Dirt cheap is an idiom people use when they want to express how inexpensive something is. The idea is that since dirt is plentiful, it must be cheap. Ironically, good, quality dirt is not cheap. If you have purchased organic potting soil or potting mix lately, then you know this to be…
Nematodes are microscopic roundworms categorized as either predatory or parasitic. Predatory nematodes hunt down garden pests, like cutworms and squash vine borers, and are considered beneficial by gardeners. On the other hand, parasitic nematodes, like root knot nematodes, feed on plant roots and cause considerable crop damage.Root knot nematodes attack…
Bean rust is a fungal disease that attacks legumes, like black-eyed peas, purple hull peas, green beans, pole beans, fava beans, snow peas, snap peas, etc. The spores, which spread easily, can affect all parts of the plant, including the leaves, pods, stems, and shoots. Rust fungi have a complicated life…
Let's face it. Sometimes gardening is hard work. The excitement and anticipation that was abundant in the spring are replaced with frustration and disappointment. Insect and disease pressure, not to mention the sweltering heat of summer, have diminished the harvest and the desire to garden. By the time August rolls…
The spotted lanternfly may not be an insect that is familiar to many of us, but it soon could be. This beautiful but destructive pest is an invasive species that is native to China, India, Vietnam, and eastern Asia. It was first observed in the United States in Pennsylvania in…
Assassin bugs are not your average garden variety insect. Instead of eating plants, they feed on a wide assortment of garden pests and their larvae, including aphids, armyworms, caterpillars, mosquitoes, beetles, and leafhoppers. These fearless feeders will even attack bugs that are bigger than they are. The downside to their…
Turnips are members of the brassica family, and therefore, better suited to the cooler weather of spring and fall. This root crop is often considered to be a sweeter and less starchy substitute for potatoes. Turnips, like carrots and other root crops, can easily be grown in containers or raised…
Fungal diseases like black sooty mold, Cercospora leaf spot, Fusarium wilt, and Verticillium wilt can seemingly appear overnight, threatening the plants we have labored to care for. To successfully combat plant diseases such as these, it is important to identify them and treat them while they are still in the…
Downy mildew is a fungus-like pathogen that appears in gardens in the spring and fall when wet, cool conditions are present. Often confused with powdery mildew, which is a true fungus, downy mildew is a parasitic organism classified as an oomycete or a water mold. Not surprisingly, downy mold, as the condition is also known,…
Tortoise beetles are some of the most fascinating beetles in the garden. They measure a mere 5 to 7 mm (approximately 1/4") and come in a variety of striking colors like metallic gold, rust, orange, metallic green, and metallic blue. At first glance, the metallic ones look like sequins. These members…