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Growing Japanese Maples from Seed Can you grow Japanese maples from seed? Yes, you can. Can you grow any variety of Japanese maple from seed though? That’s a very different question. Most of the stunning Japanese maple varieties that you can buy in the nursery are actually grafted, meaning the seeds they produce won’t grow into the same tree. Much like planting an apple seed from an apple will likely result in a crabapple tree, planting a seed from a Japanese maple will probably result in a generic Japanese maple tree....

How to Grow Oxalis in the Garden Plant oxalis where the soil is moist and well-drained, but never soggy. Slightly acidic soil is best. Additionally, improve soil quality and drainage by digging in a little well-rotted manure or compost before planting. Oxalis needs a few hours of sunlight every day, but plant in afternoon shade if you live in a hot climate. Oxalis leaves may wilt during hot afternoons, but they usually bounce back when the temperature drops in the evening....

Even if you’re new to gardening, that’s okay. Growing tomato plants just got easier with Gardening Know How’s Ultimate Guide To Growing Tomato Plants! Soon you’ll be on your way to harvesting loads of tasty tomatoes for sandwiches, salads, and more. Choosing the Types of Tomatoes You Will Grow Learn The Difference Between Non Hybrid Seeds And Hybrid Seeds Tomato Varieties & Colors What Is An Heirloom Tomato? Seedless Tomato Varieties Determinate vs Indeterminate Tomatoes Miniature Tomatoes Growing Roma Tomatoes Growing Cherry Tomatoes Growing Beefsteak Tomatoes What Are Currant Tomatoes...

Chive Plant Harvest A member of the onion family Alliaceae, chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are cultivated for their grass-like hollow leaves, which impart a subtle onion flavor to a variety of dishes. The plant is low maintenance and easy to grow but thrives in full sun and well-draining rich soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0. The plant grows in a grass-like tuft that can attain heights of 20 inches (50 cm.). Of course, if you are picking chives, the plant can be maintained at a much lower height....

When to Pick Loganberry Fruit Loganberries are an interesting berry in that they are an accidental hybrid, a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry. They were first discovered in the garden of James Harvey Logan (1841-1928) and were subsequently named after him. Since their inception, loganberries have been used to hybridize boysenberries, youngberries, and olallieberries. One of the more hardy berries, loganberries are sturdier and more disease and frost resistant than other berries....

Read on for tips on how to get rid of Nandina. Heavenly Bamboo Invasiveness Nandina is an evergreen to semi-evergreen, woody shrub that grows to around 6-8 feet (1-2.5 m.) in height. Originally from China and Japan, heavenly bamboo was introduced to the States in 1804 for use as an ornamental due to its attractive foliage and lovely berries. Unfortunately, Nandina also has the attributes of growing rapidly, reproducing via seed and root fragments....

How to Keep Houseplants Happy Here are some wonderful hacks for indoor plants that you can use to make your life easier. Have you ever recycled your water? You can reuse water that has been used for cooking and give it to your houseplants. Any water that is used to boil vegetables, rice, pasta, or eggs can be used to water your plants. It is full of nutrients and will serve as a homemade fertilizer....

When Can Annuals Be Planted Outside? If you started annuals from seeds, they’re ready for transplanting once you see the first true set of leaves. The two little leaves that appear first on a seedling are not true leaves. They are called cotyledons. Of course, you also need to consider the weather. The seedlings might be ready, but the weather must cooperate, or they will die outside in the cold. Check with your local extension office to find out your area’s average last frost date....

How to Find a Landscape Designer The first step in choosing a landscape designer is determining your budget. How much money do you have available for this project? Remember that a well-designed and implemented landscape design can increase your property value. The second step involves making three lists. Look at your landscape. Create one list that contains everything you want to remove from your garden. Tired of that old 1980’s hot tub you never use?...

Many people refer to this strange plant as Indian pipe fungus, but it is not a fungus at all – it just looks like one. It is actually a flowering plant, and believe it or not, it is a member of the blueberry family. Keep reading for more Indian pipe info. Indian Pipe Information Each Indian pipe plant consists of one 3- to 9-inch (7.5 to 23 cm.) stem. Although you may notice small scales, no leaves are required because the plant does not photosynthesize....

