Tomatoes cracking, which usually occurs on the upper part of the tomato can be either concentric (in concentric circles around the stem) or radial (radiating from the stem). The problem is often caused by pressure inside the fruit that is more than the skin can handle. Although a definitive reason for cracking is not known,…
Horticulture News
Slime Mold
Slime molds are primitive organisms that often occur on mulch. They often attract attention because of their bright colors and disgusting appearance. Common names are generally quite descriptive. For example, the “dog vomit” slime mold is a bright, whitish color that resembles its namesake. It eventually turns brown and then into a hard, white mass….
Corn Earworms
Have you ever purchased or grown corn-on-the-cob that had a large caterpillar at the top of the ear as you pulled back the husk in preparation for cooking? This is a corn earworm and is the larval stage of the earworm moth which lays eggs on developing corn silks during the night. When the egg hatches,…
Summer Vacation For Houseplants
Have you ever considered giving your houseplants a “summer vacation”? It can be quite beneficial for many houseplants to be set outside for the summer. This enables them to recover from the low light levels and often hot, dry air that they experienced during the winter months. Once the night temperatures stay consistently above 55…
Spring Bulb Care
Spring flowering bulbs are one of the true joys of this time of year. In order to keep them as healthy as possible here is a simple three-step procedure for proper care. Remove the spent flowers so that the plant’s resources will go into bulb growth and energy for bloom next year rather than into…
Fungus Gnats
Do your house plants have little mosquito-like insects occasionally, or regularly, flying around them? If you experience these little plant pests, your potted plants most likely have fungus gnats. Fungus gnats are small insects (1/8 to 1/10 inch long) that are common in high-organic-matter houseplant soils that are kept moist. These insects do not bother…
Companion Planting
Have you ever wondered if companion planting really works? In case you are unfamiliar with the concept, companion planting is a procedure that consists of planting two types of plants close to one another with the belief that it can naturally reduce pest problems. One example is planting catnip with cabbage to reduce worm damage…
Planning for the Spring
Despite ice on the bird bath and the ongoing cold temperatures, spring is on the way. You should be receiving the spring catalogues in your mailbox soon, if you have not already, and dreams of the “perfect” garden may already have you completely forgetting about any less than bumper crops and fully floriferous flower gardens…
Winterizing Power Equipment
Late fall and winter weather brings the end of using most gasoline powered garden equipment. Mowers, tillers and garden tractors should have their engines winterized if you plan to store them unused until next spring. Winterizing is a fairly straightforward process. First, run the equipment out of gas or treat the existing gas with a…
Cicada Killers
Have you seen any flying insects lately that look like giant yellow jackets? If you have, they are most likely the eastern cicada killer, Sphecius speciosus. Actually it is considered a beneficial insect because it helps to regulate cicada populations. This wasp gets its common name from the fact that it hunts cicadas, which becomes…