Reasons for Pumpkin Fruit Drop Pollination problems Poor pollination is probably the most common reason for pumpkins falling off the vine, as the window of time for pollination is very narrow – about four to six hours. If pollination doesn’t occur during that time, the blooms will close for good, never to be pollinated. To get around this problem, remove a male blossom and rub the stamen directly on the female bloom....
Tips on Woad Control We all seem to have a different notion of what is a weed. Personally, I feel a plant is a weed if it is invasive, choking out other plants or in the wrong location. Other gardeners may feel differently. For instance, a plant may be a weed if it is ugly, too big, or even has a bad odor. Woad grows wild in roadsides, ditches, pastures, fields, forest edges, and almost any other open space....
Climbing Fragrant Flowers Fragrant vines for the home flower garden are generally divided into one of two categories: annuals or perennials. Though most flowering vines are easy to grow, they require a secure support onto which they are able to climb. This can be accomplished through the use of simple plant netting, decorative trellises, and/or large arbors. The type of support used also depends greatly upon the plant species. In fact, there are several ways in which various species of plant grow upwards....
Is Juice Good for Plants? Similar to salt, sugar absorbs water and therefore, can prevent plant roots from taking up appropriate amounts of it as well as valuable nutrients. The result of introducing too much sugar into a plant’s root system can be inhibited plant growth or even death. Most juices, from apple juice to orange juice, have varying sugar contents depending on the brand. While apples do contain sugar, using unsweetened apple juice on plants will have little negative effect on growing plants but probably no benefit either....
What is Tree Girdle? Tree girdling poses a serious health threat to trees. What is tree girdle? Girdling results when a piece of bark around the circumference of a tree is removed. Since bark is necessary to move nutrients through the tree, it is critical that the girdling problem be fixed immediately. Girdle trunk damage left untended results in slow death. Most girdling can happen when a weed eater or mower accidentally strikes the trunk or when a stake tie becomes too tight....
Things to Consider About Flowering Fences Almost everyone loves flowers. If you have an old, unkempt fence, cover it in blooms. Flowers to cover fences may be vines or shrubs, and they are the perfect cover up for a divider that is past its prime. Flowers that climb fences are another option to beautify an eye sore. Using flowers along fences can pretty up the boundary. They will also attract bees and other pollinators to help your veggies and other flowers produce....
Plants as Gifts Plants make perfect gifts. They provide a relaxing vision, last for a long period, and are economical. Plants as gifts for holidays or special occasions can come in the form of a potted indoor plant, specialty flower, or even a new tree for your landscape. The types usually bestowed are from the grocery store floral department or big box store holiday displays. Growing holiday plants in their season generally requires average plant care....
How to Plant Yarrow Yarrow is most often propagated by division, so chances are you’ll buy your yarrow as a plant. Space your plants 12 to 24 inches (30-60 cm.) apart if you’re planting more than one yarrow plant. You can also start your yarrow herb from seed. Start seeds indoors about six to eight weeks before your last frost date. Sow the seeds in moist, normal potting soil. The seeds should just barely be covered by the potting soil....
Hardy orchid care is surprisingly easy and growing hardy orchids offers a range of bloom colors to put on a show in the spring garden. Growing hardy orchids is not complicated; they grow from rhizomes planted in the part sun, part shade garden in USDA Zones 6-9. Flowers of hardy orchid plants range in shades of white, pink, purple, and red. Hardy Chinese Ground Orchid Also called the hardy Chinese ground orchid, and botanically known as Bletilla striata, the plant is native to China and Japan....
Harvesting for Beginners As a new gardener, it’s advisable to learn how to harvest vegetables to avoid damaging both the produce and the plants. Before heading out to the garden, review some of these basic harvesting guide protocols: Pick gently – When harvesting, grasp the veggie gently, but firmly. Ripe produce can easily bruise, which can lead to premature spoilage. Snap cleanly – Some vegetable stems have a natural breaking point while others may rip or tear when the fruit is removed....
