Here is some information about pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) that was recently posted by the Kansas State University Extension Horticulture Division. These plants are becoming increasingly apparent at this time of year in gardens and along roadsides. Some of you may remember when this plant received a fair amount of airtime when Elvis Presley recorded a…
The terms Genetic Engineering (GE) and Genetically Modified Organisim (GMO) are often used interchangeably in the media. However, there is a difference. GE refers to a high-tech genetic engineering processes that are used to incorporate genes from one organism directly into another. This is done by using recombinant DNA techniques that bring together genetic material…
Hybrid tea roses are the darling of avid rosarians because of their spectacular blooms, rich, deep green foliage and repeat blooming qualities. At the same time, they are the bane of the casual home gardener who sees them as a maintenance nightmare requiring a rigorous regimen of watering, fertilization and pesticide application. Rose beauty and…
An annual that you might want to check out for your garden this coming season is the new Ornamental Pepper ‘Black Olive’, (Capsicum annuum ‘Black Olive’) It went through nation-wide testing last year in All America Selections trial gardens and was reported as a standout, especially in southern gardens where heat was a major factor. …
Work on cutting back your exhausted perennials. Some will die back earlier than others and some will die back a little at a time. Generally, if the foliage and stems are brown or fallen over it’s time to cut it back. If the stems are brown, but still sturdy and upright you might choose to…
Donald Buma, Norfolk Botanical Garden Executive Director As cold weather approaches, it is time to begin planning to store summer bulbs such as gladiolus, caladium and dahlia. These plants need to be dug up and stored so they can be planted next year. These plants should be dug after frost has caused the tops to…
The National Garden Bureau has recently announced that 2011 is the Year of the Tomato for vegetables and the Year of the Zinnia for flowers. Each year since 1982, the National Garden Bureau has selected a flower and a vegetable for its “Year of the” program. Selection is based on the ease of growth of…
About this time of year you will begin to see damage from twig girdlers. Oak is usually the primary host although other trees include elm, linden, hackberry, apple, pecan, persimmon, poplar, sour gum, honey locust, dogwood and some flowering fruit trees. There will be fallen twigs, sometimes up to 3 feet long. The most likely…
For the healthiest growth and most abundant bloom, you should divide daylilies every three to four years. They can be divided in early spring growth starts, but it is more common to divide them in late summer. Daylilies have a tough root system that can make them difficult to divide. Although plants can be divided…
The color of your tomatoes can be affected by high temperatures. Red pigments don’t form properly when temperatures rise above 95 degrees F. The orange and yellow pigments are not similarly affected. The result is often orange-colored tomatoes rather than the usual “tomato red”. There is no reduction in the edibility or taste of the…