Dig This!

When a tomato reaches a stage when it is half green-half red, a layer of cells forms across the stem of the fruit sealing it off from the vine. It doesn’t detach but no more ‘stuff’ is moving into or out of the fruit. All the fruit is doing is hanging there getting riper. It will do this on or off the vine as well as in the dark or in the light.  Ripening will proceed in relation to temperature. The warmer it is the faster ripening occurs (up to a point).  In very hot weather red pigments don’t form so the tomatoes will have a orange-red color. Also, bright sun can burn the fruit causing a sunburned spot. A sudden rain can cause the skin to crack and a rot can enter the crack. Finally, a worm can start to feed on the fruit.  The ‘take home message’ in all of this is harvest your tomatoes when they get to that half-green, half-red stage.  You will not sacrifice any flavor and you will have control over the ripening process- resulting in a deeper red frui...

  The frequent, heavy rains in certain areas of the state have resulted in the appearance of mushrooms in home lawns and landscape beds. Although mushrooms are often spectacular in size and color, most are relatively harmless to plant life. Some of these mushrooms are associated with arc-like or circular patterns in turfgrass called fairy rings. The ring pattern is caused by the outward growth of fungal mycelium. The mycelium forms a dense, mat-like structure in the soil that decomposes organic matter. This decomposition releases nitrate into the soil, which in turn stimulates the growth of the grass at the outer portion of the ring. This results in a dark green appearance of the grass at the margin of the ring. Unfortunately, the thick fungal mat formed by the fairy ring fungus interferes with water infiltration. The fungus also may release certain byproducts that are toxic to the turf. This can lead to dieback of the turf close to the ring. Fairy rings are d...