Garden Hour

Sweet corn and living mulch (timestamp 1:44)
Kristina Harms, SDSU Graduate Research Assistant, discussed considerations for growing sweet corn and using living mulch systems.

• Sweet corn should be planted in full sun with well drained soils once soil temperatures are adequate for germination.
• Proper spacing is important to ensure pollination and ear development and living mulches can be used to reduce weed pressure and improve soil health.
• When using a living mulch, species selection and management are important to reduce competition with the crop.
• Timing of planting and mowing or suppression of the living mulch can impact overall success.

Weather and trees (timestamp 14:44)
John Ball, Professor, SDSU Extension Forestry Specialist & South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Forest Health Specialist, provided an update on current weather conditions and considerations for tree health.

• Recent weather patterns included variable temperatures and precipitation across South Dakota.
• Soil moisture conditions continue to vary by region, impacting tree establishment and growth.
• Newly planted trees require consistent watering, especially during dry periods.
• Wind and temperature fluctuations can contribute to transplant stress in young trees.
• Monitoring local conditions and adjusting care practices is important during the early growing season.

Insect updates (timestamp 37:38)
Amanda Bachmann, SDSU Extension Urban Entomology Field Specialist, highlighted early season insect activity.

• Insects that overwintered as adults are becoming active as temperatures warm.
• Early season pests may begin feeding on emerging plants, so monitoring gardens regularly is important.
• Integrated pest management strategies should be used when addressing insect concerns.
• Beneficial insects are also active, so keep an eye out for them as well!

Freeze and frost risks (timestamp 1:44)
Nick Volesky, SDSU Extension Horticulture and Specialty Crops Field Specialist, discussed freeze and frost considerations as gardeners move through the early growing season.

• Spring temperatures can fluctuate widely, increasing the risk of frost damage to newly planted or emerging plants.
• Gardeners should continue to monitor weather forecasts and be prepared to protect sensitive plants.
• Common protection strategies include covering plants and using site selection to reduce exposure.
• Low-lying areas are more prone to frost events, while elevated sites may experience reduced risk.
• Visit https://climate.sdstate.edu/tools/frost/ to generate frost/freeze maps for your location.

Lessons from last year’s garden (timestamp 19:59)
Prairey Walkling, SDSU Extension Master Gardener Field Specialist, shared garden observations from the previous growing season.

• Reflecting on past growing conditions can help inform decisions for the current season. Pick up a monthly garden journal from your local Extension office.
• The Plant Diagnostic Clinic and Garden Hotlines can help you answer gardening questions.
• Weather variability, including periods of drought or excess moisture, can impact plant performance.
• Variety selection and timing of planting are important considerations based on prior experience.
• Gardeners are encouraged to evaluate what worked well and what could be adjusted moving forward.

Raspberries (timestamp 44:03)
Nick Volesky covered raspberry production in South Dakota and some gardening updates.

• Raspberries perform best in full sun with well-drained soils.
• Proper pruning is important for maintaining plant health and fruit production.
• Different types of raspberries require different management practices.
• Consistent watering is important, especially during establishment.
• Winter hardiness and site selection are key considerations in South Dakota.
• Cut flower trials in Hot Springs will evaluate celosia and strawflower.
• Novel vegetable varieties being grown at the Rapid City hort field include celery ‘Utah 52-70’, and the ‘Rushmore’ tomato.

Issues with asparagus (timestamp 1:45)
Cody Molnar, SDSU Extension Horticulture Plant Pathology Field Specialist, discussed diseases and disorders of asparagus.

• Covered conditions include purple spot, asparagus rust, cercospora blight, fusarium crown rot, phytophthora crown and root rot, cold damage, and drought.

Weed management with herbicides in gardens and landscaping (timestamp 19:59)
Graig Reicks, SDSU Extension Weed Ecology Field Specialist, covered weed management with herbicides.

• Annual weeds live one year versus perennial weeds, which survive for many years.
• Contact herbicides only kill what they land on, and control annuals well but not perennials
• Systemic herbicides move through the plant and kill both annual and perennial weeds.
• The three main types of post-emergence herbicides are grass killers, lawn weed killers, and weed and grass killers.

Spring native plant information (timestamp 50:18)
Robin Buterbaugh, SDSU Extension Horticulture Field Specialist, went over what native plants are emerging this spring.

• Native plants to look for now include field pussytoes, red columbine, foxglove beardtongue, and scarlet globemallow.
• Native trees and shrubs are a good resource for early season pollinators. Serviceberry, American plum, and prairie willow are options for South Dakota.
• Upcoming Native Plant Initiative sales are June 6 in Spearfish, June 12 in Sioux Falls, and June 21 in Pierre.

South Dakota food is medicine network (timestamp 1:40)
Gemma Bastian, Assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Nutrition and Health Specialist, introduced the South Dakota food is medicine network.

• Food as medicine is a suite of policy, community, and clinical interventions that aim to prevent and treat diet-related chronic diseases.
• The two-year pilot program, Dakota Food Rx, served 46 families with community supported agriculture share boxes.
• The next South Dakota Food is Medicine Network meeting is July 9th, 12 – 1 PM CDT via Zoom.

Early summer climate update (timestamp 27:07)
Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension State Climatologist, gave a spring climate update and summer climate outlook.

• Overall spring temperatures were above average, especially in March. Precipitation was below average for the vast majority of the state for the same time period.
• The drought monitor map updates every Thursday morning.
• Warm temperatures will continue into early June.
• The seasonal summer outlook favors warmer than average temperatures and below average precipitation in Eastern SD.
• Stay tuned for update on El Niño and its related effects.