Is Soaking Dried Beans Necessary? No, soaking dried beans is not necessary, but soaking dry beans accomplishes two goals: cutting cooking time and reducing stomach distress. The beans will cook eventually if not pre-soaked but will take significantly longer. So, how long does it take to soak dry beans before cooking? Why Do You Soak Dry Beans? The reasons why you soak dry beans are twofold. Number one, it cuts cooking time significantly....

Flea market inspired “junkyard” gardens are one example of outside-the-box growing spaces which are enjoyable to explore and create. Learning how to make a junk garden can help gardeners gain a greater appreciation for the time and effort that goes into these interesting spaces. What are Junkyard Gardens? Junkyard gardens, or flea market gardening, mostly concerns the use of found, recycled, and/or upcycled materials. These materials can be used as décor and visually appealing containers for plants....

Gardening Tips for Spider Plants and General Spider Plant Care Caring for spider plants is easy. These tough plants tolerate lots of abuse, making them excellent candidates for newbie gardeners or those without a green thumb. Provide them with well-drained soil and bright, indirect light and they will flourish. Water them well but do not allow the plants to become too soggy, which can lead to root rot. In fact, spider plants prefer to dry out some between waterings....

Fairy Castle Cactus Classification Some experts classify the cactus as a form of Acanthocereus tetragonus. It has also been given the species name hildmannianus in the genus Cereus. The susbspecies is the real puzzler. Fairy castle cactus is either in the subspecies uruguayanus or monstrose. Whichever scientific name is correct, the plant is a delightful little cactus for your home. Information About Fairy Castle Cactus Plant Cereus tetragonus is native to North, South, and Central Americas....

Lemon Eucalyptus Information This plant is an attractive Australian native. It has sword-shaped, gray-green leaves and tiny, white flowers. The lemon eucalyptus plant, also known as lemon-scented gum, has a more pungent smell than other citrusy herbs, like lemon verbena, lemon balm, and lemon thyme. If you touch a leaf, the air is infused with the super-strong scent of lemon. In fact, if you’ve ever burned a citronella candle, don’t think it is scented with real lemon fragrance....

What Causes Fruit Drop in Lemons? Generally, you may see lemons falling from trees if the tree sets more fruit than it can support. A lemon tree normally goes through three periods of fruit drop. The first drop occurs when 70 to 80 percent of the flowers fall from the tree without ever setting fruit. A week or so later, pea-sized fruit drop from the tree. The third drop occurs in spring when the fruit is about the size of a golf ball....

If you want to pull together some lessons on pollination for kids, you may be struggling on how to begin. Read on for some ideas for hands-on pollinator lessons. Pollinator Lessons for Kids While adults can read articles about the importance of pollinators, young children usually do not have the ability to do so. Not only are their reading abilities limited, but their shorter attention span is also an issue....

Benefits of Marigold Plant Companions Scientific research doesn’t always back up claims that marigold companion planting repels pests, but gardeners with years of hands-on experience say otherwise. Your mileage may vary, so experiment with different combinations to discover what works best in your garden. It certainly never hurts to try planting a few marigold plant companions in your garden. In fact, Cornell Cooperative Extension says that marigolds just might keep a number of pests in check, including:...

About Marjorie’s Seedling Plum Trees Marjorie’s seedling plum trees will produce copious amounts of sweet-tart fruits for canning, baking, or fresh eating. This variety is known for its intense flavor when allowed to fully ripen on the tree. The fruits are beautiful with deep color that turns almost purple black when mature. It is a perfect tree for a small garden because you don’t need another plum variety for it to set fruit....

What is a Mugo Pine? Mugo pine (Pinus mugo) is a carefree evergreen that can take the place of overused landscape ground cover plants such as junipers. Short, shrubby varieties are neat in appearance with branches that grow to within inches of the soil. It has a naturally spreading habit and tolerates light shearing. In spring, new growth shoots almost straight up at the tips of the horizontal stems to form “candles....