Posts

Any number of vegetable and fruit seeds may be salvaged from the parent plant for future sowing, however, tomatoes, peppers, beans, and peas are the simplest, requiring no special treatment before storing. This is because bean plants and the like are self-pollinating. When encountering plants that cross-pollinate, you should be aware that the seeds may result in plants unlike the parent plant. Seeds taken from cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkins, and gourds are all cross-pollinated by insects, which may affect the quality of the successive plants grown from these seeds....

Can I Divide Agapanthus? The answer is yes, you can and you should. As the plants mature, they crowd against each other underground, and this overcrowding limits their flowering. The best way to remedy the problem is to start dividing and transplanting agapanthus. But you’ll want to learn how and when to split agapanthus to be sure you do it right. When to Split Agapanthus Don’t think about dividing agapanthus plants while they are offering you those lovely blossoms, even if the flowering seems less than last year due to overcrowding....

Can You Eat Radish Seed Pods? Many gardeners didn’t leave their radishes unharvested on purpose but by happy accident. Imagine their surprise when snappy, green pods formed. Are radish seed pods edible? Not only are they edible, but you might also be surprised at how delicious they are. Eating radish seed pods is an uncommon veggie option but it has signs of becoming a farmer’s market staple. There are actually some varieties of edible radish seeds that are grown specifically for their pods....

When to Pick Caraway Caraway is a biennial herb whose leaves, roots, and seeds can be eaten. The plant prefers cool weather and is most often sown in spring or autumn. The deeply notched leaves form a rosette in the first year while it develops the deep taproot. Long stems form during the second year and bear umbrella-like clusters of white to pink flowers. Seeds start ripening a month after flowering and is followed by plant death....

What is Cedar Hawthorn Rust? Caused by a fungus called Gymnosporangium globosum, Cedar hawthorn rust disease is a disfiguring condition of hawthorns and junipers. Although it rarely kills trees, the trees never recover from the damage. You can prune out the worst of it, but once it affects the entire tree, your only choices are to learn to live with it or take the tree down. In addition to the rust-colored spots on the leaves, hawthorns may have rusty-looking “fingers” projecting from the fruit....

Causes for a Christmas Tree Not Taking Up Water Generally, when Christmas trees have problems taking up water, it’s because we tend to add products to the tree itself or the water. Avoid spray-on fire retardants and other products advertised to keep your tree fresh. Similarly, bleach, aspirin, sugar, lime soda, copper pennies and vodka have little or no effect and some can actually slow water retention and increase moisture loss....

Problems with Caladium Like other plants, caladiums can have problems. Caladium plant problems range from those caused by improper cultural practices to diseases and pests. Cultural Practices In order to start preventing caladium problems caused by improper cultural practices, learn how to take care of your plant. Caladiums grow from tubers that look like bulbs, and if the tubers are injured in storage, the plants can be stunted. Carefully stock tubers in a garage or porch at temperatures between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 32 C....

Flies in Compost Bin If you don’t build your compost pile in the right way, you may have a lot of flies around the bin constantly. On the other hand, good compost pile management is not only a great way to create more of that black gold for your gardens, it’s the best way to keep houseflies in compost to a minimum. Houseflies are known to spread a number of human diseases, so their appearance near your compost is not only annoying, but bad for your health and that of your family....

What to Do with Sunflower Hulls Though extremely popular, it is likely that sunflowers have uses beyond what most of its growers may have imagined. Both the seeds and sunflower seed hulls have changed the way that many think about sustainability. Sunflower hulls, especially, are being used in new and exciting ways. Sunflower producing regions have long used discarded sunflower hulls in applications ranging from an alternative fuel to wood replacements....

Can You Grow Virginia Creeper in a Pot? Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is a popular garden vine, and it grows in a wide variety of climates. It can thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 3b through 10. This vine grows fast and can get up to 50 feet (15 m.) if left to its own devices. Virginia creeper doesn’t require a support to climb, since its tendrils cling to brick, stone, or wood by sucker disks at the tendril tips....

