Growing and Training Jasmine Vines Jasmine vines grow best in USDA zones 7 through 10. In warmer climates it will grow year-round, while in places with colder winters it will die back. Some varieties support themselves better than others, but all benefit from training. When planning to grow jasmine on a trellis or other climbing structure, first make sure you have the right conditions and location. This vine prefers full sun but can tolerate light shade....

Nasturtium plants are easy to grow and may be climbing, cascading, or bushy. Care of nasturtiums is minimal; in fact, nasturtium plants are one of those specimens that thrive on neglect. Rich, fertile soil or too much fertilizer results in lush foliage growth and few nasturtium flowers. The old-fashioned nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus, is popular in the garden as an edible. Use nasturtium flowers as a spiller in window boxes and hanging baskets....

How to Harvest Dill Dill weed is preserved by drying the leaves, seeds or entire stem of the herb. Use pruners or sharp scissors when harvesting dill weed for drying. Cut just the leafy foliage or remove entire stems to dry for canning and seeds. Remove the stems when the seeds are brown and ripe. Dill flavor is best when it just begins to flower. Wash the herbs after harvesting dill weed to remove dirt and insects....

What Causes Hollow Heart in Cucumber Fruit? Hollow fruit, like a cucumber hollow in middle, is a common issue. While edible in theory, if cucumbers are hollow inside, they may be slightly bitter and certainly won’t win any blue ribbons. Hollow cucumbers, or any hollow fruit, result from a combination of lacking nutrient absorption or surplus, irregular watering, and/or inadequate pollination. Environmental conditions are the most likely cause for a cucumber that is hollow inside....

The History of the Holly and the Ivy In fact, the history of holly and ivy at Christmas is quite an interesting one, dating all the way back to the Romans. In those early times the leaves were believed to have protective powers. Over the centuries, the symbolism of holly and ivy Christmas decorations would continue to change, representing both prosperity and abundance. Some avid gardeners may be especially interested to learn more about how to grow Christmas holly, as well as how to grow English ivy....

About the Yellow Evening Primrose Plant The evening primrose plant is a native wildflower in North America. It grows in abundance and is sometimes mistaken for a dandelion. As the name suggests, the yellow evening primrose blossoms open up in the evening and the blooms stay open into the early morning. The plant produces lovely, lightly scented yellow blossoms from May to July that range in size from one to two inches (2....

Pruning a dieffenbachia is not the same as pruning an evergreen shrub or tree. It is done only to preserve the form, remove dead leaves, and make the growth bushier. When you take top growth off, the plant responds by producing branching stems that make the leaves denser. Regular dieffenbachia pruning results in a thick, strong plant. Tips on Trimming Dieffenbachia With some plants, timing is everything with regard to pruning....

Hummingbird Sage Facts Hummingbird sage is cultivated for its attractive burgundy flowers and aromatic fruit scented leaves. This perennial has a woody base and herbaceous flowering stems which tend to be square shaped, like other members of the mint family. The stems, as well as the bright green leaves of the plant, are covered with fuzz. This spring blooming plant typically reaches a mature height of around 12 to 36 inches (31-91 cm....

Identifying Ringspot Virus on Hydrangea Symptoms of hydrangea ringspot disease include pale yellow or yellowish white spotting on the leaves. Leaf distortions, such as rolling or crinkling, may be apparent in some varieties of hydrangea. Ringspot symptoms may also present as fewer florets on the flower head and stunting of normal plant growth. Testing of infected plant material is the only way to conclusively identify hydrangea ringspot virus. In all, fourteen viruses have been found to infect hydrangeas, several of which have symptoms similar to hydrangea ringspot disease....

Berm Design Before building a berm, a landscape designer or yourself must first plan the berm design. Always consider the berm’s overall purpose beforehand as well as drainage patterns within the landscape. On average, a berm should be about four to five times as long as it is high, gradually trailing out into the remaining landscape. Most berms are no higher than 18-24 inches (45.5-61 cm.). The berm design can be created with more than one peak for additional interest as well and shaped to perform its purpose....

