Gardening is wonderfully unpredictable. Each year, it is different. We move things around in the garden. We grow different crops. Summer may be hotter than years past. Or perhaps Mother Nature has opened up the heavens and sent down rain by the buckets. If it is the latter, I know that there will be one […]
Insects/Disease
Why is My Tree Yellow? Iron Chlorosis Explained
Spring’s arrival is ushered in by warming temperatures and verdant greens. But amongst the landscape, you spot some very yellow leaves. Very. Yellow. That particular tree with the extremely yellow leaves is not a species known for that particular hue. Instead, it should be a typical tree green. Just what is going on? To sum […]
A Fall Pest: Grey Aphids
If you grow anything in the brassica family (kale, collard greens brussels sprouts,cabbage, etc…) you have seen them. Small. Grey. In clusters. Hanging out on the under side of the leaves. And they tend to make their appearance in late summer, early fall. What are they? Grey aphids. Grey aphids are also known as cabbage […]
Tomatoes: What Not to Can
It is that time of year where tomatoes are abundant. Perhaps you are growing them in your garden? Or perhaps you find them by the case at your local farmer’s market? But regardless of where they come from, do you know which tomatoes to avoid for canning purposes? According to NCHFP, “Select only disease-free, preferably […]
Spider Mites: The Summer Garden Pest
While summer is in full swing and produce is coming in by the bushel, there is one summer pest that can wipe a smile from my face. It’s spider mites! They are a very tiny arachnid in the Tetranychidae family. This family also also includes spiders, ticks, and daddy-longlegs. Their coloration can range from brownish […]