Care and How-To - Edible Plants
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Learn how to protect plants from frost and freeze damage in fall and spring. Get tips on covering plants, using cold frames, and when to bring plants indoors for the season.
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Late winter or early spring is the perfect time to prune grapevines. Pruning grapevines is important to obtain maximum yields of high-quality grapes. The steps for pruning are straightforward. Learn more below.
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Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a valuable tree in Iowa. Harvest in late September, hull immediately, dry for 2-3 weeks, and store kernels in the freezer.
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Whenever sprays are applied, it is important to follow label directions. Often the product label will direct to spray at certain developmental stages in the tree’s annual growth cycle. Many of the most effective management steps occur in spring, well before the apples form and ripen.
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Here are several methods you can take to remove grass, each having its own advantages and limitations. Which method you choose depends on the time it takes, the amount of work it requires, and your personal preferences.
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Iowa soils are very diverse and so are the chemical characteristics that make up these soils. Soil pH is one property that can vary widely across the state both naturally and due to how we manage the field or garden. It is also one of the most cost effective and easy to manage soil properties that can be modified to improve plant health and crop production.
Learn about how to decrease and increase your soil pH below.
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Some plants in the landscape need a little extra protection to make it through the winter months. Here is what you need to know to successfully overwinter plants in Iowa.
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Crop rotation is an important and beneficial factor when planning a vegetable garden. Problems with diseases, insect pests, and soil fertility can increase when the same crop is planted in the same area in successive years. With careful planning and consideration, crop rotation can reduce issues with diseases and pests and balance the soil's nutrients. Learn how to best rotate your vegetable crops at home.
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Learn how to prune and train apple trees using the central leader system. Discover proper techniques for each growth stage, from planting to maturity, for healthy, productive trees.
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Harvesting vegetables at the right time boosts taste and quality. Timing varies by type, with some needing daily or weekly picking. Check this guide for details.
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Proper pruning of raspberries is essential for higher yields, disease control, and ease of maintenance. Follow specific pruning techniques based on the type of raspberry to ensure vigorous growth and abundant harvests
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Suckers are vigorous upright growing stems that form at the base of a tree or from the root system causing stems to appear inches or feet from the base of the trunk. They are problematic because they can reduce flowering and fruiting, alter the form of the tree, harbor pests and diseases, and look unsightly.
Learn about what causes suckers to form and how they can be managed in the home landscape.
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Garlic is a staple in the kitchen and can be easily grown at home. Learn more about planting, caring for, harvesting, and storing garlic in the vegetable garden.
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Proper storage conditions for seeds are essential to maintain viability and good germination at planting time. You can test the germination rate of your seeds to be sure they are viable and worth the time to sow and grow. More information about storing seeds, testing seed germination rates, and the expected viability of common vegetables can be found below.
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February and March is the best time to prune most trees and shrubs in Iowa. The absence of foliage at this time of year gives you a clear view of the tree and allows the selection and removal of appropriate branches. Also, when pruned in the late dormant season the walling-off, compartmentalization, or sealing of wounds can begin as soon as growth starts in the spring giving the tree the most time to recover from the pruning cut.
Iowa State University has many resources available to help with pruning all your woody plants.
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Germination requirements (light and temperature) vary among the different annuals and vegetables. The various crops also differ in the length of time from seed sowing until the seedlings are planted outdoors. Below is germination and growing information for commonly grown annual flowers, herbs, and vegetables.
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Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable crop to grow in the home garden. Many diseases, disorders, and insect pests can affect tomatoes during the growing season.
Learn more about managing the common problems found with tomatoes in the home garden including blights, wilts, blossom end rot, viruses, fruit cracking, tomato hornworm, and more.
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This guide helps schedule vegetable planting for efficient space use with date ranges for sowing, planting, and harvesting in all parts of Iowa.
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Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are the most popular vegetable in the home garden. There is nothing quite like a tomato fresh from your garden!
Learn all things growing tomatoes including planting, care, training, pruning, harvest, recommended cultivars, seed saving, growing in containers, and how to deal with common problems.
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Learn about blackberry varieties for Iowa, including winter-hardy and primocane-bearing types. Discover proper pruning techniques for summer-bearing and primocane blackberries to maximize yield and plant health.