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About Different Type of Cabbage Cabbage varieties include green and red cabbages, napa, bok choy, savoy, and Brussels sprouts. Most varieties of cabbage form heads that can weigh anywhere from 1 to 12 pounds (0.5-5 kg.), with each plant producing a single head. The shape of the head varies from rounded to pointed, oblong, or conical. Brussels sprouts are an exception and form multiple heads along a main plant stem with up to 100 sprouts per plant....

Composting Fruit and Vegetable Waste You add plant material, such as food scraps, garden waste, and lawn clippings, to the compost pile. Small invertebrate animals like earthworms, millipedes, sow bugs, and beetle grubs feed on the plant material, breaking it down into smaller pieces and increasing its surface area. The greater surface area allows microbes, including bacteria and fungi, to access more of the organic material in the scraps and eventually break them down into finished compost....

No scientific studies suggest that mint plants in the garden keep away domesticated animals like cats, or even wildlife, like raccoons and moles. However, gardeners swear that bugs don’t like mint, including mosquitoes and spiders. Read on for more information about repelling pests with mint. Does Mint Repel Pests? Mint (Mentha spp.) is a plant prized for its lemony fresh aroma. Some varieties of mint, such as peppermint (Mentha piperita) and spearmint (Mentha spicata), also have insect repellent properties....

How to Dry Fresh Basil Dry basil has a more intense flavor when it is fresh but it degrades quickly. Dried herbs are generally three to four times stronger than the fresh herb. The leaves have high moisture content and need to dry quickly to prevent molding. Air has to circulate freely around both sides of the leaf for the fastest drying. Drying fresh basil is an easy way to preserve the fresh lemony-anise to spicy-pepper flavor of the herb....

What Parts of Cattail are Edible? Cattails are incredibly unique looking plants and, in fact, are actually grasses. There are dozens of species found growing in the Northern Hemisphere and Australia with the largest and most common being Typha latifolia. They can be found in some marshy areas in such proliferation it’s no wonder that ancient man discovered that the cattail plant is edible. Many parts of these tall, reedy plants can be ingested....

Kinds of Fertilizer for Orchids Orchids grown in bark– When an orchid is grown in bark, its soil contains a lower amount of nitrogen. When fertilizing we must make up for this nitrogen shortage. Use a water-soluble fertilizer with higher nitrogen levels such as 30-10-10 or 15-5-5. The higher levels of nitrogen will give the plant the level of nutrients it needs. Orchids grown normally– Orchids that are not grown in bark normally have a better balance of nutrients....

Heat Wave Garden Safety Many of us have read the awful stories of student athletes that die of heat stroke. It is a serious risk even for healthy, active individuals. Those of us who love gardening can’t wait to get out on a sunny day and play in our landscapes, but take some precautions before going out in the heat. Gardening in a heat wave can do more than exhaust you; it can cause a trip to the hospital....

Outdoor Pond Cleaning It’s important to consider what is living in your pond before planning a regular cleaning. Ponds with only plants as constant inhabitants are usually cleaned in the spring, but those with fish or other permanent aquatic life should be cleaned in the fall, before temperatures fall dramatically. Fish are typically weaker in the spring and can’t handle as much stress at this time, which is why koi and fish pond cleaning is recommended at the end of the growing season, when fish are at their healthiest....

Great Lakes Gardening – Prepping for Winter Preparing for a harsh winter is a must for Great Lakes gardeners. While the winter months are much colder in Duluth than Detroit, gardeners in both areas have to prep plants, beds, and lawns for cold and snow. Water plants throughout fall to ensure they don’t dry out during winter. This is especially important for transplants.Cover vegetable beds with a good layer of mulch....

Why Choose Plants with Red Foliage? Red is a color that indicates passion. Our ancestors saw it as the hue of fire and blood, key primal-and-life-giving forces. Bringing plants with red foliage into the garden provides a tie to the most primitive elements in our lives. Plus, it’s a bright, cheery tone that is the perfect foil for standard green-leaved specimens. Small Plants with Red Leaves You don’t have to be big to make a big impact....

