Herbs should be harvested in the early morning, after the dew has evaporated and before the sun becomes too hot. After harvesting, rinse the herbs in cool water. Shake off excess water and place them on paper toweling to dry for a few
Herbs should be harvested in the early morning, after the dew has evaporated and before the sun becomes too hot. After harvesting, rinse the herbs in cool water. Shake off excess water and place them on paper toweling to dry for a few
Proper pruning can renew or rejuvenate overgrown, deciduous shrubs. One option is to prune the shrubs back over a three-year period. Begin by removing one-third of the largest, oldest stems at ground level in late winter/early spring (
Store lawn and garden fertilizers in their original bags or containers so you will know the content and analysis of the product next season. Store granular fertilizers in a protected location where they will remain dry. Granular produc
Harvest rhubarb when the stalks are 10 to 15 inches long. Grasp the stalk near its base and pull up and slightly to one side. Immediately after harvesting the rhubarb, remove the leaf blades from the stalks with a sharp knife. Di
Sweet corn performs best in fertile, well-drained soils in full sun. Standard sweet corn (su) varieties may be planted in late April in central Iowa. It’s generally recommended that sugar enhanced (se) varieties be planted 1 week later
We often use the words herb and spice interchangeably. Herbs and spices are obtained from plants. (Salt is neither a spice nor an herb. It is actually a mineral.) Herbs and spices are used primarily for adding flavor and aroma to food.
The small, blue-flowering plant is probably Siberian squill (Scilla sibirica). Siberian squill is an early spring flowering bulb. Plants typically bloom in early to mid-April in Iowa. Bright blue flowers are produced on
After cutting the material to the proper length, dip the bottom of each cutting in a rooting hormone. Gather the cuttings together (placing all the tops in one direction) and secure them with twine or rubber bands. Place the bundled cu
Do not mow shady areas less than 3 inches in height. Because of the lower photosynthetic rates in shady areas, the turfgrass plants need a large leaf surface to manufacture adequate amounts of food. The recommended mowing height for gr
Modern roses, such as hybrid tea, grandiflora, and floribunda roses, are propagated by budding. A single bud is removed from the desired variety and inserted onto a hardy rootstock. The bud union (the knob-like swelling at the base of
Gooseberries and currants are small to medium-size shrubs that may reach a height of 3 to 6 feet. Gooseberries and currants should be planted 4 to 5 feet apart. Rows should be spaced 6 to 8 feet apart.
Tomato varieties are classified as determinate or indeterminate. Spacing of tomato plants depends on the growth habit of the variety and training system employed.
Broadleaf herbicides can be applied as liquids or granules. Before applying any herbicide, carefully read and follow label directions.
Deadheading or the removal of faded flowers is done to encourage additional bloom on hybrid tea and other repeat-flowering roses. Hybrid tea roses usually have one or two 3-leaflet leaves immediately below the flower. Next (lower down
Dig a hole that is 2 to 3 times wider than the diameter of the tree’s rootball. The depth of the hole should be 2 or 3 inches less than the height of the rootball. Slope the sides of the hole so the top of the hole is several inches wi
Prior to planting, soak the tree’s roots in a bucket of water for 1 to 2 hours. Also, prune off damaged or broken roots.
When planting a container-grown tree, dig a hole that is 2 to 3 times wider than the diameter of the container. The depth of the hole should be 2 or 3 inches less than the height of the soil ball. Slope the sides of the hole so the top
Carefully remove plants from plastic cell packs by gently squeezing the bottom on each compartment. Plants in plastic pots can be removed by tipping them on their sides and tapping the bottom of the pots.
Plant onion plants from early April to early May. Place plants 1 to 1½ inches deep in rows 12 to 15 inches apart. To produce large, dry onions, space plants 2 to 3 inches apart.
Plant onion seeds as soon as the ground can be worked in spring (late March or early April in southern Iowa, early to mid-April in central Iowa, and mid to late April in northern portions of the state). Plant seeds in rows 12 to 15 inches ap
Before planting sets, separate the bulbs into two size groups -- those smaller than a nickel in diameter and those larger than a nickel. The larger sets often bolt (produce a flower stalk) and don’t produce good-sized bulbs. Use the la
When ready to plant, trim off the older leaves, place the roots of the plants in water for an hour, then plant immediately. Set each plant in the ground so the crown of the plant is even with the soil surface.
In March or early April, remove all small, weak canes, leaving only 4 or 5 of the largest, most vigorous canes per clump or plant. Cut back the lateral (side) branches to 12 inches in length.
Early spring is the best time to prune blueberries. In Iowa, late March or early April would be an appropriate time to prune blueberries.
Popular fall-bearing red raspberry varieties include:
Grapevines produce fruit clusters on the previous season’s growth. Before pruning, a grapevine may have 200 to 300 buds capable of producing fruit. If the vine is not pruned, the number of grape clusters would be excessive and the grap
All summer-bearing red raspberries should be pruned in the same manner. Summer-bearing red raspberry varieties include:
Clean, weed-free straw and chopped cornstalks are excellent mulches. Leaves, however, should not be used as they tend to mat down and don’t provide adequate protection. Apply approximately 3 to 5 inches of material. After settlin
There are many native woodland wildflowers that are great additions to the shade garden. Most are ephemeral with a relatively short (but impactful) bloom time in early spring before the foliage dies back to the ground in early summer.