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What is a Horticultural Bean? French horticultural beans are not a specific variety, but rather a category or type of bean. (Other types of beans include snap, lima, and soybeans.) Horticultural bean plants produce long, flat pods with large, plump seeds. They have a mild, nutty flavor and a beautiful color. The attractive bean pods and plump seeds are one reason horticultural beans are popular with gardeners and home cooks, especially in France....

Doris Taylor Succulent Info Doris Taylor is an attractive pale green succulent plant. The leaf tips of this echeveria are sometimes dark and leaves are always quite fuzzy. It has a charming rosette shape reaching 7 to 8 inches (18-20 cm.) around and just 3 to 5 inches (7.6-13 cm.) tall. Try growing a woolly rose in a white container to best display its attractive, diminutive persona. As with most fuzzy leafed plants, little water is needed and leaves propagate more slowly than smooth leaved varieties....

What is Black Smut Fungus? Fungal diseases can be the most frustrating to deal with and they seem to spring up out of nowhere and disappear with the same level of mystery. Although black smut is a minor disease in most parts of the country, it’s important to know how to handle it when your lawn or garden suddenly develops a load of black spores. Black smut is a fungal disease that appears on small grains, grasses, onions and even herbaceous ornamentals under the right conditions....

Anthracnose can cause poor fruit quality and production, and in severe infections, weaken or even kill canes. Dieback, cane spot, and gray bark are other names commonly used for blackberries with anthracnose. Symptoms of Blackberries with Anthracnose The first signs of a blackberry anthracnose infection will be in the spring, usually on the shoots of the new canes. Small purple spots will appear, which will increase in size, become oval-shaped, and eventually turn a gray or buff color....

What is Scab Disease? Scab is usually caused by Cladosporium cucumerinum. These fungal spores overwinter in soil and plant debris and become most active and reproductive in spring when temperatures begin to warm and there is plenty of moisture. Scab on vegetables may also be introduced to your crops from infected starts, contaminated machinery, or even from wind-blown spores. Cucurbits, which include cucumbers, gourds, squash, and melons are particularly susceptible. It is also common on potatoes and some other tubers....

What is Sweet Dani basil? Continue reading to learn about growing Sweet Dani basil, as well as its uses. About Sweet Dani Herbs Sweet Dani lemon basil is a variety of Ocimum basilicum with an undeniable lemony scent and flavor. Its tangy, citrus flavor and scent is due to the fact that it contains about 65% more natural essential oils than other basil plants. In 1998, this earned Sweet Dani basil the title of All-American Selection....

Types of Broccoli Worms Broccoli worms feed on cabbage, kale, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts, in addition to broccoli. They usually prefer the undersides of plants, chewing holes and eating their way into the heads from the bottom. There are generally three types of worms in broccoli: Cabbage worms, which are velvety green caterpillars (larvae of white butterflies) Cabbage loopers, which are smooth and light green (larvae of brown moths) Diamondback worms, which are smaller in size and pale green in color (larvae of gray moths with diamond shape on back)...

What Causes Bitter Pear Rot? Few things are as delightful as a fresh, ripe pear. Spots on pears may be a symptom of bitter rot, a disease of apples, pears, peach, quince, and cherry. Various conditions affect the development of the disease including temperature, tree health, site, and soil. Bitter rot on pear affects only the fruit and generally occurs during the hottest periods of the growing season. There are several cultural and hygienic steps you can take to prevent pears with bitter rot....

Will Calathea grow outdoors? It depends on your climate because Calathea is a tropical plant. If you’re fortunate to live in a warm, humid climate in USDA plant hardiness zone 8 or above, you can certainly try growing calathea plants in your garden. Read on for more info on growing Calathea plants in gardens. Calathea Plant Info Calathea are tender perennials that grow in clumps from tuberous, underground roots. The blooms, which appear occasionally on most types of plants, are insignificant compared to the big, bold leaves....

