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How to Prune a Gardenia For as beautiful as gardenias are, however, they are a shrub and like many shrubs, gardenias can benefit from being pruned occasionally. While it is not absolutely necessary to the health of the plant that you prune your gardenia shrub, pruning helps to keep your gardenia shrub shapely and the correct size for its location in your garden. Because pruning is not essential to the health of your gardenia, it does not have to be done every year....

Purple Cactus Varieties Growing purple cacti is a fun endeavor and care depends on the variety you choose to grow. Below you will find some popular cacti that are purple: Purple Prickly Pear (Opuntia macrocentra): Purple cactus varieties include this unique, clumping cactus, and it is only one of the few varieties that produce purple pigment in the pads. The striking color becomes even deeper during periods of dry weather. Flowers of this prickly pear, which appear in late spring, are yellow with reddish centers....

Radish Seed Pod Info Radishes are most commonly grown for their tasty roots, but did you know that radish seed pods are edible as well? They are not only edible, but truly delicious with a milder flavor than the root and an interesting crunch. Radish pods are simply the seed pods of a radish plant that has been allowed to flower and then go to seed. There are actually some varieties of radish, such as ‘Rattail,’ that are specifically planted for cultivation of the seed pods, although all radish varieties form edible seed pods....

What is a Red Spider Mite? Red spider mites can be one of two kinds of mites, either the European red spider mite or the Southern red spider mite. The most common red spider mite is the Southern variety. The European spider mite is normally only seen on apple trees, while the Southern spider mite attacks a much wider variety of plants. A spider mite is related to spiders and is an arachnid, but is smaller and has only one body section (where spiders have two)....

Red Yucca Information: Hummingbird Yucca Plants Red yucca is native to southwestern Texas and adjoining areas of Mexico where it grows primarily on rocky slopes, prairies, and in mesquite groves. Hummingbird yucca plants are tough, tolerating cold winters as far north as USDA plant hardiness zone 5. Red yucca is also called hummingbird yucca plants since hummers love the nectar-rich, tube shaped blooms. Red yucca can also be known as red flowered false yucca, yellow yucca, or coral yucca....

What is Rockrose? Native to the Mediterranean, rockrose plants have soft green foliage that varies in shape depending on the species. Large, fragrant flowers bloom for about a month in late spring and early summer. Each blossom lasts only a day and may be pink, rose, yellow, or white, depending on the species. Use rockrose shrubs in dry areas as a xeriscaping plant or in coastal areas where they tolerate sandy soil, salt spray, and strong winds....

What Causes Splitting Grapes? The exact cause of grapes that are cracking open is still under debate, but all camps seem to agree that it stems from irrigation, either an over abundance or lack thereof. While grapes will adapt to lower water conditions, yields will be reduced. Ideally, irrigation is essential for optimum production and quality of fruit. The timing of this irrigation is of primary importance. Grape skins that crack open may also be caused by diseases such as powdery mildew, or pests like the grape berry moth....

Sunchaser Information Sunchaser tomatoes are produced on determinate plants which grow about 36-48 inches (91.5-122 cm.) tall. They are vigorous producers, even in the arid conditions of the Southwestern United States. Sunchaser heat tolerance has earned it recognition as one of the best tomatoes to grow in Arizona and New Mexico vegetable gardens. Where similar tomato varieties, like Early Girl or Better Boy can tucker out and stop producing fruit, Sunchaser tomato plants seem to just scoff at the high temperatures and intense sun of these arid, desert-like climates....

Sweet Corn Crazy Top Info Downy mildew of sweet corn is a fungal disease caused by the pathogen Sclerophthora macrospora. It is a soil borne fungal disease that can remain dormant in the soil for up to ten years, until perfect weather conditions activate its growth and spread. These perfect conditions are generally caused by flooding or waterlogged soils that last for at least 24-48 hours. Crazy top downy mildew can also infect other plants such as oats, wheat, foxtail, sorghum, millet, rice and a variety of grasses....

