Weekend Gardening: Freshly Delivered Seed Catalogs
February 19, 2012
Seed catalogs are arriving in the mailbox. This is an excellent time to browse and decide what you would like to include in your spring garden.
Vegetables are typically started by either directly sowing the seed into a prepared garden bed or starting the seeds indoors and then transplanting the seedling into the garden. Each method has pros and cons.
There are some vegetables that do not transplant easily. These include bean, corn, cucumber, cantaloupe, mustard, peas, squash, turnips and watermelon. For these difficult-to-transplant plants, it’s best to sow the seed directly into the garden.
Many vegetables, however, can be easily transplanted as seedlings. Starting them indoors offers several advantages
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- For seeds that are expensive, such as many of the newer hybrids, seeding indoors to raise transplants conserves seeds. A higher germination rate and more high-quality plants can be produced under controlled environmental conditions.
- You can avoid adverse weather by starting seeds indoors during cool weather, and then move outdoors, when the weather warms up.
- Earlier harvest is more attainable by using transplants than by direct seeding in the field.
- You get to choose the best seedlings to be planted in the garden.
- Starting seeds indoors in a soilless media helps reduce seedling decay. The disease-free, precise environment of a planting pot is more ideal for seed germination and seedling growth than is the garden soil.
Vegetables that are easily started indoors and transplanted include beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, collards, endive, lettuce and tomato. Others that can be transplanted but may require some care include carrot, celery, eggplant, kale, kohlrabi, leek, onion, and pepper.
There are a wide variety of containers available for starting seeds for transplants. Just be sure that they are clean and free of disease organisms. Also be sure that your containers drain well. Standing water promotes damping-off diseases.
It is essential that the growing medium be free of diseases, insects, and weed seeds. The medium needs to be loose, well-drained, and fine-textured. The best growing medium will have the best combination of good moisture-holding capacity, good drainage, and high nutrient retention capability.
It is too risky to use outside soil for raising transplants. If soil is contaminated, seedlings may be lost due to disease. Use a commercially prepared seedling mix. It is worth the cost of commercial media to ensure that the seed germination rate is high and that the quality of the seedling is excellent.
It is best to dampen the growing medium thoroughly before sowing seeds. This will ensure good distribution of water throughout the container while minimizing the chance of washing or splashing small seeds away.
Little water is needed before seedlings emerge. Too much water will promote damping-off organisms. Once seedlings emerge, check them for dryness and water as needed. Never allow seedlings to wilt. Once again, be sure there is good drainage so containers never sit in water.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
‘Guys And Dolls’ Friday At Flomaton High
February 16, 2012
The Flomaton High School Drama Club will present Damon Runyon’s Guys and Dolls tonight at Friday night at 7:00 in the school auditorium. Tickets are $5.
Nathan Detroit (played by Tyler Dove), the organizer of the oldest permanent floating crap game, bets Sky Masterson (played by Phillip Lloyd) that he can’t make the next girl he sees fall in love with him– Miss Sarah Brown (Victoria Creamer) of the Save-a-Soul Mission. Meanwhile, Nathan’s girlfriend and the main attraction at the Hot Box nightclub — Miss Adelaide (K J Head), only wants to get married. In the end the gamblers and “spunky do-gooders” are thrown together.
“The students have worked really hard on this year’s musical. It’s going to be a great production,” said Flomaton drama teacher Jerry Aaron. “Come and bring all of your friends.”
For more photos from the production, click here.
Pictured top: The gamblers — Joey Macks, Hunter Chavers, Phillip Lloyd, Dan Condrey, Max Wilcox, Brett Gafford, Brett Newton and hanging from the scalfoldling, Jay Harris and Zach Hadley in the Flomaton High School production of Guys and Dolls. Pictured below: The Save-a-Soul Mission Band — Kristen Dixon, Molly Barnett, Jamie Dailey, Alexis Williams, and Victoria Creamer. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
EREC Washington Youth Tour Winners Named
February 16, 2012
Two Central High School students have won the Escambia River Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington contest.
Lauren Griswold and Logan Rowell will represent EREC on the Washington Youth Tour in June. While in Washington, Griswold and Rowell will see the sights, learn about the nation’s capital and rural electrification while making new friends from across the country.
Students from across the EREC service area interviewed with an independent panel of judges. Contestants were judged on their knowledge of EREC and the history of rural electrification. Personal attributes of each candidate such as character, academic ability, personality and leadership abilities were also considered.
Pictured: Central High students Lauren Griswold and Logan Rowell, winners of the EREC Youth Tour to Washington contest. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Care Center Names Valentine’s King, Queen
February 16, 2012
Century Care Center celebrated Valentine’s Day in grand style with sparkling juice, good food, good music and lots of great fellowship. During the event, Louise Jackson and Paul Louviere were named Century Care Center’s Valentine’s king and queen. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Drought Continues, Worries Area Farmers
February 15, 2012
Despite our recent rains, the North Escambia area remains in a drought as area farmers head toward spring planting season.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows the area in a moderate to severe drought — a drought that has persisted about a year. Most of Escambia County in Florida, except for an area along the Alabama state line, and Santa Rosa County are in severe drought. Escambia County, Alabama, and adjacent areas in Florida are in a moderate drought.
Less than half the normal precipitation fell across much of the are during the last 90 days with some areas with a deficit of as much as 10 inches in the past four months. The seasonal drought outlook for the period through April 30 does not show any improvement for the North Escambia area with overall dry conditions continuing.
