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In recent years, many growers have brought special attention to the needs of bees. Included in this are their need for shelter, nectar, and the often-overlooked need for water. Honeybee Bath Info The inclusion of a bee bath for gardens is an excellent way to ensure bee needs are being met throughout the growing season. Initially, some may find the concept of a honeybee bath to be somewhat silly. Like all animals, however, bees do need water in order to survive....

Hosui Asian Pear Info If you’ve ever had a Hosui pear, you won’t forget the experience. This variety has a high acid content and is best eaten fresh but also makes unbeatable pies. The tree produces copious quantities of medium sized, golden skinned fruit. Hosui Asian pear trees grow 8 to 10 feet (2-3 m.) in height with a spread of 6 to 7 feet (2 m.). This tree is considered self-pollinating but even more of the delicious fruits are produced with a pollinating partner such as New Century....

When to Pick Hot Peppers Most peppers take at least 70 days from transplanting and another three to four weeks thereafter to reach maturity. Hot peppers often take longer. Be sure that you know what type of pepper you have planted and then look up the days to maturity. If you have a plant tag or seed packet, the planting time should be there. If not, there’s always the internet. If you have no idea what variety you are growing, you will need to ascertain harvest time by other means....

Novice Container Gardening Container gardens are popping up everywhere from nostalgic window boxes to balcony terraces. Container gardening is a great way for apartment dwellers to still be able to enjoy nature in a smaller setting. Novices to container gardening should keep a few basic tips in mind, however, to guarantee success. Container Gardening Tips The container you choose does not need to be anything fancy or expensive. You don’t even have to buy it at a gardening store....

Borage Growing Conditions This beautiful herb definitely isn’t fussy. Borage prefers full sunlight but tolerates light shade. In the ground, borage thrives in rich, well-drained soil. However, potted borage plants do fine in any well-drained commercial potting soil. Growing Borage in Pots Borage reaches heights of 2 to 3 feet (0.5-1 m.) and the taproot is long and sturdy. Therefore, potted borage plants need a sturdy container with a depth and width of at least 12 inches (30....

Reusing Seed Envelopes The simplest way to make use of your old seed packets is to reuse them. There are two easy ways to do this: Seed holders: Simply reuse seed packets for their intended use. If you collect seeds at the end of the growing season, save those packets for an easy way to keep them separate and identified. You can seal the packets into sandwich bags or plastic containers for storage....

What are Parkland Roses? The Parkland Series roses are a group of roses that were created to survive the Canadian winters well. The Parkland Series of rose bush varieties were developed by the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) at Morden Research Station in Manitoba. These rose bushes are indeed hardy but are said not to be as cold hardy as the Explorer Series of rose bushes, which were also created in Canada to survive the harsh winters....

How to Grow Kiwano Kiwano horned fruit performs best in full sunlight and well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Prepare the soil ahead of time by digging in a few inches of manure or compost, as well as an application of balanced garden fertilizer. Plant kiwano horned fruit seeds directly into the garden after all danger of frost has passed and temperatures are consistently above 54 F. (12 C.). Optimum temperatures for germination are between 68 and 95 F....

What is Knotgrass? Knotgrass is a perennial warm season plant that creeps together with rhizomes and forms a green mass. The plant sends out stems with growth nodes, and each node can root and start a new clump of the grass. The blades of knotgrass plants are flat and tapers, and the plant sends up 18 inch (46 cm.) tall flower stems with pink, red, green, or white blooms. The overall mat is only 2 to 6 inches (5-15 cm....

Why Do Plants Need Sunlight? Planting a plant in soil and then watering it is not enough for the plant to grow. The plant, like you or me, needs food. Incredibly, plants have the ability to feed themselves. Sunlight is one of the most important building blocks to creating the food the plant needs. Plants can’t use the light energy they absorb to make food. Instead, the light energy is converted to chemical energy....

