June 29, 2005

Growing Blackberries in the Home Garden


Blackberries are a delicious gourmet treat that may be eaten fresh or used in cobbler, cake, sauce, jam, jelly or syrup. Unfortunately, many blackberry cultivars (varieties) do not perform well in Iowa. However, if the right cultivar (variety) is chosen, blackberries can be grown in the home garden.

Ash Rust 2005


This newsletter article from 2005 is superseded by our Encyclopedia article, to which you will be redirected.

The Plant Disease Clinic has received several ash samples recently with bright orange spots on the leaves and petioles. Ash rust is a common fungal disease of all species of ash trees. Infected leaves, petioles, and small twigs swell and may become twisted and distorted. Yellow to orange pustules develop and produce powdery spores.