June is the month set aside to honor everyone's favorite flower. Roses have a place in every yard and there are no secrets to have beautiful roses. Any gardener can grow roses by following a few simple rules.

Site selection comes first. Roses need at least six hours of sunshine each day. Failures usually result if gardeners pick sites that please them rather than the roses. So, avoid shady areas.

Drainage is second only to sunlight in importance. Roses need a soil that is well drained or the plants will have difficulty surviving winters. It may be necessary to build raised beds to provide adequate drainage in some areas.

Any good garden soil will produce roses. Heavy soils and sandy soils can both be improved by adding organic matter such as compost, peat moss, leaf mold or composted animal manure. Spade three to six inches of the organic matter into the top six to eight inches of soil.

Select plants with thick canes which show no signs of shriveling and choose only varieties recommended for this area. Dig the hole deep enough so the bud union is just at the soil level–twoinches below–when planting is completed.

Roses are available now in containers so they can be planted anytime. This makes selection more fun too, since you can see what the blooms will look like.

The important thing about cutting is knowing where to cut. Starting at the flower, examine the stem until you find a leaf with five leaflets on it. Above this five leaflet leaf you will see leaves with three leaflets and possibly some single leaves.

Fully developed leaves with five leaflets are most likely to accompany buds that are mature enough to develop into strong flower bearing stems.

By cutting just above a five leaflet leaf in the middle of the stem, sufficient foliage will be left on the plant but you will provide adequate stems for cut flowers too.

Floribundas which bear clusters of flowers are not usually used as cut flowers but faded blooms should be cut to stimulate continued flowering. As each bloom in a cluster fades, remove it. When the last blossom in the cluster is gone, cut the stem back to a point one-quarter of an inch above the first five leaflet leaf.

Taking too much stem when cutting can harm roses. A bloom cut with a long stem takes a large number of leaves and the reduction of foliage may slow growth delaying further blooms.

Source: Dave Robson

Strawberries look better and keep longer when they are picked and handled correctly. Because they are a very tender fruit, they will bruise and discolor any time they are squeezed. Handle them gently at all times, whether picking, placing in the container or handling the filled containers.

Strawberry varieties differ considerably in ease of picking. Surecrop berries, for example, when mature usually snap off readily with a portion of the stem attached. Sparkle, on the other hand, will always bruise unless you pinch the stem off. The surest way to pick fruit with a minimum of bruising is as follows:

1. Grasp the stem just above the berry between the forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion.

2. With the stem broken about one-half inch from the berry, allow it to roll into the palm of your hand.

3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds three or four fruits.

4. Carefully place – don't throw – the berries into your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.

5. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down. Another method may be used with some varieties that cap easily. Picking berries without the calyx or cap will result in some bruising but is satisfactory for berries that will be processed soon after picking. Grasp the stem between the thumb and forefinger just behind the cap. Squeeze slightly against the cap and apply slight pressure against the berry with the second finger. The berry should pull loose, leaving the cap on the stem.

Whether you pick strawberries from your own garden or at a pick-your-own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Be careful that your feet and knees do not damage plants or fruit in or along the edge of the row. At a pick-your-own farm, it is important that you pick only the row assigned to you.

2. Most growers furnish picking containers designed for strawberries. If you use your own container, remember that heaping strawberries more than 5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries.

3. Pick only the berries that are fully red. Part the leaves with your hands to avoid missing hidden berries ready for harvest.

4. Pick the row clean. Remove berries showing rot, sunburn, insect injury or other defects from the plants and place them in between the rows behind you.

5. Berries to be used immediately may be picked any time but if you plan to hold the fruit for a few days, try to pick during the early morning or on cool, cloudy days. Berries picked during the heat of the day become soft, are easily bruised and will not keep well.

6. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sun any longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or shed rather than in the trunk or on the seat of your car. Cool them as soon as possible after picking. Strawberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for three or more days, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few days in storage, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor and tends to shrivel.

7. Give the harvested fruit a soft ride home.

Visit our Strawberries & More website for a current listing of strawberry pick-your-own and roadside market farms.

Source: David Robson

Pathogens (microorganisms which cause disease) can be transferred from animal manure to humans. The pathogens Salmonella, Listeria & E-coli, as well as parasites, such as roundworms and tapeworms, have been linked to applications of manure to gardens.

Publicity about illnesses due to E. coli 0157:H7 has made people more aware of the potential risk of foodborne illness from manure contamination. As a result, many are now asking whether it is safe to use manure on their gardens.

