm.

Youth 16 years of age and older are welcome to attend

to improve their safety skills. Cost is $30 per person to

cover materials and meals/snacks. RSVP by June 1st to

785-232-0062.

A Mild Winter’s Downside

It has been an unusually mild winter in Shawnee

County this year. We have not had to fight a lot of snow

or cold in the Topeka area. The vehicles that sit out

have been easy to start. Livestock people have not had

to cut ice much or worry about animals getting too cold,

and crop producers have been able to start early getting

ready for planting season.

Freezing weather typically kills off some insects,

whereas in a mild winter, the insects are free to be

fruitful and multiply. Mosquitoes, fleas and ticks have

been reported being out in early March this year in our

area. Does this mean that by early summer we could

have large numbers of insects? Only time will tell.

During March plants

have started growing

early due to the warmer

than usual temperatures.

Pastures are greening up,

trees are blooming,

alfalfa fields are

growing, and wheat has

come out of dormancy.

This could create some problems for crop producers if

we get a late frost. If the wheat and alfalfa are growing

too early or farmers start planting soybeans and corn

early, a late cold spell could cause a lot of damage to

these crops affecting yield and profitability.

The average last frost in the Topeka area is April 21

with as late as May 4. April will tell if we will have

problems with the growing season for 2016. Please be

cautious of planting too early and watch out for extra

insect pests.

Alfalfa Weevils Alfalfa weevil larvae were first detected in north central

Kansas on March 3rd. Saline and Geary County

reported finding small

larvae and pinprick-sized

holes. So, ready or not,

alfalfa weevil larvae are

here, and I would bet, many

more will be hatching in

the next few days to weeks.

Alfalfa weevils will continue to hatch and larvae

continue to develop any time temperatures exceed 48°F

– and those temperatures have been much more

common over the last few weeks than usual.

Thus, it looks like larvae will be emerging, and damage

progressing, relatively quickly. Whether this warm

weather will compress the alfalfa weevil larval feeding

so that the damage is not as stretched out as usual

remains to be seen.

There are also many lady beetles present in the alfalfa

fields we have checked, as well as a few pea aphids.

Treatment thresholds we use for alfalfa weevil

insecticide applications are 30-50% infestation, i.e. 1

larva/2-3 stems.

For more information on alfalfa weevils, please visit:

http://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/mf2999.pdf

Agriculture

P A G E 3

Horticulture Jamie Kidd

County Extension Agent

jamiehan@ksu.edu

Controlling Nuisance Moles

Numerous home remedies have been concocted to con-

trol moles including chewing gum, noisemakers, broken

glass, bleaches, windmills, and human hair. None have

been found to provide consistent and reliable control.

Poison baits also fail to work because moles feed on

earthworms and grubs, not vegetable matter. Even grub

control products are usually ineffective as most do not

control earthworms, and earthworms are the primary

food source for moles. The best control method is the

use of traps.

There are three types of traps (harpoon, choker, and

scissor-jawed) and

each can be

effective but may

take some time to

master. Try the

following sugges-

tions:

Moles use some tunnels more than others. Use a

broomstick or something similar to poke holes in a

number of runs. Check a day later to see which runs

have been “repaired.” These are the active runs and

should be used for trap placement. Place a trap in an

active run by excavating soil, placing the trap and then

replacing loose soil. Secure the trap so that the recoil

will not lift the trap out of the ground. Make sure the

triggering mechanism is in the center of the run. Finally,

push down two more holes, one on each side of the trap.

Moles should be caught when they try to repair the

tunnel. Move traps if no moles are caught within three

days. KSU Publications: MF-2803 Watering Established Lawns

MF-2067 Low Water Use Plants

C-701 Controlling Nuisance Moles

These publications are available at our office or online

at http://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu. Type the title in

the search box at the top of the page.

Starting Tomatoes Early

If you would like to have your tomato plants produce

earlier in the year, there are certain things to keep in

mind. Most people who try to get a jump on the season

set their tomatoes out early and hope they do well.

However, that is often not a good plan, as tomatoes

have to have certain requirements before they will grow

well. Those requirements are an acceptable soil temper-

ature for root growth and an acceptable air temperature

for both plant growth and fruit set.

Root Growth: Tomatoes need a soil temperature of at

least 55 degrees to do well. Plastic mulch is most com-

monly used to warm the soil. Several days may be need-

ed to raise the soil temperature. Check the soil tempera-

ture 2.5 inches deep in the soil at about 11:00 a.m. If

that is not possible, check the temperature before leav-

ing for work and again when your return and use the

average of the two.

