Starting Seeds Indoors If you’re new to starting plants from seeds, or new to doing it inside first, a few simple steps will get you started. All you need is a seed tray and soil. If you don’t have one, a seed tray can be as simple as an old egg carton. Use a good quality potting or starting soil, and make sure you put drainage holes in your tray before planting....
One thing is certain: the benefits of growing gardens are many and varied. Regardless of your primary motive for starting a garden, the process is sure to bring you many rewards. Why Start a Garden? The act of nurturing plants in your backyard is good for the mind and also good for the body. Don’t take our word for it. Scientific studies have established how gardening helps reduce or prevent both anxiety and depression, offering a therapeutic and calming experience....
Succulent Planting Time in Northwestern U.S. If you’re willing to devote a little extra time (sometimes a lot) to them, northwest succulent gardens are possible. They’re more unusual too, because you won’t find one on every corner. You may also devote your planting skills to making wreaths and various arrangements that you can move around to protect them during the rainy seasons. Of course, you may plant new succulents as you purchase them, but the best succulent planting time in northwestern U....
Tansy plants are found growing wild in meadows, roadsides, ditches, and other natural areas. The weedy herb is also an attractive flowering addition to a cottage or wildflower garden, but watch out or the plant will spread to unwanted areas. Keep an eye on the plant and learn methods on how to keep tansy from taking over the garden. Common Tansy (Tanacetum Vulgare) What is tansy? The plant may get 3 to 4 feet (1 m....
Terrarium Supplies Nearly any clear glass container is suitable, and you might find the perfect container at your local thrift shop. For example, look for a goldfish bowl, a one-gallon jar, or an old aquarium. A one-quart canning jar or brandy snifter is large enough for a small landscape with one or two plants. You don’t need a lot of potting soil, but it should be lightweight and porous. A good-quality, peat-based commercial potting mix works well....
Thurber’s Needlegrass Information Whatever you need grass to do, the odds are good that Thurber’s needlegrass plants will do it for you. Drought tolerant and cold hardy, the grass serves as forage for cattle, horses, and other livestock as well as elk, deer, and antelope. Before you consider growing Thurber’s needlegrass, you might want to know what the plants look like. Thurber’s needlegrass plants are native, cool-season bunchgrass perennials with narrow rolled leaves up to 10 inches (25....
Moving a Rose of Sharon You may decide that moving Rose of Sharons is the best idea if you find that they are planted in shade or in an inconvenient location. Rose of Sharon transplanting is most successful if you undertake the task at the optimal time. When do you transplant a Rose of Sharon? Not in the summer or winter. Your plants will be stressed if you try to transplant them when the weather is too hot or cold....
What is Fire Blight of Loquats? Fire blight of loquats is a serious bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovaora. The first signs of the disease occur in the early spring when temps are above 60 F. (16 C.) and the weather is a typical spring mix of rain and humidity. This disease attacks some plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, to which loquat belongs. It may also infect:...
About Pollinator Trees Bees are the most important pollinator of flowers and crops. The recent decline in the bee population has everyone worried, including farmers and gardeners. Planting bee-friendly trees and shrubs is one way to help these essential species by providing a long-term balanced habitat. Certain trees and shrubs are the backbone plants for a bee-friendly ecosystem. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plant smaller pollinator plants since habitats should be multi-tiered....
Diagnosing Watermelon Plants with Mosaic Virus Watermelon leaf mosaic disease stems from Potyviris, a common virus in cucurbits. The disease symptoms are different among the squash, melons, gourds, and even wild cucurbits that it infects. Peas and alfalfa are also affected. Mosaic virus of watermelon shows up on the leaves initially but persists to spread to the stems and fruit. Effective control can only be achieved by a gardener’s vigilance and good cultural practices....
Today, crosnes (or chorogi) can be found in specialty gourmet shops and high-end restaurants with a price to match, but you can also grow your own. Read on to learn how to grow and when to harvest Chinese artichokes. What are Chinese Artichokes? The Chinese artichoke plant (Stachys affinis) is a perennial root vegetable found in the mint family. Like mint plants, Chinese artichoke have a propensity to grow wantonly and can easily overtake a garden area....