In August 1993, The Lancet Medical Journal reported on a small E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak that appeared to be the result of manure applications to a garden. The gardener ate eggs and milk products, but no meat, and her diet relied heavily on vegetables from her garden. She fertilized the garden all summer with manure from her cow and calf. No E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria were isolated from fecal samples taken from the cow and calf; however, the animals did have antibody counts for the pathogen, suggesting they had been previously infected. E. coli 0157:H7 was isolated from the manured garden soil.

So, how risky is the use of manure in gardens and compost piles? If you use fresh manure in the garden, there is a small risk that pathogens which cause disease may contaminate garden vegetables. The risk is greatest for root crops, like radishes and carrots, and leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, where the edible part touches the soil. Careful washing and/or peeling will remove most of the pathogens responsible for the disease. Thorough cooking is even more effective.

To reduce the risk of disease, we suggest these precautions:

• Apply fresh manure at least 60 days before harvesting of any garden vegetables which will be eaten without cooking. If you apply manure within 60 days of harvest, use only aged or composted manure.

• Never apply fresh manure after the garden is planted

• Thoroughly wash raw vegetables before eating.

• Do not use cat, dog or pig manure in gardens or compost piles, because some of the parasites which can be found in these manures may survive and remain infectious for people.

• People who are especially susceptible to foodborne illnesses should avoid eating uncooked vegetables from manured gardens. Those who face special risks from foodborne illness include pregnant women, very young children and persons with chronic diseases, such as cancer, kidney failure, liver disease, diabetes or AIDS.

Source: Purdue University Plant & Pest Diagnostic Lab.

Back in the 1970's the average backyard vegetable garden was about 1000 square feet. Now it is typically 200 square feet. New houses tend toward smaller yards, so the farm model of growing food and the generous space it required has become obsolete. Contemporary vegetable gardening borrows the best design ideas from the past, while incorporating new technology and materials to make smaller vegetable gardens easier to manage and more productive.

Two ways to coax more production from limited space is by borrowing from old cultures the concepts of raised beds and vertical growing. Shifting a garden layout from rows to raised beds almost doubles the available growing area, as most of the ground formerly devoted to paths is dedicated to production. Growing food vertically to exploit the airspace above the garden again almost doubles its effective production area. This configuration facilitates the use of soaker hose irrigation, woven fabric mulches and other space age materials to dramatically reduce the amount of work involved in producing crops.

Raised Beds

Raised beds are permanent, rectangular plots holding soil that remains loose and rich because it is never compacted by foot traffic. Paths between the beds are also permanent. While they require a significant investment of physical labor to dig and box, they do not have to be dug again every year. Raised beds promise years of virtually instant bed preparation and easy planting each spring. Try one bed at first. Dig it in the fall when the weather is cool, then add more beds over time. Because their excellent soil permits intensive planting, it will not be necessary to have as big a garden overall as before.

Making Raised Beds

Lay out the bed's dimensions with stakes and string. A width of 3 or 4 feet is a comfortable reach from either side for most adults. Lengths of 8 or 12 feet (conveniently allowing for evenly spaced trellis supports every 4 feet) are most adaptable to the typical backyard.

Begin digging within the string at one end, cultivating the soil to a depth of at least a foot - deeper is better. If working in a turf area, put aside pieces of sod for the compost pile. Working backward to avoid stepping on newly dug soil, turn over shovelsful of soil and mound them in a loose pile within the measured dimensions of the bed. This is a good time to incorporate organic material such as compost, peat moss or chopped leaves into the soil. Overachievers may wish to double dig the bed, but it is not required.

Designate at least 3 feet for path area around the bed. Scrape off the valuable top few inches of topsoil from the paths and mound it on the newly dug bed to increase its height, then spread wood chips or gravel, or lay bricks in the path area to eliminate future problems with mud. Rake and level the surface of the mounded soil in the bed and it is ready for planting.

A layer of straw or chopped leaves will protect the soil over the winter and discourage erosion of the mounded soil into the paths. While it is not necessary, boxing each bed with 2 by 10 inch wooden planks prevents erosion most effectively, makes beds easier to manage and looks more attractive. Boxed sides also provide a place to fasten fixtures to permit quick attachment of sturdy vertical supports for various crops.

The Value of Vertical

Another way to maximize production in limited space is to exploit the air space above the garden bed. Combined with raised boxed beds the potential for dramatically increased production with vertical growing is enormous. Plants grown vertically can be planted more closely together and produce more in the rich, friable soil of a properly managed raised bed. Because they take up only a few inches of surface soil, there remains lots of bed left to be intensively planted with low growing vegetable plants. Orienting beds on a north-south axis assures that plant laden trellises do not block the sun from lower growing plants as it moves from east to west across the yard during the day.