Air Temperature: Plants must be protected from frost.

Hot caps or water teepees are placed over the young

plants to provide protection as well as a higher average

temperature to encourage growth. Eventually the plants

will outgrow the cover and start to develop flowers. But

if the temperature goes below 55 degrees at night, toma-

to flowers may not set. The plant is not hurt, but the

blossom will not set fruit, or, if it does set fruit, the fruit

is often misshapen.

Master Gardener

Response Line is Open

9:00 a.m. to Noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

weekdays

April through October

785-232-0062

For answers to your lawn, garden

and insect questions. Walk-in

questions are welcome also!

P A G E 4

Cindy M. Evans

County Extension

Director

cevans@ksu.edu

County Extension Director

Starting a Small Food Business

June 21st

Glacier’s Edge Winery 1636 SE 85th Street, Wakarusa

8:00 am—4:30 pm

Launching a successful food business is more than the

perfect recipe. This one-day workshop hosted by

K-State Research & Extension — Shawnee County and

CoreFirst Bank & Trust is packed with information

entrepreneurs need to develop a food product from

concept to consumer.

Learn about:

*product development assistance from the Value

Added Center at Kansas State University;

*rules and regulations for vendors selling food at a

Farmer’s Market;

*requirements for setting up a licensed kitchen and the

alternative use of an incubator kitchen;

*labor laws and your work force;

*resources from the Kansas Department of Agriculture

related to marketing and grants;

*assistance from the Washburn Small Business

Center to develop a business plan;

*From the Land of Kansas trademark program; and

* lessons learned by local entrepreneurs.

Download a detailed agenda and workshop objectives at

www.shawnee.ksu.edu or pick up a printed brochure at

Shawnee County Extension, 1740 SW Western.

Register by June 10th for only $25.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Name ________________________________

Mailing Address ________________________

City_________________ Zip ____________

Phone ________________________________

Email ________________________________

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Registration (includes lunch and breaks)

____$25 if received by June 10th

____$40 if received from June 11- June 17th

Checks payable to: Shawnee County Extension

Council. We do not accept credit cards.

Return registrations to: Shawnee County

Extension, 1740 SW Western, Topeka, KS 66604.

Learn from local entrepreneurs of

business challenges and opportunities.

Mike & Lisa Steinert

Bill & Angie Anderson

Rex & Shannon Rees

P A G E 5

Lisa Martin

County Extension

Agent

ljmartin@ksu.edu

Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program

Welcome Brenda Jarboe!

Brenda Jarboe has joined the Shawnee County

Extension staff as a SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator/

Community Garden Network Coordinator.

Her position is funded by Supplemental Nutrition

Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), sponsored

by the USDA through a contract with the Department

for Children and Families (DCF). SNAP-Ed is

implemented by Kansas State Research and Extension

(KSRE) with programming in 80+ counties through the

efforts of County Extension Agents and their assistants.

SNAP-Ed is a nutrition education program provided at

no cost to Kansas families with limited resources. Our

goal is to provide nutrition education to individuals and

families who receive food assistance or who are

eligible to receive food assistance.

Brenda will provide cooking classes and food

preservation programs, and will assist with

implementing community gardens. The gardens may be

run by low-income clients or by agencies or

organizations who will donate produce to food banks or

emergency centers.

Brenda will also coordinate the community garden

network to match gardeners with garden space, train

garden managers and volunteers, and disseminate

resources and grant opportunities. She will target areas

of Shawnee County that have limited access to fresh

produce such as Central and East Topeka.

Brenda will also serve on the Healthy Eating

Workgroup of Heartland Healthy Neighborhood

Coalitions to collaborate with local community

agencies and organizations that share a common

concern for the welfare of limited resource Kansans.

To date, Shawnee County Extension has provided

community garden training to churches, neighborhood

improvement associations, Department of Corrections,

Shawnee County Health Agency, and community

centers.

Hands-on Community Garden Training will be offered

on May 11 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at

the Hi-Crest community garden

located behind the Southern Hills

Mennonite Church at 511 SE 37th

St, Topeka.

If you are interested in learning

more about community gardens, contact Brenda at

785-232-0062, ext. 113 or brendajarboe@ksu.edu.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

6 ounce pkg. spinach leaves (or about 2 bunches)

1 pint strawberries (about 2 cups sliced)

Dressing:

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons sesame seeds

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

1/2 teaspoon minced onions

1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup cider vinegar

Directions:

1. Wash spinach leaves and strawberries in clear water

and drain well.

