Indiana Yard and Garden – Purdue Consumer Horticulture A Purdue Extension Service for Home Gardeners

Category: Plants

Pears Best Ripened Off the Tree

One advantage to growing your own fruit trees is that you can get tree-ripened fruit, a real rarity in the grocery store. But, unlike other fruits, pears will reach their best quality when ripened off the tree. When left to ripen on the tree, most cultivars of pears leave something to be desired in terms of texture and flavor. Tree-ripened pears often turn soft and brown at the core and have an excessively grainy texture….Read more about Pears Best Ripened Off the Tree[Read More]

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Question and Answer

Q. I love red geraniums. I would like to know how one might start plants, and when you would start them. Also, what is the best plant food to use to grow beautiful geraniums? — Tom Schmitt A. The two main methods of propagating geraniums are by cuttings or seeds. Cuttings usually are taken from outdoor geraniums in late summer or early fall. Cut off 3-4-inch shoots, and remove the leaves on the lower part of the…Read more about Question and Answer[Read More]

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Question and Answer

Q. My husband and I planted gallon-sized azalea plants last spring. Should they be pruned this year? If so, when and how much? We understand that they are an acid-loving plant. Since sulfur is acidic, can that be used? Thank you. — Deanna Freeman A. Typically, newly planted shrubs do not need much pruning except to cut out dead wood, which you can do at any time during the year. Improper pruning can cause a lack of…Read more about Question and Answer[Read More]

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Hydrangea Popular, Yet Confusing

Try to have a discussion about hydrangea among your gardening friends, and you’re likely to start a rather lively debate. What type to grow, when to prune, why doesn’t it flower and how can I change the flower color from pink to blue are among the most frequently asked hydrangea questions. There are many different species of hydrangea, not to mention cultivars of those species. So, these questions are a bit difficult to answer, unless…Read more about Hydrangea Popular, Yet Confusing[Read More]

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Question and Answer

Q. An insect is killing my schefflera. It gets white, fuzzy-looking places on it that feel soft, and you cannot see the insect that is working on it. Finally, it will kill the leaf if not removed. I wash the leaves from time to time with soap and water, and last time a little bleach. It works for a while. I even tried a fungus product and worked it in the soil after giving the plant…Read more about Question and Answer[Read More]

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Not too Late to Plant Your Halloween Pumpkin

It may seem a bit late to be planting Halloween jack-o’ lanterns, but there’s still time to plant if you get growing quickly. The key will be to choose a cultivar with a relatively low number of days to maturity when planted from seed. There are early-, mid- and late-season cultivars of pumpkin, ranging from about 85-120 days to maturity. You’ll want to look for those in the “early-season” (around 90 days) category. While it…Read more about Not too Late to Plant Your Halloween Pumpkin[Read More]

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Give Asparagus and Rhubarb a Break

Asparagus and rhubarb may be the earliest garden crops to be harvested, but may also be the first crops to stop harvesting as well. Because of their perennial nature, asparagus and rhubarb must be given a chance to rebuild food reserves so that a bumper crop can be produced again next year.   A good rule of thumb is to stop harvesting asparagus about the middle of June, allowing the spears to produce large, fern-like…Read more about Give Asparagus and Rhubarb a Break[Read More]

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Question and Answer

Q. Our family likes growing pumpkins every year. The problem is all the weeds! The weeds take over the pumpkin patch, so much so that the pumpkins can’t grow and rot before time to harvest them. What could we use to spray or use on the ground to kill out the weeds? — Gayla Merry, Mitchell, Ind. A. Preventing weed establishment is the most effective means of control. Black plastic mulch or a 2-4-inch layer of organic…Read more about Question and Answer[Read More]

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After the Flood: Garden and Landscape Plants

Recent torrential rains have brought about flooded conditions in many gardens and landscapes. As flood waters recede and folks get about the business of putting homes and lives back together, questions arise as to the safety of produce from flooded gardens, as well as potential damage to landscape plants.  For those who have actually had a chance to put in early cool-season crops, the issue of food safety from the garden is best handled with…Read more about After the Flood: Garden and Landscape Plants[Read More]

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Question and Answer

Q. I have a ficus plant that was a gift in the fall of 2001. Recently, it started to drop leaves. It started out with a few leaves, then last week it dropped two-thirds of all its leaves. I have checked the plant for mealy and scale bugs but do not find evidence of them. I thought maybe it was getting too much sun in our solar area, and I moved it. When I checked the…Read more about Question and Answer[Read More]

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Page last modified: March 11, 2026

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