Erecting vertical supports is always a time consuming problem. Free standing ones provide flexibility in placement, but are precarious, tending to collapse part way through the season from the weight of maturing crops. The planks that enclose a raised bed offer a convenient place to attach year round fixtures that make setting up and taking down trellises quick and easy. They make it possible to have a flat trellis system that runs along either side of the bed that is stable, yet easily reconfigured to facilitate crop rotation.

Establishing a Trellis System

There are lots of ways to fasten trellis poles to the wooden planks of boxed beds. One tried and true method is to fasten 12 inch lengths of PVC pipe, 1-1/2 to 2 inches in diameter, with plumber's brackets at four foot intervals along the insides of the long sides of the bed. Dig the PVC pipe into the soil so the opening is flush with the top of the board. Sturdy vertical poles, wooden or PVC, up to 8 feet long, fit easily and quickly into the PVC pipe fixtures for instant stability. Since their first 12 inches sit in the fixture below the soil level, the trellis will actually be 7 feet tall, about maximum reach for most adults.

Next, cut 4 foot lengths (the distance between the vertical poles) of furring strips or similar 1 by 2 inch slats, to make crosspieces to make panels of trellis which fasten to the vertical poles at top and bottom. The trellis material itself may be hand strung wire or twine, or commercial netting made of nylon or plastic. Mesh with 4 or 6 inch holes allows for easy access when picking large vegetables such as tomatoes. Fasten it to the crosspieces with a staple gun to form panels that are easily mounted and removed from the vertical poles, rolled up and stored for next year. Drill holes at the ends of the crosspieces and at the tops and bases of the poles for attaching panels of trellis netting with screw bolts and wing nuts.

Reasons to Use Boxed Raised Beds

• Save space
• Maintain soil texture
• Do not need annual digging
• Heat up earlier in the season
• Use water and fertilizer more efficiently
• Improve soil drainage
• Permit intensive planting
• Are neat and accessible
• Support trellises securely

Veggies That Grow Well Vertically

• Beans, Lima Poles
• Beans, Pole
• Cucumbers
• Melons
• Peas
• Squash, winter varieties such as acorn, butternut
• Tomatoes, indeterminate

Benefits to Vegetables of Vertical Growing:

• Permit use of shade cloth or plastic tents
• Better air circulation
• Avoids soil compaction due to foot traffic
• Better access to sunlight
• Less exposure to soil pathogens
• Easier to harvest
• Dry off faster after rain
• Less likely to be curled or deformed

Source: National Garden Bureau

MEL - The Michigan Electronic Library - Horticulture & Gardening.
One of the best horticulture databases on the Web.
http://mel.lib.mi.us/science/hortind.html

The Adventures of Herman
Learn about worms from Squirmin' Herman the Worm. Learn how to make a worm bin. Lots of fun games and activities.
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/

June

Postemergence broadleaf weed control (avoid hot weather)

Light fertilization (with irrigation); controlled-release nitrogen suggested

July

Irrigation (as needed or allow lawn to go dormant)

Monitoring for pests/problems (sod webworm)

A Yellow-Flowered Rhododendron for Zone 5

The University of Connecticut has released 'Buzzer Beater,' a large-leaf (elepiodote) rhododendron hybrid that has moderate vigor, attractive yellow flowers and good cold hardiness - a rare combination of traits. Other yellow-flowered hybrids, such as those bred by David Leach, "fall short of expectations" in Zone 5.

'Buzzer Beater' can reach about nine feet high and 12 feet across. In full sun, its flowers are solid yellow with a reddish brown flare in the throat; in shade, they are light yellow with a greenish flare. Blooming is in late May in Connecticut. The leaves can reach eight inches in length and are semi-glossy. It appears that 'Buzzer Beater' plants are not significantly harmed by winter temperatures down to 25 degrees F (especially if given some wind protection); but flower buds can be injured by temperatures below 15 degrees F. 'Buzzer Beater' readily adapts to growing in containers.

Tissue cultured liners are available from ConnecticCulture, the nonprofit micropropagation facility at the University of Connecticut. For details, contact Dr. Mark Bridgen, Department of Plant Science, U-67, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-4067, phone 860-486-1945.

Reference: Mark H. Brand, "Buzzer Beater' rhododendron Developed," Yankee Grower 1 (1), January/February 1999, 9-10. (University of Connecticut, Dept. Of Plant Sience, 1376 Storrs Rd., U-67, Storrs, CT 06269-4067.

