While pods that are large and bumpy are still edible, they are not nearly as tasty. Green beans (also called snap, string, or wax beans) are intended to be consumed as immature pods with small undeveloped seeds inside. When the seeds inside the…
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…
Apply a mulch around landscape plantings and garden areas to conserve soil moisture. Mulching reduces the rate of evaporation from the soil surface and also limits weed competition. Organic materials, such as grass clippings, clean…
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.…
Yes, green tomatoes can be ripened indoors. Just before the first frost, remove all mature, greenish white fruit from the vines. They should be solid, firm, and free of defects. Remove the stems, then clean and dry the fruit.…
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…
Squash bugs can be serious pests of summer and winter squash. Squash bugs have piercing-sucking mouthparts. Heavy feeding causes entire leaves to wilt, turn brown, and die. Several methods can be used to control squash bugs in…
Drying peppers is a simple procedure. Harvest mature peppers (the fruit of most varieties turn from green to red at maturity), wash to remove any dirt, then allow the fruit to dry for a few minutes on the kitchen counter. Once the…
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…
Foliar diseases of tomatoes are a common problem in the home garden. Fungal diseases, such as early blight (Alternaria tomatophila and Alternaria solani), late blight (Phytophthora infestans), and…
The fruit of the muskmelon or cantaloupe is mature when the stem slips easily from the melon with slight pressure. The melon is not ripe if the stem has to be forcibly separated from the fruit. Other indicators of maturity are based…
Unlike muskmelons, the fruit of honeydews do not slip off the vine when mature. The best indicator of ripeness is a slight softening of the blossom end of the fruit. There may also be a subtle change in the color of the honeydew.…
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…
Control of weeds in the vegetable garden is important. These unwanted plants are strong competitors for available water, nutrients, and sunlight and can reduce yields when not controlled. Reduced air circulation created by tall weeds…
Most garden areas, including the lawn, vegetable garden, and perennial garden, perform best when they receive an inch of water each week. When this is not supplied by rain, the gardener must do it using a hose, bucket, or sprinkler.
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…
Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) is not hardy in Iowa and cannot survive outdoors through the winter. However, it grows very well in containers and can be enjoyed as an attractive herb indoors during winter and outdoors from late spring…
The fruit of most tomato cultivars generally begins to ripen in August. Fruit production for early maturing cultivars such as ‘Early Girl’ or many of the cherry and grape tomatoes generally begins in mid- to late-July.
Harvest mature bulbs in late summer when the tops have turned yellow and begun to dry. Cure the shallots in a warm, dry location for 1 to 2 weeks. After the shallots have been cured, cut off the dry foliage, place the bulbs in a mesh…
