Posts Archives
Question & Answer
Q. Last year was our first year for mature, pickable strawberries. They were bountiful and delicious, but it was hard to get to them before pillbugs did, even by picking daily. Do you recommend any tips or food-safe treatments to keep these or other pests away? A. It is so very frustrating when insect pests and critters beat us to the harvest! Pillbugs are small, gray creatures with seven pairs of legs; they roll themselves […]
Coping with Storm-Damaged Trees
Homeowners assessing tree damage caused by recent storms will want to make a few important decisions soon. Small trees with minor damage can probably be taken care of by the homeowner, but large, mature trees likely will need the help of a professional tree service. It can be hard to decide whether trees with severe damage should be removed. Homeowners often are reluctant to cut down a tree, either because of sentimental attachment or because […]
Question & Answer
Q. We have a Honeycrisp apple tree that is 2-3 years old. It is growing well, but straight up. It has approximately doubled in height in the year since we planted it. My question is: Can I prune the top back to make the tree less tall and bushier? I know not to do that with maple trees, but don’t know about apple trees. A. The quick answer is do NOT prune the top; this […]
New Pest Identified in Raspberries
Correction to September 5 In The Grow New Pest Identified in Raspberries I just learned from a couple of observant colleagues that the insect pest described in raspberry fruits in last week’s “In The Grow” column is most likely a new pest, the Spotted Wing Drosophila, that has recently appeared in Indiana. Here is the question and the amended response. Thanks to my colleagues for catching this! – Rosie Lerner Q. I am just sick […]
Question and Answer
Q. I have several rose bushes started from a rose that has been in our family for five generations. My mother also had a bush started from the original. Two years ago, her rose started getting the red, narrow, twisted foliage as pictured. The rose eventually died. I have the only remaining plants, and one of my three bushes now has the same problem. Normal and abnormal foliage can come off the same main cane. […]
Harvesting and Storing Garden Vegetables
Nothing beats fresh-picked vegetables picked from the garden, but timing is everything! Harvesting at the right stage is essential – proper storage will help maintain homegrown freshness. Some crops are best harvested frequently while still immature, while others need to mature as long as possible. Crops also vary in their optimal storage requirements; some do best in cold, moist storage; others do best in dry storage. The following crops are grouped by similarity of storage […]
Orchids, Tomato Plants, & White Oak
Q. I would like to know how to care for a potted orchid I received on Mother’s Day. I don’t know anything about them or what to expect. A. Orchids belong to a large family of plants – there are over 20,000 species and more than 100,000 cultivars! There are four basic types of orchids. The proper temperature, watering and fertilizing schedules vary, depending on the type. Most orchids sold as houseplants are classified as […]
Tomato Troubles
Despite the endless list of potential problems, tomatoes continue to be the most popular plant in Midwest vegetable gardens. Many tomato problems are related to environmental factors such as temperature and moisture, rather than insects or disease. The most common tomato affliction is blossom-end rot, so named for the black, leathery scar that occurs on the blossom end, instead of the stem end, of the fruit. Blossom-end rot most frequently occurs when there are extremes […]
Off with their heads!
Removing spent blossoms from your shrubs and garden flowers can be tedious work, but often pays big dividends. The removal of spent flowers is often referred to as “deadheading.” Pinching or pruning off dead flowers is not just a matter of aesthetics – it can also encourage additional blooming. Many plants – petunia, geranium, marigold, speedwell, and coreopsis, among them – will re-bloom after deadheading. For these plants, the formation of fruit and seed signals […]