SWREC Holds Horticulture Field Day

The Southwest Research and Extension Center held their annual Horticulture Field Day on Wednesday. After a sign in, Center Director Dr. Daniel Rivera stated he was really excited where the program is going and introduced experts who were there: Matt Bertucci, Dr. Amanda McWhirt, Aaron Joseph Cato, Dr. Hannah Wright Smith, Dr. Wendell Joseph Hutchins, Anthony Bowden and Dr. Vic Ford.

The field day included both indoor and outdoor events starting with a talk of pests and how to protect pumpkins including traps and row covers covered by Mr. Cato. Dr. McWhirt covered blackberry trellises with the contrast of a T-trellis and an RCA, that has a movable arm. The two were compared in terms of health of the plant, insects, and harvesting the berries. The RCA creates a healthier plant that can be protected from the cold and heat and sun as well as reducing the insect population. This trellis allows the blackberries to be laid down in cold weather and covered. Blackberry canes don’t like temperatures below 10 degrees. This method also can increase air flow by directing cane growth and pruning some of the canes very short.

Weed specialist, Dr. Hannah Wright Smith talked about the how to control weeds around peach trees with herbicide. Mulching, maintenance of mowing and pruning to create a v- shape in the winter were all recommended. Pruning in the summer was discouraged as it leaves the plant open to disease. Certain later fruiting varieties made it through the freeze but were hit by plum circulio. Mulches need to kept away from the base of the tree as mice will girdle them.

Other talks were on turf plots and high tunnel projects and watermelon and cantaloupe variety trial.

Inside there were food demonstrations and tastings. FCS Agent for Hempstead County Terry gave a welcome. The recipes included lemon blueberry bread, blackberry pudding, quick caprese salad, summer melon fruit salad, watermelon sorbet and watermelon rind stir fry and refrigerator pickles  James also demonstrated an automatic jam and jelly maker. Agents were there from Pulaski, Clark, Columbia, Cleveland, Garland, Hot Spring and Pike County.

There was lunch served and then there was a demonstration on grafting ornamental plants.