How to Hand Pollinate Melons In order to hand pollinate melons, you need to make sure that your melon plant has both male and female flowers. Male melon flowers will have a stamen, which is a pollen covered stalk that sticks up in the center of the flower. Female flowers will have a sticky knob, called a stigma, inside the flower (that the pollen will stick to) and the female flower will also sit on top of an immature, tiny melon....

All of these differences are the result of numerous factors that affect a property. In urban settings, microclimate swings can be severe as a result of increased temperatures which create high wind microclimates around buildings. About Urban Microclimate Wind Interestingly, urban microclimate wind speeds are usually less than surrounding rural areas. That said, because of the topography of a high-rise downtown corridor, microclimate wind speeds can also exceed those found in rural areas....

No shade but still love hostas? With a little searching, you can find hostas that like the sun. Just remember these plants like a lot of water and planting in the sun means frequent irrigation. Are There Sun Tolerant Hostas? Using hostas plants for sun means setting the stage for successful growth. While they like consistent moisture, the soil must be well-draining. Additionally, incorporate compost or leaf litter to enhance soil nutrient levels....

What Causes Sticky Plant Leaves? Most likely sticky leaves on indoor plants is a sign that you have an infestation of scales, tiny insects that latch onto your plant and suck out its moisture, excreting it as this sticky substance called honeydew. Scales won’t necessarily harm your plant, but a large infestation can stunt growth and the honeydew can get everywhere. It’s best to get rid of them if you can....

Plants that like dry air are few and far between, but many plants will tolerate low humidity. From cacti to general houseplants, here is a sampling of plants to try. Houseplants For Low Humidity Low-humidity houseplants thrive in 25 to 30 percent humidity, which is typical for the average home. Compare this to the relative humidity of 70 to 80 percent that most plants need, and you can see why including some low humidity plants in your home can save some effort....

Tips to Keep Rabbits Out of Garden Here are some things you can try to keep rabbits out of the garden: Smells Rabbits Dislike One easy way to have rabbit control in gardens is to add things to your garden that the rabbits will not like to smell. Try sprinkling dried blood around the garden to keep rabbits out of the yard. Or pour some coyote, fox, or wolf urine around the perimeter of your garden....

Protecting succulents from frost is crucial to their survival. There are some succulents that are cold hardy, but the majority are not. Winter weather that comes in hard may surprise some growers and cause injury to plants. Will succulents survive a freeze? Warm weather succulents and freezing temperatures are a recipe for harm but can be avoided with protection from frost. Can Succulents Withstand Cold? Northern climates tend to be somewhat inhospitable to outdoor succulents....

Causes for Squash End Rot The causes for squash end rot are simple. Squash blossom end rot happens due to a calcium deficiency. Calcium helps a plant create a stable structure. If a plant gets too little calcium while the fruit is developing, there isn’t enough to sufficiently build the cells on the fruit. In particular, the bottom of the fruit, which grows the fastest, doesn’t get enough calcium. As the fruit gets larger, the cells begin to collapse, starting with the weakest cells at the bottom....

What is an Indicator Plant? All plants are acutely tuned into and affected by their environment. As such, they are excellent at pointing out any changes in soil, temperature, or moisture and highlighting pest and disease problems. Even the novice gardener has probably gauged when to water a bed by noticing the nodding heads of a flower that is susceptible to drought conditions. Many flowers are a water indicator for plants....

Indoor Peppermint Plant Care How convenient would it be to be able to grow peppermint inside for all your culinary needs? Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9 outdoors, but you can easily grow it indoors too, as long as you consider a few things. One very important aspect to consider in growing peppermint inside is to have the right pot to grow it in. Choose a pot that is wider than it is tall and one that has a drainage hole....