If you are seeing small flies or gnats in your kitchen,

they're probably fruit flies. While fruit flies can be a prob-

lem year round, they are especially common during late

summer/fall, and are widespread in homes, restaurants,

supermarkets and wherever rotting or fermenting food or

l iquid is located.

Fruit flies are attracted to rotting vegetables and fruit

(bananas) and other unrefrigerated grocery store produce,

as well as tomatoes, melons, squash, grapes and other

perishable items brought in from the garden.

The fi rst steps to elimination is to remove the sus-

pect fruit or vegetable. St i l l seeing the fl ies hovering?

Dig deeper. Check for a rotting potato or onion forgot-

ten in your bins or pantry, or juice spil led under the

refrigerator. Recycling bottles and cans can contain

small amounts of juice, wine or beer left in them could

be the source. Seeing the fl ies around your sink,

drains, or garbage disposal? Wet areas are breeding

sites. To rid yourself of these, pour a mixture of half

white vinegar half boil ing water down the drain daily

to stop them at the source. Keep the area around the

drain dry. You can also pour a ½ bleach and ½ water

mixture down drains. Remember not to mix bleach

with ammonia.

Even after the sources

of attraction and breeding

are eliminated, a single

female can breed thou-

sands of fruit flies. To

eliminate any last hold-

outs a few simple home

remedies can work won-

ders.

Construct a trap by plac-

ing a paper funnel (rolled

from a sheet of notebook

paper works) into a jar that

has been baited with a few

ounces of cider vinegar and

a drop or two of dish soap

(to break the surface tension and drown the flies). Place the jar

wherever fruit flies are seen. There are many variations of this

trap; any container can be used and plastic wrap to cover the

container with poked holes will allow fruit fly entrance. Baits can

vary as well; wine, beer or juice seem to work at attracting flies.

Of course if this do-it yourself kind of elimination is not your

preference, a pyrethrum-based, aerosol insecticide may be

used to kill any remaining adult flies in the area. Make sure

to read the label before use.

Cooperative Extension Service

Scott County

1130 Cincinnati Road

Georgetown, KY 40324

(502) 863-0984

Fax: (502) 863-2392

Scott.ca.uky.edu

sflynt@uky.edu

October 2017

Your Gateway to Horticultural Education, Resources, and Solutions

Are Fruit Flies Driving you Crazy?

With cooler fall weather, you may have noticed what appear

to be stink bugs, on /in homes and buildings, cars. The insect in

question is a relatively new invader to Central Kentucky (since

2013). The brown marmorated stink bug (BSMB) has the char-

acteristic shield-shaped stink bug body and adults are approxi-

mately 5/8 inch long with a mottled brown-grey body. The 4th

segment of each antenna has a white band. Edges of the ab-

dominal segments that extend laterally from under the wings are

alternatively banded with black and white. The underside of the

body is white to light gray with grey or black markings, and the

legs are brown with faint white bands.

The BMSB is, as is the multicolored Asian lady beetle, be-

coming a familiar fall sight on/in many homes and buildings.

Adult BSMB’s are attracted to homes and structures in the fall as

protected overwintering sites. Large numbers may enter through

cracks and crevices. They will leave protected sites in the spring

to resume their life cycle.

How do you protect your home and buildings? Mechanical

exclusion is the best method to keep stink bugs from entering.

Cracks around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, behind chim-

neys, and underneath the wood fascia and other openings

should be sealed with good quality silicone or silicone-latex

caulk. Damaged screens on doors and windows should be re-

paired or replaced.

Exterior applications of insecticides, may offer some minor

relief from infestations where the task of completely sealing the

exterior is difficult or impossible. Homeowner products contain-

ing the active ingredients deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, lambda-

cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, or permethrin are options. They

should be applied in the fall as the bugs begin to congregate.

These insecticides are broken down by sunlight so the residual

effect will decrease and may not kill the insects much beyond

several days or a week.

If numerous bugs are entering the living areas of the home,

attempt to locate the openings where the insects gain access.

Typically, stink bugs will emerge from cracks under or behind

baseboards, around window and door trim, and around exhaust

fans or lights in ceilings. Seal these openings with caulk or other

suitable materials to prevent the insects from crawling out. Both

live and dead stink bugs can be removed from interior areas with

the aid of a vacuum cleaner - however, the vacuum may acquire

the smell of stink bugs for a period of time.

Before the BSMB enter a building, exterior applications of

insecticides may offer some minor relief from infestations. Pesti-

cide products containing the active ingredients deltamethrin,

cyfluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, or permethrin are

options. They should be applied in the fall as the bugs begin to

congregate. These insecticides are broken down by sunlight so

the residual effect will decrease and may not kill the insects

much beyond several days or a week.

