… alike, and the world's thousands of pepper varieties are making their way into everything from cocktails to chocolates. It's been awhile since parsnips have enjoyed that kind of … the 1800s that predictably long, smooth, hefty versions were bred and popularized. Parsnips from the past 'Hollow Crown' is a venerable variety, known before 1825, that's still available … this parsnip is an award winner at Britain's Royal Horticultural Society. With such a good start, why didn't parsnips continue on the road to popularity? One word: potato. Quicker to …
Type: Plant Info
Their common name, big bluestem, denotes their purplish blue flower stems that can reach 10 feet tall. 'Red October's' narrow leaves are green with a touch of red in the spring but in the fall the red deepens to burgundy and after a frost, turns candy-apple red. The plant grows 6 feet tall and prefers full sun and moist, well- drained soil. It is most effective when grouped into large drifts and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
'Half Pint' is a very floriferous formal, decorative dahlia, introduced in 2015. The numerous petals are rich coral-red, with a yellow base, and can measure 5 inches across. The flowers grow on bushy plants with sturdy stems 2 1/2 feet tall, which means staking the flowers should be unnecessary. Wild dahlias are native to Mexico and Central America and have been hybridized into more than 20,000 …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
EASY ELEGANCE® Yellow Submarine is a cheerful, easy-care shrub rose that blooms in clusters of bright, lemon yellow roses that turn to light yellow and then white over time. The flowers are two inches across and quite double for their size (petal count: 32) so the clusters have a strong visual presence. You can use it in mass plantings, or mix it into your border. And if you like, you can let it …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
Senecio stellata ‘Giovanna’s Select’ is a seed strain featuring purple, blue, and blue-purple flowers on 3 feet tall plants that thrive under cool, moist, shady conditions. This species is an annual in the Chicago area but is perennial in USDA zones 9 to 10. Free of most insect and diseases (botrytis on the petals in areas with poor air movement is the exception). Seeds are started in February in …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… part 3 Why compost? Reducing the volume of your garbage is good by itself. Removing food from the waste stream is especially beneficial because food buried in a landfill causes … downs without contributing to climate change. There are many online videos instructing how to start vermicomposting. They are informative but can be confusing because they show many different … paper items: newspaper, scrap office paper, cardboard boxes, paper towel tubes 2 cups of soil from your yard 6 or more eggshells (optional, but very good for the system) 1 cup of vegetable …
Type: Blog
… read books or browse websites. But a winter or spring class or workshop is a better place to start. You can ask questions, get guidance for further research, and meet other people who are … not just the topic that matters: the Garden offers instruction pitched at different levels, from basics for beginners to certificate programs for professionals. The class that is right for … to gather some basic data before taking a design class: Collect some photos of your garden from various angles and at various seasons. Jot down things you love and hate about it and …
Type: Plant Info
… Earth Day. It has been four months and my worms have generated some nice castings (worm poop) from the food I fed them. My compost is ready to harvest! If you started a worm bin or are … or be prepared to ruin your manicure (I did the latter). Carefully separate the castings from the remaining, undecomposed bedding materials, moving them to opposite sides of the bin. … castings and undecomposed bedding materials to opposite sides of the bin. Worms will move away from the light that is shining on the castings. After separating the materials, add some fresh …
Type: Blog
… colors and geometry of dahlias always turn my head when they’re in bloom in my home garden from June through October. Recently, I decided to revisit an old goal and bugaboo of … you should wait until a hard frost before digging them up for storage. Dahlias , which grow from small tubers planted in the spring, are one of my favorite annuals. You might have seen them … use a lifting motion with a pitchfork or potato fork rather than digging with a shovel. Start digging a few inches away from the base and angle under it before beginning to lift it out …
Type: Blog
… be sure. The delay does not seem to appreciably affect when the first blooms appear. You can start with either potted plants or tubers that have been overwintered from last year’s crop. If you are using potted plants that have already developed a root system, … stakes tend to bend and break. Many growers use ¼- to ½-inch rebar that can be bought from big-box stores or building supply centers. Tomato cages also provide good support. New …
Type: Blog
