Posts

About Forest Gardens What is a forest garden? A forest garden isn’t exactly a forest, and it isn’t quite an orchard or a vegetable garden. Rather, a forest garden is a planting method that takes advantage of beneficial relationships between plants, much like a woodland ecosystem. The result is a beautiful, highly productive garden that doesn’t require a lot of space. A basic edible forest garden consists of three layers: groundcovers, shrubs, and trees....

Hanging Herbs to Dry Hanging herbs to dry at room temperature is the easiest and least expensive way of how to dry herbs. Remove the lower leaves and bundle four to six branches together, securing with string or a rubber band. Place them upside down in a brown paper bag, with stems protruding and tie closed. Punch small holes along the top for air circulation. Hang the bag in a warm, dark, area for about two to four weeks, checking periodically until the herbs are dry....

How to Grow a Pine Tree from Seed You can grow pine trees using seed in pine cone scales that are harvested from female cones. Female pine cones are considerably larger than their male counterparts. Mature pine cones are woody and brown in appearance. One cone produces about two seeds beneath each scale. These seeds will remain in the cone until it dries out and opens up completely. Seed in pine cones can usually be identified by the prominent-looking wing, which is attached to the seed for aid in dispersal....

Care of a Gardenia Bush Prior to Transplanting Proper care of a gardenia bush prior to transplanting is crucial to the success of transplanting. Make sure that your gardenia is in the best shape possible, free of fungus and pests. If your gardenia is ailing from any problems, do not attempt to transplant it until you have addressed its current issues. Best Time for Transplanting Gardenia Bushes The best time to transplant gardenia plants is in the fall, after the plant has finished blooming....

What is a Root Knot Nematode? A root knot nematode is a parasitic, microscopic worm that invades the soil and the roots of the plants in the soil. There are several varieties of this pest but all of the varieties have the same effect on plants. Root Knot Nematode Symptoms Root knot nematode can be spotted initially by stunted plant growth and a yellow color to the plant. To confirm the presence of this parasite, you can look at the roots of the affected plant....

As frustrating as the waiting may be, you will be glad to know that there are a few things that can either speed up or slow down how fast a tomato turns red. What Makes Tomatoes Turn Red? The main determiner in how fast a tomato turns red is the variety. Smaller fruited varieties will turn red faster than large fruited varieties. This means that a cherry tomato will not take nearly as long to turn red as a beefsteak tomato....

About Aquatic Limnophila It is very common that exotic plants arrive in an area and then become nuisances when they overpopulate wild regions and out compete native plants. Limnophila plants are just such aliens. There are over 40 varieties in the genus, which are either perennial or annual. They grow in wet conditions and are very uncomplaining and low maintenance. Growing Limnophila in aquariums is a common scenario. Since they do well in such conditions and need little specialized care, they make excellent cover for fish....

Madrone Tree Facts Pacific madrone is native to the coastal ranges of the Pacific Northwest, from northern California to British Columbia, where winters are wet and mild and summers are cool and dry. It tolerates occasionally chilly weather, but isn’t highly frost-resistant. Pacific madrone is a versatile, relatively slow-growing tree that reaches heights of 50 to 100 feet (15-20 m.) or more in the wild, but usually tops out at only 20 to 50 feet (6-15 m....

Collecting Seeds from Marigold Flowers Collecting seeds from marigold flowers is easy. That being said, the plants don’t form recognizable seed pods, so finding the seeds is tricky if you don’t know where to look. The first thing you need to do is wait for the flowers to fade and dry. Choose a flower head that is very withered and dried out. It should be mostly brown, with just a little bit of green left at the base....

Naturally occurring in many parts of the western United States, Limnanthes meadowfoam is just one example of a small plant that can make a big difference in the flower garden. What is Meadowfoam? Limnanthes meadowfoam, or meadowfoam for short, is an annual flowering plant which produces multitudes of small white and yellow flowers. These flowers are especially attractive to insects such as bees, butterflies, and hoverflies. Found growing in meadows and fields with consistently moist soils, meadowfoam has gained focus most recently for its potential use as a commercial oil crop....

Meyer lemon growing can be grown outside in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11. Those in more northern areas successfully grow Meyer lemons in large containers that are overwintered indoors, away from freezing temperatures. Caring for a Meyer lemon tree is simple when you follow a few basic steps. We’ll list them here for those who may be having difficulty growing these lemons and for those new to Meyer lemon growing....

What is Canna Mosaic Virus? There are several mosaic viruses out there. The one that infects cannas and is frequently referred to as Canna Mosaic Virus is also known as Bean Yellow Mosaic Virus. When it infects cannas, this virus causes yellow mottling or chlorosis of the plant’s leaves between the veins. Eventually, this can lead to plant stunting and death. What Causes Mosaic on Canna Plants? Mosaic virus in cannas is usually spread by aphids....

Unfortunately, there are no cures for mosaic virus of plums, but there are ways to prevent the disease from affecting your fruit trees. Thanks to strict quarantine programs, mosaic virus of plums is now relatively unusual. Let’s learn the signs and symptoms of plum mosaic virus and how to prevent the disease from infecting your trees. Symptoms of Mosaic Virus on Plums Plum mosaic virus shows up on the leaves, which are mottled with green, white, or yellow blotches....

Types of Mountain Laurel Pests This shrub is a great plant for shady yards and forest gardens, but there are a few bugs that eat mountain laurel. Be aware of all the possible mountain laurel insects that may infest so that you can take steps to prevent and manage as needed: Lace bug – If you see pale, mottled discoloration on your mountain laurel’s leaves, it may be lace bug that is sucking the sap out of them....

About Portable Containers Casters are your friends when it comes to creating moving garden containers. Be sure to use heavy-duty casters, as movable containers are very heavy when they’re filled with plants and damp potting mix. If you’ve ever had to lug a huge houseplant around, you know what I mean. If you’re making portable containers from wood, spend a little more money and use rot-resistant lumber. Avoid softwoods, which won’t hold up to weather in most climates and are more likely to be damaged by pests or fungus....

Kale Rabe Information Kale is a member of the brassica family which includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and even radishes. Each of these plants is grown specifically for one particular characteristic, whether it’s for its tasty leaves, edible stem, peppery greens, or spicy root. Even though a specific brassica crop is grown for a select characteristic, sometimes other parts of the plant are edible as well. So, kale is generally grown for its nutritious leaves, but what about other parts of kale?...

Information About Using Naranjilla If you are fluent in Spanish, then you recognize that ‘naranjilla’ means little orange. This nomenclature is somewhat flawed, however, in that naranjilla is not related in any way to citrus. Instead, naranjilla (Solanum quitoense) is related to the eggplant and tomato; in fact, the fruit looks very similar to a tomatillo on the inside. The outside of the fruit is covered with sticky hairs. As the fruit ripens, it turns from a bright green to orange....

Growing Crocus in Lawns If you’re thinking about growing crocus in the yard, there are several things to consider. If you like a lawn that is luxurious, lush, and heavily fertilized, planting handfuls of crocus may be a waste of time because the bulbs have little chance of competing with a stand of thick grass. If you’re fussy about your lawn and you like it perfectly manicured, you may not be happy with the little guys popping up all over the place....

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....

About Nectar Peach Trees Peach season is a treat. Nectar peaches are considered mid-season fruits with harvest dates from early to mid-July. They are one of the more popular of the white peach varieties, noted for their creamy flesh and delicious juice-on-your-chin flavor. Like most stone fruits, Nectar peach care is minimal once established, but young plants need some training and a little TLC to develop correctly. This tree originated in Bakersfield, C....