It is not advisable to use an insecticide inside after the insects

have gained access to the wall voids or attic areas. Although

insecticidal dust treatments or aerosol-type pyrethrum foggers

will kill stink bugs that have amassed in wall voids or attics, or on

ceilings and walls in living areas, it will not prevent more of the

insects from emerging shortly after the room is aerated. Because

of this, these materials is not considered a good solution to long-

term management of the problem. Spray insecticides, directed

into cracks and crevices, will not prevent the bugs from emerg-

ing and is not a viable or recommended treatment.

The BMSB, native to China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, was

first collected in September 1998 in Allentown, PA but is sus-

pected to have arrived several years earlier. It is an agricultural

pest that feeds on the sap of a wide range of plants including

fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, and some field crops. Losses to

the insect have been reported from apple and peach orchards,

blackberry, field and sweet corn, tomatoes, lima beans, and

green peppers from other states.

THE BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG

An Accidental Fall Invader

Start now-late September to early October- by limiting the

amount of water the plant receives. Water only when the topmost

(about 1 inch) layer of soil is dry to the touch. This causes the

plant to enter dormancy and dormancy is essential for Christmas

cactus blooming. At the same time, move both Christmas Cac-

tus and Poinsettia so that they are in temperatures between 50°-

60° F (and not more than 70°F, and receive certain amounts of

darkness. Your Christmas cactus will require at least 13 hours of

darkness and your poinsettia will need 15 hours.

Because flower initiation depends upon the length of the dark

period, your poinsettia must be kept completely dark from 5 p.m.

to 8 a.m. In order to get them in flower at Christmas, this treat-

ment should be from the end of September until December 15.

Bright, indirect light during the day is fine; however, temperature

and darkness are important. Christmas cactus plants should

continue receiving dark, cool treatment for at least 6-8 weeks, or

until buds begin forming. For both Christmas cactus and Poinset-

tia, make sure the location will accommodate both light and tem-

perature requirements. Place the plants in a closet, basement, or

garage if needed, making sure that the temperature does not go

below freezing and that they receive the needed darkness time.

If you have none of those areas with the right combination of

needs, covering the plants for the correct amount of time and

when uncovered, place in bright light. Provide them with water

and a general purpose fertilizer.

For the poinsettia, as the flowers (yellow) begin developing,

and bracts (red) show color, it is not as important to continue

giving the dark period, though it is advisable to continue until the

bracts are almost fully expanded.

For the Christmas cactus, after the buds start to appear and

enlarge, you can move it to a bright spot, and resume care. Giv-

ing the plant more bright, indirect sunlight will produce more

blooming. Christmas cactus also bloom better as pot-bound

plants.

MAKE SURE TO KEEP BOTH PLANTS OUT OF DRAFTS

AND AVOID COLD AIR BLASTS. These conditions will cause

the cactus buds to drop before blooming has occurred, and the

poinsettia will start dropping leaves, leaving you with a few

straggly leaves and stems. Giving the plants more bright, indi-

rect sunlight will produce more blooming. Christmas cactus also

bloom better as pot-bound plants.

When you force a Christmas cactus to bloom by providing it

the proper care, right light and temperature conditions, the

Christmas cactus may not only bloom once but may continually

produce blooms several times throughout the year.

On the other hand , after the holiday season is over, poin-

settias will begin to gradually lose their leaves in anticipation of

a resting period. Move the plant to a cooler, somewhat shadier

location. Don't worry about the leaves falling—they're sup-

posed to. Cut the water back, and only water when the soil is

dry to the touch. Do not fertilize. In late spring, when the tem-

perature outside is consistently 60 degrees or higher, move the

plant to its resting place outside in dappled, indirect sunlight.

Unlike the cactus, poinsettias should be repotted into a slightly

larger pot. Finally, resume watering and feeding normally, and

new leaves and shoots should appear.

by Sharon P. Flynt, Agent for Horticulture, Scott County

Extension.

How to Make a Christmas Cactus (and Poinsettia)

Bloom in Time for the Holidays

LIVING HARVEST CENTERPIECE – LARGER VERSION,

OCTOBER 24, 9:30 TO 11:00 A.M.

Learn how to create a super simple, completely charming, living centerpiece with a sim-

ple pumpkin and succulents that can be enjoyed now as a centerpiece for your fall deco-

rating and later as an easy care planting for your garden. Since each class participant

will go home with a centerpiece, pre-registration is required and appreciated. Sign up by

October 18th.

HEIRLOOM BULBS – OCTOBER 26, 6 TO 7:30 P.M.

Think stock market highs and lows are strictly a modern thing? No, not by a long shot. A spectacu-

lar market high and dramatic collapse occurred in 1637 and a single tulip bulb was the cause.

Come Learn about the history of, as well as planting, and care of Heirloom bulbs. Since each class

participant will go home with historical bulbs, pre-registration is required and appreciated. Sign up

by October 21st.

SWIM CAP HYPERTUFA FLOWER POT – NOVEMBER 14TH, 2-4:30 P.M.

