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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.

Vian All School Reunion 2025: Another heartwarming success
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Vian All School Reunion 2025: Another heartwarming success
June 11, 2025
The Vian All School Reunion, held on May 24, was a resounding success, bringing together generations of alumni to celebrate shared memories, community pride and lasting friendships. With 102 guests of...
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Water levels, current make Tenkiller a potential wild-card tournament site
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Water levels, current make Tenkiller a potential wild-card tournament site
By CHAD DAY B.A.S.S. 
June 11, 2025
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Multiple patterns could be at play during the Lowrance Bassmaster Elite at Lake Tenkiller, but which ones perform best will be determined by potentially high water levels and cu...
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Gore School Board approves hires, maintenance overhaul
By AMIE CATO-REMER Editor 
June 11, 2025
The Gore Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on May 12, making several significant decisions on district staffing, maintenance procedures, and school finances. The board approved the b...
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Vian Trustees hire two new officers, auction date set
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Vian Trustees hire two new officers, auction date set
By AMIE CATO-REMER Editor 
June 11, 2025
The Vian Board of Trustees met on May 19 for its regular monthly meeting where they voted to hire two new police officers and set a date and time for an upcoming surplus auction. The board began the m...
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Tribe’s General Election sees six incumbents re-elected
June 11, 2025
Six incumbents were re-elected to the Council of the Cherokee Nation during the tribe’s General Election on June 7, according to unofficial results from the Cherokee Nation Election Commission. The in...
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We Asked Kids…
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We Asked Kids…
June 11, 2025
Lainey Andrade Age 9, Vian What subject do you like the best: Art, gym or music? Gym, because I like to stay fit. If you were in a singing contest, what would you choose to sing? I would sing “Heart L...
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Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library June calendar of events
June 11, 2025
The Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library in Sallisaw will host the following events during the month of June: June 12 - Kid Science: Father’s Day card, 4 p.m. June 13 - Funky Monkey Magic, 10 a.m. June 17 -...
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Eyeglass donations being accepted by Vian Lions Club
June 11, 2025
Anyone wishing to donate old or no longer used eyeglasses can do so by dropping them off at the Vian Lions Club donation box, located in front of the old Vian Town Hall on Thornton Street. The Vian Li...
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Free Math Camp for students this summer at CASC
June 11, 2025
Come to Mr. Camacho’s free Math Camp at Sallisaw’s Carl Albert! He will be providing help over the summer, July 28-31, with the math section of the ACT and Accuplacer tests with grades 7th-12th being ...
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Sallisaw’s first Pride event set for June 14
By JADE PHILLIPS SPECIAL TO THE NEWS 
June 11, 2025
It is June, which is also known as Pride Month. Pride is celebrated for all people who identify as LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer), those who are out of the closet, those who aren’...
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Life in ‘Slugville’
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Life in ‘Slugville’
By AROUND TOWN 
June 11, 2025
If I had to put a welcome sign or mat on my farmh ouse, it would say “Welcome to Slugville.” And no, I didn’t mean “Sluggerville” because there are no baseballs getting batted around at my house; that...
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