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May 8, 2024
Home grown tomato tips
By JACE GOODWIN OSU SEQ. CO. EXT.,

If you are growing tomatoes from seed, it’s just about time to start sowing your seeds indoors. The recommendation is to start tomato seeds 4 to 6 weeks before planting outdoors. A good target date to think about planting outdoors is after April 15. But this is Oklahoma, and you might get away with planting a little earlier if you protect your tomatoes. I like to start my seeds a little early, so I have nice big plants when it’s time for them to grow outdoors. Tomatoes are a warm season crop and one of the most popular crops grown by home gardeners.

Here are a few tips to growing a good quality tomato:

• Start with soil that is high in organic matter and loose so the root system can grow vigorously.

• Tomatoes are a heavy feeder of fertilizers, especially nitrogen, so get a soil test done prior to planting and incorporate the recommended fertilizer into the soil. Additional nitrogen may be needed if it rains a lot and leaching has occurred.

• When deciding which tomato varieties to grow it’s to your benefit to find one that is nematode and wilt resistant.

• Provide protection from cutworms and other possible pests of the transplanting season. One method for protecting against cutworms is to cut a straw to about 3inches long and make a slit lengthwise in the straw, then wrap the straw around the stem of the tomato at ground level. Another method is to use an empty toilet paper roll and wrap it around the stem.

• Mulch around the plants to help control soil moisture and temperature.

• Apply supplemental water as needed, drip irrigation is preferred because it is usually consistent. However, just because you have a drip system doesn’t mean it is working properly. You need to check your system regularly because emitters get clogged, electricity gets interrupted throwing off timers, and little rodents love to chew on the irrigation tubing.

• Control insects and spider mites if numbers are increasing from week to week.

• Control disease issues early, don’t wait until several plants are infected.

• Windbreaks may be helpful in hot, dry weather.

• Keep records of the varieties you grew so you know what worked and what didn’t work.

• Tomatoes grow best when nighttime temperatures are above 60 degrees and day temperatures are below 90 degrees.

• Tomato blooms won’t set to fruit if daytime temperatures are above 95 degrees, and nighttime temperatures are above 70 degrees, tomatoes need a cooling off period

• “Catfaced” fruit may occur if nighttime temperatures are in the 40’s or low 50’s. (“catfaced” fruit is gnarly, irregular shaped fruit) Oklahoma State University, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. Oklahoma State University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on race, religion, sex, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/ expression, disability, or veteran status with regard to employment, educational programs and activities, and/or admissions. For more information, visit http:// eeo.okstate.edu.

Sweet Roo’s: Making Vian feel right at home
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Sweet Roo’s: Making Vian feel right at home
By ALLY TROTTER NEWS INTERN 
June 25, 2025
Noe Fuentes, and his mother Xionara Esquivel, have poured their hearts into creating a space that feels like home for their customers at Sweet Roo’s – a cozy, family operated restaurant, formally know...
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Federal judge rules poultry litter pollution remains high
June 25, 2025
A federal district judge ruled on June 19 that the State of Oklahoma has sufficiently proven there has not been any substantive change in poultry litter pollution of the Illinois River Watershed (IRW)...
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The NEWS brings home awards from OPA Newspaper Contest
June 25, 2025
The Oklahoma Press Association (OPA) presented its Better Newspaper Contest awards during the OPA Annual Convention, June 6-7, at the Grand Casino Hotel and Resort in Shawnee. The Vian Tenkiller NEWS ...
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White Completes Cadet Lawman Academy
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White Completes Cadet Lawman Academy
By JACIE EUBANKS COURTESY 
June 25, 2025
Bryson White recently returned to his hometown of Vian after spending the week at the Cadet Lawman Academy, a program that is held annually during the first week of June at Connors State College in Wa...
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Cherokee National Holiday returns Labor Day weekend
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Cherokee National Holiday returns Labor Day weekend
June 25, 2025
The Cherokee Nation will celebrate its 73rd annual Cherokee National Holiday over Labor Day weekend, including an inter-tribal powwow, parade and other longtime cultural favorites. Traditionally, the ...
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Drummond warns consumers about scam soliciting preemptive bail payments
June 25, 2025
Attorney General Gentner Drummond is warning Oklahoma consumers about the resurgence of a scam where fraudsters are producing fake arrest warrants and asking individuals to post preemptive bail at vir...
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Editor Picks
Davis Family Reunion to be Held This Weekend
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Davis Family Reunion to be Held This Weekend
June 25, 2025
The Charlie Ambers and Lula McFarland Davis family reunion will be Sunday, June 29, at the Blackgum Community Center on Hwy 100, 1 mile east of Tenkiller Dam. Lunch will be served at 12:30 (please bri...
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SBA drought relief available to small businesses, private nonprofits
June 25, 2025
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Oklahoma of the July 7 deadline to apply for low interest federal disas...
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Counties grapple with limited insurance coverage, finances
By LYNN ADAMS SPECIAL TO THE NEWS 
June 25, 2025
It’s been almost two years since Ottawa County was ordered to pay $33 million in a wrongful death lawsuit, a ruling that sent shockwaves throughout the state and was a jarring wakeup call for counties...
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Red Cross issues advice to stay safe during extreme heat
June 25, 2025
Experts are warning that dangerously high temperatures are headed to portions of Oklahoma tomorrow through the weekend. The American Red Cross of South Central and Southeast Oklahoma urges everyone to...
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Malone joins Century 21 First Choice Realty
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Malone joins Century 21 First Choice Realty
June 25, 2025
Century 21 First Choice Realty is excited to welcome Shelton Malone to the Sallisaw realty office. Malone brings a deep knowledge of the area and a strong commitment to serving clients with integrity,...
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