Growing heat tolerant lettuce (timestamp 3:12)
Joslyn Fousert, SDSU Graduate Research Assistant, covered the upcoming 2026 heat tolerant lettuce cultivar trial and a grafted tomato study.

• The trial will be conducted in Brookings and Beresford with 11 varieties of lettuce grown in high tunnels.
• Rabbit and ground squirrel management is a challenge.
• The grafted tomato study will look at the application of molasses for plant health.

Using wool mulch (timestamp 24:05)
Kristine Lang, Assistant Professor & SDSU Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist, discussed the wool mulch trials from 2025.

• Wool is a natural nitrogen source, improves water conservation, and provides some pest and weed management.
• Wool is available as loose wool or pellets.
• The study looked at peppers grown in different mulch types including wool.
• View the full study 

Insect update and milkweed residents (timestamp 44:11)
Amanda Bachmann, SDSU Extension Urban Entomology Field Specialist, went over recent insect activity and other insects you might find on milkweed.

• More insects than just monarchs are found on milkweed including red milkweed beetles, milkweed bugs, milkweed tussock moth caterpillars, and oleander aphids.
• A small container, and piece of paper can be used to catch and relocate indoor visitors.

Preparing for preservation season (timestamp 2:47)
Jessica Meuleners, SDSU Extension Nutrition Field Specialist, covered different methods of preserving garden produce.

• Canning, dehydration, freezing, fermentation, and pickling are all preservation options that can be done at home using research-based, tested, recipes.
• Always check canning equipment before embarking on a recipe.
• Take an inventory of your supplies and start restocking before you hit peak garden harvest season.
• Food preservation resources to check out include the National Center for Home Food Preservation, and SDSU Extension (Pick It, Try It, Like It, Preserve It).

Insect updates (timestamp 27:10)
Amanda Bachmann, SDSU Extension Urban Entomology Field Specialist, went over recent insect activity.

• Monarch migration is into Canada and caterpillars are eating milkweed in South Dakota.
• May/June bugs are actually beetles, and are active now. You may notice them piled up under lights.
• If you’re growing squash, start scouting for squash bug, cucumber beetles, and squash vine borers to get ahead of them.
• Leafcutter bees might be what’s “eating” the leaves.
• When picking a personal insect repellant make sure to note active ingredients, what arthropods it is labeled for, application instructions, and reapplication time.

Managing salts in gardens (timestamp 2:48)
Hans Klopp, SDSU Extension Soil Health Field Specialist, went over how to manage salts in garden soils.

• Many salts contain essential nutrients that plants need, but they can cause issues in high concentrations.
• Salinity is commonly measured by electrical conductivity, which can be done easily with a probe.
• Some vegetable crops are very intolerant of excess salt, like beans, carrots, and onions.
• To manage salinity, don’t over water and make sure to have adequate drainage.

McCrory Garden update (timestamp 26:42)
Syndey Paulsen, SDSU Extension Horticulture Assistant, discussed what’s growing at McCrory and upcoming events.

• The three sister garden traditionally uses corn, beans, and squash but at McCrory sunflower is replacing the corn because of raccoon issues.
• There are many red, white, and blue themed planters for America’s 250th celebration.
• The vegetable garden is planted with cover crops while the sod house is being decommissioned.
• Plants in bloom include bush clematis, Lillian Gobson rose, common valerian, and Japanese tree lilac.
• Community Days are the 4th Wednesday of every month through October with free admission.

Brookings community food forest (timestamp 45:06)
Robin Buterbaugh, SDSU Extension Horticulture Field Specialist, covered the Brookings community food forest project.

• A food forest contains plants at multiple levels that help support each other to function as a whole system and produce edible products.
• Food forests are based on polyculture principles that emphasize biodiversity.
• When designing, the goal is to maximize cooperation and minimize competition.
• The Brookings project is 16,000 square feet and contains fruit trees, herbaceous plants, and walking paths.

Horticulture updates (timestamp 2:31)
Nick Volesky, SDSU Extension Horticulture and Specialty Crop Field Specialist, gave updates on vegetable and cut flower crops.

• Cold injury symptoms often develop hours or days after chilling.
• Unregulated temperatures, such as using cloches on cool season crops, can cause physiological issues.
• Suspected herbicide damage showing up in gardens as plants with cupped, distorted leaves.
• Plants sowed too close together can have poor yield, and be more susceptible to pathogens.
• It’s time to harvest garlic scapes from hardneck varieties to increase bulb size and yield.

Tree update (timestamp 19:52)
John Ball, SDSU Extension Forestry Specialist, covered recent tree issues.

• Mulberries are producing fruit earlier than usual across much of the state.
• The majority of South Dakota is in some stage of drought.
• Emerald ash borer is in Grant and Codington counties. Continue to respect quarantines, and do not move hardwood firewood across county lines.
• Codling moth management also includes thinning the fruit so they’re not touching and removing damaged apples.
• Apple maggot starting to fly early and spraying should start now.
• Start watering woody plants in August to prepare them for winter to prevent desiccation injury.

Plant Pathology update (timestamp 42:30)
Cody Molnar, SDSU Extension Plant Pathology Field Specialist, discussed plant pathology research projects and plant disease updates.

• Lots of suspected herbicide damage in tomatoes and peppers.
• Aster yellows already showing up, likely from infections last year.
• Research projects this year include pepper internal rot, foliar diseases in cucurbits, tomato spotted wilt, and aster yellows.