Are Sweet Potato Leaves Edible? So, are sweet potato leaves edible? Yes, definitely! Next question: what are “camote tops?” The vines of sweet potatoes (especially the deep purple varieties), are known as camote tops (or kamote tops) in Spanish-speaking countries. No matter what you call them – sweet potato leaves, camote tops, or kamote tops – the vines are rich and flavorful, although like most greens they may be somewhat bitter....

Bacterial Blight of Beans There are typically two types of bacterial blight affecting bean plants the most – common blight and halo blight. Common blight Common blight in beans is the most prevalent of bacterial bean diseases. Also called common bacterial blight, it shows up in misshapen leaves and pods. The leaves first start to develop small wet lesions that grow in size and dry out, usually becoming over an inch (2....

Upper Midwest Gardening August in upper Midwest states may include blistering hot days, dry spells, and also cooler days. The August weather can be pretty different from one year to the next. In the garden, this means that there are standard tasks to do, but you also may have to pivot and change plans as needed. This is the time of year when much of your hard work has come to fruition....

Growing Tomatillos Plant tomatillos from seed in warmer climates or start them indoors six weeks before the last expected frost. Tomatillo harvesting typically begins 75 to 100 days after planting. Choose a full sun location with well drained soil. The plants require even moisture, especially after fruits begin to form. Cultivation of tomatillos is similar to that of tomato plants. The plants need a cage or heavy staking to prevent the laden stems from laying on the ground....

Types of Tomatoes for Burgers and Sandwiches Everyone has their favorite tomato and because we all have our own personal taste, the type of tomato you use on your burger is your business. That said, most people are of the opinion that slicing tomatoes versus paste or Roma tomatoes are the ideal sandwich tomato varieties. Tomatoes for slicing tend to be large, meaty, and juicy – the better to go with a ¼-pound of beef....

What Trees Have Orange Leaves in Fall? Autumn tops the list of many gardeners’ favorite seasons. The laborious planting and tending work is done, and you don’t have to expend any effort to enjoy your backyard’s stunning fall foliage. That is, if you selected and planted trees with orange fall foliage. Not every tree offers flaming foliage in autumn. The best trees with orange leaves are deciduous. Their foliage blazes as they wilt and die during summer’s end....

What is a Houseplant Box? A houseplant box is literally what it sounds like, a planter box indoors. Boxes for houseplants can be purchased and there are tons of fabulous ones to choose from or you can make your own plant boxes indoors. Ideas for Boxes for Houseplants An indoor planter box can take many forms. It can look like a traditional exterior window box either affixed to the wall or raised on legs, either long or short, or plant boxes indoors may be placed along a window as outside ones or on any wall or surface provided there is enough light....

Pesticide Use Indoors Different products are for different things, and they might not each work on all plants. Some plants can be damaged by pesticides. These items should be listed on the bottle. It’s important to spray plants when you should, to avoid flowering times and when edible fruits are being produced. You should never spray your plants in bright, direct sunlight. All chemicals need to be stored in a dry place....

When to Water Gardens “When and how often should I water a garden?” While the general rule of thumb is about an inch or two (2.5-5 cm.) of water each week with deep, infrequent watering as opposed to the more frequent shallow watering, this really depends on a number of factors. First, consider your soil. Sandy soil is going to hold less water than heavier clay soil. Therefore, it’s going to dry out faster while the clay-like soil will hold moisture longer (and is more susceptible to overwatering)....

Peach Rust Info If you’re wondering what causes peach rust, it is a disease caused by a fungus, Tranzschelia discolor, that spreads through the air via spores and depends on moisture to spread, grow, and cause an infection. Wet, warm conditions make peach trees more susceptible to rust disease, especially when water, either from rain or irrigation, remains on leaves for too long. The earliest sign of peach rust is the formation of cankers on twigs in spring....

About Black Knight Echeveria Echeveria plants abound in variety, and their ease of care makes them popular succulent plants to grow. The new growth in the center of Black Knight rosettes provides a bright green contrast to the dark outer leaves. In late summer and fall, Black Knight succulents produce colorful, coral-red blooms atop slender, arching stalks. As an added benefit, deer and bunnies tend to steer clear of Black Knight plants....