ATHOME
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[SAMANTHA EGAN/SPECIAL TO THE
HOME DECOR
CAPITAL-JOURNAL]
Ushering in spring Experts discuss latest decorating trends
PICKING THE BEST TOMATOES, PAGE 2
TOPEKA HOME SHOW, PAGE 3
USING COLOR CREATIVELY, PAGE 4
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Wise selection favors good tomato results Diseases, pests can wreak havoc on plants
Ariel Whitely-Noll
M
any of the midto late-summer calls coming into the Shawnee County Choosing a tomato variety that is resistant to weather and pests in your locale can make the difference between Extension Master Gardeners Response Line crop success and failure. [METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION] are tomato-related. “What are these spots (a topic we’ll discuss in choice that may plague on my tomato leaves?” next week’s column), your yard for decades. “What are these knots but variety selection Disease- or peston my tomato roots?” also can play a key role. resistant varieties and “My plant just There is nothing more aren’t a cure-all. They died. What happened?” frustrating than workoffer protection, but are among our most ing all season caring for under favorable discommon questions. plants that eventually ease conditions, high The answers often end fail, only to find that pest densities or poor up being “early blight,” another variety choice sanitation, a resistant “nematodes” and “verwould have yielded a plant may still succumb ticillium or fusarium more favorable result. to the issue at hand. wilt.” These are just Variety selection is key Taste also can be a a few possible tomato to solving many common limiting factor in selecissues, but they can be plant issues. Tomato tion. Your favorite devastating to your crop. selection may impact cherry tomato may not Often when these your garden for only one have any resistance to tomato gardeners come season, but choosing fusarium wilt — putin for help, it’s too late. a tree that is suscepting all the pressure for Sanitation and other tible to a common pest success on your garcultural methods can when there is a resistant dening practices, the help control the problem variety available is a weather and a bit of luck.
Resistant varieties primarily are helpful to those who have had issues in the past. Depending on the problem, it may signify that your soil contains a pathogen that resistance can help combat. Fusarium wilt Although similar to verticillium wilt, this disease is more prevalent. Occurring midsummer, during periods of high soil and air temperatures, the disease develops as yellowing on the oldest leaves — those closest to the ground. The yellowing is restricted to one side of the plant, or on leaflets only showing on one
side of the petiole. The leaves wilt and dry up, but stay on the plant. Wilting continues and moves to younger foliage, resulting in the death of the plant. Stems will remain green and firm on the outside, but they’ll have a brown discoloration in the interior vascular tissue. There are three strains of fusarium. The following varieties are listed as having resistance to at least one of the strains: • Garden tomatoes: Sun Start, Sunny, Daybreak, Mt. Spring, Mt. Fresh, Celebrity, Floralina, Jet Star, Merced, Sunmaster, Sun Leaper, Carolina Gold. • Cherry tomatoes: Cherry Grande, Mt.
Belle, Sweet Chelsea. • Pasta/Roma tomatoes: Roma, Plum Dandy, Super Marzano. Verticillium wilt This disease tends to develop in the cooler spring months. Older leaves are affected first, turning yellow and wilting and eventually dropping off the plant. The yellowing of the leaves is uniform, unlike fusarium wilt. With disease progression, younger leaves begin to wilt and die, leaving on a few healthy leaves at the top of the plant. Diseased plants aren’t See TOMATOES, 4
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Show spotlights latest home-related trends Three-day event to feature more than 125 companies By LIz Montano Special to The Capital-Journal
Most people who have anything to do with home construction or remodeling in Topeka and the surrounding area will be hard at work the next few days preparing for the 56th annual Topeka Home Show. The home show will be from 1 to 7 p.m. March 9, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 10 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 11 at the Kansas Expocentre, S.W. 17th and Topeka Boulevard.
TOPEKA HOME SHOW What: Three-day exhibition featuring 125 different companies When: 1 to 7 p.m. March 9, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 10 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 11 Where: Exhibition Hall, Kansas Expocentre, S.W. 17th St. and Topeka Boulevard Admission: $8 for those 12 years and older; $5 for advance tickets Information: Visit thba.com, email thba@thba.com or call (785) 273-1260.
