Backyard Botanist Blog

I’ll never forget the first time I tried fresh garlic.  Store bought garlic powder was my go-to whenever I needed its rich flavor while cooking.  Then someone gifted me with a garlic press and I just had to give it a try … there’s no looking back!  Fresh garlic is amazing!  My gardening heart and brain immediately thought – can … [Read More...]

What is the the IUPUI Seed Library?In 2019, the Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Library received a three-year grant from the IUPUI Office of Sustainability to start a seed library for faculty, staff, students, and community users (University Library is an academic library that also serves Marion County residents). The … [Read More...]

In mid-December, my wife Jean started an indoor flat of Butter Crunch lettuce from seed. We used screened potting mix for our growing medium in standard 1-inch,4-packs placed in a shallow tray for bottom watering. We are using our recently purchased Light Emitting Diode (LED) grow lights manufactured with 4-LED colors to closely simulate the … [Read More...]

This is an interesting post about forage crops including a short video demonstrating a creative way one Tennessean farmer uses to monitor the harvest of a corn forage crop using an overhead drone.  Corn silage is a high-quality forage crop that is used on many dairy farms and on some beef cattle farms in Tennessee. ...  The object of silage making … [Read More...]

If you have missed the thunderstorms and showers  in central Indiana, here is a good rule of thumb to follow when garden soil drys up. Most flower and vegetable gardens perform best when they receive 1 to 1-1/2 inch of water per week. Supplemental watering is best done in the morning and delivered directly to the soil surrounding the plants. Soil … [Read More...]

Is It time? ————Yes, it is! — and if you start vegetables and flower  seed indoors in late March and early April and give the seedlings some TLC you will have a jump start with home grown transplants to move to your garden after the last spring frost. Cold weather crop seeds like Broccoli and Greens can even be started indoors as early as February. … [Read More...]

I found this just on the verge of blooming on March 2 in our Woodland garden at the Hancock County Purdue Extension office grounds.   It's common name is Lenten Rose, a member of the Hellabore family.  These plants bloom very early in the season, hence the common name.  The flowers come in a variety of colors (white, pink, lavender, green, and … [Read More...]

A Perennial That Blooms All Summer The Popsicle Kniphofia (Poker plant) rewards its owner with blooms from May through September.  Choose a full sun location and watch the flower spikes grow up to 30 inches tall.  Once the bloom is spent, clip the flower spike to promote repeat blooming.  Colors available include Banana, Creamsicle, Lemon, … [Read More...]

While this article doesn't deal specifically with garden tips, if you'd like to know more about plants that live in wet areas, please read Joe Whitfield's article on wetland plants.  You might be able to identify some of these plants when you are out in nature.   One question that gets asked is "How do I know I'm in a wetland area?"  The … [Read More...]

In this season of colds and flu (some of us have not escaped), this article seems appropriate reading for both gardeners and historians.  It was researched and written by my husband,  Joe Whitfield, and has appeared in print in a local newspaper.  Some of the plants mentioned may already be a part of your garden but please read the disclaimer.   … [Read More...]

With the Christmas holiday approaching, we will start seeing a popular holiday plant everywhere we go.  If you've ever wondered how the poinsettia became associated with Christmas, here's a little history.  And if you've ever wondered about how to care for these plants, here's a little information. The poinsettia is a member of the Spurge … [Read More...]

Seeds are usually dry within three weeks and ready to prepare for storage.  You will want to separate seeds from other plant material.  Shake the seeds free gently.  Seeds that don't come free easily are not mature or may be infertile. Clean the seeds before packing and storing.  Most seeds can be cleaned by three methods.  Sieving.  This … [Read More...]

At the end of the growing season, you may be thinking about saving seed from a particular plant from your garden that you can sow next year.   Saving seed is not difficult to do but some care must be taken to insure the viability of the seed to reproduce the following season.  Keep in mind that the seed produced by many hybrid plants may not … [Read More...]

The cooler temperatures of fall make this season ideal for working in garden and landscape. Fall is an excellent time for setting some types of plants and for preparing the lawn and garden for the coming spring. Planting Add fall color to your landscape with cool-season plants such as asters, pansies, kale, and chrysanthemums. Autumn is an … [Read More...]

Another plant disease that is caused by warm, humid conditions is Iris Leaf Spot.   Like Daylily Leaf Streak,  Iris Leaf Spot is caused by a fungus but this one is known as Mycoshaerella macrospora (formerly Didymellina macrospora).  As is the case with the daylily disease,  Iris Leaf Spot will not necessarily kill the plant but, over time, cause a … [Read More...]

As if Indiana homeowners, businesses and municipalities haven't had enough to worry about in their landscapes since the Emerald Ash Borer  (EAB) invasion started several years ago, there is now another insect threat that is approaching.   It is  known as the Asian Long-horned beetle  (ALB).  Like the EAB, they attack trees but this critter prefers … [Read More...]

The Hancock County Master Gardener Association maintains a daylily garden on the grounds of the Hancock County Extension Service.  Earlier this spring we noticed some yellow/brown streaking down the length of the daylily leaves.   After some investigation between one of our members and our Extension Educator, a diagnosis of the problem was made.   … [Read More...]

Vegetables do best when growth is consistent through the season, not slowing and speeding up due to environmental conditions. You can’t control the weather, but you can help provide consistent conditions by irrigating when rainfall is lacking. Most vegetables need 1-1.5” of water a week. Side-dressing is an appropriate way to fertilize … [Read More...]

After a long winter it is always a welcome sight when the Spring native plants awaken, make their way through the leaf litter, and eventually bloom. In the native woodland area of the Hancock County Extension office grounds, we are seeing signs that Spring is here. This small area along a fence line with several mature trees has been the home of … [Read More...]