Growing Low-Light Edibles Due to higher labor costs, growing edibles in the dark often raises their market value. Low-light gardening can be a profitable solution for gardeners wishing to enter a niche market. Here are three plants which use the energy stored in their roots to produce vegetables in the dark: White Asparagus – Compared to green asparagus, the white version has a sweeter, more delicate flavor. Popular in Europe, white asparagus can be produced by blocking sunlight from reaching the sprouts....

Maidenhair Fern Indoor Growing The most critical part of growing the maidenhair fern inside is careful attention to soil moisture and humidity. Your fern’s soil must absolutely never dry out or it will very quickly produce many brown fronds. It is recommended to grow these plants in pots with drainage holes. When you water a maidenhair fern, take it to a sink, give it a complete and thorough soaking, and let all the excess water drain away....

Compass Plant Information Compass plants look much like wild sunflowers, but although they are both members of the Asteraceae family, they are not the same plant. Compass plants are tall plants with sturdy, bristly stems that reach heights of 9 to 12 feet (2.5 to 3.5 m.). The deeply cut leaves, which resemble oak leaves, can reach lengths of 12 to 18 inches (30.5 to 45.5 cm.). Clusters of bright yellow, daisy-like flowers bloom on the upper part of the plant during the hot summer months....

What is Necrotic Rusty Mottle Virus? Necrotic rusty mottle in cherries is not a common problem. However, it can occur in the sweet cherry cultivars as well as Portuguese laurel, which is also in the Prunus genus. Crop loss may occur and the vigor of the tree is diminished due to foliage loss. The disease is a virus but closely resembles many fungal issues. Fungicides will not help, though, and a cherry tree with necrotic rusty mottle virus often dies within 1 to 2 years....

What happens though when there are no blooms on cosmos? Keep reading to learn more. Why are My Cosmos Not Blooming? Cosmos are fairly easy to grow and generally quite hardy, although some gardeners report that their cosmos did not bloom as expected. Below are the most common reasons for non-blooming in cosmos plants. Immaturity Sometimes we get a little overzealous for plant bloom but forget that it takes about seven weeks for cosmos to come into bloom from seed....

Pussy Willow Not Flowering Pussy willow trees are native to many areas, including Canada and the eastern U.S. Like all willows, they are in the genus Salix. The willow species getting pussy willow catkins are American willow (Salix discolor) and goat willow (Salix caprea). Pussy willow catkins grow on both male and female willow trees. Male catkins produce strands of tiny staminate flowers, while female catkins bear pistillate flowers. The pussy willow catkins you see in late winter are likely from the male trees, since they start getting pussy willow catkins earlier than female trees....

What Causes White Squirrels? The explanation for most cases of white fur is leucism in squirrels. Leucism is a genetic trait in which a recessive allele results in a reduction of pigment. You can see leucism in many types of wild animals, including squirrels. Whether you’re seeing white fox squirrels or white gray squirrels may be hard to tell. With their more typical coloring, it’s easy to identify the yellowish belly of the fox and the white belly of the gray squirrel....

Using Painted Garden Stones and Rocks Putting painted rocks in your garden is limited only by your imagination. Rocks big or small, painted anyway you like, can set the tone for your beds, add an unexpected splash of color, and even serve as memorials. Here are some ideas for how to use this trendy new garden decoration: Use painted rocks as labels for your herb and vegetable garden. Just lay a rock down by each plant or row with the name or picture painted on the rock....

Why are Pitcher Plants Turning Black? When pitcher plant (Nepenthes) leaves are turning black, it is usually the result of shock or a sign that the plant is going into dormancy. Something as simple as a change in conditions the plant experiences when you bring it home from the nursery can cause shock. A pitcher plant can also go into shock when any of its needs aren’t being met. Here are some things to check:...

What to Plant in Hot Weather There are a few crops that are drought-resistant and grow with little water. Vegetables to plant in summer include: Lima beansPole beans CornField peasCowpeas Black-eyed peas Edible amaranth Quinoa Mustard greens Okra There are others that can produce with little irrigation. Try to get your primary crops growing in early spring for best results and most abundant harvest. Plant again if needed to grow more crops in the fall....