When to Plant New Potatoes Potatoes are best started in the cool season. Tubers form best when soil temperatures are between 60 and 70 degrees F.(16-21 C.). The two periods when to plant new potatoes are spring and summer. Plant early season potatoes in March or early April and late season crops are started in July. Early season plantings that sprout can be damaged by rogue freezes but will bounce right back as long as soils stay warm....

Siberian Squill Information As you may have guessed, the Siberian squill plant is native to Siberia, as well as other parts of Russia and Eurasia. Extremely cold-hardy, the plants thrive in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 8 and never require lifting for winter storage. They can also be chilled and then forced into bloom indoors any time of year. Siberian squill plants naturalize well. Little tufts of grass-like foliage emerge first, reaching heights of 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20....

What is Pollarding? What is pollarding and how do you do it? When you do pollard tree pruning, you cut off the central leader of the tree and all lateral branches to the same general height within a few feet of the tree crown. The height is at least 6 feet (2 m.) above the ground so that grazing animals do not eat new growth. You also remove any lower limbs on the tree and any crossing limbs....

What is a Pumpkin Ash? So exactly what is a pumpkin ash? Pumpkin ash (Fraxinus profunda) is a large tree native to southern swamps and other wet habitats. You can see the species along river and stream banks in the Coastal Plain. It often grows with bald cypress and similar trees. While this tree is very similar to white ash (Fraxinus americana), pumpkin ash information suggests that the trees differ in more than one aspect....

What is Ricing in Cole Crops? Cauliflower flourishes in temperatures of around 60 degrees F. (15 C.). Young cauliflower plants are extremely sensitive to stressors, whether they are temperature fluxes or irrigation issues. As with all plants, any extremes in their environment may result in a low yield, premature crop, susceptibility to disease, insect invasion, and many other disorders. Cauliflower especially, has a thin balance between leaf and head growth, making it vulnerable to a number of disorders including ricing in this Cole crop....

How to Grow Sage Plant Indoors Learning how to grow sage plant indoors is not difficult when you understand that lots of light is necessary for successfully growing sage indoors. A sunny window with several hours of sunlight is a good start whenever you are growing sage in containers. Likely though, the sunny window will not give potted sage plants enough light to flourish abundantly. Therefore, supplemental lighting can improve the situation and is often necessary for the care of potted sage herbs....

What Causes a Sago with Multiple Heads? Sago palms grow from a center crown. As they age, the dropping of old stems and the addition of new creates a scarred, rough trunk. The trunk is usually a single trunk, but occasionally a double headed sago palm will occur. This can happen due to environmental changes, stress on the plant, or just because nature deemed it time for a surprise! These multi-headed sagos are not something to dislike but rather a cause for celebration....

Sedum ‘Dragon’s Blood’ Info A sedum well suited to USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8, Dragon’s Blood sedum plants die back during winter in colder spots but return with vigor to get going again in spring. New sprouts continue to spread, covering those sunny, poor soil areas as summer continues. Growing Dragon’s Blood sedum fills in between pathways, trails down walls, and covers rock gardens, combined with other spreading sedums or alone....

Solutions for Yard Drainage Problems Most minor garden and lawn drainage issues are caused by clay soil. A minor issue will be that you have standing water after a heavy rainfall for less than a day. Clay soil is more dense than sandy or loamy soil, and therefore, is slower to allow rainwater to filter through it. Minor yard drainage problems like this can usually be corrected by taking steps to improve clay soil....

About Peperomia Seed Propagation Those wishing to grow peperomia have a couple options. Most growers choose to grow them directly from transplant. Locating healthy peperomia plants online or in local garden centers should not be difficult. These transplants can be moved into pots indoors that are at least twice as wide and tall as the root ball of the plant. Large transplants grow quickly and offer stunning visual interest to their growers....

