Your National Gardening Association weekly news for April 22, 2017

Care and Harvest of Strawberries

"You won't be idle until your first harvest. You must not let the new plants set berries in their first year. They will try to fruit, but you must pick off the blossoms as they appear. This way, instead of fruiting, the mother plants will produce vigorous daughters that will yield well the following year."

Growing Basil

"Featured in cuisines across the globe, basil is an indispensable flavoring. Plant seeds or transplants after all danger of frost has passed and soil is warm, and it will yield an abundant harvest within weeks."

Weeds: Chickweed

"Chickweed (Stellaria media) is a widespread, hardy annual often found in moist, fertile garden soil. In mild winter climates it begins blooming before winter ends. Edible but not very tasty, chickweed plants form dense 3-inch-tall mats of foliage studded with starry white flowers."

Rein in Storm Water with a Rain Garden

"When a thunderstorm unleashes a torrent of rain, all that water landing on impervious surfaces like roofs, driveways, and walkways often runs off into the nearest storm drain and from there eventually to local waterways, or it goes directly into nearby streams, rivers, and lakes. Even when the rain lands on lawns, gardens, or other vegetated surfaces, so much comes down so quickly in a thunderstorm that much of the needed water runs off rather than soaking into the ground."

Dividing Perennials

"When an established perennial produces fewer flowers, or the center of the plant looks sickly while the margins thrive, it could be time to divide the plant."

Tomato Hornworm

"This pest is found throughout the United States. These large, fat caterpillars feed voraciously on the leaves and fruits of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and potatoes."

Choosing Tomato Varieties

"If you're just starting out in a small backyard or community garden, try growing only a few tomato plants at"

Photo of Texas thistle (Cirsium texanum)
By GrammaChar:

Photo of Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Blackbird Landing')
By Lestv:

Photo of Winecup (Callirhoe involucrata)
By GrammaChar:

Photo of Bird Of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
By cliftoncat:

Photo of Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Allegheny Skyline')
By shive1:

Photo of Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Call to Danger')
By cliftoncat:

Photo of Hellebore (Helleborus x hybridus Frostkiss™ Anna's Red)
By William:

Photo of Peony (Paeonia lactiflora 'White Wings')
By SunnyBorders:

Photo of Rose (Rosa 'Deja Blu')
By wildflowers:

Photo of Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Two Tone Taffy')
By bxncbx: