Ramsey County

March 25, 2005

Howdy!!!!

Well, here we go again!!!!!!!  Easter has come and gone, the geese are filling the air and people are busy talking of the planting season.  What great weather we are having!!!!!  I wished I was still raising cattle.  I can remember many storms we sailed through, including my last storm, “Hanna” with calves on the ground.  The thought of scours still leaves a sour taste in my mouth.  But when the whole picture plays out; it is so rewarding watching the newborn sprawled out over the freshly bedded straw or laying in the green pastures taking a 15 minute break.  Well, so much for my break, I need to get into this article as Terry and I travel to Doyon this morning for a coffee meeting.

Hardening your transplants!!!!!
Seedlings raised in a protective environment go into the world unprepared for the hardshop0s that await them.  Most plants are raised in a greenhouse type environment and need to be acclimated to the new surroundings.  Moving new plants to the outside can stress plants to the point of damage or even killing them.

Hardening your plants to the environment requires you to expose them to the environment gradually.  Start by leaving them outdoors during the day for a few hours in a shaded area, in a protected place, and then bring them indoors for the night shift.  Take the flowers out for a longer period of time every day, exposing them to more and more sunlight.  After about a week they should be ready for the outdoor environment. 

A cold frame, a low, open bottom box that allows sunlight to penetrate through the top, is another means of hardening your plants outdoors.  Start the process by covering the top with glass and covering part of the glass, gradually removing more and more of the covering until the plants are hardened.  Instead of bringing your plants indoors during the night just close up the box.  Remember if frost is threatening cover the plants with blankets. 

Calendar Dates!!!!!!
March  28 - Coffee shop talk with Terry Gregoire and Bill Hodous, Tronson Grain (Doyon 9 am)
March 31 - District 3 oilseed Council election, (11:30 am White House Café)
March 31 - Private Pesticide Training (Devils Lake, Armory 6-10 pm)
April 5  - Horticulture classes start (4 classes)
April 2  - Fruit day
April 2  - Gardening Saturday (East Grand Forks)
April 12 -Horticulture classes continue

524 4th Ave #5, 2nd Floor Ramsey County Courthouse
Devils Lake  ND  58301
701-662-7027
email - ramsey@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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