… For most gardeners, the top vegetable is the tomato. As they plant in late May, visions of red, round, juicy beefsteaks dance in their … and indeterminate tomatoes must be caged or tied to stakes or trellises. The payoff, though, is that indeterminate varieties, especially older heirlooms, provide a spectacular range of … says. Like many dark varieties, it comes from the area around the Black Sea. 'Cherokee Purple' is a burgundy tomato with a sweet, complex flavor sometimes described as having smoky undertones. …
Type: Plant Info
… At the top of the list of why we garden is for the joy it brings. Yes, there is the effort of physical labor, and true, some plants succumb and we don't know why. But most … spot might accommodate rhododendrons, azaleas or other marginal plants requiring a special site. Examine your soil carefully. This is especially true for new homes, where much of the good …
Type: Plant Info
… Named by the Society of Municipal Arborists as the 2012 Urban Tree of the Year, Accolade™ elm is one of the top-performing trees for urban and residential planting in the Chicago region. This hybrid elm provides the iconic vase-shape American elm habit but is resistant to Dutch elm disease and elm leaf beetle. State Street ™ miyabe maple ( Acer miyabei 'Morton') This maple is very hardy and free of pest and disease issues. The golden-yellow fall color, uniform habit, …
Type: Plant Info
… to many gardeners because they have either grown it, eaten it, or admired it as a tiny topiary is the versatile herb, rosemary. Rosmarinus officinalis is an evergreen shrub hardy to zone 6. In its native Mediterranean environment, it can reach 6 … herb’s preferred culture will help gardeners maintain healthy rosemary all year. Rosemary is happiest when grown in a soilless mix, which is a composition of vermiculite, perlite, and …
Type: Plant Info
… Wetlands Invader Ever wonder what that tall plant with a feathery-tufted top is that you see growing along our roadside ditches? It’s called common reed ( Phragmites … can be very densely populated, and has a tenacious rhizome (underground stem) network, it is a threat to native wetland vegetation and ecosystem function because it physically excludes … Looks can be deceiving—the common reed appears innocuous enough; in fact, to the naked eye, it is almost identical to native Phragmites that have been part of the North American landscape for …
Type: Plant Info
… In much of modern life, time is abstract. We measure it through calendars, meetings, project deadlines, and fiscal years. But in a garden, time is embodied. We see it in dormancy and bud swell, in growth and senescence, in leaf drop and … nearly everything we do. Gardeners do not control the seasons; we respond to them. Our work is an act of stewardship more than ownership. We care for plants and spaces, guiding them gently …
Type: Blog
… This is a Caribbean cultivar, Kashee, highly valued in Saint Vincent for cooking. Through genetic, … dissected leaves and large, greenish-yellow fruit the size of a cantaloupe. This fruit is known as breadfruit ( Artocarpus altilis ), named for its sweet bread-like taste when roasted, high starch content, and nutrients. It is considered one of the top priority species for food security. Caribbean variety The story of …
Type: Blog
… actually reduce our carbon footprint. For example, watering and mowing less often generally is more beneficial for grass. Tom Tiddens, plant health care supervisor at the Chicago Botanic … grass. First Things First A beautiful lawn starts with the right environment. Enough sunlight is key, as well as at least 8 inches of good, fertile soil. If you don't know your soil's … to watering your lawn? Many gardeners choose to leave the watering to Mother Nature—if rain is scarce, lawns are just a bit browner. When drought conditions leave lawns thirsty, it is fine …
Type: Plant Info
… Annie Wang, Student Carillonneur: Annie Wang is a rising fourth-year chemistry major at the University of Chicago. She learned about the … a few weeks later! She passed her carillonneur exam at the 2023 Congress at Cohasset and is very excited to perform at her first concerts this summer. Outside of her love of tower bells, … trying new desserts, drawing, and painting. Kevin Chang, Student Carillonneur: Kevin Chang is a Student Carillonist and M.D.-Ph.D. student at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of …
Type: Event for Calendar
… important factors to keep in mind when gardening in containers. Using an appropriate container is the first thing to be considered. Fancy containers without drainage holes can be tempting but … with no drainage, see these for instructions on drilling bottom holes. If a container is used that has large drainage holes, soil loss may be a problem. Weed barrier cloth can be cut … successfully be planted in these types of containers. The soil medium used in your containers is extremely important. A good quality potting mix is essential to good growth. Using leftover …
Type: Plant Info
