Cole’s Early Watermelon Info Watermelons have a long and storied history of cultivation. Some of the first mention of the fruits as a crop appeared more than 5,000 years ago. Egyptian hieroglyphics contain pictorials of watermelon as part of the food placed in tombs. With over 50 varieties in cultivation today, there is a flavor, size, and even color for almost any taste. Growing Cole’s Early watermelon will expose you to a pastel fleshed version and early season ripeness....

What is a Golden Willow Tree? European settlers brought white willow (Salix alba) into this country in the 1700’s, and over the centuries, it escaped and naturalized across the continent. Its bark is a dark tan color. One of the variations developed from white willow is the golden willow (Salix alba ‘Vitellina’). So, what is a golden willow exactly? According to golden willow information, it is a tree that looks like white willow but produces new growth the color of egg yolks....

What is a Lemon Button Fern? Lemon button fern plants (Nephrolepis cordifolia “Duffii” or “Lemon Buttons”) are a small variety of Boston fern. Usually growing no larger than 1 foot (31 cm.) tall, these ferns are excellent additions to arranged outdoor container plantings, as well as great for use indoors as a houseplant. Requiring a shady location with filtered light, growing lemon button ferns outdoors in the ground will require a frost-free growing zone....

Egret Flower Information Native to Asia, egret flower is a type of terrestrial orchid that grows from fleshy, pea-sized tubers. It grows primarily in grassy wetlands, shady glades, or bogs. Egret flower is endangered in its natural habitat, probably due to urbanization, habitat destruction, and over collecting. Egret flower is suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 10, although with proper care and ample mulch, it may tolerate more northern climes....

The autumn sage plant is a perennial that has gained popularity. Not only is this plant versatile, but it offers growers a season filled with flower blooms. What is Autumn Sage? Autumn sage plant, or Salvia greggii, is a native perennial plant to regions of Mexico, New Mexico, and southern Texas. Reaching roughly 3 feet (1 meter) in both height and width at maturity, these native plants are ideal candidates for wildflower gardens and for use in conventional flower gardens....

What to Do with Chicory? Chicory is a hardy perennial plant that comes from Eurasia where it grows in the wild. It was brought to the United States early in the country’s history. Today, it has naturalized and its clear, blue flowers can be seen growing along roadways and in other uncultivated areas, especially in the South. Chicory looks like a dandelion on steroids, but blue. It has the same deep taproot, deeper and thicker than a dandelion, and its stiff stalk can grow to 5 feet tall (2....

Can you grow your own Iceberg lettuce plant? You sure can! Keep reading to learn how. What is Iceberg Lettuce? Iceberg lettuce gained widespread popularity in the 1920’s, when it was grown in the Salinas Valley of California and then shipped around the U.S. by train on ice, which is what earned it its name. Since then, it’s become one of, if not the most popular lettuce, gracing restaurants and dinner tables all over with its crunchy texture....

What is Superbo basil? Keep reading to find out more about this variety of basil and how you can grow this fragrant herb. What is Superbo Basil? There’s basil and then there’s Superbo pesto basil. It is a classic sweet basil and has a starring role in one of the most popular foods from Italy – pesto. Superbo pesto basil was developed specifically for that zesty sauce. According to Superbo basil information, it makes a great substitute for Genovese and has a more intense flavor....

Daphne Plant Blooms The genus Daphne was named for the nymph who, in a Roman myth, refused the god Apollo’s love and was turned into a shrub. The genus numbers some 100 species, including both evergreen and deciduous varieties. Daphne plant blooms are among the loveliest of flowers, and most Daphne plants are grown for their exquisitely fragrant blossoms. However, some varieties of Daphne also offer small berries and attractive foliage....

Winterizing Cyperus Papyrus Also known as bulrush, papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) is a dramatic aquatic plant that grows in dense clumps along ponds, swamps, shallow lakes, or slow-moving streams. In its native habitat, papyrus can reach heights of 16 feet (5 m.), but ornamental plants tend to top out at about one-third that height. Cyperus papyrus growing in warmer climates requires little winter care, although plants in zone 9 may die back to the ground and rebound in spring....