2. Remove stems from spinach leaves, tear into

bite-sized pieces and place in a large bowl.

3. Remove stems, slice strawberries and add to

spinach. Cover and chill until serving time.

4. In a blender or food processor, combine sugar,

seeds, onions, Worcestershire Sauce and paprika.

5. With blender running, add oil and vinegar to

combine ingredients. Chill.

6. Toss spinach and strawberries with about half the

dressing, reserving the rest for another recipe.

Shawnee County Community Garden Network

P A G E 6

Susan Fangman

Family & Consumer

Sciences Agent

sfangman@ksu.edu

Family & Consumer Sciences

Make a Plan for Meal Time

Over the course of the past

several years I have been asked

many times in one form or

another, “How can I feed my

family a nutritious, budget-

friendly meal that can be put on

the table quickly?” Over the

next few months I will be giving

you a few research-based ideas that have worked for

me to get dinner on the table in a short amount of time.

This month’s focus is on making a plan. For me, this is

the most important, but hardest step. Do a quick search

on the Internet to find an image of a weekly menu

planning guide that works for you. This will be a form

where you can write down what you plan to eat for

every meal each day of the week. As you are planning,

don’t forget to ask for input from the other people in

your household. My kids are more apt to eat what I

have planned if they are involved in at least a small

part of the process. Also, I think it is important to allow

yourself some flexibility. If Tuesday night’s dinner

plan involves a lot of preparation time, and you end up

working late, it is okay to have something you planned

for another night.

Use these tips along with your weekly menu planning

guide to make a menu in minutes.

Plan your menu around food items you already

have on hand, especially perishable foods in your

refrigerator. This will make your grocery budget

go farther and help you to use products before they

spoil.

Have the local store circulars available when you

are planning. Take advantage of sale products that

you and your family enjoy and use often.

Choose a variety of meals that include family

favorites, budget stretchers, and quick-fix meals.

Plan to use your left-overs. Sometimes, we have

left-over night at our house. I take everything out

of the refrigerator that needs eaten and set up a

buffet of sorts. It can be an unusual assortment, but

nothing gets wasted, and we leave the table full

and nourished.

Plan to make a large batch of one or two main

dishes to use later in the week, or to put in the

freezer for an up-coming busy week.

Make your grocery list as you plan your menu.

Keep your menus for future use.

Planning a menu will help you to avoid wasting food

and money. It will also save you time. No more trying

to decide what you will eat each night. No more

running to the grocery store to pick up last minute

items.

Sources: Dining On a Dime Eating Better for Less,

K-State Research and Extension and Food Sense, Utah

State University Extension

Please stop by the office or call if you would like more

meal planning tools or information. I am also providing

programming on topics related to meal planning and

cooking on a budget. Let me know if you would like

me to speak to your group.

Walk Kansas gets underway April 3rd! It is not too late

to get signed up. We will be taking registrations until

April 8th (but would prefer them before the 3rd). You

can find all of the needed forms on our website,

www.shawnee.ksu.edu or stop by the office for a

packet.

Green Fair

I will be at the Topeka and

Shawnee County Public Library

Green Fair on Saturday April

16th from 1-4. Stop by to say

“Hi” and pick up some

information on food preservation.

P A G E 7

Candis Meerpohl

County Extension

Agent

candism@ksu.edu

4-H Youth Development

Career Exploration Day

10 4-H youth took a day of their spring break to learn

about careers available in Shawnee County. Career

Exploration is an important part of planning for higher

education and life after high school.

Shawnee County 4-H was hosted by the Shawnee

County Sheriff’s Office, Capitol Federal Bank, Hy-Vee

and Kansas Rehabilitation Hospital. Youth received

tours and talks as local professionals revealed to them

how they got into their careers.

Many professionals stressed the importance of

shadowing careers they are interested in and putting an

emphasis on their math and science classes now.

The pharmacist at Hy-Vee, who is a former 4-H’er, also

stressed the importance of the 4-H record book. She

said that her 4-H record book got her many college

scholarships as well as helped her get into pharmacy

school.

The youth who participated deemed the day a success.

They also gave feedback about careers they would like

to learn about in the future. Career Exploration Day will

be offered again during Spring Break in 2017.

