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National insect and disease problems

Vegetables can surprise growers (and the President) with strange shapes

A tiny potato got its fifteen minutes of fame in the national spotlight on the September 21 episode of the David Letterman show, and ended up with...
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Home canners: Don't try to save tomatoes affected by blight

July's cool, wet weather was a boon to farmers and gardeners in that it brought savings on water usage and nice temperatures for outdoor work....
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Pittsburgh's worst weed: Japanese knotweed, part two

If it seems as if Japanese knotweed is everywhere in our area, that's a fairly accurate perception. Part one of the Japanese knotweed saga referred...
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Pittsburgh's worst weed: Japanese knotweed, part one

It's everywhere, and it's very hard to destroy: call it Japanese knotweed, fleeceflower, Mexican bamboo or some can't-be-printed expletive,...
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Pittsburgh Gardening Scene 101:Where can I get free expert answers to my gardening questions?

Pittsburgh gardeners are fortunate: Dr. Phipps is on call to answer all their questions with free expert advice. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical...
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Stopping the Japanese beetle life cycle

Japanese beetle grub photo/US Gov Dept. of Ag./public domain The six week period of late summer brings with it a voracious horde of Japanese...
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Late summer is Japanese beetle season

Late June and early July bring a familiar and hated pest to Pittsburgh gardens: the Japanese beetle. Their 3/8” long bodies exhibit a...
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How to get rid of scale insects on houseplants organically

Scale insects on indoor plants present a tricky problem in many respects. They can be easily overlooked until the population builds up to a...
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Check bearded Irises for borer problems

Bearded Iris are a long-time garden favorite in our area, but they can develop troublesome problems. In mid summer gardeners need to be alert to...
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