Numbered Publications: Horticulture
NEP-233: Growing Your Own: Composting
Daniel Bowen, Rick Durham, Erika Olsen, Rachel Rudolph | Nov. 16, 2023 (New)
Composting is the controlled breakdown of materials such as leaves, grass clippings, and food scraps, also called organic matter. During composting, tiny microorganisms feed on these leftovers. Once the microorganisms are done eating, compost will be all that remains.
ID-91: An IPM Scouting Guide for Common Problems of Cucurbit Crops in Kentucky
Ric Bessin, Nicole Ward Gauthier, Rachel Rudolph, Shawn Wright | Oct. 20, 2023 (Major Revision)
Long before the term "sustainable" became a household word, farmers were implementing sustainable practices in the form of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. IPM uses a combination of biological, cultural, physical, and chemical methods to reduce and/or manage pest populations. These strategies are used to minimize environmental risks, costs, and health hazards. Pests are managed, to reduce their negative impact on the crop, but they are rarely eliminated entirely.
HENV-713: BMP Maintenance and Operation: Retention Basin
Benjamin Currens, Andrea Drayer, Rick Durham, Brad Lee | Oct. 12, 2023 (New)
Retention basins, or wet ponds, retain a deep, permanent pool of water that can collect stormwater and release it slowly to maintain a desired water level, after which the excess stormwater is released slowly via an outlet (drawdown orifice). Retention basins should always have a baseline level of water present and may be vegetated. Retention basins provide a higher level of pollutant retention (up to 80 percent) and a lower chance of sediment resuspension than detention basins (dry ponds).
HENV-714: BMP Maintenance and Operation: Grass Swale
Benjamin Currens, Andrea Drayer, Rick Durham, Brad Lee | Oct. 12, 2023 (New)
Grass swales, or dry swales, are designed to transport stormwater, promote infiltration, and capture sediment during a storm event. Grass swales are turfgrass-planted channels constructed with wide bottoms to encourage infiltration of stormwater into the underlying soil. Vegetation in the channel functions to reduce the speed of stormwater and trap sediment as water is conveyed through the channel. When functioning properly, these swales hold water no longer than six hours after a storm and should remain dry until the next storm event.
HENV-712: BMP Maintenance and Operation: Filter Strip
Benjamin Currens, Andrea Drayer, Rick Durham, Brad Lee | Oct. 12, 2023 (New)
Filter strips are planted and maintained strips of vegetation designed to provide pretreatment of stormwater runoff before it flows into adjacent best management practices (BMPs). Gently sloped, the dense vegetation within the strip reduces the speed of stormwater. This allows for the capture of sediment as stormwater from impervious surfaces passes through the filter strip.
HENV-715: BMP Maintenance and Operation: Detention Basin
Benjamin Currens, Andrea Drayer, Rick Durham, Brad Lee | Oct. 12, 2023 (New)
Detention basins, or dry ponds, are designed to collect water during a storm event and hold it for a certain amount of time, usually 48 hours. This short impoundment of stormwater allows pollutants carried in the stormwater to settle to the bottom of the basin before collected stormwater is released through a slow-release outlet. When functioning properly, these basins should remain dry after the release of water until the next storm event.
ID-1: The Kentucky Extension Master Gardener Program
Sharon Bale, Tom Barnes, Jessica Bessin, Kenneth Clayton, Rick Durham, Bill Fountain, J.D. Green, Kelly Jackson, Krista Jacobsen, Jonathan Larson, Brad Lee, Kimberly Leonberger, Adam Leonberger, Gregg Munshaw, A.J. Powell, Edwin Ritchey, Rachel Rudolph, Robbie Smith, Matthew Springer, Lee Townsend, Nicole Ward Gauthier, Stacy White, Mark Williams, Erica Wood, Shawn Wright | Aug. 24, 2023 (New)
Plants are essential to life on earth. Either directly or indirectly, they are the primary food source for humans and other animals. Additionally, they provide fuel, replenish the earth's oxygen supply, prevent soil erosion, slow down wind movement, cool the atmosphere, provide wildlife habitat, supply medicinal compounds, and beautify our surroundings.
ID-172: An IPM Scouting Guide for Common Pests of Solanaceous Crops in Kentucky
Ric Bessin, Nicole Ward Gauthier, Rachel Rudolph, Shawn Wright | Aug. 14, 2023 (Minor Revision)
Proper identification of pathogens and insect pests as well as nutritional and physiologic disorders and even herbicide drift is essential to determining the proper course of action. The pictures included in this guide represent some common pests or problems that growers may encounter when producing solanaceous crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and potatoes) in Kentucky.
NEP-232: Growing Your Own: Sweet Potatoes
Daniel Bowen, Rick Durham, Rachel Rudolph | Jul. 6, 2023 (New)
Add sweet potatoes to your garden this year if you have enough space. Despite what their name suggests, sweet potatoes (sometimes written as the single-word "sweetpotatoes") are not related to white potatoes. They like to grow in warm weather. They are healthy and a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C.
NEP-231: Growing Your Own: Potatoes
Daniel Bowen, Rick Durham, Rachel Rudolph | Jul. 6, 2023 (New)
Potatoes grow well in the spring or fall. They are not roots but tubers, which are a type of stem. Potatoes are a good source of vitamins B and C, potassium, and complex carbohydrates.
