Here are the things you need to do gardening in October: Plant tulips before frost sets in. Select early to late blooming varieties for a long span of bloom. Buy only quality bulbs and check for signs of disease before planting. Prevent a build-up of soil-borne diseases by setting the bulbs where tulips have not … Read more
No vegetable excels the squash in its variety of form and color. Among commonly grown forms, they range in size from the little Butternut, Table Queen, and Buttercup to the great Blue Hubbards, which may weigh 60 pounds or more. Of course, that leaves out the Mammoth Chili, which may be even larger. Noteworthy Squash … Read more
And so it is autumn; the fruitful soil has yielded another harvest, and barns are full. Fields have a clean-swept took-over hill, and dale nature indulges in one last magnificent pageant. So intense are the fall colors that at night the pure yellows give off a golden glow. In the garden, gaps appear in the … Read more
Today, more home gardeners find pleasure in growing blueberries in their gardens. Once given the acid soil they need, blueberries are not difficult to grow and offer many rewards in addition to the delicious berries they produce in the summer. These include showy white flowers in the spring, vivid scarlet-red foliage in the autumn, and … Read more
Years ago an authority recommended that peonies be planted at 9:00 A.m. on September 15. Although the timing need not be that exact, the sooner this job can be completed in September the better. One caution: don’t pile organic matter over the newly set plants to “protect” them. They don’t need it and botrytis blight … Read more
Frost can be expected at almost any time now in the northernmost part of our area. This means, among other things, that preparations should be made to bring house plants under cover if they spent the summer outdoors. It is most desirable to get them into their winter living quarters before it is necessary to … Read more
For several years I have made it a point to do all the traveling possible during the hemerocallis or day-lily season. In addition to enjoying the enchanting blooms, these trips enable me to keep in touch with new developments and to evaluate new introductions which I see growing under varying soil and climate conditions. On … Read more
Another growing season is about to end in the more northerly parts of our country, and frosts can soon be expected in New England, upstate New York, and the Great Lakes and northern Great Plains. Therefore, it is not too early for gardeners to reminisce over the past outdoor gardening season and begin planning for … Read more
Colorful bulb displays will appear at garden centers by the middle of the month. Even though you may not be planting for a few more weeks it’s a good idea to order early, right now! By so doing you avoid picked-over bulbs and can plant them on time. In Southern California and Arizona, it is … Read more
Red ripe strawberries, mouthwatering and packed with flavor, firm and without blemish—how long since you have had really good berries? Perhaps you are fortunate and are treated to the surplus from your neighbor’s garden. But if you are less lucky and must rely on the nearest supermarket for your supply, you know how seldom really … Read more