Lawn and Garden Flea Control Once fleas find their way into your home, you’ll never completely get rid of them until you learn how to manage fleas in the yard. Every time you and your furry friends step into a flea-infested area outdoors, fleas hitch a ride indoors on your clothing and your pet’s fur. Once you learn how to manage fleas in the yard, taking control of the problem in your home won’t seem like such a challenge....

Cotton Harvest Time Try some of the “old-time” homestead crops our ancestors used to grow. Gardeners growing small plots of cotton today may be interested in learning not only about picking ornamental cotton, but in carding, spinning, and dying their own fibers. Maybe they’re doing it for fun or are interested in creating an organic product from start to finish. Whatever the reason, harvesting cotton by hand requires some good old-fashioned, back-breaking, sweating type of work....

Backyard Picnic Ideas Summer is the best time for picnics and, while you might think a park is the place to go, we think your backyard is the perfect spot to celebrate the occasion with family and friends. These summer picnic ideas will help you create the perfect garden for entertaining. Food: Ramp up your food a notch by ditching the old standby hamburgers and potato salad. Visit the farmers market or grocery store for delectable fruits in season and combine several for a mouth-watering fruit bowl....

What is Rose Crown Gall? Crown gall disease is a worldwide disease, first discovered in Europe in 1853. In addition to roses, the disease attacks many plants, shrubs, and trees including: Pecan Apple Walnut Willow Raspberries Daisies Grapes Wisteria It can be found attacking tomatoes, sunflowers, and conifers but is rare. The overgrowth or galls are usually found either at or just below the soil surface. In roses this is at the basal breaks or crown area, thus the name crown gall disease....

With more and more natural land being taken from deer and in areas where population control is not practiced, deer can definitely become a nuisance. To create a completely deer-resistant garden is never 100 percent guaranteed, but the key to keeping Bambi and his clan at a distance lies in understanding which plants deer prefer and which they usually pass over. Deer Resistant Garden Plants Although the type of vegetation that deer prefer seems to vary somewhat between different parts of the country, it is still possible to identify deer-resistant garden plants that should be safe no matter where you live....

The Best Upper Midwest Hostas Varieties Just about any type of hosta will grow in this region, but some varieties are especially well suited to the northern and eastern states of the Midwest: ‘Sun and Substance.’ This is a striking plant that can grow up to six feet (1.8 m) across. The leaves are large and a bright chartreuse color. It will do well with more sun than other hostas. “June....

Elderberry Leaf Problems Elderberries are from the family Caprifoliaceae, or honeysuckle family. The aforementioned clusters of blossoms turn to black, blue, or red berries favored by birds. They thrive in areas of full sun to light shade, need a moderate amount of water, and are fast growing shrubs that can be pruned to create a screen or windbreak. Elderberries are hardy to USDA plant hardiness zone 4. Sometimes, certain conditions such as nutritional deficiencies or weather changes can cause yellowing leaves on elderberries....

In the case of at least one plant, the staghorn fern, adding whole banana peels is just as effective as composting them first. You can “feed” a whole peel or even a whole banana to the plant by placing it on top of the plant, among its fronds. About Banana Peel and Staghorn Ferns Feeding staghorn ferns with bananas is possible because of this plant’s unique lifestyle. Staghorn ferns are epiphytes, plants that grow on elevated surfaces away from contact with the soil....

Choosing Scented Flowers for Shady Spots Planting highly scented flowers can add a uniquely pleasant and unexpected detail to garden beds. Choosing plants that adapt to a wide range of growing conditions will help ensure that they thrive for several seasons. When choosing plants for the garden, the options are truly limitless. The same can also be said for fragrant flowers. While full sun locations are ideal for many annuals and perennials, growers with more challenging growing conditions, like shade, are often left in need of more information regarding shade tolerant fragrant flowers....

What is Alcoholic Flux? Alcoholic flux is a stress-related disease that affects sweet gum, oak, elm, and willow trees. It usually occurs after a period of very hot, dry weather. The disease is caused by a microorganism that ferments the sap that seeps or bleeds from cracks and wounds in the bark. The result is a white, frothy ooze that has a sweet, fermenting odor similar to beer. Alcoholic flux is sometimes called frothy flux or foamy canker because of the white ooze that looks and feels like melted marshmallows....