Staghorn Fern Plant Problems Staghorn ferns can be interesting and exotic additions to your home or landscape. Their large, antler-like leaves are showy and dramatic, making them a favorite of fern enthusiasts. Like any plant, diseases of staghorn fern can develop, but they’re extremely few and far between. In fact, sick staghorn ferns are much more likely to be troubled by incorrect growing conditions than they are actual disease, so if your plant is looking unwell, take heart....

Considering environmental factors such as water needs and amount of sunlight will be key in growing successful window boxes. Read on for window box designs for full sun locations. About Full Sun Window Boxes The light requirements of plants are one of the most important aspects to consider when choosing plants for your containers. While some boxes will receive mostly shade, due to their location, others may be positioned in full sun....

How to Grow Tiara Cabbages Reaching sizes up to 3 lbs. (1 kg.), these early maturing hybrid cabbages are ideal for use in salads, stir fry, slaw, and sauerkraut. Since plants remain small, tight spacing allows growers to use the area more efficiently. In addition to their growth habit, these cabbages hold well in the garden. This allows for a larger harvest window throughout the growing season. Growing Tiara cabbage variety is similar to growing other cultivars....

What is Frost Crack? The term “frost crack” describes vertical cracks in trees caused by alternating freezing and thawing temperatures. When the bark alternately contracts with freezing temperatures and expands on warm days, a crack is likely to occur. A tree with a crack is in no immediate danger and may live for several years. Reasons for Frost Crack in Trees Frost is just one of the causes of tree bark cracking....

Trimming Pomegranate Trees Pomegranate trees can grow to 18 to 20 feet (5-6 m.) high. They are deciduous in interior, winter-cold areas but can be evergreen to semi-evergreen in milder regions near the coasts. Pomegranates are beautiful plants with an arching, vase-like form; narrow, bright green leaves; orange-red springtime flowers, and large red-husked fruits that bear hundreds of fleshy, sweet-tart, edible seeds. It is important to prune pomegranate trees properly if you want to increase fruit production and maintain an attractive form....

If you are interested in growing these berries in your backyard, read on for information about small trees and shrubs with black berries. Blackberry Bush The best-known bush bearing black berries is the typical blackberry bush. It’s a bush that many of us have had growing wild in our backyards at one time or another. If you don’t have a blackberry patch yet, it’s as easy to grow as raspberries and each cane offers an abundant harvest....

Ugly Plants that Cause Allergies If you’ve ever heard that uglier plants cause more severe allergic reactions, you might be surprised to know it’s true. Allergists say that flowers that smell or look pretty attract pollinators while those that produce uglier blooms are generally wind pollinated. In other words, they are the allergy sufferer’s nemesis. Worst Trees for Allergies Spring is the peak season for tree allergens. In order of bloom time, trees that plague allergy sufferers include maple, willow, poplar, elm, birch, mulberry, ash, hickory, oak, and walnut and are generally an issue from March through May....

What are ways to extend the vase life of these cut flower bouquets? Many tips and techniques lend themselves to improving the length of time that flowers are kept fresh. One method, adding vinegar to cut flowers, is especially popular. Does Vinegar Help Cut Flowers? Various types of vinegar have a multitude of uses around the home. Many have explored the potential use of vinegar for cut flowers. Adding vinegar to cut flowers may work due to its ability to alter the pH of water in the vase....

If you are putting in a fish tank or garden pond, it’s time you learn about the Aponogeton genus. While some tropical plants are difficult to care for, growing Aponogeton which you buy from the aquarium is quite easy, even for a beginner. What are Aponogeton Plants? Aponogeton is the name of this genus of aquatic plants. Included in the genus are a wide variety of plants native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australia....

What are Main Crop Tomatoes? Mid-season or main crop tomato plants are those that come into harvest in midsummer. They are ready to harvest about 70 to 80 days from transplant. They are an excellent choice for areas with a short to medium growing season and where nighttime or even daytime temps turn cool to chilly in early fall. These tomatoes are at their peak harvest in midsummer. To differentiate, long season tomatoes come to harvest more than 80 days post-transplant and are suited for areas with lengthy growing seasons....