Clay Pot Hangers

Three of these patented hangers will fit over the rim of a standard clay pot, allowing the pot to be hung from chains. The price for nine of the hangers plus hooks and chains (to hang three pots) is $19.99 postpaid. Send a check or money order to Clay Pot Hangers, Box 997, Marshall, TX 75671. For more information, visit their website www.claypothanger.com

Impatiens Sales Again Benefit Breast Cancer Research

Last year, the "Memories, Milestones & Miracles" campaign raised $136,000 for breast cancer research and education. This year, participating garden centers across the U. S. and Canada will again sell the exclusive "Accent Miracle Collection" of pink impatiens (bred by Goldsmith Seeds) in hanging baskets, flats, packs and other containers, with at least 10 percent of the profits going to The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. In addition to funding research, The Komen Foundation provides grants to local affiliates to fund education, screening and treatment for the medically underserved. You can find a list of participating retailers on the Web at www.miracleplants.com. To learn more about the programs of the Komen Foundation, visit www.komen.com.

National Directory of Farmers Markets

New from the U. S. Department of Agriculture. This directory lists over 2,700 farmers markets operating in the U. S. in 1998, with summary data on locations, operation times and contact persons and phone numbers. For a copy, contact Denny Johnson, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S.D.A., Room 2642-S, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20250-0267, phone 202-720-8317. An electronic version is available on the Web at http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets.

Disease Resistant Vegetables for the Home Garden

The 1999 edition of this University of Wisconsin Extension publication lists cultivars that are especially tolerant of low or high temperatures. Sources of seed are given for each cultivar. For a copy, send a check or money order for $4.50 to University of Wisconsin, Cooperative Extension Publications, Room 170, 630 W. Mifflin St., Madison, WI 53703.

Microwave Flower Press

With this terra cotta press and a kitchen microwave oven, you can press and dry blossoms and foliage in minutes rather than days. The press area is 6.5" square. $21.95 (plus sales tax to New York addresses) postpaid from Lee Valley Tools Ltd., 12 E. River St., Ogdensburg, NY 13669, phone 800-871-8158, catalog free.

Garden Seed Inventory (5th Edition)

This 808 page book lists more than 7,000 non-hybrid vegetable cultivars sold by 255 mail order seed companies in the U. S. and Canada, including nearly 2,000 cultivars introduced since the fourth edition was published in 1994. $26 postpaid from the Seed Savers Exchange, 3076 N. Winn Rd., Decorah, IA 52101, phone 319-382-5990.

Science Project Ideas for Kids

Elementary to high school students in a hurry can visit a new website for a list of 140 publications full of ideas for science projects - most related to the agricultural sciences. The site, "Projects and Experiments for Young Scientists," was set up by the Technology Transfer Information Center of ARS' National Agricultural Library. It's the latest effort by ARS to interest young people in science. The publications list hundreds of project ideas on subjects ranging from Christmas tree farming to Samoan fruits and vegetables. Many of the publications should be available at local public and school libraries. The site's address is http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/misc/juvag.htm.

Also for kids is a website produced by ARS' Information Staff, "Science for Kids." It has stories about ARS research geared to students ages 8 to 13 and can be found at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids.

Kate Hayes, USDA-ARS National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, Maryland; phone 301-504-6875, e-mail khayes@nal.usda.gov.

June - Edible

• Make a homemade grow bag. Fill a large, heavy-duty, plastic trash bag with a soil mix (Pro-mix) and plant a tomato.
• Plant pumpkins in early June.
• Carve your child's name in the skin of a young pumpkin. The name will expand as pumpkin grows.
• Check cucumbers for cucumber beetles. Beetles can cause a bacterial wilt disease. Cover with a floating row cover (Reemay) until they flower.
• Stake tomato plants with 4'-5' stakes.
• In late June stop harvesting asparagus and fertilize.
• Plant cucumber varieties 'Spacemaster' and 'Salad Bush' for small gardens or containers.
• Pull weeds and put them in a compost pile. Compost factsheet available.
• Catch earwigs and sowbugs by trapping them in moistened, rolled up newspapers. The earwigs and sowbugs will hide in the paper during the day. Dispose of the newspapers.
• Plant Swiss chard for a continuous harvest of tender greens all summer and fall.
• Water the garden with the equivalent of one inch of water per week.
• Mulch tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Mulches help keep down weeds and conserve moisture. Different colored mulch materials reflect different wave lengths of light and have produced noticeable results. Tomato harvest increased significantly in both size and quality when plants were grown over red plastic. Gardeners Supply, 128 Intervale Road, Burlington, VT 05401, offers red plastic mulch for tomatoes.
• Do not walk through a garden after watering or rain. This can spread disease.
• Prune and tie "staked" tomato plants - factsheet available.
• Take family to a Pick Your Own Strawberry Farm.
• Plant beans, cucumbers, squash, sweet corn and late tomatoes.
• Set cages over tomatoes after applying mulch.
• Harvest strawberries.
• Do not worry about fruit drop on fruit trees. It is a natural occurrence.
• To protect bees that pollinate many of our crop plants, spray pesticides in the evening after bees have returned to their hives.
• Do not slice a tomato until you are ready to eat it. According to USDA research, a tomato loses its aroma and flavor just three minutes after slicing.
• Make a sunflower room for the kids. Draw a square in the soil and plant sunflowers around the square. Leave an open space for kids to go in their outdoor room.
• Make a vegetable cleaning box. Replace the bottom of a wooden box with chicken wire.
• Place just picked vegetables in box and rinse off.
• Side-dress eggplants, tomatoes and peppers with fertilizer when they set their first fruit.
• Keep cucumbers consistently moist to keep them from becoming bitter.
• Tear newspaper into 1" strips and use at 3" to 4" depths as a mulch around vegetables.
• Thin vegetables.