What is a Japanese Eggplant? Eggplants have been cultivated for centuries. There are writings from the 3rd century referencing the cultivation of this wild fruit. Much of the breeding was done to remove the prickles and astringent flavor of wild forms. Today’s Japanese eggplant is silky smooth, sweet and easy to use. The original eggplants were small, round, green fruits with a slight bitterness to the flesh. Over time, Japanese eggplant varieties have evolved into primarily purple skinned, long, slender fruit, although there are still green forms and even some heirloom varieties that are white or orange....

Layia Tidy Tips Info If you’ve not heard of tidy tips, you might be wondering just what they are. Tidy tips wildflowers are an annual flowering plant producing daisy-like blooms on a stout, succulent stem. As with other succulents, the stems of tidy tips wildflowers hold and disperse water as needed by the plant. This makes caring for tidy tips simple. Often, when growing tidy tips, you’ll find this annual flower lives on existing rainfall once established....

Can You Compost Liquids? Eco-friendly cooks and gardeners often save organic matter in piles or bins and make their own compost. These should have a good balance of nitrogen and carbon, sit in a sunny location, and be turned frequently for best results. The other ingredient is moisture. This is where adding liquids to compost can help. There are a variety of liquids that are suitable, but a few you should probably avoid....

Types of Pet Friendly Weed Killer Boiling Water If you have an area that you need to clear weeds out of on a wholesale level, such as a driveway or a sidewalk or just a large weedy patch where no plants you wish to keep are growing, you may want to consider using boiling water. Boiling water is certainly a pet safe weed killer and it will instantly kill any plant it comes in contact with by literally cooking the plant in the ground....

When is Japanese Beetle Season? Usually feeding in groups, Japanese beetles are most active during warm, sunny days. In fact, once the adults emerge from the ground in spring, they immediately begin feasting on whatever plants are available. This activity can take place for a month or two throughout summer. Damage can be recognized as a lacy or skeletonized appearance of the leaves. In addition, their young can be just as devastating....

Lodi Apple Information Unfortunately, Lodi apples don’t keep long, so eat them when fresh and enjoy the season while it lasts. The soft, creamy flesh of Lodi apples lends itself well to pies and applesauce and can be sliced and frozen to extend the harvest. These early season fruits come from prolific plants and are hardy in United States Department of Agriculture zones 3 to 8. The fruits come from medium sized trees that usually grow 20 feet (6 m....

Pollarding a London Plane Tree In some areas, London plane trees are on every boulevard. This is due to their rapid growth, relative resistance to disease, and hardy constitution. Plane tree pruning is useful to control that growth, remove dead or diseased material, and promote a strong form. The plants are very tolerant of pruning and can be trained to a variety of forms, but each form requires a different timing for cutting back a plane tree....

What are Lygus Bugs? Lygus bugs are ¼-inch (6 mm.) long insects that are green or brown with yellow markings. Their nymphs are smaller than the adults and flightless. The insects produce three or more generations each year. The tarnished plant bug overwinters as adults in plant debris and weeds in areas adjacent to gardens and around fruit trees. The adult females lay their eggs on a number of broadleaf plants including many weeds....

Propagating Magnolia Trees Starting a magnolia tree from cuttings produces trees much faster than seedlings. Two years after you root a magnolia cutting, you may get flowers, while with a seedling, you can wait over a decade. But starting a magnolia tree from cuttings is not a sure bet. A large percentage of the cuttings fail. Put luck on your side by following the tips below. How to Root Magnolia Trees The first step in propagating magnolia trees from cuttings is to take cuttings in the summer after the buds set....

When to Pick Malabar Spinach Both Basella rubra (red-stemmed Malabar) and its less colorful relative B. alba are herbaceous vines that can grow up to 35 feet (11 m.) in length in one season. Native to southeast Asia and sensitive to cold, both can be grown as an annual in temperate climates. Malabar spinach grows well in soils ranging in pH from 5.5-8.0 but, ideally, moist, well-draining soil high in organic matter is preferred....