What Are Cereal Crops

Yes, it's largely an aesthetic issue, but there are some things that can be done to help keep powdery mildew at bay. You can also look for a “PM” on the seed packet itself—that's the code seed sellers use to designate a particular variety as powdery...

However, you should only purchase symptom-free plants from a reliable, local nursery. Another option, of course, is to skip the impatiens and plant a different shade-loving annual in their place.

They can ooze a yellowish bacteria that dries into a crust. Stop it: Alternaria fungi develop in high relative humidity, rainfall and cool temperatures. Look for: You'll see small, brown circles outlined in yellow.

Buy local basil plants. Early in the infection, the leaves of basil plants develop pale yellow mottling between the leaf veins on the upper leaf surfaces. Once the disease progresses to its later stages, complete defoliation occurs followed by plant death.

Because the disease is so readily transmitted, it's important to get rid of any infected plants as quickly as possible, something I should have done to the wild multiflora specimens on our property years ago.

This will either kill young plants or prevent mature plants from developing proper heads. To determine if aphids are an issue, lift up several leaves and look for clusters of tiny white- to light-green insects on the underside of the vegetation.

Foliage that gets wet, especially late in the day, creates ideal conditions for fungal growth. It's even a good idea to prune healthy green leaves growing beneath the fruiting branches toward the ground to improve air flow, which helps dry the foliage...

If tomato spot wilt virus is an issue in your area, especially in the Southeast, take proactive steps to both prevent the virus and limit the population of thrips: Select and plant cultivars resistant to or tolerant of TSWV.

Your farm soil is much more than just dirt. “When a grower is transplanting a crop, such as celery or what have you, they can inspect the roots for tiny knots and other diseases,” Celetti says.

Dispose of affected plants, and do not bury or compost. How to Prevent: Lowering the soil pH to below 5.2 can help reduce the chances of scab. Prevent It: Plant resistant cultivars, and always plant in well-drained soil with good air circulation.

Although copper products are often recommended for this, I prefer using a biological fungicide based on Bacillus subtilis . Give Your Vines a Hard Pruning Properly pruning your grape vines can also stave off an onslaught of fungal issues.

You can avoid the need to spray by planting selections with a known resistance to the pathogen. Like almost all other fungal diseases, black spot thrives in wet weather. If your rose garden is prone to this fungal disease, take steps early to keep it...

Long before Christianity reached the European continent, people used the evergreen plants found in forests to decorate their homes for the winter season in general and for the solstice in particular.

I can harvest these all winter long and even well into the following spring. Some growers plant leek seedlings in a foot-deep trench. As soon as the seedlings are as thick as piece of heavy thread, they can be planted out into the garden.

Yes, though it might not be with American chestnuts ( Castanea dentatepasting ). The work of preserving the chestnut is important and needs to be supported if our children are to continue to live in a world where chestnuts roasting on an open fire is...

The lacey foliage and flat clusters of early summer flowers are quite lovely as well, making this shrub a standout in the landscape. These plants are capable of adding loads of interest to the winter garden while they also support local wildlife.

We will definitely be expanding several of our current medicinal plantings. Dream big! The land is waiting to fulfill your garden plans. Just last week, we had an arctic blast of record cold weather, and the snow was piled up high against the back door.

Santistevan offers advice for growing beans sustainably and achieving the best return on your investment, with four simple tips: plant deep, water little, identify the strongest and work with those for the future.

Of course, this is not a problem with dandelion and burdock. Some might wonder what we can be harvesting in the winter. The snow has come here in Ohio, along with cold weather. It is inappropriate for plant or gardener to expend energy all the time without...

Pollination is not required, so just one plant will produce on its own. She is co-host of KDKA radio's The Organic Gardeners in Pittsburgh and author of several gardening books, including Grow Organic (St. Lynn's Press, 2007) and Good Bug Bad Bug (St

At this point, you can take great pride in knowing you have taken a crop of sorghum cane and processed it in a way that has been handed down from generation to generation, but even more so, share the event with your community just as the Woods family...

I propose that both you and I find a few ways to treat ourselves from time to time to a bit of frivolity. I made breakfast for the kids while it set, and 45 minutes later, with no interruption in my day and no toxic chemicals, my gray hair is now a lovely...

The leaves can be composted, and the seed plumes need to be spread out on a screen to dry. Here are some of the ways you can put it to use on your farm. Sorghum juice is very sweet and can add great refreshment and sweetener to your juice concoctions,...

We started a few shrubs along our pasture fence because it is said that cows give good milk when they have the opportunity to graze on the fruit and leaves. Within a year, Cinderella's father marries again and the new wife comes with two stepsisters.

Although hemp was farmed for centuries without scientific study, universities and state departments of agriculture want to understand specifics. That extends to petroleum as fuel, and biodiesel is another innovative and exciting market.

At this point, I would suggest some buckwheat pancakes to celebrate. On buckwheat plants, the blossoms are an almost legendary nectar source for bees, producing a dark, rich honey.

The flower is rather pretty, coming in white, pink, lavender or light blue. He was so taken with the plant that he would mail people seeds and rave about the amazing plant far and wide.