June - Ornamentals

• Grow scented geraniums. They make great air fresheners.
• Apply mulches to roses, annuals and perennials.
• Stake perennials as needed before they become broken or damaged.
• Balled and burlapped or container trees and shrubs can still be planted.
• Prune climbing roses after they have bloomed. Remove dead canes.
• Bats can be an important weapon for insect control. A brown bat can eat 3,000-7,000 insects per day/night. Attract bats with bat houses. For free plants write to the Virginia Gardener, Department of Horticulture, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0327.
• Termites will rarely attack wood chips near a home's foundation. To be safe limit the depth of wood chips to 4" around a building's foundation.
• Shrubs and perennials look nice as foundation plantings, but rain may not reach under the eaves, so you may need to water frequently.
• Climbing roses don't really climb - they have long canes that require support. You'll need to loosely tie the canes to trellises with broad strips of material. Do not use wire, it can damage the cane.
• Do not add ashes from charcoal grills to garden soil. Chemicals are used in the briquette bonding.
• When you buy container grown nursery stock, check the root ball and make sure it is not bound too tightly. A mass of circling roots will stay that way even after it is in the ground.
• Harvest herbs just before flowering. The leaves contain the maximum essential oils. Cut herbs early on a sunny day.
• Bronze-leaved varieties of begonia do particularly well in full sun. Keep the foliage dry and provide good air circulation around the plants.
• Identify insects before using pesticides.
• For hanging baskets in cool, shady locations, use trailing tuberous begonias, ferns, impatiens or fibrous rooted begonias in combination with trailing plants, such as English ivy.
• Bug zappers kill more beneficial insects than mosquitoes. They also attract insects.
• Remove old flower heads from bedding plants to prolong the period of bloom.
• Mulch clematis roots with an organic mulch 4"-6" deep. They like their roots cool.
• Make your own hummingbird food. Boil 4 cups of water and stir in 1 cup of sugar. Cool and fill feeder. Keep leftover food in refrigerator.
• Do not use peat moss as a mulch. When it dries it becomes impermeable to rain. It's best to mix it with soil.
• Pinch back annuals at 4"-6" high. Helps to promote bushy growth.
• Do not allow children to ride on or drive riding lawn mowers. Such mowers are moredangerous than they appear. Always disengage the mower blades and set the brake, or turn off the engine before getting off for any reason.
• A mail box mounted on a post in the garden can hold plant ties, labels, small tools and other necessities often forgotten when out in the garden.
• A plastic-mesh bag filled with marbles set inside a container holds flower arrangements beautifully. Set the bag in the container and cover it with water and the marbles will grip flower stems firmly without injuring them.
• Plant caladiums. They like 71-85°F days and 66-75°F nights.

June - Indoors

• If you keep your houseplants indoors all summer, keep them out of the draft of the air conditioner. Plants react to an air conditioner's cool air in various ways. Some drop their leaves, others don't bloom well and some fail to bloom all together.
• Rubber plants, Eureka palms, Peace lilies, Spider plants and pothos can make your indoor environment healthier by removing pollutants from the air.
• Don't rush to move your houseplants outdoors. Cool weather can cause leaf drop.

Playing Doctor

"Let's play doctor." Remember when you were a kid, playing doctor was so much fun. Each child had a role to play, which usually changed every time the game was played. Someone got to be the doctor, the doctor had to have a patient, then there was the nurse and the patient had relatives in the waiting room. The patient always had to take bad tasting, pretend medicine, get a shot and/or have surgery, but the patient never died.

Playing doctor as kids was a game of imagination. If you are still playing the game with real drugs, it could be deadly. Diagnosis and treatment of illness is serious business, which takes years of medical study. When a doctor prescribes drugs as part of patient treatment, it is based on cumulative information about the patient. Herbal concoctions, drugs by prescription and over-the-counter drugs can produce side effects. They are not risk-free.

Remember no drug is absolutely safe. Prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs interact with the food we eat, with other drugs, alcohol and with natural body chemistry. While an overdose can be fatal, an underdose may have little or no effect in treatment of an illness.

