Hostas are a staple in shade gardens and nurseries, known for their lush foliage and vibrant variegation. These perennials are loved by landscape professionals and home gardeners alike. But one virus continues to cause concern among growers: Hosta Virus X, aka HVX. This incurable plant virus has bee...

Fresh firs, sparkling spruce tips and buckets of birch logs – holiday greenery is a multibillion-dollar business blooming in a brief seasonal window. But behind the glittering garlands and picture-perfect porch pots lurks a hidden threat: pests, pathogens and problematic plants that hitchhike across...

Based on the number of poster presentations and sessions covering pawpaw at this year’s American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) conference, it appears the fruit tree is continuing to grow in popularity among both researchers and growers. It was great timing to build enthusiasm – the fifth ...

Becky Maden, the vegetable nutrient management specialist at UVM Extension, is passionate about maximizing plant growth and yield through proper nutrient management of the soil. Through Maden’s research, she has found that growers can produce nine times the total yield per square foot in high tunnel...

Like Debalina Saha, Ph.D., in the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University says, successful Christmas tree production requires a good and effective weed management program. Christmas trees are grown on 350,000 acres across 15,000 farms in the U.S., resulting in $250 million in sales a...

Apples “breathe” while they’re growing, respirating through small, pore-like openings on the fruits’ skin, allowing for gas exchange between the apple and the atmosphere. These openings are called lenticels. Just like our skin, apples can have issues with their outsides, often with something called ...

Measuring in distance, Michigan and Israel are about 5,900 miles apart. However, when it comes to agricultural innovation, the two regions work together like good neighbors. At the most recent Great Lakes Expo , five different Israel-based businesses provided elevator pitches during “Smart Farming: ...

Despite being an industry that produces a lot of green, horticulture can be less than earth friendly. Consider the use of non-biodegradable polyethylene (PE) mulch, like that used in berry production. It gets even trickier for those trying to grow organic. Soil-biodegradable plastic mulches are not ...

Hello, farm family! When did you last experience conflict in your farm life? Most of us experience some form of conflict every day, though we might not immediately recognize it. Types of Farm Conflict Some of us only equate “conflict” with yelling, screaming, throwing things and other forms of viole...