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Managing Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes and Peppers

Many commercial growers and home gardeners often confront the issue of Blossom End Rot (BER) in their tomato, pepper, and eggplant. The BER is a physiological disorder caused by a localized calcium deficiency in the blossom-end of the fruit. It is a physiological disorder and is not caused by fungi, bacteria, or any other living disease microorganisms. Also, BER could also be seen on non-solanaceous crops such as pumpkins, squash, and watermelons.

Yard and Garden: Start Seeds with the Right Supplies

Many gardeners like to get a head start on the gardening season by starting flower and vegetable seedlings indoors. Successfully growing seedlings indoors requires high quality seeds, a germination medium, containers, lights and other supplies, note horticulture specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. To have additional questions answered, contact the Hortline at 515-294-3108 or hortline @iastate.edu.

The Beauty of Basil

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) has long been considered the “King of the Herbs” – not only because of its popularity, but also because the name “basileus” literally means “king” in Greek.  Basil has a long history of cultivation around the world and has been used as a culinary herb, aromatic herb, and ornamental herb for centuries.

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Raised Beds for Vegetable Production

One question all homeowners wrestle with is whether to grow vegetable in soil or in raised beds. It is an important question that has direct implications on how well your plants will grow. Below we discuss situations where raised-beds significantly enhance plant growth and yield, simple ways to construct them, and growing medium in raised beds.

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