Admission is $8 for those 12 and older. Advance
tickets are $5. Ivan Weichert, CEO and president Weichert of the Topeka Area Building Association, recently took a few minutes from preparing for the show to talk about this year’s event. Q: What can we expect to see at this year’s show? Weichert: Upwards of
95 percent of the display booths will have something to do directly with homes — home See SHOW, 8
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TOMATOES From Page 2
killed. However, they can be severely stunted, become weak and produce extremely small fruit. The same varieties resistant to fusarium are listed as resistant to verticillium. Tobacco mosaic virus This disease can attack tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, tobacco plants, spinaches, petunias and marigolds. With tomatoes, the virus infection causes light- and dark-green mottled areas on the leaves. Generally, the dark-green areas tend to be thicker than the lighter portions. Plants are stunted. Leaves are distorted, curling downward, and look more like fern leaves than tomato leaves. Some strains can cause mottling, streaking and necrosis, or decay, of the fruit. Although infected plants survive, fruit quality and yield are poor. The following varieties are resistant to the virus:
• Garden tomatoes: Sun Start, Sunny, Merced. • Cherry tomatoes: Sweet Chelsea. • Pasta/Roma tomatoes: Super Marzano.
Early blight
typically becomes more severe after blossom-set. Early blight can cause defoliation, resulting in sun scald of fruit and a reduction in fruit yield. Signs of early blight include irregular, brown leaf lesions or spots that can be as large as a halfinch in diameter. Within the lesions are dark, concentric rings that make the spot look like a target. Although the spots are primarily on the leaves, they can develop on the fruit as well. On the fruit, these lesions are tan to brown, leathery and typically originate at the stem end of the fruit. Varieties resistant to early blight include: • Garden tomatoes: Mt. Fresh. • Cherry tomatoes: None. • Pasta/Roma tomatoes: Plum Dandy. For more details on resistant tomato plants and tomato plant care, visit bookstore.ksre.ksu. edu/pubs/mf312.pdf.
Early blight is one of the most common tomato diseases. Although it can occur anytime in the growing season, the disease
Ariel Whitely-Noll is the horticulture agent for Shawnee County Research and Extension. She can be reached at arielw@ksu.edu.
Nematodes Nematodes are microscopic, wormlike animals that damage plant roots with their underground feeding. The feeding can cause stunting, deformation and poor yield. Nematodes can cause plant death during periods of drought, because severely affected plants can’t take up water properly. The following varieties are resistance to nematodes: • Garden tomatoes: Sunny, Daybreak, Celebrity. • Cherry tomatoes: None. • Pasta/Roma tomatoes: Super Marzano.
10 ways to use more color in your space Accent walls, bedding can brighten rooms By Cathy Hobbs Tribune News Service
Color can both attract and repel. It also can serve as a creative way to add energy and interest into your home. Afraid to use color? Well,
you aren’t alone. There is a bit of an art to using color properly in a space, but the good news is it's OK to experiment. Here are some tips for using color: • Consider an accent wall. Paint is one of the least expensive ways to infuse color into your space. See COLOR, 9
Paint is an easy and affordable way to add accent colors to nearly any room. Here bright orange walls are accented with off-white furniture, curtains and ceramic items. [TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE]
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D E C O R AT I N G T R E N D S
Spring’s look: Fresh colors, clean lines Blues, greens and millennial pink lead the color pack By Samantha Egan Special to The Capital-Journal
While the groundhog may have forecasted a couple more weeks of winter weather, you can bring spring into your home in the time it takes to swap a throw pillow. Fresher colors, clean lines and decluttered spaces are the highlights of spring’s decorating trends, and you can incorporate them with a few tweaks — no paint brush required. If you’re ready to spruce things up, start with color. “I think, in general, people are trying to make their homes feel a little bit brighter, especially when it’s as dreary and dark as it is outside,” said Dan Brungardt, owner and designer at Home at Last, inside Fairlawn Plaza at S.W. 21st and Fairlawn Road. Brungardt said millennial pink, a color named for its popularity among the millennial generation, is one of the season’s frontrunners. The shade, which he describes as “a very soft pink,” has become more prevalent at the last two or three national design markets, and he expects to see more of it on shelves soon. Greens and blues also are emerging this spring. David Porterfield, of Porterfield's Flowers & Gift Shop, 3101 S.W. Huntoon St., says colors like robin’s egg blue, Tiffany blue and bolder shades of cobalt are on the rise. “They’ve been on trend, but I think they’re getting
Dan Brungardt, owner and designer at Home at Last, says shades of green can act as an accent to blue tones. [PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA EGAN/
David Porterfield, of Porterfield’s Flowers & Gift Shop, says farmhouse-style accessories, such as clocks, plaques, trays and items that are galvanized, are popular this spring.