2016 Summer 4-H Camp

Registration is now open for 2016 Rock Springs 4-H

Camp June 4th-7th! Our theme for camp this year is

#4HFUNGROWSHERE following the National 4-H

campaign of #4HGROWSHERE.

Shawnee County camps with the Oz-Some camp group

that also includes: Saline County, Ottawa County,

Sedgwick County, McPherson County, Rice County,

Marion County and Leavenworth County. Our camp

group offers two different options for camp. Youth who

have completed 1st and 2nd grade prior to camp can

enroll in Rookie Camp. Rookie Camp is two days and

one night.

Youth having completed 3rd-7th grade prior to camp

can register for full-time camp that is four days and

three nights. Full-time campers are provided

transportation to and from camp from Shawnee County

Extension office. Rookie campers ride the bus one-way

to camp and parents have to provide the other half of

the transportation.

New this year we will have two sessions of Rookie

Camp! Rookies can select their preference of June

4th-5th or 6th-7th.

Campers register for camp online using

CampDoc. The link to the registration site is

on the 4-H page of the Extension website

under current events. www.shawnee.ksu.edu

Camper registration is due May 2nd. Youth

having completed 8th grade through 12th

grade can get a camp counselor application

on the website or at the Extension Office.

Counselor applications are due April 22nd.

Counselor interviews will be April 25th and 26th.

Camp prices are as follows:

Full-Time Camp: $198

Rookie Camp: $100

Camp Counselor: $107

Our group got to

sit in the Capitol

Federal Board

room while we

learned about the

duties of a Board

of Trustees.

Seth gets the view from

the driver’s seat of a

Sheriff’s vehicle.

P A G E 8

MARCH 2016

March 31 Spring Lawn Care, 7:00 p.m., TSCPL

APRIL 2016 April 3 Walk Kansas Starts April 4 Horticulture Response Line Opens, 9:00 a.m. to Noon and 1:00 to 4 p.m. April 5 Executive Board Mtg., 5:30 p.m., EMR April 6 4-H in the Library, 4 to 5:00 p.m., TSCPL April 14 “What Should I Plant in Kansas?” 7:00 p.m., TSCPL April 16 Green Fair, 1 to 4 p.m., TSCPL April 19 “From Farm To You,” Expocentre April 21 “Planting for Curb Appeal,” 7:00 p.m., TSCPL April 23 Earth Day at the Zoo April 26 Fair Board Assoc. Meeting, 7:00 p.m., EMR April 28 “Grandma’s Tomatoes,” 7:00 p.m., TSCPL

MAY 2016

May 1 Sheep/Swine/Goat/Bucket Calf Weigh-In, 2-4 p.m., location Blythe Farm May 7 Master Gardener’s Annual Plant Sale May 7 & 8 Spring Livestock Show, KS Expocentre May 5 4-H in the Library, 4-5 p.m., TSCPL May 10 Executive Board Mtg., 5:30 p.m., EMR May 12 “Community Gardens,” 7:00 p.m., TSCPL May 24 Fair Board Assoc. Meeting, May 25 PQA Training, 5:30 p.m., EMR May 26 “All About Trees,” 7:00 p.m., TSCPL May 27 PQA Training, 5:30 p.m., EMR May 28 Last Day of Walk Kansas May 30 Office Closed for Memorial Day Holiday May 31 to June 3 4-H Discovery Days at K-State

Extension Agents Cindy Evans, Director Susan Fangman, Family and Consumer Sciences Jamie Kidd, Horticulture Candis Meerpohl, 4-H Youth Development Lisa Martin, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Leroy Russell, Agriculture & Natural Resources

Extension Staff Connie DeHart, Master Gardener/SPIN Club Coordinator Joanne Domme, Office Professional, Agriculture and Horticulture Marc Galbraith, Horticulture Program Assistant Brooke Gray, 4-H Program Assistant Brenda Jarboe, SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator/Community Garden Network Coordinator Janice Jones, EFNEP Nutrition Assistant Margarita Munoz, EFNEP Nutrition Assistant Kim Seeley, Office Professional, 4-H Youth Development Kendra Stover, EFNEP Nutrition Assistant Tracy Tugman, EFNEP Nutrition Assistant Pam Weaver, Office Professional, Administration and Family and Consumer Sciences

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. K-State Research and Extension is committed to making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants. If you have special requirements due to a physical, vision or hearing disability, or a dietary restriction, please contact our office at 785-232-0062.

Calendars