How to Make a Pop Bottle Greenhouse Pop bottle greenhouse instruction couldn’t be simpler. These micro greenhouses can be made with one or two soda bottles with the labels removed. All you need to begin is: One or two empty 2-liter soda bottles (or water bottles) that have been thoroughly washed and dried A craft knife or sharp scissors Potting soil Seeds A plate to put the soda bottle greenhouse on to catch any drips....
What is a Soil Block Maker? A soil blocking tool is a device that creates plugs of soil for starting seeds. Standard blockers create four 2 inch by 2 inch (5 x 5 cm.) plugs at a time. The 2 inch (5 cm.) blocks work well for most needs, but for tiny seeds that need a little more warmth as they germinate, you can find half-inch (1 cm.) seed blockers. You may also find some in other sizes, but these two are most common....
Soil Testing for Garden Problems Many common fungal or viral diseases can lay dormant in the soil for years until environmental conditions become just right for their growth or specific host plants are introduced. For example, the pathogen Alternaria solani, which causes early blight, can lie dormant in soil for several years if no tomato plants are present, but once planted, the disease will begin to spread. Soil testing for garden problems such as this before planting the garden can help prevent disease outbreaks by giving us a chance to amend and treat the soil or select a new site....
Highly fragrant and attractive, you might wonder what is plant called stock? This may also lead to the question of when and how to grow stock flowers. Several varieties exist, with both single and double blooms. When growing stock plants, expect flowers to start blooming in spring and last through late summer, depending on your USDA hardiness zone. These fragrant blooms may take a break during the hottest days of summer....
What is Catfacing? Tomato catfacing is a physiological disorder of tomatoes that results in the gross deformity discussed above. So-called since the abnormal cracking and dimpling on tomatoes, peaches, apples, and even grapes, looks somewhat akin to a small cat’s face. Simply put, it is the abnormal development of plant tissue affecting the ovary or female sex organ (pistilate), which results in the flower, followed by the fruit development becoming malformed....
Fern Transplant Info Most ferns are easy to grow, especially when all their basic needs are met. Most varieties grow well in, and even prefer, shady areas with damp, fertile soil, though some types will thrive in full sun with moist soil. Before taking on any type of fern transplant, you’ll want to be familiar with the particular species you have and its specific growing conditions. Ferns make wonderful additions to woodland gardens or shady borders and contrast well with hostas and other foliage plants....
Growing from rather expensive seeds, it is easy to imagine that growers may become quite alarmed when faced with sick ginseng plants. Troubleshooting Ginseng Diseases Though ginseng can be cultivated throughout much of the United States, there are several plant disease issues that may occur. Like many plants, ginseng requires very specific growing conditions in order to truly thrive. When these conditions are not met, this may lead to various fungal issues....
About Downy Mildew in Turnips Downy mildew in turnips is caused by a fungal infection. Turnips are far from the only plant affected though. The fungal disease also infects the following plants: Cabbage Broccoli Brussels sprout Kale Collards Cauliflower Kohlrabi Chinese cabbage Radish Mustard This fungus attacks plant foliage. Damage to mature turnips is limited to the leaves closest to the soil, but young seedlings can be killed by downy mildew....
Gardening in a Tropical Climate Zones 9 to 11 (and higher) are considered ideal for growing tropic gardens. Conditions here usually include warm, humid weather (even lots of moisture). Winters are mild with little to no threat of freezing temperatures to contend with. Popular plants found in this garden may include tropical (or tender) bulbs like: Elephant ears Caladiums Calla lilies Ginger Cannas You’ll find other tender plants within these gardens too, such as the following:...
Growing a Vertical Garden in Zone 8 With the hot summers of zone 8, training plants up walls or over pergolas not only creates a shady oasis but can also help reduce cooling costs. Not every yard has room for a large shade tree, but vines can take up much less space. Using zone 8 climbing vines is also a nice way to create privacy in rural areas where you may sometimes feel like your neighbors are a little too close for comfort....
