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Growing Swiss Chard in a Pot ‘Bright Lights’ a cultivar awash with red, white, gold, yellow, violet, and orange hues was introduced to the market 20 years ago and since then other cultivars have been introduced. Among these is ‘Fordhook Giant’ a heat tolerant variety for those folks with warmer growing seasons. There’s also the brilliant ruby red ‘Rhubarb’ and brilliantly white types of Swiss chard. The plethora of colors available makes container gardening with Swiss chard a delight....

Swiss Chard Harvest Swiss chard, a member of the beet family, is known by a host of other names including silverbeet, perpetual spinach, spinach beet, sekale beet, crab beet, and mangold. Swiss chard is an attractive, leafy vegetable with a red stalk that produces an abundance of fresh greens all summer long, though many other varieties offer other colors as well. Chard reaches a mature height of 1 to 2 feet (31-61 cm....

Signs of Spinach Tobacco Ringspot Spinach with tobacco ringspot virus is a disease of minor concern. This is because it is not very common and does not affect an entire crop as a rule. Tobacco ringspot is a very serious disease in soybean production, however, causing bud blight and failure to produce pods. The disease does not spread from plant to plant and is, therefore, not considered an infectious issue. That being said, when it does occur, the edible part of the plant is usually unusable....

Armillaria Root Rot on Apples Armillaria root rot is caused by several fungal pathogens of the species Armillaria. These fungi can be relentless and stealthy, making it hard to know if you have an infection unless you’ve been watching very closely. Ultimately, Armillaria will kill most trees and woody plants it comes in contact with, so it is not a disease to ignore. It can linger in infected stumps and large pieces of underground roots for years or decades, sending out long, reddish brown, shoestring-like rhizomorphs in search of new trees to infect....

Is a Tree Dead or Alive? These days of high temperatures and little rainfall has taken its toll on trees in many parts of the country. Even drought tolerant trees become stressed after several years without sufficient water, especially in soaring summer temperatures. You need to find out whether trees near your home or other structures are dead as early as possible. Dead or dying trees can topple in winds or with shifting soils and, when they fall, can cause damage....

About White Spots on Turnip Leaves Turnip roots are not the only edible part of this crucifer. Turnip greens are rich in iron and vitamins and have a zesty tang that enhances many recipes. Turnips with white rust can easily be misdiagnosed as having some other disease. The symptoms are consistent with several other fungal diseases and certain cultural failings. Fungal diseases like these are promoted by several key environmental conditions....

Benefits of Sheep Manure as Fertilizer Sheep manure, like other animal manures, is a natural slow-release fertilizer. Nutrients in sheep manure fertilizer provide adequate nourishment for a garden. It is high in both phosphorus and potassium, essential elements for optimal plant growth. These nutrients help plants to establish strong roots, defend against pests and grow into vibrant and productive plants. Sheep manure can also be used as organic mulch. Because of its low odor, sheep manure can easily be used to top dress garden beds....

What is Watermelon Charcoal Rot? Charcoal rot in watermelons is caused by the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina. It is a fungus that lives in the soil and is very prevalent in some states, including California. It can persist for up to 12 years. The fungus that infects watermelons with charcoal rot can also infect hundreds of other plant species. In melons, the pathogen first attacks the stems near the soil a few weeks after planting....

What is a Watermelon Radish? Watermelon radishes are an heirloom variety of Daikon radish, one of my favorites. They are a member of the mustard family, which includes arugula and turnip. An interesting watermelon radish fact tells us that the Chinese word for these radishes is ShinRi-Mei, meaning “beauty in the heart.” One only needs to slice into one of these beauties to understand the meaning behind the name. Their Latin name is Raphanus sativus acanthiformis....

Cold sweetened potatoes may not sound like a big deal, but that’s probably because you don’t know what cold sweetening is. Read on to find out what causes cold sweetening and how to prevent cold sweetening in potatoes. What is Cold Sweetening? Cold sweetened potatoes are pretty much what they sound like. Potatoes have to be stored at low temperatures to prevent sprouting and minimize disease spread and losses. Unfortunately, cold storage causes the starch in the tuber to convert to glucose and fructose, or sugar....

