Author: Kym Pokorny

Often not considered, soil pH has as much effect on plant health as disease, insects, drought and drainage. Keeping pH in the right range for certain plants is essential, according to Weston Miller, Oregon State University Extension Service horticulturist. Plants with specific pH requirements include vegetables, blueberries and rhododendrons. Soil pH is a measurement of […]

So, your vegetable garden is growing lush and fruitful – or not. If the latter is true, you may need to feed your plants. Chip Bubl, associate professor and horticulturist at Oregon State University Extension Service, has been giving vegetable gardening advice for many years and offers up some tips about mid-summer feeding for plants. […]

Jumping worms, a not-so-nice pest that arrived in the United States in the 1920s as fishing bait and as hitchhikers on imported plants and soils, have vaulted into gardens and nurseries up and down the Willamette Valley corridor. Unlike beneficial earthworms and nightcrawlers that burrow deep tunnels in the soil, aerating and releasing nutrients as […]

Gardeners around the Northwest are distraught by the damage suffered by their plants during the recent heat wave. Questions have come pouring into Oregon State University Extension Service and experts weigh in on what to do now. There’s no denying the damage is severe, said Heather Stoven, OSU Extension horticulturist. Some plants died and others […]

People and plants need care to make it through the coming heatwave – 111 on Sunday some forecasts say – without wilting. Erica Chernoh, Oregon State University Extension Service horticulturist, offers some ideas to help keep yourself and your garden as comfortable as possible. Keep hydrated. Carry a water bottle – and use it! You […]

If you have a good strong trellis, are a bit of a gambler and have a love of kiwifruit, there’s no reason not to grow your own crop. As vigorous as they are, though, don’t expect to plop these vines into the ground and stand back. Kiwifruit need some attention to yield the large amount […]

In a world of increasing climate change and the invasion of more exotic insects and pests, sustainable gardening is more important than ever. We can all do our part to help by changing our practices – often just by a bit, depending on the methods you’ve already put in place. And if it all seems […]

Growing melons takes some effort in western Oregon, but with the right methods it can end in sweet success. With a warmer, drier climate, eastern Oregon is well set up for cultivating melons. Western Oregon isn’t as hospitable, but you can accomplish a crop by choosing the right variety and following tips from Heidi Noordijk, […]

Considering the 80 million home lawns in the country, there are a lot of people buying lawn mowers. How you choose between rotary, reel and electric models has to do with your situation and preferences, said Alec Kowalewski, Oregon State University Extension turfgrass specialist. All three have their pros and cons. Rotary and electric mowers, […]

The new Oregon State University-developed tomato Midnight Roma follows in the steps of 10-year-old Indigo Rose, the first antioxidant-rich purple tomato available on the market. Indigo Rose was bred by Jim Myers, vegetable breeder and professor in the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences. Midnight Roma is the result of crossing Oregon Star, a big, fleshy […]