Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / May 2, 1985, edition 1 / Page 24
Part of The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
< * " * I'l II . Page 12-B?THE BRUNSWICK BEA Dry, Hum County's ! BY TERRY POPE What do red, juicy strawberries have in common with dark, ugly forest fires? They both thrive on dry, humid spring weather. "Surprisingly, if you could custom r i^rraEa/nsu? DA III .EN E SKIPPER, top rluhl, in Crossroads, plek their own strnwher //coastal /t^AWALLPAPEF M( &GARPE1 Main Streot Shallotte 754-6965 754-8049 We're Setting Trends Carpet Wallpaper V Commercial & Residentia offfarrc | ^ 0 Compl Hanging I (' "> .w. V Bet O IP?' p s* ^? J. AZALEA ^ ? 'OMAJO O ^|$^V 1 ^ iimict >*S>*?-fS>? CON, Thursday, May 2, 1985 iid Weather Strawberry order weather for strawberries, you'd want a dry, humid spring," said Barclay Poling, small fruits specialist with the N.C. State University Agriculture Extension Service. "It's like the old saying, 'One man's f ? I .pr^~ " . 4* MAM PHOTO) IV liHPvroPt id Juily Simmons, both ol Hickman's rlcs trom a locul Held. , For Others To Follow" A If* I * vinyl erticol & Mini Blinds I Professional Installation <: > << <*?-? ) *oifson's Farm Hwy. 17, 1 M We're the Growirw EXPERTS lete line off Gi Baskets F? Iding Plants otted Plants We carry a full liiffe of petl are qualified to assist vou pest control needs. A Helps CroD i disaster is another man's fortune.' " Unfortunately, dry and humid springs also create hazardous conditions for forest fires, which has been the case in Brunswick County the past several months. More than 1,800 acres of woodland have burned since the fires began breaking out in midMarch, wtiile strawberries have been ripening in the fields. Poling toured the county's s,rawberry farms last week with Brunswick County Agriculture Extension Agent Billy Barrow Jr., and liked what he saw. Brunswick County was the first county in the state that began picking strawberries by midApril. "This is one of the prettiest plantings around," Poling said while touring one county farm. Strawberries will not ripen in the piedmont and mountain regions of the state until mid-May, which gives Brunswick County an advantage in the market. However, keeping the advantage wasn't as easy as it may seem to the average buyer or strawberry lover. Most strawberry farmers suffered anywhere from a 50 to 75 percent reduction in their crops due to January's bitter cold spell, Poling said, when the temperatures dipped down to below zero in most sections of the state. I.ate frosts, after the berries had already formed on the plants, also kept Brunswick County's farmers up throughout the night in late March or early April on six or eight occasions, Poling said. If the temperature dips below freezing, strawberry farmers spray water on their crops to freeze the fruit, to keep it from dying. Although dry, humid days help the plants grow, the cool, spring nights keep the berries juicy and sweet, Poling said. Strawberry plants need a good combination of both weather conditions and access to a good irrigation system for watering, a process some farms in the state lack, he added. In Brunswick County, there are at least four strawberry farms that provide pick-your-own services and eight roadside markets that sell fresh, locally-grown strawberries. .1 i- .. <1 I) nuy mt; iLtvuu ill u uwnivi uuu urn* row compiled, "Roadside Market and Pick-Your-Own Directory," that is free from Die Brunswick County Agricultural Extension Office by calling or writing, P.O. Box 1098, Bolivia, N.C.. 28422. "Most farmers that grow strawberries in Brunswick County are also interested in other crops," Barrow said. "It's another way farmers have diversified to replace tobacco crops." Farmers who plant strawberries ir the fall can have a good alternative crop that can bring in some extra in come in the early spring, she or sever months later, ire udded. 5 Q i Center * ile South of Shollotte ^ 754-6373 ? <5 arden Tools ? ?ed & Seed <9 Fertiliser ^ Azaleas ? * control product*. We * in your lawn & garden S* <s mzmm] | ^ K? 1 K?* M<S>* M? rj.. ' -c?y / " : |L|^- " SDH ig ^nH J^HBHHf jBHU Bkj, ^wwyty Mlt STKAWUEKK1ES are piemiiui in B this year, thanks to ideal weather Azaleas Before azaleas can show uieu true beauty, they need special care such as fertilization and pruning from now until July, said Billy Barrow, assistant Brunswick County Agricultural Extension agent. Azaleas grow best with a moderate and even level of fertility. Barrowsaid. There are several special azalea fertilizers available that do an excellent job when used at recommended levels, because the nutrients are released slowly. Most homeowners can get satisfactory results by using an 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 fertilizer, but should avoid over fertilization, which can cause damage. Split applications during the months of March, May and July is recommended, Barrow said. Small plants, less than 12 inches tall, should receive one teaspoonfu! per application. Larger plants should receive a tablespoon of fertilizer per foot in height. For large bed areas, apply 2-3 pints per 100 square foot in a I. ? I r? ui uuuiaai uppnuuuull, ouiiuw recommends. Soil testing may be necessary to determine the correct ph level, which should be somewhere around 5-5-5. For information on soil sampling contact the county agricultural extenstion office. "Contrary to popular opinion, El/ll Sui GetYoi | jjilS feljH r Get the new boating SERVISTAR AND MA ^ have a complete si Starline, Glasstream, the full line of Evinn * trolling motors. We have great deals * finance terms to get season. Stop in at yc t t CORE H? ANI HWY IX & -hi at*co*t runs wick County humid spring days conditions. Dry, strawberries. 5 Need Specie many azaleas do need pruning," Barrow said. Proper pruning can produce a more handsome and compact plant. Heavy pruning should be done immediately following the planting period. "This surprises many people," Barrow said, "but during the late summer and fall, azaleas produce the new growth that blooms the SPECIAL OF oai7e , ONMOTHE 0 1 I REMEMBER 1 MOTHERS DA^ IS MAY 12 MAIN ST.. SHALLC SHOP WEEKLY SPECIALS WITH CA 1RUL miner's Comii ur New Boat' BWiImi season off to o great start c RINE CENTER, your Evinrud election of great new bo< Lowe, Starcraft, Landau arw jde outboards. Also see us on all the new boating acce; you out on the water that I >ur Evinrude boating heodqs. Also, see us foi your fishing an< * ?*, skiing needs lit ^ Name brands - know at prict F0 you'll love lRSWARB, SKI I MABIINI CiM WHITEV1U.E Mon. -Sot. 6 00 AM-7.00 PM t, ^HI ami cool nights produce excellent ]l Care | following spring." Tall larger limbs that appear in the top of the plant should be removed down inside the body of the plant. Always remove any dead or injured branches when shaping or heading hack azaleas. Pruning in November will destroy a majority of the blooms for next season. THE WEEK I c%s\rr/ 4U70 RS RINGS 03leuidrg >nE, 754-6807 kSH, CHECK OR BANK CARDS rt^ 1 ngToday. a full line of Cox Trailers A it GORE HARDWARE, e Motors dealer. We jts by Performance, J r- I: II ? j v-uiunnu, ub wen as for Evinrude electric isories, too. And easy first warm day of the jarters now. ..rrw SVISTAR STIR 642-U64 or 642-4586 / ' v
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 2, 1985, edition 1
24
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75