Today, over-the-counter (OTC) drug products are readily available. There are over 100,000 on the market and more are coming. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gives clearance for the release of new OTC drugs which were formally only available by prescription. The law requires proof of drug safety and effectiveness before a prescription drug can be marketed to consumers as OTC.

Generally, FDA approves a medication for OTC sales if one can safely and effectively use the drug after reading the instructions and packaging. The FDA considers whether the medication is safe at high doses, how it interacts with other medications and if there is potential for widespread abuse.

The FDA also weighs drug safety against the benefit to patients. The agency considers whether consumers will be able to understand and follow label directions, whether patients can diagnose the conditions themselves - or at least recognize the symptoms they want to treat - and whether routine medical examinations or laboratory tests are required for continued safe use of a drug.

The intent of these over the counter switches is to enable consumer's easy access to certain drugs that can be used safely without the help of a health care practitioner. This enables consumers to take control of their own health care in many situations. Buying prescription medications over the counter means you have more control over your medications and more responsibility.

OTC drugs are not always twins to prescription medications. Sometimes they are sold at lower doses with instructions for less frequent use. For instance, several drugs have a toxic effect when taken in large amounts. Some consumers may overmedicate on the mistaken assumption that more is better when in actuality, more can produce poisonous effects. In addition, some OTC drugs are not indicated for the same uses as their stronger prescription counterparts.

Although OTC drugs are generally regarded as safe, their misuse caused over 170,000 hospitalizations last year. Studies indicate that half of these hospitalizations could have been prevented if consumers could read and better understand the package directions. Ironically a third of those hospitalized admitted they did not attempt to read warnings printed on the label. Even for those who read, there is much confusion.

Frequently consumers complain about:

• how to measure dose levels for children,
• how one is supposed to read the tiny, compressed print,
• no standard order of label information,
• the use of too many medical terms, and
• no follow up phone number for assistance.

On March 11 of this year, Vice-President Gore unveiled new FDA regulations that require over-the-counter drug products to use a new label. The new label will be in larger print and in plain language, with a standard format, which will include critical information about the drug product.

The drug ingredient list, dose level and warnings will be stated in easy to understand language. The new label should make it easier for consumers to understand the expected effectiveness and associated risks of taking the OTC drug.

Some new product labels have shown up this spring, however, all OTC drugs will be required to adopt the new labeling within the next six years. The FDA is also recommending that drug companies include a phone number for consumers to call if they have questions about the product.

Self-diagnosis and treatment of even minor ailments requires some knowledge. Before you take an OTC drug or recommend one to someone else, read the label. Find out about the intended use and how the drug may interact with other drugs, foods and beverages. Read about the recommended dose level and do not exceed that level unless you are under a doctor's care.

A public education campaign is being launched to help educate consumers on the use of OTC drugs and reading the new labels. The campaign will also focus on doctor/patient relationships, encouraging consumers to ask more questions of health care providers. To learn more about OTC drug safety, visit the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research WEB site at www.fda.gov/cder or call the local FDA office in Chicago at 312-353-7126.

Strawberry Fields

The season's best strawberries are ready. The only way to get them is to visit a local strawberry producer, Farmers' Market or grow your own. Although commercial berries have improved over the years, nothing compares to berries that have ripened in the warm Midwestern sunshine.

As with most produce, commercially grown strawberries are cultivated for their shipping qualities. They are picked while the color is still greenish-white. Although the berries turn red during shipping, the sugar production is halted the moment they are picked so they never develop to full potential.

Strawberries do not get sweeter after harvesting. As a result, large, brilliantly red commercial berries are often flavorless and watery. Beautiful appearance is not a guide in strawberry selection. While supermarket berries are adequate during the winter, one should not settle for them now. But be quick about it, the season is fast fleeting. Pick early and pick often. Strawberry season lasts for about three weeks in Illinois, then it is over until next summer.

In order to produce a hefty supply of strawberries, local producers depend on ideal spring weather conditions. A late May frost or extremely heavy rains can damage plants, which greatly reduces the yield.

According to Extension Agriculture Educators and local producers, there has been adequate rain and, if warm sunny days continue through June, the strawberry harvest for Illinois will be better than average. Expect the local crops to peak around the second or third week of June. Bon Appetite!

Midwest strawberries peak during June. Illinois crops are ready at various times of the month depending on in which part of the state you are located. In any case, the season is too brief. To find a strawberry farm near you, visit our website at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/strawberries/ or call (773) 233-0476 for a listing.

Pick Your Own

• U-Pick Strawberry Farms sell berries by the pound. A quart equals 1-1/2 pounds of fresh berries. Do the math and be careful not to over purchase as strawberries quickly mold when left at room temperature.

