Carrots are one of the most rewarding vegetables to grow. There is something so satisfying about pulling the tall, green, feathered tops from the garden bed to reveal the tapered root that’s been growing, unseen, beneath the soil. But what if, after waiting months, the highly anticipated harvest tastes bitter,…
Morning glories are trumpet-shaped flowers that last one day, blooming in the early morning and closing, usually, in the afternoon. They can add a pop of color to any garden and are easy to grow. They attract butterflies and hummingbirds, which are great pollinators for your garden. In this article,…
Armyworms are not actually worms but rather caterpillars. They are the larval stage of nocturnal moths belonging to the Noctuidae family. The caterpillars measure between 1.5 and 2 inches (3.8 to 5 cm) long, and they feed on turf grasses, vegetables, and other plants. Unfortunately, an infestation of these little…
Nightshades like tomatoes and peppers are susceptible to a fungal disease called Septoria leaf spot. Potatoes, also members of the nightshade family, are also prime targets for this harmful pathogen. In this article, you will learn how to identify this disease, as well as how to treat it and, more…
Have you ever seen a beetle that resembles a ladybug, but it’s pink? Chances are, you have happened upon a pink ladybug. Also known as a pink lady beetle, the Coleomegilla maculate measures approximately ¼ inch (6 mm) long. Its body is more oblong, and its wing cover is less…
The three most common forms of blight on nightshades, such as tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and eggplant, are early blight, late blight, and Septoria leaf spot. In this article, you will learn how to identify, treat, and prevent Septoria leaf spot.Septoria leaf spot, also known as Septoria blight, is caused by the…
Magnesium, a macronutrient found in all plants, is a necessary requirement for several vital plant functions. Thus, a lack of magnesium can pose a serious threat to plant life. In this article, you will learn how to identify a magnesium deficiency and how to remedy the problem.Why Magnesium is ImportantMagnesium…
Nothing tastes better than a salad featuring homegrown lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers! But cucumbers, like other garden favorites, are susceptible to diseases like powdery mildew, downy mildew, and anthracnose. In this article, we will learn about Alternaria or early blight, another disease that can affect cucumbers and other cucurbits like watermelon, cantaloupe, zucchini, acorn squash, and butternut squash,…
Two lined spittlebugs, like leafhoppers, are small, wedge-shaped insects. Their dark brown to black bodies measure approximately 3/8 inch long (9.5 cm). They have two parallel red-orange lines across their folded wings and another one across their thorax. In addition, they have red eyes and red legs. Adults do not usually fly,…
Growing sweet potatoes is one of life’s simple pleasures. The slips (starter vines) are easy to grow and, once planted, can turn into a bounty of delicious tubers. But what if, after patiently waiting 90 to 120 days until harvest, you finally dig up the soil only to discover that…