Tulips can be dug up and replanted as soon as the foliage dies back (turns brown) in early summer. Tulips can also be dug up and replanted in fall (October). If you intend to move tulips in the fall, mark the site when the foliage is…
Summer and winter squash are warm-season crops. Plant squash after the danger of frost is past. In central Iowa, summer and winter squash can be planted in mid-May. Gardeners in southern Iowa can plant 1 week earlier. …
Daffodil foliage should not be removed until it has turned brown and died. The length of time it takes the foliage to die back depends on bulb type, weather, and other factors. The foliage of daffodils usually doesn’t die back until…
Currants typically ripen over a 2 to 3 week period. Fully ripe currants possess the characteristic color of the variety (red, white, or black), are slightly soft and juicy. For jellies and jams, harvest currants before the berries are…
The trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) is a woody vine that produces orange to reddish, trumpet-shaped flowers. After planting, trumpet vines often don’t bloom for 3 to 5 years. The trumpet vine has to grow and mature before it…
The rutabaga performs best when planted in summer for a fall crop. Sow seed at a depth of 1/4 to ½ inch from June 15 to July 15 in Iowa. Rows should be spaced 18 to 24 inches apart. Thin the planting within a few weeks of…
Early morning (5:00 to 9:00 am) is the best time to water a lawn. A morning application allows the water to soak deeply into the soil with little water lost to evaporation. When watering is completed, the turfgrass foliage dries…
Early morning (5:00 to 9:00 am) is the best time to water the garden when using a sprinkler, garden hose, or any other device that wets the plant foliage. When watering is completed, the plant foliage dries quickly. The rapid drying…
Kentucky bluegrass lawns should be mowed at a height of 2½ to 3 inches in the spring and fall months. Mow bluegrass lawns at a height of 3 to 3½ inches in June, July, and August. A higher mowing height in summer helps to cool the…
White grub populations and damage to lawns vary greatly from year to year and place to place, even varying from spot to spot within the same lawn due to variations in beetle numbers, weather, turfgrass vigor, soil conditions, and other factors.…
The best time to divide perennials varies with the different plant species. Early spring (just as new growth begins to appear) is the best time to divide aster, chrysanthemum, hosta, bee balm, sedum, yarrow, obedient plant, and ornamental…
Beets may be harvested when the roots are 1 inch in diameter. However, the main crop usually isn’t harvested until the roots are 1½ to 3 inches in diameter. (Beets larger than 3 inches in diameter are often tough and fibrous.) …
Broccoli should be harvested when the head is fully developed, but before the flower buds begin to turn yellow and open. At harvest, the terminal head should be tight, blue-green, and approximately 6 to 7 inches in diameter. Most…
Cauliflower should be harvested when the heads are smooth, firm, and compact. Full-sized heads may be 6 to 8 inches across. Overmature heads will begin to open up and become “ricey.” Cauliflower may be placed in perforated…
Most herbs are ready to be harvested when flower buds appear on the plants, but before the buds open. The leaves contain the maximum amount of volatile oils at this stage of growth, giving the greatest flavor and fragrance to the finished…
Harvest kohlrabi when the swollen stems are 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Kohlrabi that is larger than 3 inches in diameter is usually tough and woody. To store, remove the leaves and roots and place in the refrigerator.
Sour or pie cherries should be harvested when the fruit are full-flavored, somewhat soft, and juicy. (Cherries picked before they are mature will not ripen off the tree.) For immediate use, the cherries can be picked without the stems…
Muskmelon and watermelon are warm-season crops. Plant melons after the danger of frost is past and soil temperatures have warmed to 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Melons can be planted in mid-May in central Iowa. Gardeners in…
Weigelas bloom on both old and new wood. Plants bloom heavily in late May or June on the previous year’s growth. They also bloom intermittently through the summer on the current season’s growth.
The main objective in spraying apple trees is to prevent insect damage to the fruit. The most important period to spray apple trees is from petal drop until just prior to harvest. Several applications will need to be made during this…
The new grass should be mowed when it is 3 inches tall. Make sure the mower blade is sharp. Mow at a height of 2 to 2.5 inches. Mowing at this time will promote the spreading and thickening of the grass.
Stop harvesting well established asparagus plantings in early June in southern Iowa and mid-June in northern areas of the state. If harvested over a longer period, the asparagus plants may be weakened and less productive the following year…
Gardeners should stop harvesting well established rhubarb plants in mid-June in Iowa. Continued harvest through the summer months weakens the rhubarb plants and reduces the yield and quality of next year’s crop.
Summer-flowering shrubs, such as potentilla and Japanese spirea, bloom in summer on the current year’s growth. Prune summer-flowering shrubs in late winter or early spring (March or early April in Iowa).
Asparagus Photo by Cindy Haynes…
Asparagus Photo by Cindy Haynes
Harvest…