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In Tulsa County, commercial horticulture is Sue Gray's area of expertise. The main focus of her position is to help people who are producing pecans, peaches, vegetables or some of the other crops raised in Tulsa County. In particular, Sue works with individuals who are just beginning to build their dream of a small, commercial enterprise. For that reason, individual, on-site consultations are provided free of charge to anyone pursuing commercial interests in horticulture. While the Cooperative Extension office cannot make "house calls" to homeowners, we do our best to be readily available to our commercial clients. To make an appointment with Sue, just call 918-746-3717. Voice messaging will take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so just leave a message and she'll return your call as soon as possible.
Plow and Prep Day
Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services.
Plant Disease Diagnostics
OSU Plant Diagnostics Database
Programs Offered
One meeting that offers something for everyone is the annual Horticulture Industries Show. This two-day meeting provides lectures and a trade show for members of grower associations and newcomers in the following areas: Christmas trees, pecans, tree fruit, small fruit, vegetables, farmers marketing, sustainable agriculture and herb growing. The next meeting is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, January 6 & 7, 2006 (Friday and Saturday) in Tulsa, OK. Contact the Tulsa County Cooperative Extension office at 918-746-3707 in early November for details. Beginning in February 2003 is the Oklahoma Grape Management course. Sponsored jointly by OSU Extension and the University of Arkansas, meeting dates are Feb. 20, 1-5 p.m.; March 13, 1-5 p.m.; May 15, 1-5 p.m.; June 12, 1-5 p.m.; July 17, 1-5 p.m. and Oct. 2, 1-5 p.m. Held at the Oklahoma Fruit Research station in Perkins, cost is $150 per individual and spouse. Course is limited to the first 50 registrants. Preregistration is required. Participants will receive a sectioned reference book with materials, a pest monitoring kit and a network of contacts with other growers. For more information contact Dean McCraw, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department, OSU-Stillwater, at 405.744.5404. Upcoming events are announced on our web site calendar, and in the Tulsa County Agriculture newsletter as well as in local newspapers and on local radio programs. Call us (918-746-3700) to have your name added to our mailing list.
The beekeepers association also has an excellent monthly newsletter What's Buzzin' which details beekeeping maintenance throughout the calendar year. Folks around the entire region subscribe to What's Buzzin' in order to keep up with the correct honeybee cultural methods for our area. What to do if you see a honeybee swarm . . . While in a swarm bees are very docile. They have filled their bodies with honey to survive the move to a new home. This condition makes it very hard for them to bend their bodies to sting someone. If a swarm is spotted please contact the Extension office at 918-746-3707 for a list of beekeepers that citizens can call for advice or to pick up a swarm. After picking up the swarm the beekeeper will gather it into a new hive and begin a new colony. By all means, do NOT panic, this is a natural occurrence for honey bees and should not pose a threat. In fact, if nothing is done, the bees will move on after a few hours.
Natural Resource Management
Tree Fruit Resources
Womack's Nursery (A source for trees in southern Oklahoma)
Other nurseries that offer unique fruits, not specific to
our area. Oregon Exotics Raintree Nursery For detailed information on sustainable orchard management (using a minimum of pesticides) consider contacting ATTRA (Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural America). Based in Fayetteville, AR, ATTRA is a national clearinghouse of information on sustainable agriculture. 1-800-346-9140 For more information, check out these Web sites:
Tulsa County ranks in the top three of major pecan producing counties in Oklahoma. Over 80 percent of our production are native pecans that grow throughout our river and creek bottom areas in and around Tulsa. Many growers have also grafted seedling trees with improved varieties (papershells). These nuts grow larger and, sometimes, bear pecans more reliably. The Tulsa County Cooperative Extension office has a wealth of information on raising and managing pecans. Landowners with commercial interests in pecans are welcome to call for free field consultations. Contact Sue Gray (918-746-3717) for more details. Additional sources of pecan information: The Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association (OPGA) is an educational
and advocacy group that gives a voice to Oklahoma's pecan industry.
Membership is $30 per year, which includes a very informative
quarterly newsletter, subscription to Pecan South magazine
and discounts on registration at the annual OPGA meeting. Held
every June, this two-day meeting includes educational talks,
a trade show and an excellent "hands-on" field day.