For a long time, Haworthia was thought to belong to the Aloe family, but its class was reassigned in the early 1800’s as a more thorough breakdown of plant genera was undertaken. Not all plants in the genera have the window pane leaves with their opaque fleshy leaves and rich, green interiors; the majority of the plants in the genus are small succulents with a low growth habit and similar cultivation requirements....
Hay Scented Fern Habitat Hay scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctiloba) is a deciduous fern that, when crushed, releases a scent of fresh mowed hay. They can grow up to 2 feet (60 cm.) in height and spread up to 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 m.) wide. This fern grows singly from underground stems, called rhizomes. Hay scented fern is a bright green that turns to a soft yellow in the fall....
Pollination of Hazelnuts Getting to be a hazelnut is a rather long process. Hazelnut flower clusters are produced more than a year before the nut is ready to harvest. First, male catkins begin to form in mid-May, appear in June, but don’t actually reach maturity until December or January. Female flower parts begin to form at the end of June toward the first part of July and are first visible in late November to early December....
Tips on Hydrangeas That Take Heat Keep in mind that even sun tolerant hydrangeas and heat tolerant hydrangeas benefit from afternoon shade in hot climates, as too much direct sun can wilt the leaves and stress the plant. Also, even relatively drought tolerant hydrangea shrubs need water during hot, dry weather – sometimes every day. So far, there are no truly drought tolerant hydrangea shrubs, although some are more tolerant of dry conditions than others....
Are Nandina Berries Poisonous? Nandina shrubs have many traits that make them appealing to gardeners. These plants have year-round interest with spring flowers, ornamental fruits, and sometimes autumn color. They tolerate drought, shade, and salt and are quite resistant to damage by deer. In addition, they are free of serious pest issues. However, before planting nandina shrubs, you need to read up on heavenly bamboo berries and birds. One of the most ornamental features of this bush is its shiny red berries, quite similar to holly berries....
How to Grow Peanuts Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) prefer a long, warm growing season and are typically planted from mid to late spring (after the threat of frost has passed) through mid-summer. When you are growing peanuts, plant them in well-draining, sandy soil that is rich in organic matter such as leaves, compost, or well-rotted manure. They also need to be planted in a sunny location. Planting requirements vary somewhat among peanut varieties....
Rose hips form on many of our species, but the rosa rugosa hips are one of the largest and tastiest. Wild rose hips have been used for centuries in many recipes. They can be used fresh or save dried rose hips for off season enjoyment. High in vitamins and minerals, rose hips add a delightful fragrance and flavor to daily recipes. About Rosa Rugosa Hips Rose hips are the ripened ovary of the rose flower....
Reblooming Amaryllis Flowers How do I get an amaryllis flower to rebloom? Amaryllis plants in nature live in a habitat that alternates between nine months of moist wet weather, and a three month dry season. The trick to make an amaryllis flower rebloom is to mimic the natural cycles of its habitat. When the last flower fades, take care and cut the stalk near the top of the bulb. Make sure you leave the foliage on the bulb and try not to damage them while cutting the flower stalks....
Planting Next to Hydrangeas When you are considering hydrangea plant companions, look for plants that are similar to hydrangea and those that are different. You can draw focus to your hydrangea’s features either by repeating them or contrasting them in companion plants. For example, the popular mophead hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) grows naturally as a rounded, mounding shrub with large, rounded leaves. You might choose other plants with rounded foliage as companions for hydrangea, like Hosta....
Info about Wood Sage Wood sage (Teucrium canadense) goes by many other names too, including Canadian germander, germander wood sage and wood sage wildflower. This germander is a perennial herb native to many areas of North America. Wood sage plants form a low-creeping groundcover that is native to the United States. Growing germander wood sage can often be found in shaded to partially shaded, moist areas such as along stream banks, lake shores, marshes, prairies, ditches, and pastures....