• Ask about the different varieties available and taste each one. Find out which varieties are best for your intended use.

• Select plump, firm, fully red berries. Pinch berries from the stem, leaving the green cap intact. The small berries are often most flavorful.

• Use a shallow container for harvesting. Strawberries bruise easily and bruised berries quickly decay when stacked or layered, especially on a hot summer day.

• Ask about Alpine Strawberries. They are the cultivated version of the wild French berry, known for it's beautiful shape and wonderfully sweet strawberry flavor. If you can find them, buy them. You won't be sorry.

Breakfast on the deck, lunch in the park, dinner in the backyard or a late night snack in the cool breeze of Lake Michigan, summertime means eating outside. Warm weather increases the risk of food spoilage and food poisoning (foodborne illness).

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 97 percent of all traceable foodborne illness cases are the result of improper handling and improper preparation of food. Leaving cooked and raw food out for hours and hours and serving undercooked meat are examples of these problems. Poor personal hygiene of cooks and food handlers is also a major cause of food poisoning.

Of course, food safety is important at all times, but warm weather increases the risk of bacteria growth and illness from contaminated food. Outdoor dining can be just as safe as dining in your home if you are prepared. Have a well thought out plan for enjoying your meals outdoors. Make sure the guidelines below are part of the plan.

• Always wash your hand before starting to prepare food. Do not assume picnic grounds will have a water supply. Take along liquid hand soap, paper towels and a couple of gallons of water for hand washing.

• Fill a spray bottle with a mild chlorine and water solution for sanitizing tabletops and grills before using them. To make the solution, add one teaspoon chlorine bleach to one quart of water.

• Place all foods in a cooler with plenty of block ice. Blocks of ice last longer in hot weather than bags of crushed ice. To make your own, fill several half-gallon cartons with water and freeze. When frozen cut or tear the carton away. Use several blocks in each cooler.

• Wrap raw meat and poultry and keep them separate from cooked and prepared foods. Never leave perishable foods out of the cooler or refrigerator for more than two hours. Egg, cream, meat and mayonnaise dishes should not be left unrefrigerated for more than one hour during outdoor summertime dining. Remember to return leftovers to the cooler as soon as possible.

• Cook meats well done. Use a meat thermometer, red meat should be at least 165 degrees and poultry should be 180 degrees. Keep hot foods hot (140 degrees or higher) by placing them on the coolest part of the grill until ready to serve.

Rhubarb is as hardy as a weed. It is a beautiful garden plant, with huge extravagant, lush green leaves and pink or red stalks. It is an ancient plant as well. Chinese rhubarb has been traced back to 2700 BC. Chinese doctors recommended it for its medicinal qualities as a laxative, to reduce fever and cleanse the body. Rhubarb grown in the United States does not have the same medicinal value as "true rhubarb" or Chinese rhubarb.

There are many different varieties of rhubarb, grown all over the world and used in a variety of cooking and healing preparations. One characteristic consistent with all rhubarb is the toxicity of the leaves. The leaves contain a high amount of oxalic acid, a toxic and potentially deadly poison. Only the stems are edible, although the first crops were grown for it's round pouch of unopened flowers, which was cooked as a delicacy.

The early pink stems seem to produce the best flavor. Rhubarb or "the pie plant" is often considered a fruit, but it is actually a vegetable (leaf stem). It is prized for its mouth-puckering tartness which adds zest to pies, tarts, cold soups, jam and a host of other desserts.

Many other flavors are complemented by the sourness of rhubarb. In the U. S. it is most often teamed up with strawberries and baked into pies and tarts. A typical English preparation would use ginger, while the French may puree it into a sauce and serve it with fish.

Harvesting of rhubarb in Illinois generally begins in mid-June with a second harvest in August. Rhubarb can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. First trim and discard the leaves. The stalks can be kept in the refrigerator, unwashed and wrapped tightly in plastic, for up to three days.

To freeze, chop into 1/2 inch pieces, spread them on a sheet pan and place in the freezer. Once frozen, slide the rhubarb into heavy duty plastic freezer bags. Seal tightly and put back into the freezer. Packed this way, rhubarb will keep for up to 6 months and can be measured from the freezer bag.

When cooking fresh rhubarb, use a vegetable peeler to remove any brown or scaly spots. Peeling the entire stalk is unnecessary, simply trim the ends and wash and dry the stalks. Always use a non-reactive pan for cooking this high acid plant. Use anodized aluminum, stainless steel, Teflon coated aluminum or enamel-coated cast iron cookware.

Rhubarb requires the addition of sugar to combat the extreme tartness. Nutritionally, it is low in calories (until sugar is added) with a modest amount of Vitamin C. Although rhubarb can be tough and stringy, it does not contain a great deal of fiber, only 2 grams per cup. A one-cup serving does contain calcium (105 mg), potassium (351 mg) and folate (8.6 mcg).