SPECIAL TO THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]
even stronger,” he said, adding blue tones should be used sparingly. “It’s more of an accessory addition. An entire room in blue can be overwhelming.” Shades of green can act as an accent to blue tones, and real or artificial plants — boxwoods, tea leaves, topiaries and small flowering plants — are a trendy way to bring in a fresher palette. “They add that little dose of nature that we’re not seeing this time of year,” Brungardt said.
In keeping with the fresher feel, he said, adding fragrance — white floral, for example — can boost a room’s ambience. Scent defusers provide a softer, lingering scent, while candles offer more of a blast of fragrance when lit. Aside from brighter colors, lighter fabrics and cleaner lines are another key part of bringing spring into your home. Rich, visually heavy fabrics that were popular a few years ago, like chintz, are on the way out, making
way for linens and other lighter-weight textures. Porterfield said the season’s trends favor cleaner lines, like stripes and panel designs, rather than florals and busier patterns. “It’s more about a clean stripe or a simple colored fabric,” he said. Drum-style lampshades from the 1950s-60s also are making a comeback, along with farmhousestyle accessories, such as clocks, plaques and trays. “A lot of that country,
galvanized stuff is still really strong, but I think it has been a little bit overwrought,” Porterfield said. “It’s fun as an accent in a casual room, like a kitchen, but don’t jump in too heavily.” While it can be tempting to start a room from scratch when new trends surface, switching out a few accent pieces can go a long way. Try swapping in area rugs, blankets and other textiles to give a room an updated look. See TRENDS, 7
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TRENDS From Page 6
“To reupholster a piece of furniture is so expensive, but you can change the look of it by using shawls, throws and pillows,” Porterfield said. Like any home project, having a vision is the first step. Brungardt said apps like Houzz, an image-heavy home website and online community, can help determine what your tastes are — a helpful thing to pinpoint before you make new purchases. “You start to critically look at a picture and say, ‘There's something that feels good about this room,’” Brungardt explained. “It may be a comfy chair or mantel with space for decor.” Even if your budget is tight, there’s one trend anyone can jump on: decluttering. “It’s so basic and so easy, but going into a room, clearing off accessories and starting over will give them a totally different look,” Brungardt said. “It’s amazing how new things can feel.” Samantha Egan is a freelance writer from Topeka.
Real or artificial plants — like these displayed at Home at Last — are a trendy way to bring a fresher palette into a home.
Pillows in bold designs and throws in a different textile — like these from Home at Last — can give a room an updated look.
These ceramic items at Porterfield’s Flowers & Gift Shop embrace the popularity of blues and greens this spring. [PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA EGAN/SPECIAL TO THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]
RIGHT: A large green foot rest and blue-and-green pillows complement the blue sofa in this display at Home at Last.
Devices deliver hot water faster to faucet Why wait for cold water to clear lines? By Ed Del Grande Tribune News Service
Q: Hello, Ed: I installed a beautiful kitchen faucet, and it got me thinking about solving an existing plumbing issue. We're on a concrete slab with the water heater located in the garage. The kitchen is on the other side of the house, and we have to run the faucet a long time to get hot water. I'm tired of the wait, any ideas? — Paul, Georgia
A: Once hot water cools off, it needs to be cleared out of the line to get new hot water to the faucet. The longer the water line, the longer the wait for hot water. Basically, you have a couple of choices to help you with this issue. First, look into installing a point-ofuse water heater under the kitchen sink. These small electric water heaters supply hot water quickly to the faucet while waiting for the house hot water to catch up. Second, a residential recirculating hot water system
can be installed. The system keeps hot water moving around the house and cuts down on the wait time. A plumber can guide you on which one of these hot ideas can work best for your home. Master contractor/plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book "Ed Del Grande's House Call," the host of TV and Internet shows, and a LEED green associate. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eadelg@ cs.com. Always consult local contractors and codes.