Roses That are Hard to Kill Whenever the topic of hardy roses to grow comes up, there are a few that instantly come to mind. They include the Home Run roses, the Knockout rose bushes, and the Morden/Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) roses. All of these are bred to be hardy rose bushes and have proven themselves in some tough climatic conditions, not to mention pretty bad soil and care conditions, making them ideal roses for beginner gardeners....
What are Water Sprouts? Water sprouts are thin shoots that arise from the trunk or branches of an apple tree. Most water sprouts serve no useful purpose and will never produce much fruit. Many never produce any fruit at all. They are also called suckers, although this term more accurately refers to growth that arises from the roots rather than the trunk and branches. Apple tree growers remove water sprouts so that the tree can direct all of its energy toward supporting productive branches....
About Eldorado Dwarf Peach Trees Unfortunately for the home orchardist, there are quite a few limitations that must be taken into consideration when planting fruit trees. Most prominently among these limitations is the amount of space required by fruiting trees. While some mature fruit plantings may need to spacing as much as 25 ft. (8 m.) apart, dwarf trees are an excellent option for small space growers. Depending upon the size and type of fruit trees that gardeners wish to grow, planting fruits can take up valuable garden real estate for homeowners....
What is a Feijoa Tree? Pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana) is an attractive, evergreen tree or shrub with many landscape uses. It’s ideal for warm, western climates and well suited to home gardens. The plant grows 12 to 15 feet (3.5-4.5 m.) tall and wide. The edible flowers bloom in May, followed in late summer or fall by sweet, fragrant, reddish fruit that drops to the ground when ripe. Feijoa fruit trees and shrubs look best when you prune them lightly....
Exactly what is a giving garden? How can you go about growing a food bank garden? Read on to learn how to grow a giving garden. What is a Giving Garden? A food bank garden needn’t be a huge, demanding project. Although you can certainly dedicate an entire garden, a row, patch, or raised bed can produce a surprising amount of nutritious fruit and vegetables. If you’re a container gardener, earmark a couple of pots for your local food pantry....
What is a Nanking Cherry? Nanking cherry (Prunus tomentosa) is a central Asian species of bush cherry tree native to China, Japan, and the Himalayas. They were introduced into the U.S. in 1882 and are winter hardy in USDA zones 3 to 6. The Nanking cherry is a fast-growing species that sets fruit within two years. Without pruning, a Nanking bush cherry tree can reach heights of 15 feet (4.5 m....
What is Chelated Iron? Symptoms of iron deficiency in plants can include chlorotic foliage, stunted or malformed new growth and leaf, bud or fruit drop. Usually, symptoms do not progress more than just discoloration of the foliage. Iron deficient leaves will be green veined with a mottled yellow color in the plant tissues between the veins. Foliage may also develop brown leaf margins. If you have foliage that looks like this, you should give the plant some iron....
Soil Porosity Information Soil porosity, or soil pore space, are the small voids between particles of soil. In heathy soil, these pores are large and plentiful enough to retain the water, oxygen, and nutrients that plants need to absorb through their roots. Soil porosity usually falls into one of three categories: micro-pores, macro-pores, or bio-pores. These three categories describe the size of the pores and help us understand the soil’s permeability and water holding capacity....
What is Tomato Gray Leaf Spot? You head out to inspect your bountiful tomato plants only to discover brown to gray lesions with a yellow halo. This is a common fungal disease that affects plants at any stage of their life. This is a fungal disease and doesn’t affect those marvelous fruits, but it can diminish the health of the plant and, therefore, the quality of fruit production. Gray leaf spot on tomatoes is caused by the fungus Stemphylium solani....
What is “Winterkill Grass?” “Winterkill” is a catchall term used to describe lawn problems after winter. It is caused by a variety of factors such as desiccation, crown hydration, cold temperatures, ice sheets, and snow mold. Winter lawn damage varies greatly depending upon environmental conditions as well as other factors such as drainage and the type of grass being grown. Why has My Lawn Died over Winter? Low temperatures are one of the biggest causes of winterkill grass....
