Multnomah County Master Gardener Association

Future crop for the Willamette Valley could be olives. Pictured are some olive trees growing in a test plot in Aurora on an OSU Extension site. Harvest is November. (What a plant nerd does on a too hot to garden day is look to the future.) Bonus pic is of a view of Wyeast/Mt. Hood.

Aphids Provide a Meal for Many!
Lady beetles are feasting on an aphid colony on Jewel fava bean plants. The fava beans. planted as cover crop, are now serving as an breeding ground for a variety of parasitic and predatory insects.

Also feeding here are tiny parasitic wasps (Aphidinnae spp.), several species of flies feeding on honey dew from the aphids and on the aphids themselves, and downy leather-winged beetles (a species of soldier beetles (Podabrus pruinosus)). While this species of black aphids appears to prefer the fava beans to other plants, the predatory and parasitic insects are not particular about the kind of aphids they eat. Their rising populations should help keep insect populations in balance throughout the garden.

The beetles and flies also serve as unwitting pollinators as they roam about the plants collecting and spreading pollen as they go. The pollen collects on their legs and bodies as they search the plants for prey.

Master Gardener volunteers John Jordan and Martha Mealy are demonstrating methods to support to tomatoes as they grow and reach for the sun. All tomatoes in this bed are indeterminate varieties, meaning they vine and will continuously bear fruit until the first frost. Unlike bush types (determinate) they require some sort of trellising and staking and benefit from regular pruning of side shoots to manage their size.

Cages: Square, round or conical wire tomato cages are placed around the plant to support the weight of the branches as the plant bears fruit. In this demonstration bed, a spiral-shaped metal stake has been placed at the center of the cage The plant stem will be threaded through the spiral to give the stem support. Two or three main stems will be allowed to grow. Suckers will be pruned as they emerge. Twine or velcro or plant clips can be used to tie the branches to the cage for additional support.

Cattle Panels: Cattle panels have been installed on three sides of a square area, supported by posts. The panels have been secured to the posts using zip ties. As the plants grow they will be tied onto the panels with velcro or twine. The plants will be pruned to allow only two leaders (or main stems) to grow. Suckers or side shoots will be frequently pruned allowing the plant to put more energy into growing fruit than leaves.

String Method: This is space-saving method of growing and produces large, easy-to-harvest fruit. It also maximizes air flow around the plant reducing risk of fungus. Plants will be trained to grow up the strings that are tied to support structures at both the top and bottom. Stems will be wrapped around the string as the plant grows and secured using tomato clips, velcro or twine. The plants will be pruned to have only one main stem. Suckers will be removed and lower leaves cut off.

Join us to learn more about pollinators in our Demonstration Garden. (And get CE credits if you’re an OSU Extension Master Gardener.)

Come to our Demonstration Garden on Sunday and learn more about gardening with pollinators. Drop by between 10 and 1 PM.

Join us to learn about gardening for pollinators on May 24th.

Hoyt Arboretum has some interesting classes coming up. Tree pruning and all about angiosperms. And who wouldn’t want to try forest bathing? We’re fortunate to have this great resource in Multnomah County. Hoyt Arboretum

New workshops and popular classics for late spring at the Arboretum.

Check them out and sign up at hoytarboretum.org/classes (link in bio).







Class fees preventing you from signing up? Reach out to us at [email protected] for our Income Assistance Program discount code.

We not only sold thousands of plants, we shared laughs, learned new things, and ate some great tamales! Thank you all for a smooth successful sale and community celebration!

We’re here until 2!