Asparagus plants should be allowed to become well established before any spears are harvested. No spears should be harvested during the first growing season. Asparagus can be harvested over a three to four week period during its…
Gourd seeds have hard seedcoats. To hasten germination, soak gourd seeds in water overnight or up to 24 hours. Gourd seeds can also be nicked along their edge with a file or other device.
Ornamental sweet potatoes and sweet potatoes grown in the vegetable garden are different varieties of Ipomoea batatas. The ornamental varieties are grown for their attractive foliage, while those in the vegetable garden are grown for their…
The small size of “baby” corn suggests that it’s a special variety. However, most baby corn is actually grown from regular sweet and field corn varieties. The ears are harvested when they are 2 to 4 inches long and 1/3 to ½ inch in…
White fruited pumpkins are edible. White fruited varieties, such as ‘Lumina,’ have a white skin and orange flesh. They are chiefly grown for their unique “ghostly” appearance. However, the orange flesh is suitable for cooking.…
Whether a crop is safe to eat after accidental exposure to a herbicide depends on several factors, including the type of herbicide used, its active ingredient(s), concentration, mode of action, and other relevant considerations. The…
Yes, many vegetables can be grown in small plots or in containers. Consider selecting more compact or dwarf varieties of vegetables for these situations.
Vegetables That Can Be Successfully Grown in Containers or Small Plots…
It would be best to place weeds that are producing seeds and diseased plant debris in biodegradable bags and have the material picked up and composed by a municipal or commercial composting facility. The temperatures in home compost piles…
Planting garlic cloves purchased from grocery stores is rarely successful in an Iowa garden. The garlic found in grocery stores are usually softneck cultivars from warmer regions that are not well adapted to Iowa’s climate. …
For an earlier crop, muskmelons can be started indoors. Sow seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before the anticipated outdoor planting date. Muskmelons can be planted outdoors in early May in southern Iowa, mid-May in central Iowa, and late…
Yes, shredded newspapers or whole sheets may be used as a mulch in the vegetable garden. Newspapers use organic inks so gardeners need not worry about lead contamination. When using newspaper sheets, place a layer of 2 to 4 sheets between…
Sweet corn should be isolated from popcorn and field corn to prevent cross-pollination. The quality of the sweet corn will be lowered if it’s cross-pollinated by other types of corn. For example, sweet corn pollinated by popcorn will…
Most vegetable seeds will remain viable for several years when stored in a cool, dry location. If properly stored, cabbage, broccoli, cucumber, squash, watermelon, eggplant, and radish seeds will remain viable for 5 years. Snap bean,…
Annual flower and vegetable plants started indoors or purchased from greenhouses should not be planted directly into the garden. The intense sun and strong winds may damage or kill the tender transplants. Plants should be “hardened” (…
Peas are members of the legume (Fabaceae) family. Through a symbiotic relationship with a soil bacterium (Rhizobium), peas are able to “fix” atmospheric nitrogen in nodules on their roots.
Potato shoots (stems) are sensitive to freezing temperatures. Symptoms of freeze damage may vary from blackening of the leaf margins (minor damage) to death of all aboveground growth (severe damage). Fortunately, severely damaged…
The Colorado potato beetle is difficult to control. Hand picking is a control option for individuals with small gardens. Hand-pick beetles, eggs, and small larvae from infested plants as soon as possible (practical for a few insects…
The most effective way to prevent damage to the sweet corn crop is to encircle the area with an electric fence. A two-wire fence with one wire 4 to 6 inches above the ground and the other at 12 inches should keep the raccoons out of the…
Cucumbers and other vine crops are monoecious. Monoecious plants have separate male and female flowers on the same plant. Male and female flowers are similar in appearance. However, the female flowers have small, immature fruits…
Raised beds may be permanent or temporary structures. Temporary raised beds are shallow beds (6 inches or less in height) constructed within the existing garden. After the garden is tilled in the spring, the loose soil is raked into raised beds.…
Cabbageworms are greenish caterpillars that eat large, irregular holes in the foliage of cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts. Cabbageworms can be controlled with biological or chemical insecticides. Bacillus…
Weeds compete with asparagus for light, water, and nutrients and will reduce asparagus yield and quality if not controlled. Cultivation and hand pulling are the best ways to control weeds in an asparagus planting. Hoe or…
Knowing the area of the garden bed or lawn is necessary for applying fertilizers or pesticides, determining how much mulch is needed, or determining the number of plants needed to fill a space.
Garlic requires more fertilizer than many vegetables. Apply and incorporate 1 to 2 pounds of an all-purpose garden fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, per 100 square feet of garden area prior to planting. Lightly incorporate one…
Careful observation of your seedlings will help you determine if the light levels are appropriate. Seedlings that are not receiving enough light will stretch and lean towards the light source. Use a brighter fixture that provides more…
Two closely related insect pests, the asparagus beetle and the spotted asparagus beetle, occasionally attack asparagus plantings in Iowa. When asparagus shoots appear in spring, these beetles emerge from their sheltered, overwintering locations…