The longer the water line, the longer it takes for hot water to reach a faucet. Installing a point-of-use heater or recirculating hot water system may help deliver hot water sooner. [TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE]
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SHOW
Q: How many years has the Topeka Home Show been at the Expocentre? Weichert: We were the
From Page 3
remodeling or construction or home services. The list is too extensive to name them all, but there will be financial institutions — they’re important since they help finance projects — electricians, plumbers, restoration and tree services, design centers, carpet care, drywall, HVAC and basement repair companies. People will find displays on the newest products in home siding and flooring, the latest in home lighting — LED lighting is very popular in residential uses now, energy-efficient windows. Most windows in homes built in the ’50s or ’60s or before were simply something for people to look through. They were not energyefficient. Many homeowners are replacing those windows with more efficient products.
first event held at Exhibition Hall in 1987, and we’ve been there every year since. In 1986, it was held in both Ag Hall and Heritage Hall.
Workers set up booths at last year’s Topeka Home Show. This year, about 125 different companies — from electricians to drywall installers to bundt cake bakers — are participating in the three-day show, which will be March 9 through 11 at the Kansas Expocentre. [SUBMITTED]
There will be new floor covering products that are water- and damage-resistant and beautiful cabinet displays. We’re seeing revelations in new countertop products made of recycled glass. That’s an interesting concept you’ll find at this year’s show. The list goes on and on. Q: And for us foodies, I understand one of the more popular exhibitors of the show will be back this year? Weichert: Yes, I’ve had sev-
eral exhibitors ask if Nothing
Bundt Cakes will be there. They will be back. Very tasty! Q: Preparing for an event of this magnitude obviously takes months of preparations. Weichert: It does take a lot
of preparation. We began negotiating with the Kansas Expocentre and putting things in place last summer. Now, we’re at a furious pace. Monday night is the start of move-in; the show is Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then tear-down will be the following Monday.
Q: This is the 56th year for the event? Weichert: Yes. The (build-
ers) association was formed in 1953 and started holding the annual show in 1962.
Q: I would imagine it’s grown exponentially over the years? Weichert: It definitely has.
I’m not sure about attendance numbers in the early years, but the last several years we’ve averaged around 4,000 attendees. This year, we have 125 different companies participating. It seems the colder the weather, the more people who attend — since warmer weather tends to make people want to
spend more time outside. Q: This is the big fundraiser for the Topeka Area Building Association, right? Weichert: The Topeka Home
Show is our major non-dues source of revenue annually. It helps us pay for various efforts around the city and provides funding for some college scholarships. Another exciting thing this year (is) we’ll have a drawing to award $100 tickets for a St. Jude’s Hospital Dream Home Giveaway — a $400,000 home built with donations in southwest Topeka. Not only does the Topeka Home Show help us help others, the show is a chance to see, touch and feel products without feeling the pressure of having someone come to your home. Liz Montano is a freelance writer from Topeka. She can be reached at (785) 230-3907 or newsbizliz@gmail.com.
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COLOR From Page 4
• Use toss pillows. Toss pillows not only help to add color to a space, but they also introduce texture as well. Toss pillows are portable design, allowing you to move color from room to room as you desire.
• Purchase colorful accessories, such as table lamps. There are so many interesting ways to incorporate both an interesting color and design into a space, and lighting is one functional way. • Try greenery. • Be bold with bedding. Bedding, especially in a child’s room, can add a dynamic element. • Use area rugs. Area
rugs are an ideal way to incorporate color into a space. Many designers choose area rugs for color or graphic inspiration or to help tie a room together. • Use a technique called color mapping. Color mapping is a technique in which the same or similar color is repeated or "mapped" throughout a room. • Consider vignettes. Vignettes or groupings are
a wonderful way to group similar colors or elements together to make a powerful statement. •Tell a story with color. Have a repeated color scheme throughout your home. The ideal color scheme consists of at least three colors. • Don't be afraid to add pops of color throughout a room. Accents from accessories, books and even
florals can help spread color through a space. Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@ cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at cathyhobbs.com.
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TIP OF THE WEEK: VINEGAR NO-NOS
Vinegar is an easy and inexpensive way to remove wine stains from carpet and clean windows and dishwashers. However, there are some things that should never be cleaned with vinegar, including: • Egg stains or spills. Vinegar can cause the eggs to coagulate and be more difficult to remove. • Granite and marble countertops, which should be cleaned with a mild liquid dish detergent. • Grass, ink, ice cream or blood stains, which tend to set into fabric quickly.
[METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION]
Source: goodhousekeeping.com/home
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