What are Floating Wetlands? Floating wetlands are container gardens that float on the surface of the water. You can plant floating pond islands with any wetland marsh plants except trees and shrubs. They make a beautiful addition to any pond. As the plant roots grow beneath the island, they absorb excess nutrients from fertilizer runoff, animal wastes and other sources. Removing these nutrients from the water reduces the incidence of algae, fish kills and choking weeds....
What is a Christmas Melon? When selecting the melon varieties you wish to grow next season, consider Santa Claus Christmas melons. Christmas melon plants are native to Spain and require blazing sun and rich soil. The fruit is a muskmelon cultivar with a so-called “netted” skin. The sweet flesh is excellent for breakfast, a snack or even dessert. Much of our supply of Santa Claus Christmas melons is from California and Arizona, but in winter, they are shipped in from South America....
How to Grow Congo Cockatoo Impatiens Congo cockatoo impatiens tolerate temperatures as low as about 35 degrees F. (2 C.), but the plant won’t survive even a light frost. Temperatures of 45 degrees F. (7 C.) and above are ideal for this tender perennial. Congo cockatoo impatiens prefer a location in full shade, especially if you live in a warm, sunny climate. Although the plant will grow in partial sunlight in a cool climate, it won’t tolerate bright sunlight or hot summers....
Cymbidium Orchid Growing What is a Cymbidium orchid? It’s a native of tropical areas of Australia and Asia. Cymbidiums are prized for their long sprays of blooms, which make lovely arrangements as well as corsages. Their thick, waxy petals open in the spring and often remain on their stems for up to two months. Cymbidium orchids are different from most other varieties in that they thrive on cooler weather and often won’t even bloom if the daytime temperature gets too hot....
What is a Spikenard Plant? Spikenard shrub information tells you that this is a native plant, growing in the wild in many states in the eastern part of the country. You’ll find several varieties, including California spikenard (Aralia californica), Japanese spikenard (Aralia cordata) and American spikenard (Aralia racemosa). The plants grow to the height of shrubs, some rising to six feet (1.8 m.) tall. However, they are really perennials, dying back in fall to resprout again from the roots in spring....
Asian First Pear Information Asian pears prefer temperate climates but can thrive in cooler regions. What is an Ichiban Nashi pear? Ichiban Nashi Asian pears are also known as first pears because of the early arrival of ripe fruit. They originated in Japan and can be grown in United States Department of Agriculture zones 5 to 9. It is said the fruit doesn’t keep much longer than two months in cold storage, so it is best to enjoy them fresh when they are in season....
Symptoms in Carrots with Cotton Root Rot Carrots grow easily in loose sandy soil where drainage is excellent. They are one of the mainstays of salads, side dishes, and even have their own cake. However, several diseases can wreck the harvest. Carrots with cotton root rot are victims of one of the more common types of diseases, fungal. There are many host plants to the fungus, including alfalfa and cotton, and causes high economic losses in these and more crops....
What is Little Bunny Grass? Little Bunny dwarf fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Little Bunny’) is a low-maintenance ornamental with a compact size. This deer-resistant fountain grass reaches 8 to 18 inches (20.5-45.5 cm.) in height with a spread of 10 to 15 inches (25.5-38 cm.). The slow-growing grass is ideal for rock gardens, borders, and small perennial beds – even containers. Like other types of fountain grass, Little Bunny grows in a clumping, fountain-like formation....
“Why should I tickle my plants?” you may wonder. This article will explain the reasons behind this unusual practice. Thigmomorphogenesis Info So, what is thigmomorphogenesis? Plants respond to light, gravity, and moisture levels, and they also respond to touch. In nature, a growing plant encounters rain, wind, and passing animals. Many plants detect and respond to these touch stimuli by slowing their growth rate and developing thicker, shorter stems. Wind is an important touch stimulus for many plants....
