I had planned to write about something more horticultural this week, but the topic that I had chosen would not settle and come together. Then, suddenly, another topic and a stream of thoughts crossed my mind. They felt appropriate for this date and time. And so, I...

Once the crop is in the ground or has emerged from dormancy and is started growing again, growers will often apply a cover to the soil. There are some general recommendations that are often given for their use. Each covering has a different purpose. The type, nature...

Usually, I worry, write and think about the effects of severe weather in July and August, which is when we get the hotter and more humid days that generate big thunderstorms and fierce weather systems that can be damaging to crops during harvest. But the weather over...

(Early) Season Nutrient Management – Why Apply What When? When it comes to fertility management, and fertilizer application in field horticulture situations, there tends to be a great deal of focus on the pre- and early-season time periods. You might (or might not)...

Time and Task Management I feel like this past week could be held up as a standalone example of the ultimate point that I want to make in this article. It was a week filled with competing priorities. There were important and not-that-important and urgent and...

There are billions of books and websites that you can use to help you in your horticultural journey (wherever it is that you might be headed). Over the years, here are some that I have used countless times or have thoroughly enjoyed reading and using.   Diseases...

Spring is a busy time. Things are awakening after a long winter sleep, everyone is busy cleaning up the debris left behind, and growers of all types are gearing up for the start of the new growing season. This spring has been a bit rough, with the world in chaos. But...

As spring settles in, plants slowly emerge from the snow cover and we have a chance to assess their post-winter health. Based on what is observed, it is possible to determine their potential for the coming season. Damage or other signs that things are not entirely...

At present, we live in challenging times. We are faced with a global pandemic, which aside from the fear of getting sick (or getting someone else sick), is a serious bummer for our economy and our lifestyles. Part of the challenge is finding ways to stay engaged in...