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…
Harvest herbs indoors as you would if grown outdoors. Most do well with periodic snipping as they are needed in the kitchen. Leafy annual herbs, like basil, chervil, and parsley, can be cut back severely when harvested. Using a sharp knife or…
Soil testing services are provided by neighboring universities and private laboratories. Information on how to collect good soil samples for testing and recommendations for how to find testing laboratories can be found at …
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…
Common or edible figs (Ficus carica) are not reliably cold hardy in Iowa. The stems of ‘Chicago Hardy’ (considered one of the hardiest edible fig cultivars) are hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit and the plant’s roots are hardy to 15 to 20…
Sow seeds 1 to 1½ inches deep and 2 inches apart. Peas can be planted in single or double rows. Double rows should be spaced about 6 inches apart. Double rows allow bush cultivars to cling and hold up one another. Place…
Plant bulbs at a depth equal to two or three times their maximum bulb diameter. Larger bulbs like tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are often planted 6-8 inches deep. The smaller bulbs like squill, snowdrops and crocus are…
The most effective way to prevent rabbit damage in the vegetable garden is by placing chicken wire fencing or hardware cloth around vulnerable plants. Fencing material that is 2 foot tall should be adequate. Support the fence with wooden stakes…
To produce your own slips (plants), select a large, unblemished sweet potato from the previous year’s harvest. Place sand in the bottom of a pot or other large container. Set the sweet potato horizontally on the surface of the sand…
Trailing types of philodendron propagate easily from stem cuttings. Stem sections 3 to 6 inches long with the lower leaves removed will readily root in water or rooting media, like perlite or well-drained potting soil. If rooting in…
Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) can be pruned at any time of the year. Although late winter or early spring when the vine is not covered in leaves can make the task easier. Without regular pruning, trumpet vine can quickly…
Proper cleaning and sanitization of pruners and other garden tools is important to prevent the spread of disease issues. At minimum when removing disease-infected plant material, pruners should be disinfected between plants. Ideally,…
Supplemental lights need to oriented relatively close to the seedlings to be effective and therefore need to be adjustable in height to accommodate the growing plants. For most fluorescent fixtures, the seedlings should be 4 to 6 inches…
The cineraria (Pericallis x hybrida) is a flowering plant typically sold at floral shops and other retailers from mid-winter to early spring. Plants produce clusters of 1- to 3-inch-diameter, daisy-like flowers. They…
The gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa) is a flowering houseplant related to the African violet. Plants produce large, velvety, bell-shaped flowers that may be white, pink, red, purple, or blue. Gloxinias are commonly sold at…
Construction of a grape trellis is similar to constructing a farm fence. The trellis must be substantial enough to carry the weight of the vines plus a heavy crop during high winds. Basically, the trellis consists of two or three…
Forcing can be done as soon as the buds start to swell. Forsythia and pussywillow can be forced as early as February. It's best to wait until March for more difficult-to-force ornamentals, such as crabapples, magnolias, and redbuds.…
Asparagus crowns should be planted in shallow trenches or furrows. The planting depth depends on the soil type. Asparagus crowns should be planted 6 to 8 inches deep in light, sandy soils, but only 4 to 6 inches deep in heavier soils…
Cut off the top of the pineapple about 1 inch below the cluster of leaves. Trim away the outer portion of the pineapple top leaving the tough, stringy core attached to the leaves. Also, remove a few of the lowest leaves. The…
The majority of roots, especially those roots that are responsible for water and nutrient uptake, are in the upper 6 to 18 inches of soil. Structural roots that radiate out from the tree and provide support and anchorage can reach a…
Fruit trees should be pruned on an annual basis. Annual pruning of young (non-bearing) fruit trees develops a strong framework and desirable tree shape. Annual pruning of bearing trees maintains tree vigor, maximizes fruit yields, and…
To encourage vigorous growth and abundant bloom, hybrid tea, floribunda, and grandiflora roses should be fertilized two or three times a year. Fertilizer applications can be made in early spring (immediately after pruning), during the first…
For most perennials, an application of 1 to 2 pounds of an all-purpose garden fertilizer per 100 square feet is adequate. Excess fertilization produces weak, leggy growth and inhibits flowering. Early spring (late March to mid-April) is the best…
In the home, Easter lilies prefer daytime temperatures of 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit with slightly cooler night temperatures. Avoid drafty locations. Place the Easter lily in bright light, but out of direct sunlight.
The upper portions of hybrid tea, grandiflora, and floribunda roses typically die due to exposure to low winter temperatures and extreme temperature changes. When the winter protection is removed from these roses in early spring (late March…
