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Using the Cockscomb Flower in the Garden The cockscomb plant is versatile in height, sometimes remaining as short as a few inches (8 cm.) while others grow to a few feet (1 m.). The irregular growth habits of the cockscomb plant can lead to surprises in the garden. Though an annual flower, growing cockscomb reseeds freely and often supplies a wealth of plants for next year. Learn how to grow cockscomb and others of the cockscomb Celosia family for attractive specimens in the summer flower bed....

Cocoa Mulch Benefits There are several cocoa mulch benefits to using cocoa hulls in the garden. Organic cocoa mulch, which contains nitrogen, phosphate, and potash and has a pH of 5.8, adds beneficial nutrients to the soil. Using cocoa hulls in the garden is an excellent way to increase soil vitality and is an attractive top cover for both flower beds and vegetable patches. Cocoa bean hulls also help retain moisture in garden beds and reduce weeds organically, eliminating the need for chemical-laden herbicides....

Cold Climate Herb Garden The colder your climate, the more your plants run the risk of not surviving the winter. Some cold hardy herbs (mint, thyme, oregano, sage, and chives) are very well adapted. In areas with frost, they grow as perennials, going dormant in the winter and coming back with new growth in the spring. A few weeks before the first frost of autumn, prune your plants, removing any woody or dead stems and snipping off the upper leaves....

Why Has My Anthurium Turned Green? Anthuriums grow in trees or compost-rich soil in tropical jungle regions where shade is dense. They have come into cultivation because of the glossy green leaves and long lasting inflorescence. Growers have manipulated the plants into hues that span the rainbow, and that includes green. They also fool plants for retail purposes into blooming using hormones. This means that once they’re brought home and no longer exposed to the hormones, the plant will revert to normal growth behavior....

Coneflower Pests The most common insect pests that affect coneflowers include sweet potato whiteflies, aphids, Japanese beetles, and Eriophyid mites. Sweet potato whiteflies – Sweet potato whiteflies live and feed on the undersides of leaves, sucking out plant juices. Oftentimes, the presence of these pests results in the growth of black sooty mold. In addition, you may see leaf yellowing and shredding. Sweet potato whiteflies can also transfer diseases, such as vector viruses....

Planning a Garden Wisely In order to avoid the most common garden design mistakes, you need to start with a walk-through of your backyard. Look at the exposure. Where do you get sun? What parts are shady? Is there wind blowing through? Do you have any erosion issues? Also, note the existing structures on the property including sheds, trellises, fences, and walkways. Next, look at your soil (and do testing if needed) in order to be able to select appropriate plants....

About Community Supported Agriculture Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), or subscription farming, is where a community of people pay an annual or seasonal fee ahead of a harvest that helps the farmer pay for seed, equipment maintenance, etc. In return, you receive weekly or monthly shares of the harvest. CSAs are membership based and rely on the idea of mutual support – “We’re all in this together.” Some CSA food boxes need to be picked up at the farm while others are delivered to a central location for pick up....

How to Grow Bleeding Heart in a Pot A large container is best for bleeding heart container growing, as bleeding heart is a relatively large plant at maturity. If you’re short on space, consider a smaller species such as Dicentra formosa, which tops out at 6 to 20 inches (15-51 cm.). Fill the container with a rich, well-drained, lightweight potting mix that mimics the plant’s natural environment. A compost or peat-based commercial mix works well but add perlite or sand to ensure the mix drains well....

About Blackberries with Orange Rust Blackberry orange rust is a systemic fungal disease that can be caused by two fungal pathogens, Arthuriomyces peckianus and Gymnoconia nitens. These pathogens can be distinguished by their spore shape and life cycle; however, they both infect blackberry plants the same way and cause the same symptoms and damage. As a systemic disease, once a plant is infected, the infection is present throughout the entire plant for the rest of the plant’s life....

What is Southern Blight of Pepper Plants? Southern blight does not only affect peppers, but pepper plants are a target of this fungus. Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii, this disease is also known as southern wilt or southern stem rot. Other plants affected by southern blight include: Carrots Potatoes Tomatoes Sweet potatoes Cantaloupe Beans The fungus attacks plants initially on the stem, right at the soil line. One of the earliest signs of the disease is a small, brown lesion on the stem....

