Q. I want to plant a Western Redbud but cannot find one locally. In fact a local nursery told me they don’t grow well here due to the heat. When I told him they occur naturally at Red Rock, he was incredulous. Any suggestions about how to obtain this tree? A. Yes, it is more difficult to find and you may have to purchase through native plant nurseries. It is much tougher and just as beautiful as its eastern counterpart which is everywhere in the nursery trade. It may be too late this year to ship to Las Vegas but you can give online nurseries like Las Pilitas http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/191–cercis-occidentalis or start it from seed https://www.etsy.com/listing/152741281/western-redbud-tree-cercis-occidentalis?utm_campaign=shopping_us_SmartSeeds_sfc_osa&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_custom1=0&utm_content=6728015&gclid=CjwKEAjwkq7GBRDun9iu2JjyhmsSJADHCD_HVOmKPfaGPgU89SXTH5yxpKX2PsFaYUoJQedUQ2n5DxoClxzw_wcB Don’t put it facing south or west near a hot wall and no rock mulch and don’t let local maintenance companies prune it. It’s a showstopper. Try Mexican redbud instead. A good alternative for dry, desert landscapes.

Q. Can I grow green beans in LV?  If so, can you suggest a varietal and the  best time to plant.  Thank You! A. Yes you can. Green beans are grown as French (filet) beans, snap beans, beans for shelling and dry beans. Green beans are a bit fussy as to the time of year to plant them here because they don’t like cold soils and they don’t like hot weather.  Royalty purple pod bean So during the deepest parts of winter they do not grow well and during hot weather either. You have truly cold weather crops like lettuce, peas, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower and radish. And you have hot weather crops like tomato, eggplant and melons. Beans are in between. Dragon tongue bean Plant them in February until they give out with the heat or even better in September until the succumb to the cold. The best tasting green snap beans are some of the old varieties like Blue Lake, Kentucky Wonder, Contender and Topcrop to name a few. Pole beans are more productive than bush beans but you have to provide a trellis for them.   Plants dwarfed and collapsing because planted in cold soils and collar rot Planting. Plant beans in full sun. Beans will not germinate in soil colder than 60°F. Some varieties develop crow rot in cold soils and die. Follow directions on the seed packet. Put bean seeds in warm water for 3 to 4  hours or until they plump up before planting. This speeds up how fast they sprout from the soil. Plant bush beans ½ inch deep and 12 inches apart. Plants in blocks can be 12 inches apart while rows are best at 18 inches apart. Crown rot of besn, Dragon tongue Support pole beans. Pole beans require the support of poles, tepees, cages, or trellises. Set up supports when you sow seed. Air circulation is crucial to warding off disease. Beans require even, consistent watering. Don’t water with a sprinkler. Once every couple of weeks wash off any dust on the leaves to help reduce spider mite problems. Sorting French beans at Kabaru co-op in Kenya Pick beans at the right time: pick French beans when they are pencil thick; pick snap beans when you feel seeds forming in pods–the bean should snap when bent in the middle; pick green shell beans when the pods are full size but have not begun to dry; pick dried beans when the pods are stiff and break with pressure.

Roasters | Sugar Mountain Farm

USDA Announces Over $60 Million in Grant Availability for the Specialty Crop Industry Date:  Tuesday, March 7, 2017 – 1:00pm Contact Info: Michelle Person [email protected] 202-260-8210 WASHINGTON, March 7, 2017 – The U. S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is making more than $60 million in grants available to support farmers growing fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops, also known as specialty crops.  The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) grants are allocated to U.S. states and territories for projects that help support projects including research, agricultural extension activities, and programs to address the needs of America’s specialty crop industry. Interested parties should apply directly through their state departments of agriculture, which manage the competitive grant process.  A listing of the SCBGP’s state contacts, and how to apply with state application due dates, can be found on the AMS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program web page. State departments of agriculture must submit their applications to AMS by June 7, 2017. The SCBGP funding, administered by AMS, is allocated based on a formula that considers both specialty crop acreage and production value in each State and Territory.  The grants are part of USDA’s continued effort to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and provide resources to strengthen American agriculture. USDA encourages states to submit specialty crops projects related to the following priority areas: research; food safety; sustainability; developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops; pest and disease control; child and adult nutrition; improving efficiency of distribution systems; and helping businesses to comply with the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act. For more information about these grant programs, including program background, visit the AMS grants website: www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants.  The website also contains a link “What AMS Grant is Right for Me?” under which applicants can use a grants decision tree to determine which AMS grant fits their project best. Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter @USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog. USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider and employer.