Hypertufa looks like stone but weighs less and takes whatever shape you want, in this case a flower pot using a swim cap as our

mold. Sound intriguing? Then put on your grubby garden clothes and come experience hypertufa. Hypertufa containers are per-

fect for displaying rock-garden plants or succulents and over time, the hypertufa ages gracefully, collecting a patina of mosses

and lichens. . Complete instruction for construction of pot and how to “treat” it afterward will be given. Just note that your pot

will need to stay overnight at the extension office to dry. Class size is limited to 10 participants.

THE DOOR TO YOUR GARDEN POT – NOVEMBER 28TH, 6-7:30 P.M.

Create a quaint garden pot - miniature garden style - for yourself or for giving to those horticulture enthusiast on your Christmas

list! Participants will create their own “Door to your Garden” pot and then plant it with provided plant(s). All materials will be pro-

vided. More information to follow.

The Garden Club – meets monthly – October 17th, 9 to 11 a.m. – Guest speakers from Ward Hall, and making a Living Har-

vest Centerpiece – Smaller Version

Master Gardener Association Meeting – October 17th, 5:00, Potluck, 6-7:30 Meeting – on the agenda: planning for

2018.

Upcoming Classes: More information will follow in the November newsletter or check out our WEB-

SITE – Scott Co. Cooperative Extension Horticulture at https://scott.ca.uky.edu/content/horticulture

DATE CLASS TIME COST

October 24 Living Harvest Centerpiece 9:30—11:00 am Free

October 26 Heirloom Bulbs 6:00—7:30 pm Free

November 14 Swim Cap Hypertufa Flower Pot 2:00—4:30 pm Free

November 28 The Door to Your Garden Pot 6:00—7:30 pm Free

Sharon P. Flynt Agent for Horticulture Scott Co. Cooperative Extension

Buying Kentucky Proud is easy. Look for the label at your

grocery store, farmers’ market, or roadside stand.

Fall Spiced Pumpkin Bread

½ cup all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice ½ cup honey

1¼ cup whole-wheat flour ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups pumpkin puree

1½ teaspoons baking powder ½ cup melted margarine 1/3 cup olive oil

1 teaspoon baking soda ½ cup sugar 2 eggs

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix flours, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin spice and salt; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together marga-rine, sugar, honey, pumpkin puree and olive oil. Blend in eggs. Add flour mixture. Stir until dry in-gredients are moistened. Spray a 8-by-4 inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour batter into pan; sprinkle walnuts on top of batter. Bake for 1 hour. Remove from oven and cover with foil. Return

to oven and bake an additional 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes and remove from pan.

Yield: 16 slices

Nutritional Analysis: 220 calories, 13 g fat, 2 satu-rated fat, 30 mg cholesterol, 270 mg sodium, 26 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 14 g sugars, 4 g protein

In September, Scott County Cooperative Extension Horticulture

Program hosted the 2017 KY Master Gardener Volunteer

Conference – East Meets West - an annual state conference

filled with multiple opportunities to learn everything horticultural,

from soil health to designing with natives!

On September 14th & 15th, 177 volunteers from around the

state converged on Georgetown to learn from experts in the

field of horticulture. The conference began with an opening ses-

sion featuring John Carloftis, a Kentucky native and nationally

known landscape designer. He shared pictures of his work

with roof top gardens in New York and his designs from around our country and England. In breakout ses-

sions UK Extension Specialists, as well as experts from the horticultural field, provided participants with infor-

mation that deepened their knowledge of various horticulture topics. Master Gardener volunteers from

across the state also shared their programs in their active county

groups that make a difference in their communities.

On Thursday evening, Georgetown/Scott County was highlighted at

pre-dinner activities at Yuk-En on the Elkhorn Friendship Garden with

entertainment by PYSCHO TAIKO, a local group of high school/

college students who play the style of Japanese assemble drumming.

The evening ended with dinner at the Cardome Renaissance Center,

where Jeff Singer, local landscape architect from Pratt’s Landscap-

ing, shared how our community came together to create Yuk-En on

the Elkhorn Friendship Garden. The event was completed Friday

afternoon with choice of tours to Bi-Water Gardens and Evans Or-

chard, a visit to Elmwood organic operation, or touring the

Georgetown Scott County Community Garden and local Country Boy

Brewing Company. The two day event was fun, informative, and a

great way to meet other Master Gardeners volunteers from around

the state. Next year’s tentative location for the state conference is

Western Kentucky. Scott Co. Master Gardener volunteers Jim True (left) Renee Corrigan (right), stop for a quick picture Thurs-day night with Scott Co. Horticulture Agent, Sharon Flynt (middle). Photo taken by Virginia McKenney,

MASTER GARDENERS’ CORNER BY CHAR WILLIAMS, SCOTT CO. MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER APPRENTICE

DID YOU KNOW. . .The current world record is held by Beni Meier, a Swiss ac-

countant by day, who grew a pumpkin that weighs in at 2,323.7 pounds, roughly the

same amount as a small car. Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/surprising-science-giant-pumpkins-180957099/