Category: February 2018

Navigating Through a Seed Catalog

Even though it may be cold and dreary outside, seed catalogs are starting to arrive! You can request catalogs for free from most seed suppliers. They are often shiny, colorful, and offer the latest high quality seeds. If you find the catalogs a bit overwhelming, you are not alone. Look for varieties that offer disease resistance and will do well in our summer heat.

For vegetable varieties that have been tested and proven to do well across the state of Kansas, follow this link:

https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/l41.pdf

By: Cassie Homan

The Powerful Potency of Plant Foods

For years, nutrition experts have touted the benefits of eating plant foods to combat inflammation and chronic diseases.

Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have discovered the power of plant foods rich in anthocyanins may have in preventing or reducing colorectal cancer cell growth. Anthocyanins are color pigments that include purple, red, and blue hues.

The research included in vitro studies. They found that the anthocyanin extracts induced apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. Apoptosis is essentially the destruction of cells so they die. Therefore, the growth of colon cancer is inhibited.

Foods rich in anthocyanins include blueberries, blackberries, cherries, grapes, purple corn, red cabbage, red beets, and many more.

Source: www.ift.org/IFTNEXT/010918.aspx

By:  Ashley Svaty

Master Gardener Pepper Trial

2017 marked the second summer that the Master Gardeners conducted a Sweet Pepper Trial in the Post Rock District. A total of 69 pounds of peppers were harvested and donated to senior centers, family, and friends. The varieties that had the largest yields by weight were the Sweet Banana, Summer Sweet, and Declaration. This was the second summer in a row for the Sweet Banana and Declaration to be top producers for the Master Gardeners. The peppers with the smallest yields were Alliance and Camelot.

To read the whole pepper trial summary click the link:

http://www.postrock.k-state.edu/docs/answers-column/horticulture-answers/Sweet%20Pepper%20Trial%20News%20Column.pdf

By: Cassie Homan