Category: Seasonal Information
Tomatoes Not Ripening?
If your garden tomatoes look like they’ve been placed on hold, you’re not alone! Now it may sound like an easy excuse when we horticulturists blame such things on the weather, but I really think the extreme hot weather we experienced this summer might be the culprit. Tomato fruits go through several stages of development during their maturation process. During early stages, the fruit continues to grow in size and remains green, typically requiring 40-50 […]
All-American Selections New Flowers and Vegetables for 2007
Only four new garden plants were chosen for All-America Selections (AAS) 2007, based on superior performance in test gardens all over the country. Celosia ‘Fresh Look Gold’ is so named for the lasting fresh look of the compact, 4-inch golden plumes on 12-inch tall plants. Fresh Look Gold has excellent heat tolerance and requires minimal maintenance to look its best all season. Vinca ‘Pacifica Burgundy Halo’ is the first bicolor vinca to combine a burgundy […]
Stressed Plants May Look Like Early Fall
Many of our landscape plants are under stress from one or more factors this summer, including excessive heat and humidity, insect feeding and disease infection. Some trees are losing leaves already and may be turning color before they drop. This early defoliation is common when plants are under stress, and this season has been quite challenging for many trees, both old and young. The recent intense heat and humidity make it difficult for plants to […]
Bitter Cucumbers A Temporary Problem
If you’ve noticed that your cucumbers are a little (or a lot) bitter lately, don’t give up hope. A little water, mulch and patience will provide relief. Most cucumber plants contain a bitter compound called cucurbitacin, which can be present in the fruit as well as the foliage. Bitterness in cucumbers tends to be more prominent when plants are under stress from low moisture, high temperatures or poor nutrition. For some cucumber eaters, […]
Gladiolus for Summer Flowers
If you’re looking for a versatile cut flower that can be easily grown at home, gladiolus is just the ticket. Gladiolus gets its name from the Latin word “gladius,” meaning sword. Indeed, “glads,” as they are named for short, do produce their large showy blossoms along a long pointed stalk. It’s hard to beat the wide choice of colors that glads offer, including red, pink, yellow, white, purple and lavender. Each flower spike is made […]
Spring Weather Unkind to Tomatoes
If your tomatoes dropped their blossoms instead of setting eagerly awaited fruits, you’re not alone. The weather for the last month or so has been quite inhospitable for tomato fruit set. Most plants have experienced colder temperatures than what is needed for pollination to be successful. In stark contrast, we had a brief period of unseasonably warm weather. Warm-season crops, which include tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, cucumbers and melons, require temperatures above 55 […]
Foliage That Can Steal The Show
Want to add a little drama to your garden? Need to perk up a shady bed? Big, bold foliage can make a long-season statement! Foliage often provides the bones of the garden, but it can also take center stage with dramatic size, color variegation, texture and shape. Many of the following plants have beautiful flowers, in addition to big, bold foliage. Acanthus spinosus (spiny bears-breeches) features spiny foliage accented by purple or white […]
Summer Houseplant Care
As temperatures warm up in late spring, many home gardeners move houseplants to outdoor living areas such as porches, patios, and sunrooms. Most indoor plants can flourish outside if given proper attention. First, have the patience to wait until temperatures are dependably warm. Most houseplant species originated in the tropics and are sensitive to temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Be prepared to bring the plants back indoors on cool nights. Gradually acclimate the plants by […]
Vine Crops Respond Well to Summer Heat
If your lettuce is bitter and your spinach is going to seed, don’t be disheartened. There are some vegetables that enjoy the heat of summer. The cucurbits, or vine crops, include such favorites as cucumbers, squash, melons and pumpkins. Although each of these taste quite different, their culture is very similar. Cucurbits are warm-season crops that are notorious for taking over large amounts of garden space. Fortunately, plant breeders have developed the so-called “bush-type” plants […]
Rhubarb Flowers Blooming or Bolting?
We humans can be so difficult to please. If plants flower when we want them to, we call it blooming. But if plants flowers when we don’t want them to, we call it bolting. Flowering is an undesirable trait when growing rhubarb; therefore, bolting describes the event. Gardeners frequently ask why their rhubarb is bolting. Well, if you think of it from the plant’s perspective, it is just a part of the plant’s natural life […]