plant

Lesser celandine: An invasive plant making its way across the Upper Midwest

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Lesser celandine has a bright yellow flower and heart-shaped leaves. Photo: Stephanie Day Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna), sometimes known as fig buttercup, is a short, perennial plant that is spreading in the Midwest. It has shiny,...

Almost time to plant potatoes in Minnesota

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu If you’ve lived through more than one Minnesota spring, you’ve learned not to trust the calendar, no matter what tradition says. A lot of gardeners rely on the adage: Good Friday is potato-planting day, if the weather allows. Some years...

Native plant communities help you better understand your woods

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu What is a native plant community? Native plant communities are groups of plants that tend to grow together under similar conditions and resemble landscapes that existed before European settlement. Scientists classify these communities...

Your holiday plant survival guide

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Poinsettia come in a variety of colors. The holidays aren’t just about glitter and garland; they’re about those beautiful plants that make your home feel festive and warm—but keeping them healthy beyond the season? That’s where a little...

Open spaces in the vegetable garden: What can you plant in mid July?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu As we enter the middle of summer, you may have gaps in your vegetable garden for a few reasons. Maybe you’ve finished harvesting your early spring vegetables, or perhaps certain things didn’t germinate as well as you had hoped. At this...

ZZ plant brightens up cold winter days

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu When the snow starts falling and winter is at its worst, I enjoy having green plants in my home office. One of my favorites is a humble ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia). Basic ZZ plant care Also called Zanzibar gem or Zee Zee plant...

How to control tarnished plant bug while protecting pollinators

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Photo: Flowers that were fed on by tarnished plant bug nymphs during bloom develop into "catfaced" fruitlets. University of Maine Extension. Key Points: Tarnished plant bug (TPB) is the most economically significant pest of...

Plant some rhubarb

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu I love rhubarb as a food. Its tartness balances the sweetness of pie, cake, syrup, muffins, juice and sauce. I also love rhubarb as a landscape plant with its big, coarse leaves, bright red stalks (technically the leaf petioles), and its...

What to plant when privacy is a priority

A backyard oasis can feel like an even more welcoming retreat when the area is private. Homeowners and their families often find that a backyard is most relaxing when they cannot hear or see their neighbors, and creating such an environment can be as simple as planting some privacy trees. Fencing...

Virus issues? Take a look at transplant production

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Many commonly grown Minnesota vegetables can be infected by plant viruses. With their limited means of prevention and no control options post-infection, these diseases can be devastating. Solanaceous crops, especially peppers and...