… that often pop up in veggie garden conversations—and offer up some simple Garden strategies for facing them. 1. I don't know where to start. Because many of us were neither taught much … Squash The back of the seed packet is a wonderful place to find information on how to plant. For most of the above, simply hoe a row, place the seeds, and cover lightly with soil. (Cucumber … Safety often comes up when it comes to soil. Worried that the sunny spot in your yard (perfect for a veggie garden) has been treated with lawn chemicals in the past? Wondering what the …
Type: Plant Info
… Why Best for the Midwest is Best for the Planet Think twice before you plant those flowers! Are they a native species that promotes healthy habits for plants and animals, or could they be an invasive species? The Chicago region has a diverse …
Type: Plant Info
… Bank. The Garden’s Dixon National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank—part of the Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action—provides long-term storage for more than 4,200 seed collections from 1,800 species of plants native to the tallgrass … important to Midwest habitat restoration efforts. The Garden also works with the Center for Plant Conservation to preserve seeds from 11 of the rarest species in the Upper Midwest. …
Type: Research
… addition to our gardens in winter. Unlike spring—when they’re busy singing, looking for a mate, and building nests—in winter, a bird’s main activity is to find and eat enough food to keep warm. They’re searching for something to eat and for places to sleep and to hide from predators. Gardens can offer seeds, berries, water, and …
Type: Plant Info
… you’re missing out on cool-season edibles that can be grown in the spring and again in summer for an enjoyable fall harvest. Cool-season crops include lettuce, spinach, collard greens, … days of autumn.” Timing is Everything The brassicas need about 70 to 80 days to mature for fall harvest. “Brussels sprouts are sweetest after a kiss of frost. Think about harvesting for Thanksgiving,” Hilgenberg says. Whether you sow cool-season crops from seeds, or buy …
Type: Plant Info
… are in a winter dormancy and require bright light but very cool conditions with no water for up to two months. Overwatering will create soft brown patches on stems and foliage. Monitor houseplants for insect problems that often occur when plants become stressed due to insufficient light; … harbor pests. Isolate these plants before adding them to your collection. Pests to look out for include the following: Spider mites — Look for webbing in leaf axils, stippled foliage, and …
Type: Plant Info
… flower he ever saw and he would probably shout out "sunflower." Ask a prairie aficionado for a list of the top ten prairie plants blooming now, and a sunflower will surely be on that … associated with the farmlands of the Great Plains—a plant cherished by the Native Americans for its seeds, its silage and later on, for its oil. There are dozens of different varieties of annual sunflowers, some 10 feet tall, …
Type: Plant Info
… The start of the new year is an ideal time for homeowners to begin making plans for enhancing their garden's beauty. As with making resolutions, it's easy to dream big. But the … to the north and west—trees of all sizes can save money by reducing the need for winter heating and summer cooling. This spring, consider planting a sapling that's right for …
Type: Plant Info
… with the roots of a healthy tree, or by contaminated pruning tools. There is no cure for the disease once a tree is infected. Susceptible Plants American elms ( Ulmus americana ) are … streaking in the sapwood immediately under the bark. Tissues must be cultured in a laboratory for positive identification of Dutch elm disease. Because there are other wilt diseases that can … no chemicals available to homeowners to cure this disease. Commercial fungicides are available for Dutch elm disease; however, only licensed applicators are able to purchase and apply these …
Type: Plant Info
… in the Midwest, it is truly a delight to discover plants that have saved their showier sides for the last months of the year. At this time especially, we welcome the graceful conifers, the … winterberry or coralberry, Ilex verticillata is the finest among the deciduous hollies for winter hardiness, berry display, and pest and disease resistance. Winterberries are at home … plants is their berry display, try planting them in masses against an evergreen backdrop. For every 10 to 20 female plants, remember to plant one male plant to pollinate the female …
Type: Plant Info
