Rosie Lerner

rosie@purdue.edu

716 articles by this author

Posts List

Container Gardening Expands Possibilities

Many would-be gardeners would love to grow their own vegetables and flowers, but they are not able to due to health reasons. Gardening in the traditional sense requires a strong back and arms to work the soil, plant the crops and harvest the rewards. Weeding, watering and general garden care also may take quite a bit of bending and elbow grease. If your mind says “yes” but your body says “no,” don’t despair. Container gardening […]
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Leggy Tomatoes

If you’re like most overanxious gardeners, you probably started your tomato seeds too early. When tomatoes and other transplants are grown under the relatively low light conditions experienced in most homes, they tend to get long and leggy as they stretch in search of light. Even many store-bought transplants get leggy if we buy them too soon before we can plant them out, or they may be too leggy to begin with. Warm temperatures also […]
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May 2003

Q. I have 6-year-old flowering dogwood trees that have never bloomed. The foliage looks healthy each year. What do you suggest? — Carrie Ehresman, West Lafayette, Ind. A. It does take a dogwood a few years to become established, and we don’t make the job any easier for them. Drive through Southern Indiana and notice where the dogwoods are growing. They’re nestled into the edge of the woods where they receive shade and protection from […]
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Sunday Supplement Ads Not Always What They Appear

They’re back! It’s that time of year when the advertisements in the Sunday supplements promise unbelievable yields, fantastic blooms all summer and trees that grow as tall as a house in one growing season! This weekend saw the return of the old tree tomato ad, the one that resurfaces every couple of years or so. As usual, the seller promises yields up to 60 pounds per plant, and stems that grow to 8 feet tall […]
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Conquer Weeds with Vinegar?

If fighting weeds in your garden has you in a pickle, you’ll be interested in a USDA research report about using acetic acid (vinegar) as an herbicide. USDA researchers confirmed that acetic acid is effective at killing some common weed species, including Canada thistle, lamb’s-quarters, giant foxtail, velvetleaf and smooth pigweed. Weeds were hand-sprayed with various solutions of vinegar, uniformly coating the leaves. The researchers found that 5- and 10-percent concentrations killed the weeds during […]
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April 2003

Q. My bearded iris looked big and healthy but barely bloomed. What could be wrong? — Melissa Eddy, Lafayette, Ind. A. Several factors may contribute to a lack of iris flowers. The most surprising is that the rhizomes have to be exposed to sun. They should be planted horizontally, with only the lower half in the soil. It’s easiest to dig a hole and then create a ridge for the rhizome to lay on. Cover […]
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Topping is Hazardous to Your Tree

Tree topping is an all too common practice among homeowners, particularly when their trees become too tall and pose a possible threat to the house or overhead power lines. Some have the trees topped because they believe, or are led to believe, that topping is a good pruning practice.  Obviously, some situations require the removal of large limbs for the sake of safety. But topping is a drastic step and ultimately endangers the tree’s life. […]
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Early Bulbs Are Harbingers of Spring

Although the vernal equinox (March 21 this year) is the official start of spring, it seems that it’s the flowers that let us know when spring really begins. Flowering is quite dependent on the weather, so the timing of blooms varies from year to year. But regardless of the weather, the sequence in which plants bloom should remain about the same. Some bulbs may show their stuff long before spring is officially proclaimed. Winter aconite […]
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March 2003

Q. For the last 5 years or so my zucchinis have failed to set fruit. They blossom prolifically, but show no sign of fruiting. I have tried different varieties, different environments (even planted one-half mile away) with the same result. No one seems to have heard of this problem. I have tried insecticides, no insecticides, lots of water, little water but still no results. I used to always have a huge crop. — Bill Michaels, […]
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February 2003

Q. I have a small greenhouse that I use to winter over plants and to start new ones from seed in the spring. Each year I get whiteflies. I have bought commercial sprays from lawn and garden departments, but even with repeated applications, the whiteflies seem to persist. What is the best method to rid my greenhouse of these pests? Is there a prevention I should implement? Are there certain plants that attract whiteflies? — […]
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