Rosie Lerner

rosie@purdue.edu

716 articles by this author

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Tree Onions Keep on Giving

Q. My landlord gave me a start of this plant. They didn’t explain what it is. I have looked in the seed catalogs and don’t see anything like it. Would like to know if the little bulbs are edible. – P.B., Summitville, Indiana A. Excellent photos! This distinctive perennial onion is known as Egyptian, tree or top-set onion, so-named for the cluster of aerial bulblets, called bulbils, produced at the tip of the leaves. The…Read more about Tree Onions Keep on Giving[Read More]

Try Your Luck with Shamrocks

Although sometimes referred to as clover, the shamrock is not a “true” clover but more typically one of several species of Oxalis. The Oxalis selections commonly sold as shamrocks are grown more for foliage than for their flowers. Both green and purple foliage are popular, and some have quite striking variegated patterns. The shamrock’s dainty flowers vary from white to pink and from lavender to yellow, depending on the cultivar. Their flowers close at night…Read more about Try Your Luck with Shamrocks[Read More]

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Consistent Soil Moisture Helps Prevent Blossom-End Rot

Q. I was wondering if you had any solutions for tomato rot. I throw my grass clippings on the soil to keep the weeds out. Does that have anything to do with it? – RM, Tinley Park, Illinois. A. Blossom-end rot is a common problem of tomatoes; it’s named for the black, leathery scar that develops on the blossom end of the fruit opposite the point of stem attachment. The black scar tissue is caused…Read more about Consistent Soil Moisture Helps Prevent Blossom-End Rot[Read More]

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Consistent Soil Moisture Helps Prevent Blossom-End Rot

Q. I was wondering if you had any solutions for tomato rot. I throw my grass clippings on the soil to keep the weeds out. Does that have anything to do with it? – RM, Tinley Park, Illinois. A. Blossom-end rot is a common problem of tomatoes; it’s named for the black, leathery scar that develops on the blossom end of the fruit opposite the point of stem attachment. The black scar tissue is caused…Read more about Consistent Soil Moisture Helps Prevent Blossom-End Rot[Read More]

Stevia in the Windowsill Garden

Looking for a fun gardening project for chasing away your winter blues? Why not try growing Stevia in your windowsill garden. It may not be the most ornamental of plants, but hopefully will present a sweet reward for your efforts. Stevia rebaudiana, also known as sweetleaf and sugarleaf, is a low-growing, tender, perennial herb grown for the high levels of stevioside, which can be 30-300 times sweeter than cane sugar yet has zero calories. The…Read more about Stevia in the Windowsill Garden[Read More]

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Protecting Rhododendrons from Winter Winds

Question & Answer Protecting Rhododendrons from Winter Winds Q. I planted a new rhododendron a couple of months ago, and the leaves are already turning yellow and curling up this winter. The plant is on the west side of the house, which was the sunniest location we have. Is there anything I can do to save it? D.L., Lafayette, Indiana. A. Extreme cold and high winds are especially tough on broadleaved evergreens such as rhododendron because…Read more about Protecting Rhododendrons from Winter Winds[Read More]

Wrap It Up

A sad thought occurred to me the other day while I was doing some holiday errands. I watched in horror as shoppers steered their carts full of holiday gift plants through gusty winds and miserably cold temperatures only to put these frigid plant victims into icy-cold automobiles. I wondered how many of these plants would even make it to their intended recipients? And how long would they last if they did make it that far?…Read more about Wrap It Up[Read More]

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What’s the Buzz about Yellow Jackets and Evergreen Trees?

Q. I have small evergreen trees planted in my yard. They are the small, slow-growing type. They are around 8 years old. Every fall the yellow jackets start swarming around them, crawling in and out of the inside of the tree. They don’t seem to hurt it, but it looks like they are trying to find something – acting like a honey bee on a flower. But these have no flowers. They don’t bother us…Read more about What’s the Buzz about Yellow Jackets and Evergreen Trees?[Read More]

Cool-Season Brussels Sprouts Are Hot

Brussels sprouts have long been under-appreciated by many, but now they proudly join other conveniently packaged vegetables in produce aisles and at farmers markets. They’re loaded with good nutrition – a one-half cup serving has just 28 calories, 0 fat grams and 81 percent of your daily vitamin C requirement. Brussels sprouts are also a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins A and K, folate, potassium, iron, manganese and many other nutrients. Brussels sprouts are…Read more about Cool-Season Brussels Sprouts Are Hot[Read More]

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Plants and Fall Color Factors

Q. We have several firebushes whose leaves never turn that spectacular red in the fall. They just remain green until they fall off. We have fed them spring and fall, and yet there are several other firebushes, treated the same, whose leaves do change color. Any suggestions? J.L., Terre Haute, Indiana A. Fall color or lack thereof is affected by a number of factors, including genetics of the plant and environmental conditions such as temperature,…Read more about Plants and Fall Color Factors[Read More]