Wichita gardener’s almanac for July 16, 2016
A ripe peach — Not all peaches ripen on a tree at the same time. It can take three to five pickings to harvest the fruit of one tree, Ward Upham of K-State writes in the Horticulture 2016 newsletter.
Peaches can be picked before they’re ripe and while they’re still hard to prevent damage from birds or if you’re looking for a higher pectin content or firmer fruit for jams, jellies or canning, Upham says. Fruit will ripen off the tree and will still be very tasty if not quite as sweet as tree-ripened fruit, he says.
Still, the fruit must reach a certain stage before it’s picked early, and the indications are in the color and ease of removal from the branch. The color to look for is the ground color — the part that does not turn red — for example, around the stem. If there is any tinge of green, the peach should not be picked. If the color is yellow, then go on to check to be sure that the peach will separate easily from the branch when it is lifted and twisted. If both those conditions are met, the peach is ready to be picked. Store peaches that are picked early at room temperature. Ripe peaches can be refrigerated to keep longer.
Plant a Row for the Hungry — Fresh vegetables and fruit from the garden at its peak quality can be donated to the needy at these locations during business hours: Kansas Food Bank, 1919 E. Douglas; Augusta Ace Home Center, 316 W. Seventh, Augusta; Brady Nursery, 11200 W. Kellogg; Hillside Nursery, 2200 S. Hillside; Hillside Feed and Seed, 1805 S. Hillside; Johnson’s Garden Centers at 21st and Woodlawn and 2707 W. 13th St.; Valley Feed & Seed, 1903 S. Meridian; and Woodard Mercantile, 4160 N. Maize Road.
Want to be a master gardener? — A new class of master-gardener volunteers will be trained in the fall, and people who want to apply for the program are asked to attend an informational meeting Aug. 1. Training is held during the day on Thursdays in the fall and costs $120; scholarships are available. The informational meeting will be at 10 a.m. Aug. 1 at the Extension Education Center at 7001 W. 21st St. Applications are due by Aug. 5.
Planting calendar — Snap beans, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower.
Garden events
Tuesdays on the Terrace — Across the Pond will perform at the next Tuesdays on the Terrace at Botanica. The weekly summer event is from 6 to 8 p.m. and features drinks and dinner for sale as well as music. Picnics also are welcome. The theme this week is Weeping Willows and Whippets. Admission is $10, $5 for Botanica members.
Annual orchid auction — The Kansas Orchid Society will have its annual auction at 2 p.m. Sunday at Botanica, 701 N. Amidon. Admission to it is free and open to the public, and proceeds benefit the orchid society.
Talk on mulching — The lunchtime lecture at Botanica on Wednesday will be about correct mulching techniques. The talk, at 12:15, is included in Botanica admission or membership. Truffles will have lunch for sale for $8 from 11 a.m. to 12:15.
Art Garden tour — There will be a free tour of the Art Garden at the Wichita Art Museum, 1400 W. Museum Blvd., from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 16. It is open to ages 6 and older. Meet in the foyer. If it’s raining, an indoor tour will be conducted.
This story was originally published July 15, 2016 at 9:43 AM with the headline "Wichita gardener’s almanac for July 16, 2016."