What is a Macho Fern? Ferns provide elegant greenery with a classic, airy form. The Macho fern (Nephrolepis biserrata) is one of the best examples of these plants. Best of all, Macho fern care is easy, breezy, and can grow either as a houseplant or an outdoor specimen in warmer regions. Macho ferns can be found growing wild in Florida, Louisiana, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The plant may be epiphytic but is usually found near swamps and wet sites....

What is a Nodding Pink Onion? Nodding pink onions (Allium cernum) are ornamental flowering onions. They are native to North America from New York state to Michigan and into British Columbia and south through the mountains and cooler areas of Arizona and North Georgia. Nodding pink onions can be found growing on rocky soils in dry meadows and prairies, the open woods, and in glades and along bluffs. They grow from 8-18 inches (20-46 cm....

What is Agave Root Rot? Agave, also commonly called century plant, is a desert plant native to Mexico. It grows best in dry conditions in full sun. Too much shade or soil that is too moist and drains poorly can cause the plant’s roots to rot. Weather fluctuations, such as unusually cold and rainy periods followed by extreme heat and humidity, can also contribute to root rot. Agave is hardy in zones 8 to 10....

What is Graywater? So what is graywater and is it safe to use graywater for vegetable gardens and other plantings? Graywater is water recycled from household use. It is collected from sinks, tubs, showers, and other safe sources for use on lawns and gardens. Black water is water that comes from toilets and water that has been used to clean diapers. Never use black water in the garden. Watering plants with graywater may introduce chemicals such as sodium, boron, and chloride into the soil....

What is Watermelon Rind Necrosis? Watermelon bacterial rind necrosis is a disease that causes discolored areas in the rind of the melon. The first watermelon rind necrosis symptoms are hard, discolored rind areas. Overtime, they grow and form extensive dead-cell areas on the rind. These usually do not touch the melon flesh. What Causes Watermelon Rind Necrosis? Experts believe that watermelon rind necrosis symptoms are caused by bacteria. They think that the bacteria are naturally present in the watermelon....

Why is My Agapanthus Not Blooming? Dealing with non-blooming agapanthus plants can be frustrating. That said, knowing the common reasons for this can help ease your frustration and make for better blooms in the future. Timing – There’s a possibility that you’re simply being impatient. Agapanthus often doesn’t bloom the first year. Growing conditions – If your agapanthus doesn’t bloom, it may be craving sunlight, as agapanthus needs at least six hours per day....

Though beneficial insects undoubtedly play a major role in garden production and in the large picture of plant reproduction, some plants use other means in order to be fertilized and to set seed. Wind pollination for plants is just one example of this. Learning more about how wind pollination works can help us gain a better understanding of this interesting process. How Wind Pollination Works Wind pollination is used by several types of plants for reproduction....

Winter Savory Plant Info Winter savory (Satureja montana) is an herbaceous, perennial hardy to USDA zone 6 while summer savory is grown as an annual. The ancient Roman writer, Pliny, named the genus ‘Satureja,’ which is derived from the word “satyr,” a half goat and half man mythological being who reveled in all savory delights. It was these ancient Romans that introduced the herb to England around the time of Caesar’s reign....

Creating a Reading Garden for Kids Reading in the garden with kids can be a great way to take lessons outside, even if the lesson is simply to enjoy nature. But first you need to create the garden that suits quiet, reflective time for reading as well as reading activities. Get your kids involved in the process of designing and building, if not an entire garden, at least one corner of the garden that they’ll use for these activities....

Viburnums for Cold Climates Viburnums are a gardener’s best friend. They come to the rescue when you need a plant for a dry or very wet area. You’ll find cold hardy viburnums that thrive in direct, full sun as well as partial shade. Many of the 150 species of viburnum are native to this country. In general, viburnums grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 2 to 9. Zone 2 is the coldest zone you’ll find in the country....