Growing Azaleas in Cold Climates Azaleas are beloved by gardeners for their showy, colorful flowers. They belong to the genus Rhododendron, one of the largest genera of woody plants. Although azaleas are most often associated with mild climates, you can start growing azaleas in cold climates if you select cold hardy azaleas. Many azaleas for zone 4 belong to the sub-genus Pentanthera. One of the most important series of hybrid azaleas available in commerce is the Northern Lights Series....

Choosing Cold Hardy Vines for Zone 5 Zone 5 is on the cool side of the hardiness charts. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, winter temperatures in plant hardiness zone 5 regions dip to -20 degrees Fahrenheit (-29 C.). That means that zone 5 vine varieties must be quite cold hardy to survive. Choosing vines for zone 5 is a process of sifting through the zone 5 vines available and finding plants that please you....

Hardy Bamboo Plants Typical bamboo plants are hardy to about 10 degrees F. (-12 C.). Since the temperatures in zone 7 can dip to 0 degrees (-18 C.), you’ll want to grow cold hardy bamboo plants. Two principal kinds of bamboo are clumpers and runners. Running bamboo can be invasive since it grows quickly and spreads by underground rhizomes. It is very hard to eliminate once established. Clumping bamboos only grow a little every year, about one inch (2....

Help, My Apricot Fruit is Splitting! As mentioned, apricots are fruit trees with relatively few problems. Those they do have are brought about through poor care or environmental stress. The issue of apricots cracking open is no exception. Fruit split in apricots is most likely caused by an environmental stressor, namely a lack of irrigation followed by a sudden onslaught of water. Apricot trees are rapid growers but only live for 20-30 years, so giving the tree the best care possible is crucial to good fruit set....

Austrian Winter Pea Information Today, Austrian winter peas are often planted agriculturally as a cover crop, or by home gardeners or backyard chicken farmers. Game hunters find that growing winter Austrian winter peas is an effective means of attracting wildlife such as deer, quail, doves, and wild turkeys. Austrian winter peas have ornamental value, and the peas are tasty in salads or stir fries. Many gardeners like to plant a few seeds in a patio container outside the kitchen door....

Bacopa Plant Info Growing Bacopa (Sutera cordata) is simple, and it has many uses in the sunny to part shade garden. Bacopa plant info indicates that the small plant reaches no more than 6-12 inches (15-30 cm.) in maturity. The low-growing specimen spreads vigorously to cascade over a wall or quickly cover bare spots under taller plants. The happy Bacopa trailing annual is often covered with tiny flowers from June through October....

What is Plum Bacterial Canker? Bacterial canker of plum is actually a disease that can affect any tree from the Prunus genus. These include plums as well as peaches and cherries. Other names for the disease are blossom blast, spur blight, twig blight, and gummosis. The cause of the disease is a bacterial infection triggered by Pseudomonas syringae. Bacterial Canker Plum Symptoms Plums with bacterial canker show most obvious signs of disease in spring....

What is Barley Loose Smut? Barley plants that have begun flowering and develop dark, diseased heads likely have loose smut of barley. The plants will look completely normal until they start to flower, which makes it difficult to get an early diagnosis. Barley with loose smut releases teliospores that infect other plants in the field. Crop losses are massive. Barley with loose smut will become apparent at heading. Plants with the disease normally head earlier than healthy plants....

Care for Pinstripe Plants Calathea ornata likes bright, indirect light. Be careful to avoid too much direct sun; otherwise, the leaves can fade or even burn. This plant has adapted to grow in dimmer, humid environments, so choose a spot that is well lit, but with little to no direct sun. As far as soil goes for the pinstripe plant inside, choose a peat-based mix. A simple mixture would be two parts peat moss to one part perlite....

How to Make Cremains Safe for Soil It seems logical that ashes from cremated remains would be beneficial to plants, but in truth, cremains have a high alkaline and sodium content that is anything but beneficial. Both the high pH levels and excess sodium discourage plant growth by prohibiting absorption of the essential nutrients they require. This occurs whether the ashes are buried or scattered on top of the ground. The safe way to bury ashes or scatter cremains and ensure the viability of the memorial garden is to neutralize cremation ashes....