Frequently Asked Questions
Purple, black, and summer-bearing red raspberries that have been badly damaged by rabbits will likely produce little fruit this year. (Purple, black, and summer-bearing red raspberries produce fruit on the previous year's shoots. ...
Spring-flowering woodland wildflowers that are attractive additions to shady areas in the home landscape include:
- wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
- Jack-in-the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
- ...
Tomato varieties are classified as determinate or indeterminate.
Determinate Tomatoes
Determinate tomatoes are small, compact plants. They grow to a certain height, then flower and set all their fruit within a short period...
The symptoms are those of peach leaf curl. Peach leaf curl is a fungal disease. The disease is caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans. Infections occur as the peach tree buds begin to swell in spring.
A...
The holes were likely created by sapsuckers. Sapsuckers, members of the woodpecker family, damage trees by drilling holes in the trunk or large branches. Sapsucker damage is very distinctive. They drill uniform, 1/4 inch holes...
Plant calla lily rhizomes 1 to 2 inches deep in a well-drained potting mix about 6 to 8 weeks before the average last spring frost in your area. After potting, water well and place the containers in a warm, 70 to 75°F location. Keep...
Pear varieties (cultivars) that perform well in Iowa include:
- ‘Summercrisp’ (University of Minnesota introduction, large fruit, matures early August)
- ‘Moonglow’ (introduced by USDA, medium to large fruit, matures mid-August...
Home gardeners can choose from 3 types of strawberries. June-bearers are the most widely planted type of strawberry. They produce one crop per year, the majority of fruit ripening in June. A second type of strawberry is the...
In the home, Easter lilies prefer daytime temperatures of 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit with slightly cooler night temperatures. Avoid drafty locations. Place the Easter lily in bright light, but out of direct sunlight.
...
The keys to successful control of crabgrass in lawns are correct timing of the preemergence herbicide application and proper application of the material. Preemergence herbicides must be applied before the crabgrass seeds germinate. If...
Snap peas are an edible podded pea. Snap peas are best picked when the seeds are nearly full size and the pod walls are thick, fleshy, and crunchy. Snap peas may be eaten raw in salads, snapped and cooked like snap beans, or shelled...
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 ready to plant, dig a hole that is 2 to 3 times wider than the spread of the tree’s root system....
The yellow-green bugs are probably the adults of the northern corn rootworm. The larvae of the northern corn rootworm feed on the roots of corn plants. The adults (yellow-green beetles) appear in mid-summer and are present until frost...
Onion bulb formation begins when a certain day length is reached. Short-day onion varieties begin to form bulbs when they receive 10 to 12 hours of daylight, intermediate-day onions need 12 to 14 hours of daylight, and long-day varieties...
It is possible to grow an apple tree from an apple seed. However, in most cases, apple trees don't come true from seeds. For example, a seed taken from a Red Delicious apple will not produce a Red Delicious apple tree. Seedling...
Forsythias bloom on the previous year’s growth. The best time to prune forsythias is immediately after flowering. Pruning forsythias anytime from mid-summer until just prior to bloom will reduce flowering in spring. When pruning...
Early spring is the best time to divide chrysanthemums. Dig up plants in early spring just as new growth begins to appear. Divide each plant into sections with a sharp knife. Each division should contain several shoots and a...
Early spring is the best time to divide rhubarb plants. Dig up plants as soon as the ground can be worked in spring. Divide each plant into sections with a large knife or spade. Each section should have at least 2 or 3 buds or...
Asparagus plants should be allowed to become well established before any spears are harvested. No spears should be harvested during the first growing season. Asparagus can be harvested over a three to four week period during its...
The spotting and premature leaf drop on your dogwoods is probably due to Septoria leaf spot. Septoria leaf spot is a common fungal disease of dogwoods in Iowa. The disease typically causes irregularly shaped grayish spots with dark...
When selecting plants for the shade garden, one group of plants that is often overlooked are native woodland wildflowers. Since they are native to the state, woodland wildflowers are well adapted to the area. They are easy to grow and...
When purchasing tomato plants at your local greenhouse or garden center, select stocky, dark green plants. Plants should be 6 to 10 inches tall with stems about pencil-size in thickness. Avoid large plants with flowers and fruit....
Brown rot is a common fungal disease of peaches and other stone fruits. Affected fruits develop circular light brown spots that expand rapidly and rot the fruit. Sometimes the fungus that causes this rot is visible as ash-gray tufts....
Home gardeners should carefully consider their landscape needs and the characteristics of the various shrubs. For example, deciduous shrubs drop their leaves in fall and are effective screens mainly during the growing season. Evergreens provide...
Start canna rhizomes indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the average last frost date in your area. Plant the cannas in large pots. The rhizomes should be covered with 3 to 4 inches of potting soil.
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