With deeply lobed silver leaves and a 3-foot stature, the artichoke unfolds as much mystery in the garden as it does on the dinner table. Used to set off any color in a perennial border, as a striking specimen plant or the flagship of a vegetable garden, the artichoke has much to recommend it to
Western Oregon homeowners with boxwood shrubs should keep their eyes peeled in early spring for signs of a disease that’s been making gradual headway in the state. Boxwood blight first showed up in nurseries in Oregon in 2011, and has continued to make inroads in the Portland area, according to Jay W. Pscheidt, a plant pathology
For mason bees, the wait for their first meal is a long one, nine months or more while they wait for the day to emerge, sun themselves a bit and fly off for an awaited meal. There’s no TV, no smartphone, not even a book to while away the time as these solitary bees hang
Get onions in the ground in spring and avoid heartbreak when it comes time to harvest big, beautiful bulbs this summer. Plant as soon as the soil is dry enough to work, said Jim Myers, a plant breeder at Oregon State University. March and April are prime times. Most onions grown in Oregon are long-day
If you don’t have space for a garden – or even if you do – a terrarium may be in your future. “Terrariums are an easy way to have some greenery,” said Brooke Edmunds, a horticulturist with Oregon State University Extension Service. “And they’re fun to make.” Not only that, a terrarium can take on
For a hedge, arborvitae has a place. It’s tall, skinny, evergreen, low-maintenance and cheap. “Some people look down on arborvitae, but it fits in places that other things can’t,” said Neil Bell, a horticulturist for Oregon State University Extension Service. “And it’s about as low-maintenance a plant as anything you can buy, if it’s sited
Will they or won’t they? That’s the perennial question when you nestle seeds into the soil each spring and wait for sprouts to make an appearance. Whether you’ve selected and saved seeds from the garden, ordered from a catalog or bought off the rack, they can be a disappointment. But there is a way to
When you’ve got a plant that looks a little – or a lot – in distress, don’t start trying to fix it until you know the problem. It could be a simple glitch like not giving it enough water or putting a sun-loving plant in the shade, said Neil Bell, horticulturist with Oregon State University
Reaching for a pesticide – even an organic one – should be a thoughtful act. Nothing used to kill pests is risk-free. First decide if you need pesticides at all by practicing Integrated Pest Management or IPM, said Kaci Buhl, Statewide Pesticide Safety Education Program coordinator for Oregon State University Extension Service. Buhl defines IPM
In January and February the flowers of winter arrive, blooming as cheerfully as the showoffs of spring. “One of the coolest things about gardening in the Pacific Northwest is winter gardens,” said Neil Bell, a horticulturist with Oregon State University’s Extension Service. “Spring is overwhelming with flowers, but in winter it’s surprising. It’s nice to
Moderate pruning of highbush blueberries done every year can make the difference between a mediocre and a bumper crop – and production of quality fruit. Highbush blueberry, a native of North America, grows 6 to 12 feet tall and is the major blueberry-producing species in commerce. Its name refers to its tall stature. The best
The year 2018 is in the rearview mirror, but it’s not too late to catch up on the top stories of the last 12 months. Some were plant-centric (hydrangeas), some were pesky (yellowjackets) and others were practical (pruning shrubs). All caught the attention of readers across the state and beyond. The criteria for choosing the