Buying Commercial Strawberries at the Grocery Store

Supermarket strawberries may be your only choice this summer. Make the best of what is available by following these practical guidelines:

• Look for bright red berries with fresh green caps. When caps are removed, cells are torn in the berries, activating ascorbic acid oxidase, an enzyme that destroys Vitamin C. Leave caps on until ready to eat.
• Visually check each package, making sure there are no signs of mold growth. If one berry is molded, mold spores will have traveled throughout the entire package. Research has linked mold to some forms of cancer, always avoid moldy berries.
• Commercial strawberries are usually pre-packaged in pint or quart size containers. When purchasing strawberries a small basket is one pint, which yields about 2 1/4 cups sliced fruit.

If you cannot make it to a u-pick strawberry farm, visit one of the local farmers' markets located throughout Chicago from June to October. Many farmers have hybrid plants which yield fruit all summer. Ask about the variety being sold and if possible, request a sample berry before buying large quantities.

The Signs of Stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Unfortunately, most people do not recognize the signs of stroke. Nearly everyone knows that a stroke can leave one with partial paralysis on one side of the body but few people know any other warning signs. According to a recent survey, only 29 percent of those questioned recognize the following as signs of stroke:

• Sudden weakness and/or numbness in the face, arm or leg on one side of the body.
• Unexplained dizziness, mental confusion or sudden loss of consciousness.
• Sudden loss, dimmed or failed vision in one eye, which lasts for more than 15 minutes.
• Nausea or vomiting associated with any of the above symptoms.

If you have any of these symptoms, or sudden trouble talking or understanding speech, sudden severe headaches or an unexplained fall, call an ambulance and get to a hospital as soon as possible to minimize brain injury. Also early treatment can avert a massive stroke.

Protecting Your Eyes From the Sun

Wearing sunglasses is the best way to protect your eyes during those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. Take your time and inspect glasses before making a purchase. Try them on, how is the balance, do they rest comfortably on your nose?

• Sunglasses should provide maximum protection from Ultraviolet (UV) light. Long-term UV exposure increases your chance of cataracts. The greater the blockage of UV light, the lower your risk of eye damage.

• Choose lenses that block as close to 100 percent Ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light as you can for a reasonable price. Non-prescription sunglasses should carry an American National Standards Institute label telling how much UV light they block.

• Reduce glare. The darker the lenses, the more visible light they block. For activities on the water, sand or snow choose darker lenses than those for around town driving. To reduce reflected glare, choose gray-tinted, polarized lenses.

• Make sure glasses fit close to your face. To minimize UV light that can enter from the sides, buy wraparound sunglasses.

• Don't buy distorted colors like yellow or orange. Select gray or green tinted lenses when possible. They offer the least color distortion.

Buy several pair of sunglasses and wear them whenever you are in the sunshine.

• pistachios are naturally green with pale beige shells, but Middle Eastern merchants dyed them red to cover up nicks and blemishes caused during harvest and transport hazards?

• a man's risk of developing prostrate cancer increases with age? African Americans have a significantly higher chance of developing prostrate cancer than white American men. Recent research suggests that men who consume a low fat diet lower the risk of developing the disease.

• fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants (Vitamins C, E, lycopene, etc.) and other plant chemicals which help prevent damage to DNA? Included are tomatoes for lycopene and Vitamin C and peanuts and other nuts for naturally occurring Vitamin E. Remember "5 A Day" keeps the doctor away.

• according to the Community Nutrition Institute's newsletter, the USDA will allow certain meat and poultry products to carry a label indicating that they are certified organic, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman announced? Meat and poultry products will be labeled "certified organic" if processors meet certain basic criteria and seek prior approval from USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, the federal agency responsible for meat safety. USDA's Agriculture Marketing Service is currently revising its proposal to standardize the use of the term "organic."

• the University of Glasgow in Scotland conducted the first study ever examining the impact of being overweight on daily activities? They concluded: compared to thin people, overweight individuals are more likely to feel unhappy and restricted in their daily activities. The study asked 4,000 Dutch men and women aged 20 to 59 to answer quality-of-life questionnaires and compared the responses of the overweight subjects to thin subjects. Investigators found that overweight individuals were more likely to express feelings of unhappiness than their thinner counterparts. The subjects with high body mass indexes were also found to have difficulty in day-to-day activities such as bending, kneeling or climbing stairs. However, no evidence surfaced indicating that heavier individuals had trouble adjusting socially. Source: Community Nutrition Institute; American Journal of Public Health; Vol. 88, #12; 12/98; pp.1814-1820.