Also known as lilyturf and sometimes monkey grass, liriope is a visually appealing and reliable ornamental plant for home landscapes, flower borders, and mass plantings. With a grass-like appearance, lilyturf plants produce a profusion of short white to lavender flower spikes. Once the blooming has completed, the spent flowers are removed and the vibrant evergreen foliage continues to grow throughout fall. Lilyturf Winter Care When it comes to lilyturf, cold tolerance is an important aspect....

What are Wool Sower Galls? You might not notice it immediately, as the wool sower gall takes two years or longer to develop. Galls and abnormal growths on landscape trees are concerning to property owners, but generally not damaging to the trees. Leaves may turn brown and fall off, but this is generally cosmetic. The galls, also called oak seed gall, are a protective structure for the cynipid gall wasp. They are only considered a pest if you dislike what they’ve left on your oak trees....

Chicory Lifespan Info Plant lifespan is often a subject of debate. This is because not only do natural and man-made conditions affect the plant’s duration of life, but also its usefulness. For instance, many annuals in the north are actually perennials or biennials in the south. So, is chicory an annual or perennial? Continue reading to see which… or if there is a third, unexpected choice. Chicory is native to Europe and likely brought to North America by settlers....

Bagworm control starts with understanding the worm itself. These worms use over 100 different plants as their food. When it comes to pine trees, their sacks are mistaken for actual small pine cones. Bagworms are slow-spreading because the female doesn’t fly around. However, winds can blow the worms from plant to plant, which will spread bagworms quite efficiently. How to Get Rid of Bagworms Knowing how to get rid of bagworms is half the battle....

What is Batavia Lettuce? Batavia lettuce is a summer crisp variety that will germinate in warm temperatures and is slow to bolt. There are both open and close headed varieties in colors of green, burgundy, red, magenta, and mixed hues. All kinds of Batavia lettuce are open pollinated and good options for a late season garden. Batavian lettuce plants produce beautifully in cool days like most other lettuce varieties, but they also stand up once the heat comes....

Planting Berries for Birds Although birds may easily be attracted with the use of feeders and bird baths in the warmer months, encouraging residents in your yard throughout cooler seasons can be a little more challenging. Diversity in bird feeding is essential to the health of birds, as well as the backyard ecosystem. By designing a space that incorporates diverse planting and feeding options, backyard bird watchers are able to meet the needs of the bird species they wish to attract....

Before trying to remove a bird of prey that visits your garden, find out its legal status. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects all hawks and owls in the United States and makes it illegal to trap or kill them without a special permit. Permits are only issued after you have tried other methods of convincing the bird to move on. In addition, it is illegal to scare or harass endangered species....

Fortunately, managing black cherry aphids is possible, and damage is usually minimal if the pests are properly controlled in early spring. However, damage is sometimes severe on young trees, where even a few of the pests can create havoc. Read on for more black cherry aphid information and tips on black cherry aphid treatment. Signs of Black Cherry Aphids Black cherry aphids are easy to spot. They are shiny, metallic black, and at 1/8 inch (3 mm....

Planning an ornamental garden that incorporates blanket flowers will be both rewarding and beautiful, as long as some consideration is taken at planting time. Choosing Companions for Blanket Flowers Blanket flower can be grown from seed or starter plants can be purchased from local garden centers. Regardless, growers will need to place the flower in a well-draining location that receives full sun. While blanket flower does well when planted alone, more plants to grow with Gaillardias can elevate its appeal and bring in additional pollinators....

Pests on a Clove Tree Clove trees are small trees, also called tropical myrtle, and are native to the Molucca Islands. They are usually grown for cloves, their unopened flower beds. Most cultivated cloves are used by the tobacco industry to flavor cigarettes. Some cloves are cultivated for use as cooking spices, either whole or in powder form. Those who grow clove trees have to deal with a variety of clove tree pests....

Plant Dormancy in Winter Fall is the time most gardeners plant spring bulbs. Bulbs produce some roots until the real cold sets in. The flower bulb life cycle includes the bloom period, foliar energy gathering, root and offset formation, and finally, they get a much needed cold exposure. Bulbs in winter need the cold exposure to eventually break dormancy bonds and force spring growth. That is why spring bulbs that are “forced” are refrigerated to provide chilling hours necessary for flower development....