What is Creeping Bellflower? It’s said that the Old World fairytale character Rapunzel got her name from creeping bellflower after her father stole a plant from a witch’s magic garden. The witch gets revenge on the father by hiding Rapunzel away in a tower. The plant was trouble then, and it’s trouble now for anyone who gets it in their garden. Creeping bellflower is a perennial that thrives in moist soil but tolerates nearly any soil and either sun or shade....

Saving Seeds from Cucumbers, Yes or No? Well, yes and no. Saving seeds from cucumbers is definitely doable if you keep a couple of points in mind. First of all, don’t attempt to collect seeds from any cukes that are labeled hybrid. Hybrids are created by cross breeding specific parent plants selected for an outstanding characteristic, but seeds saved from these plants will not reproduce a true copy of the parent plant, and in fact, are often sterile....

What are Cucurbits? The Cucurbitaceae family is the species with the most food used for human consumption. The common types of cucurbits that we are familiar with include such things as: Cucumbers Pumpkins Summer/Winter squash Watermelons Muskmelons Many people don’t know that gourds are included in this group as well. All cucurbits, except the bottle gourd, have bright yellow flowers. Each vine produces a male and a female flower. Growing Cucurbit Crops Cucurbits grow best in summer weather when days and nights are consistently warm....

About Cotoneaster Pruning Cotoneaster is not one of those shrubs that requires pruning to develop vigorous, strong branches. In fact, the shorter varieties of cotoneaster are creepers, without upright branches. To trim cotoneasters that are groundcover types, you want to keep the brakes on. Don’t get carried away with cotoneaster pruning here. Only dead or diseased branches should be removed, or those that detract from the natural symmetry of the plant....

When to Trim a Pumpkin Pumpkin vine pruning, as long as it is done judiciously, doesn’t harm the plants, as is evident by my inadvertent hacking of the vines while mowing the lawn. That said, cutting them back hard will reduce the foliage enough to affect photosynthesis and affect the plant’s health and productivity. Pruning is done to achieve one or both of the following: to reign in the plant’s size, or to promote the growth of a select pumpkin per vine....

Reasons for Daffodil Leaves Turning Yellow If your daffodil leaves are turning yellow because of disease, then you may need to destroy the bulbs and start fresh with new, disease-resistant bulbs. Look for bulbs that have been pre-treated with fungicide. Below are the most common issues leading to yellowing daffodil foliage. Basal Rot Basal rot is a serious fungal disease that survives in the soil and becomes active when soil temperatures reach about 55 degrees F....

Tips for Saving Dahlias There are several ways of storing dahlia tubers for winter. The crucial part of the process is cleaning and drying. However, even the best methods still require you to inspect the tubers occasionally over the course of the winter. Environmental changes in the storage location, such as increased humidity or fluctuating temperatures, can still damage overwintering dahlia tubers. Whether you have the dinner plate sized bombshells or the dainty lollipop variety, it is important to know how to remove and store dahlia tubers....

What are Damianita Daisies? Damianita daisies are small evergreen shrubs that grow to a foot (30 cm.) or so in height and the same across. Highly aromatic the plant is covered with medium to dark green fine foliage and blooms from spring through September with brilliantly hued yellow blossoms. Damianita Plant Info Damianita daisies (Chrysactinia mexicana) are native to Mexico, Texas and New Mexico. The first syllable of the genus name, “chrys” means golden, which is indicative of the bloom color....

If you are interested in growing this type of cabbage, read on. We’ll give you information on this variety and tips on Danish Ballhead cabbage care. Danish Ballhead Heirloom Cabbage Europeans have been growing Danish Ballhead for centuries. The early strain of this heirloom vegetable was the Danish variety Amager, named for the island of Amager near Copenhagen. It was cultivated as far back as the 15th century. Specimens of this cabbage variety were introduced to the United States in 1887 as Danish Ballhead cabbage plants....

Zone 7 Deciduous Trees Below are just some examples of zone 7 deciduous trees, including ornamental trees, small trees, and suggestions for trees that provide fall color or summer shade. (Keep in mind that many of these hardy deciduous trees are suitable for more than one category.) Ornamental Weeping cherry (Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula’) Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) Crabapple (Malus) Saucer magnolia (Magnolia soulangeana) White dogwood (Cornus florida) Redbud (Cercis canadensis) Cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) Serviceberry (Amelanchier) Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) Golden chain (Laburnum x watereri)...