Last year, Escambia and Santa Rosa counties were declared federal disaster areas due to the combined effect of excessive drought and the summer’s high temperatures. Many farmers lost a large percentage of their crops to the dry soils.
The U.S. Drought Monitor is published by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln using a variety of climatic data.
Pictured top: A field of corn is irrigated last May at Highway 4 and Dortch Road in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Here’s Your Sign: Happy Valentine’s Day
February 14, 2012
Nothing says “I Love You” on Valentine’s Day like construction equipment… at least not for the Jacksons of Barrineau Park.
Since Crystal Jackson is now a stay at home mom, Gabe Jackson couldn’t send flowers to her office this year. So the next best thing was a lighted construction sign across from Molino Park Elementary School where Crystal would be dropping off daughter Alyssa at school.
The sign proclaims for all traveling Highway 97 to see — “Happy V Day Crystal…I Love You”.
“I was definitely surprised; he had mentioned he was exited about something a few weeks ago so it took me a minute to put it together,” Crystal said.
The couple will celebrate their 11th anniversary in April. They were high school sweethearts, together now for 16 years.
“I am thankful God put us together,” she said.
Pictured top: Crystal Jackson’s Valentine’s surprise Tuesday morning in front of Molino Park Elementary School. Pictured inset: Crystal and Gabe Jackson. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Students Raise $2,117 For St. Judes Children’s Hospital
February 14, 2012
Bratt Elementary students raised over $2,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during a recent Math-A-Thon event.
The 49 students that took part in the Math-A-Thon raised $2,117.32 for St. Jude. Students turning in the top three donation amounts were Christopher Nordman ($503), Drake Jordan ($100) and Hadden Barlow ($78.77), according to results that were announced Monday morning.
The Math-A-Thon program allows students to use their math powers and help the kids of St. Jude at the same time. Participants received donations from sponsors for completing a “Funbook” filled with math problems.
Donations and used by St. Jude to continue its mission of finding cures and saving children with cancer and other serious childhood diseases.
“We would like to thank all the students who participated and all the people who donated to help our Math-A-Thon be a success,” said Bratt Math-A-Thon coordinator Linda Jackson.
Pictured top: Most of the 49 Bratt Elementary students that took part in a Math-A-Thon raising $2,117.32 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Pictured below: Top fund raisers in the event were Christopher Nordman, $503 (middle), Drake Jordan, $100 (left) and Hadden Barlow, $78.77 (right). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
EREC Sends Area Juniors On Tallahassee Youth Tour
February 13, 2012
Fourteen high school juniors were guests of Escambia River Electric Cooperative last week in Tallahassee as they learned more about their state legislature and electric cooperatives.
Participants were Aaron Floyd, Courtney Lambert and Sandy Rainwater from Northview High School; J. D. Atkins, Jacob Burnham, Camille Driver, Kathryn English, Joshua Gilmore, Evan Goodson, Chanda Hawthorne and Carly Owens from Jay High School; Lauren Griswold and Logan Rowell from Central High School; and Brett Campbell from Pace High School.
While in Tallahassee, the students met with nearly 100 other high school juniors from electric cooperatives throughout the state of Florida. EREC delegates enjoyed visiting the Challenger Museum and viewing the IMAX movie, Hubble (3D). Youth Tour participants observed court in session in the Florida Supreme Court and participated in a mock session in the senate chambers where various members of the Legislature addressed the group.
The Youth Tour program provided students an opportunity to learn more about their state government and electric cooperatives and also gives them a chance to interact
with other students from co-ops throughout the state.
“It was a great educational experience and a lot of fun for the entire group,” according to Sabrina Owens, EREC’s marketing director.
Pictured top: EREC Youth Tour delegates on the steps of the Capitol — (front, L-R) Lauren Griswold, Kathryn English, Carly Owens, J. D. Atkins, Aaron Floyd and Jacob Burnham, (back row) Brett Campbell, Joshua Gilmore, Courtney Lambert, Sandy Rainwater, Camille Driver, Chanda Hawthorne, Evan Goodson and Logan Rowell. Pictured below: Rep. Doug Broxson meets with Youth Tour participants. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Birth: Breanna Nicole Johnson
February 12, 2012
Josh and Heather Johnson are proud to announce the birth of Breanna Nicole Johnson. Breanna was born Wednesday, February 1 and weighed 8-pounds, 12 ounces.
Breanna’s grandparents are Marcus and Tinia Hennington of Cantonment, Billy Cox of Alabama and Elizabeth Cox of Pensacola, and Sandy Standford of Newman, GA.
Ernest Ward Holds Valentine’s Dance, Names Court (With Photo Gallery)
February 11, 2012
Ernest Ward Middle School held its annual Valentine’s Dance Friday night, naming a queen and her court based upon student votes.
Eighth grader Jessica Barrows was named queen, and Gavin Grant was named king. From the seventh grade, McKensie Colvin was named maiden, and Dustin Bethea was named knight. Sixth grade maiden was Raegen Harrell and sixth grade knight was Micheal “MJ” Jones.
For a photo gallery with the complete court, click here.
Pictured top: (L-R) Ernest Ward Middle School Valentine’s Dance sixth grade Maiden Raegen Harrell and Knight Micheal “MJ” Jones, King Gavin Grant, Queen Jessica Barrows, and eighth grade Knight Dustin Bethea and Maiden McKensie Colvin. Pictured below: King Gavin Grant and Queen Jessica Barrows NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
