Can You Grow Pumpkin in Containers? If you are dreaming of the great pumpkin, growing a pumpkin in a container may not achieve that goal. However, for those sweet little baking squash, container grown pumpkins will provide enough fruit for a holiday pie. A potted pumpkin vine is a chaotic, yet gorgeous way to decorate your patio. The first step to growing a pumpkin in a container is selecting the pot....
Can I Compost Pickles? Certain items, like meat and dairy, can attract unwanted pests to compost piles. Other items, like pickles, can throw off the pH balance of compost. While the cucumbers and dill used in pickles can add great nutrients (potassium, magnesium, copper, and manganese) to a compost pile, the vinegar in pickles can add too much acid and kill beneficial bacteria. Pickles also usually contain a lot of salt, which can be harmful to many plants in high concentrations....
What is a Red Rome Apple? Red Rome apples trees are spur-bearing trees that allow fruit to form on each limb, which means more fruit! Because of their prolific yields, they were once referred to as ‘mortgage maker.’ As mentioned, they are not nor were they named for the Eternal City of Roma, but for the small town of Ohio that shares that venerable name. Initially, however, this apple was named for its discoverer, Joel Gillet, who found a chance seedling in a shipment of trees that looked unlike any of the others....
Tips for Repotting a Large Plant Repotting a large plant can be daunting, but it is necessary. Some overgrown container plants, of course, are simply too big to move to a new pot. If this is the case, you should still refresh the soil by replacing the top two or three inches (3-7 cm.) once every year. This process is called top dressing, and it replenishes the nutrients in a pot without disturbing the roots....
Even if you fertilize, changing the soil is important for all plants that live in containers. It is good for the plants to have expanded room for the root system to continue growing. The top portion of the plants grows according to the size of the roots. So, whatever the reason, repotting succulent plants is a necessary task. Make it one that’s fun by dividing plants when needed and creating an interesting display....
Euonymus Scale Treatment The first step in euonymus scale treatment is figuring out if you have an infestation. So what does euonymus scale look like? Euonymus scale bugs go through a few stages of life, during most of which they’re too small to spot easily. You’re more likely to know you have an infestation when you see white to yellow blotches on the tops of the plant’s leaves. If the infestation is really bad, the plant may appear water-stressed with leaves yellowing, drooping, and even falling off....
Making Seed Tape You like elbow room, don’t you? Well, plants also like to have plenty of space to grow. If you sow them too close, it can be hard to space them out later. And if they grow in tight, none of them will thrive. Proper spacing is not a big deal with big seeds, like sunflower seeds. That doesn’t mean that everyone takes the time to get it right, but if you want to, you can....
Can you grow smoke tree in a container? Smoke tree is suitable for growing in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. This means you can grow smoke tree in a container if your climate isn’t too cold–or too hot. Read on for more information about growing smoke tree in pots. How to Grow Smoke Tree in a Container Growing smoke trees in containers isn’t difficult, but there are a few important things to keep in mind....
Checking Plant Moisture When it comes to testing moisture in plants, the feel of the soil is the best guide. As a general rule, a potted plant in a container measuring 6 inches (15 cm.) in diameter needs water when the top 2 inches (5 cm.) of soil feels dry to the touch. A larger container measuring 8 to 10 inches (20-25 cm.) in diameter is ready for water when the top ½ to 1 inch (1....
What is a Specimen Tree? This is a tree planted apart from other trees that is used as a focal point of a garden or backyard. Many gardeners like using a specimen tree in the landscape. If you plant trees in a group or in a mass, the trees themselves are less important than the grouping. A tree planted alone is itself a landscape feature. These solo tree features are called specimen trees....
It Does Sting! Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a medicinal herb that grows around the globe in temperate regions. Many are quite familiar with the stinging sensation brought on by brushing up against the plant. This is the result of tiny hairs which release histamine when coming in contact with skin. Nettle Tea Benefits Despite its prickly exterior, stinging nettle has a number of benefits, some valid, some unsubstantiated. Stinging nettle can be consumed as a vegetable, à la spinach, or medicinally in a number of ways, the most common being stinging nettle tea....
Preserving broccoli harvests is fairly simple and can be accomplished in a few different ways. Read on to learn what to do with your broccoli harvest. Storing Broccoli in the Refrigerator Broccoli can only be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks. The longer it’s stored, the tougher the stems get and the more nutrients it loses. That’s why learning what to do with broccoli post-harvest will allow you to retain maximum flavor and nutrition without wasting food....
What is a Suncrisp Apple? With skin that mimics a sunset and crisp creamy flesh, Suncrisp apples are one of the truly great introductions. Early Suncrisp apple tree care requires careful grooming to keep an open canopy and develop sturdy branches. These apple trees are very cold hardy and ripen just as other trees are changing color. Learn how to grow Suncrisp apples and you can enjoy autumn cider, pies, and sauce with plenty of fruit left over for snacking well into winter....
Technology and Garden Gadgets For luddites who treasure the peace and quiet of slow-paced, hands-on gardening, this may sound like a nightmare. However, using technology in landscape design is saving many people loads of time, money, and hassle. For people working in the field, using technology in landscape design is a dream come true. Just consider how much time is saved by computer-aided design (CAD) software. Design drawings are clear, colorful, and communicative....
Tomato Ripening Facts In order to find the answer to the question as to whether tomatoes ripen from inside out, we scoured the websites of the horticultural departments at many of the universities across the United States. At first, we could not find a single mention of this particular ripening process and, as such, assumed that this could not be true. That being said, after a little more digging, we have, in fact, found mention of this “inside-out” ripening of tomatoes from more than a handful of experts....
What is Tomato Verticillium Wilt? Verticillium wilt is a fungal infection that can affect numerous plants, including tomatoes. The fungus persists in the soil and on plant material. It forms threads that infect plants through the root hairs. The best conditions for verticillium to thrive are those of early spring: cool and wet. Moist soil at a temperature around 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 Celsius) is ideal for the fungus to start infecting roots....
What is Cactus Scab? Cactus scab is particularly common on prickly pear cactus but can affect many other varieties. It is a form of edema, where something has stimulated an abnormal increase in the size of the cells. This results in strange patches on the skin of the plant. It occurs in many other plants too, such as: Tomatoes Cucumbers Potatoes Begonia Violets Cabbage Cracks, discoloration, dry scabby lesions? Identifying the issue is quite easy, although the appearance can be mistaken for sunscald or spider mite attacks....
Growing Bitter Leaf If you live in a warm climate you might try growing bitter leaf. The leaves are found in markets in west and central Africa, usually in dried form, but sometimes fresh on branches. The locals use them as a vegetable, added to soups and stews or eaten raw. The twigs and roots are also chewed on. The uses of bitter leaf plant are broad and diverse. What is Bitter Leaf?...
Vermiculture Insects and Pests There are several types of visitors to a worm bin. Some are highly compatible with worms and help to break down foods, but others may pose a serious threat to your worms. Knowing the insect pests in worm bins can help you better manage your vermiculture pest problem. Sowbugs and Springtails – These are common isopods that like the same sort of conditions that make your worms happy....
Houseplant Infected with Virus Houseplant viruses, like any virus, work by infecting the plant’s system, manipulating the plant’s cells, and then spreading to infect more cells. How do you know if your houseplant has a virus? Some symptoms include necrotic spots on the leaves, stunted growth, yellow rings on the foliage, and even deformed color or form in flowers. Other symptoms include mosaic or mottling patterns in the leaves, distortion of the stems, and wilting....