Pecan Management web sites: Sources of Pecan Equipment and Chemicals: Estes, Inc. Helena Chemical Company
Vegetable and Small Fruit Production Resources Oklahoma has three distinct vegetable growing seasons--two short, cool seasons in spring and fall and one long, warm season beginning around April 15. One grower can grow and manage an acre or two of vegetables or small fruits, grown for the local markets. Larger operations will require more labor to harvest these perishable products. Although many vegetables will thrive in the Oklahoma climate, the major fresh-market vegetables grown here are tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn, green beans, squash, potatoes, onions and pumpkins. Our climate is so variable that drip irrigation, wind protection and attention to spring and fall frosts are essential for success. Insect and disease pressure is high in northeast Oklahoma due to our mild winters and humid climate. There are several ways to sell produce and small fruits in the Tulsa area. At a farm-based Pick-Your-Own operation or roadside stand, at a Farmers Market such as the Collinsville or Cherry Street Farmers Markets or producers can sell wholesale to various local roadside markets, centered around Bixby, OK. Some independent grocers also purchase locally-grown produce. Sources of information:
Greenhouse Production Resources With abundant sunshine and low-cost fuel, Oklahoma is a great place for greenhouse production. Cooperative Extension has a wealth of fact sheets containing information on locating and choosing materials, as well as outfitting and managing greenhouses. These fact sheets offer tips and techniques on growing bedding plants, herbs, perennials, house plants, potted floral crops, and greenhouse grown cut flowers, the primary crops raised in Oklahoma greenhouses. A two and-a-half day greenhouse production short course, sponsored annually by OSU and the Oklahoma Greenhouse Growers Association (OGGA) is an excellent way to enter this rapidly growing part of the industry. The course is held each June; to enroll contact the OSU Horticulture Department. To join OGGA contact: Oklahoma Greenhouse Growers Association, 400 N. Portland, Oklahoma City, OK 73107. The Oklahoma Botanical Garden Arboretum, based at the OSU Horticulture Department at the Stillwater campus offers a wealth of year-round courses and field days for the ornamentals industry. Check out the Horticulture website for a current listing of upcoming events.
Oklahoma Christmas tree production involves two main species of trees: The Virginia Pine and Scotch Pine. Trees are planted as seedlings and while growing over a six-or-seven-year period are watered, weeded, sprayed for pests, and pruned into a classic Christmas tree shape. Most operations start out small with just a few acres of trees. The site needs to be well drained as pines do not tolerate standing water. As harvest approaches Christmas tree farms open up for "choose and cut" sales to shoppers. It's an outing for most families, so host farms provide additional items for holiday decor. They also serve hot cider and cocoa or cookies to add to the festive atmosphere. Many who have additional acreage offer hayrides to families and groups. This is a people-oriented business. Unlike the Northern states, most trees here are sold at retail prices. Generally, the trees are not sold wholesale for distant shipping points. The Oklahoma Christmas Tree Association meets several times a year. For more details on Christmas Tree culture stop by the Tulsa County Extension office (4116 E. 15th St.) and pick up OSU Fact Sheets in the #5020 series including: "Introduction to Growing Christmas Trees", "Weed Control in Christmas Tree Plantings", "Fertilizing Christmas Trees", etc. For home gardening and landscape (home horticulture) information visit the Master Gardener section of this site.
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service:
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Tulsa's climate and soil
provide ideal conditions for growing many horticulture crops.
Pecans, peaches, berries, vegetables, herbs, Christmas trees
and nursery crops are just a few of the commercial horticulture
crops that grow well here. In addition, our access to low-cost
heating fuel makes greenhouse crops a viable option.
Educational programs offered
throughout the year are designed to keep growers current in their
areas of interest. These programs include field days for growers
to see, hands-on, what's new. In addition, we offer special programs,
designed to provide more of a lecture format, throughout the
year at both the 
Keeping honeybees
can be either a rewarding hobby or a full-time enterprise. The
Northeast Oklahoma Beekeepers Association (NEOBA) meets once a month at the Tulsa County Extension
office. Members and newcomers gather at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of
each month to share information about keeping honeybees. Every fall
and
spring, OSU and NEOBA offer a "Beginning Beekeeping" short
course. For more information about classes offered, raising bees, ordering
supplies, capturing bee swarms or joining NEOBA contact Carl or Euvonne
Harrison 
Sources of Fruit Trees in this
region: