Helga George

You know those fruit flies that hover and get in your face when you have fruit that got too ripe? The ones that scientists use as model systems to advance medicine?They are highly annoying but don’t do much harm. The common fruit fl

As a child growing up in Delaware, I was always fascinated by agapanthus, a plant I was only familiar with from ogling books filled with pretty pictures of different flowers.I still vividly remember my excitement on m

Divine blue flowers are rare in the fall garden, but have we got a showstopper for you!Azure monkshood is a perennial flower with stunning purple-blue blooms

Viburnum is a genus of over 150 species of deciduous and evergreen perennials that feature showy flowers and attractive foliage, many of which are native to North America.Most species are woody shrubs, though some have

If your tomato plants have enormous flower buds and little or no fruit develops, you should examine them more closely to see if they have the aptly named tomato big bud disease.While this disease can be a severe problem in subtrop

Cabbage maggots are small insects that can have a huge impact on cole crops, such as cabbage, broccoli, turnips, rutabaga, radishes, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts.The larvae live in the soil, feed on the fibrous roots

Turnips are vulnerable to several pests, including cabbage aphids and root maggots, that plague other crucifers.In addition, other insects are more annoyances than serious pests.

If you’re growing pumpkins in your garden, you may have seen white spots appearing on the leaves and vines.What’s up with that? It’s likely that your plants are i

Bacterial diseases of turnip leaves are very serious infections.There are no highly effective controls for them, and once they have infected a field, the diseases can quickly spread throughout a whole field an

To begin, you will be happy to learn that few diseases affect Bergeniaspp.In fact, members of this genus are widely studied

Thief ants, Solenopsis molesta, certainly live up to their name. They are tiny, less than 1/32 inch long, and tend to locate their nests next to those of other ant species.This makes it convenient for them to steal food and larvae to

You think you’ve got it made with your pecan trees, Carya illinoensis, and have visions of pies (at the least) or even some sales at the farmers market when all of a sudden – the husks start turning black.There are several things that can cause this, and one of the most

Bacillus subtilis is a species of bacteria that can survive in the soil for long periods. Many strains are highly effective at colonizing plant roots and controlling plant pathogens.They can act directly against other microbes by producing a varie

If you think amaryllis flowers bring a special sparkle to the holidays, you are not alone!The word amaryllis actually derive

Does your fruit, nut, or shade tree have weird growths on its trunk or limbs?There are two main reasons for this. One is that they are burr knot

Downy mildew is a serious disease that may afflict turnips, especially under cool fall conditions.The fungal-like pathogen can destroy young seedlings and cause seriou

The Dracaena genus includes many different species that are popular as houseplants.But did you know that all of the

While hellebores typically have a reputation for being trouble free, they can occasionally fall prey to disease.In our guide to growing hellebores

If you are looking for a plant with large, show-stopping blooms, look no further than the bird of paradise.With its orange, blue, and white flowers that look like a bird in flight,

Here’s a riddle for you:With juicy and crisp ‘Honeycrisp’ apples being

While butterfly collectors may rejoice that the cabbage butterfly now lives in all 50 states and southern Canada, people who grow cole crops and crucifers do not share their joy.Also known in their adult form as small white, cabbage white, white,

Argentine ants, Linepithema humile, are among the most problematic of ant pests, listed by the World Conservation Union as one of the world’s worst invasive species.Unlike most ant species that have only on

Asparagus plants are prone to a wide range of diseases. In most cases, the visible symptoms will help to determine the cause of the infection, and treatments are generally available.But diagnosing the source of the infection can be c

Purple spot is an asparagus disease that can infect between 60 and 90 percent of the new spears when conditions are right.Most prominent in cool weather, it typically subs

Septoria leaf spot can cause serious losses in tomato plants. Learn how to identify the symptoms of this fungal disease and the cultural controls you can use to prevent or minimize infection, in this guide.We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one o

The fungus Armillaria can attack all fruit trees, including apricots.Although soil fumigation is sometimes recommended, it typically doesn’t w

Contracting a disease called “black death” is almost certainly bad news.Fortunately, in this article

By now, you have probably heard of a lethal disease called citrus greening that devastated Florida’s citrus industry and is now on the march in California.While most of the news concern

Avocado trees (Persea americana) are notorious for being susceptible to cold. So what’s an avocado lover who gardens in a cooler area to do?Don’t give up hope! The good news is

You may be all too familiar with this scenario. You have lovingly tended your tomato plants and watched the first delectable fruits of your labor develop…only to see them ruined by ugly brown patches on the blossom end.This is the dreaded and misnamed blossom-end rot.Why

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) truly are a menace. There are over 100 species in the Meloidogyne genus found worldwide, and they can affect almost every type of plant.And the worst part about it is that you might not even know tha

Allium leaf miners are devastating pests of garlic, onions, shallots, chives, and leeks – and can destroy an entire crop.These invasive insects are spreading rapidly throughout the mid-

One of the bright spots of the fall season – aside from Halloween! – is the pumpkin patches, filled with their beautiful bounty.But while you may be imagining lush patches filled

While the fungi Cercospora or Pseudocercosporella that cause white spot can severely affect turnip, rutabaga, canola, mustard, radish, horseradish, and hybrids of turnips and mustard, they are much less likely to affect kale, collards, broccoli, or cauliflower.This is a cool weather disease and is most likely to strike at 55 to 65 F.The di

You know the dread you feel when you see a few ants in your house, harbingers of an approaching onslaught? Where there are a few, many more are likely to follow.However, it’s possible to combat many of