Kym Pokorny

Early spring is the best time to plant strawberries

Once you’ve decided on the type of strawberry to grow, you’ll want to choose a variety and decide which method to plant them.

Kym Pokorny | Mar 29, 2024 | News story

Late winter to early spring care will help caneberries thrive

Caneberries should be fertilized in the early spring when new growth is starting.

Kym Pokorny | Feb 5, 2024 | News story

Don’t be timid when pruning grapes

Most gardeners don't cut back the vine nearly enough.

Kym Pokorny | Jan 4, 2024 | News story

Get a leg up on fruit tree problems with dormant oils

Applying dormant sprays helps control nasty pests and diseases like codling moths and apple scab.

Kym Pokorny | Dec 14, 2023 | News story

OSU’s Olea Project responds to grower interest in producing olives

The project began in earnest in 2017 to determine if olives could be a viable alternate crop in Oregon.

Kym Pokorny | Dec 8, 2023 | News story

Enthusiastic crowd attends OSU Extension workshop to hear about iconic madrone tree

With distinctive peeling bark and statuesque form madrone trees play an iconic role in the Pacific Northwest landscape.

Kym Pokorny | Dec 8, 2023 | News story

Colorful indoor plants make delightful gifts for the holidays

The choices go beyond traditional poinsettias and amaryllis. Colorful African violets, gloxinia, cyclamen, orchids, ornamental peppers and Christmas cactus are blooming and readily available.

Kym Pokorny | Nov 17, 2023 | News story

The debate over native plants and their cultivars gathers steam

Research about native plans and their cultivars that has been done – primarily on the East Coast – hasn’t been conclusive.

Kym Pokorny | Nov 3, 2023 | News story

OSU Extension research group searches for plants to weather climate change

The plants in the field trials were chosen by an advisory group of nursery growers and landscape designers and were evaluated on growth, visual appeal, timing of flowering, density of flowers, physiology and heat tolerance.

Kym Pokorny | Nov 1, 2023 | News story

OSU Extension trains new B-Team to assess the status of Oregon’s wild bees

The B-Team will fill in gaps in knowledge about where bees live and the plants they depend on for nutrition and to lay their eggs.

Kym Pokorny | Oct 31, 2023 | News story

Go underground with bulbs for colorful spring bloom

When purchasing bulbs, choose large ones. The bigger the bulb, the bigger the bloom.

Kym Pokorny | Oct 20, 2023 | News story

As western Oregon climate changes, Extension specialist tests forages for resilience

In 2022, Shayan Ghajar planted randomized blocks of annual forages and evaluated them for yield and nutritive value and also set out to determine the best sowing dates and growing conditions.

Kym Pokorny | Oct 16, 2023 | News story

OSU researchers race the clock to study alternatives to banned pesticide

Since 2020, a statewide research team has been investigating alternatives to chlorpyrifos, which is being phased out at the end of 2023 and targets persistent insects affecting more than 40 specialty crops that help drive Oregon’s economy.

Kym Pokorny | Oct 11, 2023 | News story

Five steps for saving tuberous begonias as frost approaches

The tubers can be saved and planted again the next spring for another year of showy color.

Kym Pokorny | Sep 29, 2023 | News story

No-till gardening keeps soil – and plants – healthy

No-till gardening minimizes soil disruption, which compacts the soil and destroys the pathways that channel air and water through the soil.

Kym Pokorny | Sep 5, 2023 | News story

Oregon State University’s historic campus earns coveted arboretum status

The accreditation validates OSU’s long recognized reputation as a beautiful, walkable campus.

Kym Pokorny | Aug 14, 2023 | News story

Tips on keeping harvested potatoes fresh

Clean potatoes before storing them. You need only brush off the soil on potatoes grown in coarse, sandy soil.

Kym Pokorny | Aug 13, 2023 | News story

Mothballs are a pesticide and should be used with care

Mothballs, one of the most common methods to control clothes moths, need to be recognized as a pesticide that can be harmful to humans or animals when misused.

Kym Pokorny | Aug 11, 2023 | News story

New OSU online course series gives dairy foods manufacturing employees a leg up in their careers

The Professional and Continuing Education unit in OSU’s Division of Extension and Engagement now offers three options in Dairy Foods Manufacturing – an essentials certificate, an advanced certificate and a micro certificate.

Kym Pokorny | Aug 10, 2023 | News story

Don’t be fooled, figs grow fine in western Oregon

Figs grow fine in the long corridor of western Oregon, where the climate offers not-too-cold winters and hot-enough summers.

Kym Pokorny | Aug 5, 2023 | News story

OSU Extension-led effort will help cut through the labor issues facing state’s meat processing industry

A $650,000 grant allows OSU Extension’s Niche Meat Processors Assistance Network (NMPAN) to lead a collaborative, multi-state program to help solve workforce issues in Oregon and the rest of the Pacific Northwest

Kym Pokorny | Aug 4, 2023 | News story

OSU Extension answers the call to serve veterans interested in farming

The Military Veterans Farmer Network is a program of Oregon State University Extension Service meant to connect military veterans engaged in or interested in farming.

Kym Pokorny | Aug 1, 2023 | News story

Don’t cut down that ash tree just yet – Oregon won’t see full effect of emerald ash borer for years

Currently, the emerald ash borer has been found in trees only in Washington County, where a quarantine prohibits moving ash (Fraxinus) or fringe tree (Chionanthus) wood in or out of the area.

Kym Pokorny | Jul 28, 2023 | News story

Five Oregon gardeners recognized with statewide awards

The honorees received their awards at the Joy of Gardening conference, an annual event sponsored by the Oregon Master Gardener Association.

