About Zone 5 Gardens The average date of the last frost in zone 5 is around April 15. Most zone 5 gardeners tend to hold off until early to mid-may before planting vegetable gardens and annual beds. Most annuals and vegetables do very well in zone 5, as long as they are not hit by a late frost while they are young. Many tough zone 5 or above perennials can withstand a late frost, or will still be dormant in early spring....
Growing Bulbs in Zone 9 Lilies, amaryllis, callas, and gladiolus…these are but a few common zone 9 bulbs, but there are also some truly unique and crazy plants that will thrive in those regions. Try a voodoo lily or a spider-like Ismene (Peruvian daffodil). Or perhaps a pineapple lily will make you wonder at the world. There are more bulbs for zone 9 than we have space for here, but a few of the most outstanding ones deserve mention....
Reasons for a Fenced Vegetable Garden There are many reasons for installing a fence in the vegetable garden, not the least of which is to keep out the local critters. Fencing for a vegetable garden might be to simply delineate the area from the rest of the garden or to aid in organizing the garden. Before building a vegetable garden fence, settle on the purpose of the fence. Vegetable Garden Fencing Ideas If you are going to use vegetable garden fencing to keep your crops from the paws, beaks or hooves of wildlife, you need to know your audience....
What is Replant Disease? Replant disease does not impact all new plants in old spaces, but it can cause problems when you are planting the same species back in the old space. For some reason, that is not well understood, some plants and trees are very sensitive to replant disease. Replant disease is caused by lingering soil bacteria, which stunts growth and can kill plants, trees, and shrubs. Here are some plants that are especially sensitive to replant disease:...
One key aspect, the proper use of structures in the yard, can serve in function as well as add dynamic appeal. Let’s learn more about using structures as focal points for the backyard. About Backyard Focal Points When designing landscapes, it is important to first establish a focal point within the yard. Visitors and guests will naturally be drawn to these focal points, so it is imperative that this aspect of design is taken into consideration....
What are Japanese Hardy Banana Plants This hardy banana variety is not actually a tree, as they are sometimes erroneously called. Like other members of the Musaceae family, the trunk-like pseudostem of the Japanese banana plant is made up of tightly rolled leaves and is not woody. The showy, green leaves unfurl from the center of the plant with each successive leaf emerging larger than the previous one. It’s not uncommon for leaves of the Japanese banana plant to reach 6 feet (1....
Here are some juicy berries to grow in the South. Berries for the South: The Best Southeast Berries While opinions vary on the best berries to grow in the South, here are some indisputable favorites: Blackberry – There are thorny and thornless varieties of blackberries that do well in Southern landscapes. Cultivars will produce high quality fruit and fewer pests than wild plants. Choose an area with well-draining soil in full sun; blackberries do not tolerate wet feet....
Bistort Plant Information Bistort plant (Bistorta officinalis) consists of long, sparsely leafed stems growing from short, thick s-shaped rhizomes, thus lending to the various Latin (sometimes placed in the genus Polygonum or Persicaria) and common names associated with it. The stems bear spikes of tiny, pink/purple or white flowers in midsummer depending on species. The flowers rarely produce seeds and bistort reproduces by tiny bulbs that develop in the axils of the leaves....
What is a Black Locust Tree? Black locust is a member of the legume family, so it’s not surprising that the flowers closely resemble sweet peas. After the flowers fade, 2- to 4-inch (5 to 10 cm.) pea pods take their place. Each pod contains four to eight seeds. The seeds are difficult to germinate because of their hard coats. Like other members of the legume family, black locust captures nitrogen from the air and enriches the soil as it grows....
What are Blister Mites? The most common types of blister mite pests are pearleaf blister mite and appleleaf blister mite. The mites may also attack various plants such as cotoneaster, hawthorn, quince, serviceberry, and others. The family of eriophyid mites also includes close cousins such as citrus bud mites, citrus rust mites, pear rust mites, redberry mite, tomato russet mite, and peach silver mite. Symptoms of Blister Mite Damage Blister mite pests enter the tree in late summer or early fall, overwintering until spring when they become active and feed on tender leaf tissue – especially when the weather is cool....
