What Does Crop Mean

Since larger-caliper trees are typically larger in height, have larger root systems, and weigh more than small-caliper trees, knowing caliper helps determine what equipment or manpower is needed to lift, move or plant various trees.

You can also purchase Trichogramma wasp eggs from an insectery. You can also apply five drops of corn oil laced with the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to the tip of each ear when the silk begins to brown.

The second aspect of downy mildew prevention is changing your watering practices: Avoid top-down irrigation, instead watering the base of the plants to minimize the amount of water on the leaves.

These Aloes should be listed separately, rather than lump all the many hundreds of species of Aloe as one entity?Should I be concerned when one of my dogs decides to eat one (that is unlikely to happen by the way, despite my having over 600 aloes in the...

Some require total darkness so that you need to cover the planting container so that no light is available until the seeds germinate.There are two terms that are especially important when planting seeds that you should look for.Scarification, this term...

This most commonly affects some vegetable or flower seedlings that were exposed to cold temperatures before they were planted in the garden.Other than cold temperatures, extremes such as drought can shorten the biennial's life cycle and compress two seasons...

Damping Off ( Pythium spp., Fusarium spp.) Young eggplant seedlings might succumb to damping off. Damping off is most severe when conditions are too wet or seedlings are overcrowded.

Be sure to provide plenty of room for vining crops in the vegetable garden, as well. Some good options include Marshall's Delight (a medium pink), Claire Grace (lavender), Prairie Night (purple), Aquarius (pale pink) and Stone's Throw Pink.

It spreads easily from plant to plant, especially during wet or humid growing season. Try New Guinea impatiens ( I. Do not space plants too closely to ensure they have good air circulation as well.

Look for: Leaves of plants infected by BYMV will show bright-yellow to green mottle—or mosaic pattern—plus leaf distortion, down cupping and wrinkling. (Differentiate between BYMV and its relative, bean common mosaic virus, by the color of the mottling.

Basil downy mildew does not overwinter in cold northern climates. Basil downy mildew does not live in the soil, so there's no need to take any measures to sterilize the soil or drench it with a fungicide; this does nothing to control the pathogen.

The mites can readily travel on the wind from wild infected multiflora roses into your garden. 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...

Another method that may be successful is planting a trap crop of mustard or kale to coax the insects away from the broccoli crop you wish to harvest. External signs of downy mildew include a gray mold on the lower surface of the leaves, while the upper...

Prevent disease-causing funguses that could be killing your tomato crop from spreading across your garden. To slow the spread of fungal disease, prune yellow leaves and those showing signs of damage.

Fortunately, there are many hybrid tomato and pepper cultivars available today that fit this need. The process begins when immature thrips are infected by feeding on wild or cultivated plants that harbor the virus.

“When the leaves and flower parts are chopped, the enzymes react with the glucosinolates to produce volatile gas-like compounds, called, isothiocyanates, which are toxic to nematodes.” Grow the mustard until it flowers, then chop it down.

Bacterial Soft Rot Type of Disease: bacteria Crops Affected: a wide variety of crops, including corn, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, carrots, sweet potatoes and onions Symptoms: Bacterial soft rot presents itself in many different ways, but it primarily attacks...

One common brand is Serenade. Putting your orchard or backyard plants on a regular organic spray program early in the season is key to keeping fungal issues at bay. The rate and frequency of application depends on the targeted fungal organism, but all...

Use drip irrigation, or apply water by-hand only to the root zone of the plant, instead of using over-head sprinklers. Make sure they are properly spaced and pruned. When there's high humidity or increased rainfall, that's when gardeners should be on...

It achieved invasive status, growing with such wild abandon that it weighs down and uproots small trees. This Christmas I'll be looking at the holly and the ivy in my garden beds and singing this ancient carol with new respect.

The edible portion is the lower 6 to 10 inches of the stem, which is brilliant white. Leek seeds should be started indoors under grow lights about six to eight weeks before they are planted outside in late March.

When I think about nuts around the holidays, my mind wanders to Nat King Cole, a warm fire and the first bars of “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire….” lilting through the air.

But, they're nothing compared to the berries that follow every autumn. There are often multiple colors on each berry cluster at the same time. Possomhaw ( Viburnum nudum ) The creamy white, spring flowers of this viburnum are attractive to bees and other...

I never got into the games. Winter is not a time of dormancy. One of my favorite spaces that awaits is our outdoor classroom. Dream big! The land is waiting to fulfill your garden plans.

“There is also an inhibitory effect on a-Amylase, the enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates, slowing down the process,” Westrick says. (Surprise! It's a pea, not a nut, even though it is called a ground nut!) A few more pod plants, including chocolate...

Plants work in a similar way. When the sun shines again in spring, the plants push leaves toward the sun to gobble up nutrition and reproduce. When the sun shines and the season is right, we're back outside from dawn to dusk expending energy.

Take your homebrewing to the next level of local by growing your own hops. Cascade and Nugget are popular varieties, but for added ornamentation, choose Golden, which has beautiful chartreuse foliage.