Kym Pokorny | Jul 27, 2023 | News story

Joy of Gardening conference draws enthusiastic crowd to OSU

Sponsored by the Oregon Master Gardener Association, which supports the Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener program, the two-day conference drew 150 to the CH2M Hill Alumni Center on the Oregon State campus in Corvallis.

Kym Pokorny | Jul 24, 2023 | News story

Gardening mentor study cultivates support system for cancer survivors

Hope Grows Here is a program that promotes gardening as a therapeutic way of helping cancer survivors.

Kym Pokorny | Jul 21, 2023 | News story

Myth vs. reality: What’s the truth behind some common gardening practices?

Experts from Oregon State University Extension Service stepped up to bust some common gardening myths.

Kym Pokorny | Jul 14, 2023 | News story

Training a fruit tree into an espalier takes a good dash of dedication

Turn a tree into a space-saving specimen with some tips from an OSU Extension expert

Kym Pokorny | Jul 10, 2023 | News story

Oregon growers learn about new breeding efforts at Strawberry Field Day

Currently, two promising varieties are going through evaluation and may be released in the next few years. Not named yet, they are referred to as 2678-1 and 3009-1.

Kym Pokorny | Jun 29, 2023 | News story

Used appropriately, coffee grounds improve soil and kill slugs

Coffee grounds can be worked into the soil or added to a compost pile but should be done with some restraint.

Kym Pokorny | Jun 23, 2023 | News story

It is best to cut grass often and leave clippings on lawn

In case you've been wondering what to do with your grass clippings, just leave them on the lawn.

Kym Pokorny | Jun 19, 2023 | News story

25 plants for attracting native bees to the garden

About 500 -- perhaps more -- native bees make Oregon their home. Gardens are important habitat for these important pollinators.

Kym Pokorny | Jun 18, 2023 | News story

Growing vigorous kiwi takes care and a strong trellis

Kiwifruit need some attention to yield the large amount of fruit they’re capable of producing.

Kym Pokorny | Jun 11, 2023 | News story

Rain gardens help keep pollutants out of waterways

Stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces has been routed directly to streams through stormwater pipes and ditches with little infiltration or treatment.

Kym Pokorny | Jun 9, 2023 | News story

OSU Extension’s model cow helps ranchers deal with difficult births

OSU Extension acquired Alberta, a life-size black model cow without a head or legs, four years ago and the model has been traveling the state teaching people how to deal with dystocia, a difficult birth that usually manifests itself in a turned calf or a calf that is too large.

Kym Pokorny | Jun 5, 2023 | News story

Spruce up older camellias with a late spring trim

Here’s how to give your old camellia a makeover.

Kym Pokorny | May 26, 2023 | News story

Gardening can be accessible to all with some adjustments

“Universal” garden design is planning the landscape so that anyone can access and enjoy it.

Kym Pokorny | May 26, 2023 | News story

Beneficial bats help control insects in the garden

Their voracious appetite for insects turns them bats into a living pesticide that saves farmers billions of dollars a year and helps rid our backyards of insects like mosquitoes, moths, grasshoppers, flies and beetles

Kym Pokorny | May 12, 2023 | News story

12 plants to entice pollinators to your garden

Consider adding some flower power to your landscape to bring in the buzz of pollinators to your garden.

Kym Pokorny | May 9, 2023 | News story

Some vegetables require less water than others

Some vegetables, such as beans, are adapted to drought conditions at a very basic, cellular level.

Kym Pokorny | Apr 22, 2023 | News story

Bernadine Strik remembered as 'amazing person, mentor and friend'

In 2021, Bernadine Strik received the highest honor bestowed by the International Society for Horticultural Science for her industry-changing program on berries.

Kym Pokorny | Apr 21, 2023 | News story

OSU breeding program produced series of purple tomatoes with healthy antioxidants

People liked the tomato’s novelty but the benefits from the anthocyanins in the skin were the draw.

Kym Pokorny | Apr 21, 2023 | News story

Turn manure into compost for your garden

Animal manure is rich in nutrients that make it a great organic fertilizer for your garden.

Kym Pokorny | Apr 19, 2023 | News story

What's the best grass mixture for Oregon lawns?

What's the best grass mixture for a western Oregon lawn?

Kym Pokorny | Apr 1, 2023 | News story

Growing peppers adds flavor to ethnic dishes

Ezequiel Lopez-Reyes, Oregon State University Extension Service Open Campus and Juntos student success coordinator, has been growing his home garden for five years. All of his bounty goes into meals he cooks with culturally important foods.

Kym Pokorny | Mar 31, 2023 | News story

How to recognize, treat and avoid lilac bacterial blight

Blackened, wilted shoots on lilac mean trouble.

Kym Pokorny | Mar 31, 2023 | News story

Let soil temperature guide you when planting vegetables

This year, however, paying attention to soil temperature is the best way to go for knowing when to plant vegetables. An inexpensive soil thermometer helps keep planting time in perspective.

Kym Pokorny | Mar 20, 2023 | News story

Apple trees benefit from proper pruning

Late winter is the best time to prune an apple tree.

Kym Pokorny | Mar 16, 2023 | News story

OSU Extension Master Gardeners plant plots to help save Oregon silverspot butterfly

OSU Extension Master Gardeners have planted two small silverspot butterfly beds at the Master Gardener demonstration gardens in Lincoln City and Yachats to draw the silverspot to a friendly place for food and shelter.

Kym Pokorny | Mar 15, 2023 | News story

Methods to control blackberry thickets

With good timing and dedication, property owners can reduce a sprawling blackberry thicket to a few manageable stragglers

Kym Pokorny | Mar 14, 2023 | News story