English and Spanish Bluebells English bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) are native to France and England and have been gracing gardens and wooded areas with their beautiful bluish-purple flowers since the early 1500’s. These spring delights reach heights of 12 inches (30 cm.) and can be planted in the fall for spring bloom. The flowers are fragrant and make a wonderful addition to any cut bouquet. An interesting feature of English bluebell is that the flowers are all on the same side of the stalk and, when gravity kicks in, the stalk bends in a dainty curve....
About Beetles on Camellias If you see holes in your camellia leaves, the likely suspects are twofold: the black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus, or the cranberry rootworm beetle, Rhabdopterus picipes. The adult beetles feed primarily at night while their larvae feed on the root system, making them difficult to identify and control. The black vine weevil is most detrimental in its larval stage. It feeds on a variety of broad leaf evergreens as well as greenhouse specimens....
So can inch plant survive outdoors? Yes indeed, provided you live in USDA zone 9 or higher. Inch plants like warm temperatures and fairly high humidity. The plant has a wandering or trailing habit, and in USDA zone 9 and above, it makes an excellent groundcover, especially under taller specimen plants or around the base of trees. How to Grow an Inch Plant Outdoors Now that we have ascertained that inch plant is not just a pretty houseplant, the question remains, “How to grow an inch plant outdoors?...
Can Olive Trees Grow in Zone 6? Olives need long warm summers of at least 80 F. (27 C.), along with cool night temperatures of 35-50 F. (2-10 C.) in order to set flower buds. This process is referred to as vernalization. While olive trees need to experience vernalization to set fruit, they freeze from extremely cold temperatures. Some resources claim that a few varieties of olive can withstand temps down to 5 F....
About Cracked Tomatoes on the Vine Usually, cracked tomatoes are caused by water fluctuations. Cracking occurs when it has been very dry and then suddenly rainstorms arrive. Of course, that’s nature, and not much you can do about it except water the plant when it’s very dry! So, yes, cracking also occurs when the gardener (I’m not pointing fingers!) neglects or forgets to regularly supply water to the tomato plants, then suddenly remembers and deluges them....
Are Violets Edible? Throughout the United States, common blue violets can be seen growing along roadsides, in shady woodland areas, and in fields. Other species of the Viola family can also be found, though usually grown as ornamental flowers in mixed plantings with vegetables or in flower borders. One thing which remains constant, however, is that violet flower uses are abundant. So, can you eat violets? Indeed, you can! Violets, both the leaves and flowers, contain high amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A....
Can You Prune Lucky Bamboo Plants? Lucky bamboo isn’t really a type of bamboo at all, but rather a plant in a genus of trees and shrubs called Dracaena. Since lucky bamboo grows so fast, it has a tendency to become top-heavy, and the extra weight puts stress on the roots and the rest of the plant. Cutting back a lucky bamboo plant invigorates and refreshes it and encourages new growth....
Growing Pearly Everlasting Known botanically as Anaphalis margaritacea, pearly everlasting plants are native to much of northern and western parts of the United States and grow in Alaska and Canada as well. Small white flowers grow on pearly everlasting– clusters of tight buds with yellow centers resemble pearls on a string, or in a cluster. Foliage of pearly everlasting plants is grayish white too, with small fuzzy leaves adorning this unusual specimen....
Tea Plants in the Garden The most familiar and widely grown tea plants include two common varieties: Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, used primarily for white and green tea, and Camellia sinensis var. assamica, used for black tea. The first is native to China, where it grows at very high elevations. This variety is suitable for moderate climates, generally USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 9. The second variety, however, is native to India....
Cauliflower Growing Problems Cauliflower has two phases of growth– vegetative and reproductive. The reproductive phase means head or curd growth and any number of conditions during the reproductive phase such as unusually hot weather, drought, or low temps can result in small premature heads or “buttons.” Some people think of this as a headless cauliflower. If you have no head on your cauliflower, it’s undoubtedly stress affecting the plant. Stresses that affect cauliflower development may be overly cold soil or air temps in the spring, lack of irrigation or nutrition, root bound plants, and insect or disease damage....
