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New Garden Vegetable Cultivars for 2005
Yard and Garden News

Winter Gardening Stories

The mild weather that rang in the New Year has gardeners itching to get out their trowels, but we know this mild weather can’t last. Which makes this a perfect time to plan the spring garden! Each season, plant breeders tempt us with new, better, healthier and unique new spins on familiar crops. Here’s a look at what’s new for vegetable gardeners in 2005. Bean ‘Fortex’ is a large, 6-11 inch long French type stringless…Read more about New Garden Vegetable Cultivars for 2005[Read More]

Question and Answer
In the Grow (Q & A)

Q. I have a pink lemonade honeysuckle vine. It has bloomed all summer, but the leaves are turning a powdery white and falling off. Is there a remedy to save my plant? — Sylvia R. Kline, Ferdinand, Ind. A. Powdery mildew is the name for the grayish-white powdery coating caused by a fungus growing on plant leaves, shoots and flowers. This disease is caused by a group of similar fungi that attacks a wide variety…Read more about Question and Answer[Read More]

Question and Answer
In the Grow (Q & A)

Q. We have a forsythia bush that for the past three or four years has bloomed between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Is this a normal thing considering the warmer weather we have had over the past few years? If we trim the bush now, will it still bloom in the spring? Thanks. – Nancy Folger A. It’s fairly common for some plants to jump the gun and bloom in the fall, especially if the weather is…Read more about Question and Answer[Read More]

Question and Answer
In the Grow (Q & A)

Q. Our tomatoes have had blight the last two years. Is there anything we can do to keep them from getting it again? — Mrs. George Bowen, Plymouth, Ind. A. There are three major blights that can attack your tomatoes: Septoria leaf spot, early blight and late blight. All are fungal diseases spread by spores, which require dew or rain to infect the plant. These are most severe in wet weather. Septoria leaf spot, sometimes…Read more about Question and Answer[Read More]

Question and Answer
In the Grow (Q & A)

Q. I ordered a lot of spring-flowering daffodils and tulips and expect the shipment to arrive soon. Is there any trick to planting them? — Cindy Cunningham, Terre Haute, Ind. A. Start with a design first. I like working with large groups of plants, depending upon the size of your garden. For most residential sites, two dozen bulbs can make quite a show. If you plant three daffodils in one spot, three different ones in…Read more about Question and Answer[Read More]

Managing Vines on Trees, Tomato Pruning, Daylily Deadheading, and Yucca Removal

Q. I have a lot of vines that grew up my two trees. I noticed that one of my large trees is now dying. Would those vines kill them by taking all of the water from the bark? Also, I have a patio tomato plant that is big and doing great. Would it hurt the plant if I cut off a lot of the lower branches? Thank you. — Jerry Maquet A. In the southern…Read more about Managing Vines on Trees, Tomato Pruning, Daylily Deadheading, and Yucca Removal[Read More]

Managing Lawn Rust and Adding Bold Perennial Colors

Q. Last year, I put in a new lawn. It’s doing well, except, recently, it began leaving a rust-colored powder on my shoes. Is that something that will affect the health of my turf? — Jason Burks, West Lafayette, Ind. A. The powder is actually millions of microscopic spores produced by a fungus called rust. There are several different rust fungi that cause rust. The most common one on Kentucky bluegrass, annual bluegrass, fescues and…Read more about Managing Lawn Rust and Adding Bold Perennial Colors[Read More]

Revive Annual Flowers
Yard and Garden News

Summer Gardening Stories

It is not unusual for annual flowers, such as impatiens and petunias, to look a bit peaked about the middle of summer. For some plants, such as pansies, stock and snapdragons, stress from summer heat turns off the initiation of flowers. But most flowering annuals are fairly heat tolerant and can be revived with a little pinch of their stems and a sip of nutrients. Though for the most part, our temperatures haven’t been all…Read more about Revive Annual Flowers[Read More]

Question and Answer
In the Grow (Q & A)

Q. I transplanted and divided some peonies last year. This year, the foliage looks good but some of the buds are small and black and have never fully developed. What’s wrong with them? — Cindy Polley, West Lafayette, Ind. A. Peonies have few pests or problems. The most frequently occurring pests are botrytis blight and leaf blotch, both fungal diseases. Especially prevalent during wet springs, botrytis affects leaves, stems and flowers. Spots appear on leaves,…Read more about Question and Answer[Read More]

Clean Up Bulbs to Encourage Next Year’s Blooms
Yard and Garden News

Spring Gardening Stories

As the dazzling display of spring-flowering bulbs comes to a close, it’s time for a bit of spring cleaning. Now is the time to remove spent blossoms and prevent seed production from stealing needed carbohydrate reserves that can be better saved for next year’s bloom. Even though the foliage that remains is not very attractive and, in some cases, is downright unsightly, resist the urge to cut those green leaves off the plants. The health…Read more about Clean Up Bulbs to Encourage Next Year’s Blooms[Read More]