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About Mandrake History The history of mandrake plants and their use and legends goes back to ancient times. Ancient Romans, Greeks, and Middle Eastern cultures were all aware of mandrake and all believed the plant had magical powers, not always for good. Mandrake is native to the Mediterranean region. It is a perennial herb with a large root and poisonous fruits. One of the oldest references to mandrake is from the Bible and probably dates to 4,000 B....

Succulent Garden Design Succulents are generally drought-tolerant plants that have thick leaves where they store moisture. Although succulent plants are very tolerant of dry conditions, they do need water, especially during the growing season. Succulent garden design should consider the location, soil type, configuration, moisture level, and the types of plants. Some succulents are more drought tolerant than others. Do a little research on the wide variety of succulent shapes and sizes before starting a succulent garden outside....

Starting a Community Garden The great thing about a community garden is that no one person has all the responsibility. Every member of the group that planned the garden contributes their skills to get it started. If you are in charge of identifying the urban gardening supplies you will need, take into account the size and overall design of the garden. Obviously, you’ll need more tools for urban gardens that are large than or those that are small....

Swinecress Identification and Control Swinecress plants are known by a number of names that include: Wild Tansy Hogweed Blackweed Roman Wormweed Hay-fever Weed Wartcress Lesser Swinecress Annual Ragweed Swinecress seedlings can be identified by small, narrow, lace-shaped cotyledons (first leaves) that are followed by larger leaves of the same shape with hairy tips. In the beginning of its life, the plant grows as a rosette with radiating stems of these leaves....

What is Curly Top Virus? As the name suggests, curly top virus of bean plants mimics the symptoms of moisture stress, a plant with curling leaves. In addition to curling leaves, beans with curly top disease have foliage that becomes thickened and stiff with leaves that twist and curl upward. The leaves may stay green or turn yellow, the plant becomes stunted, and the beans may be deformed or simply not develop....

What are Tachinid Flies? A tachinid fly is a small flying insect that resembles a house fly. Most kinds are less than ½ inch (1 cm.) in length. They usually have a few hairs sticking up and pointing backward and are gray or black in color. Are Tachinid Flies Beneficial? Tachinid flies in gardens are very beneficial because they kill pests. In large part to their size, they don’t bother humans, but make things difficult for garden pests....

Why You Should be Thinning Seedlings? The practice of thinning plants is done to allow them plenty of growing room so that they can receive all the proper growth requirements (moisture, nutrients, light, etc.) without having to compete with other seedlings. When you thin seedlings, you’re also helping to improve the air circulation around them. Crowded plants limit air movement, which can lead to fungal diseases, especially if the foliage remains wet for extended periods....

How to Care for Different Types of Thyme Most thyme varieties are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9 but tend to dislike hot, humid summers or overly wet conditions. Also, most varieties of thyme prefer full sun and well-drained soil. With a little research and even with adverse conditions, however, there are sure to be various types of thyme plants that are suitable for growth in those areas. Avoid fertilizing thyme varieties as they tend to become leggy and weak....

Tomato Plant Diseases Perhaps the most common reason for tomato plant failure is disease. Tomato plants are susceptible to a wide variety of diseases. These include: Alternaria Canker – brown depressed spots on the leaves, fruit and stems Bacterial Canker – leaves wilt, turn yellow, then brown and die from the bottom up Bacterial Speck – small brown dots with yellow rings on fruit and leaves Bacterial Spot – wet, black spots on the leaves that eventually decompose and leave a hole Cucumber Mosaic Virus – the tomato plant will be stunted and will have thin leaves Early Blight – large black irregular shaped spots with yellow rings around them on the leaves Fusarium Crown Rot – whole plant turns brown, starting with mature leaves – brown lines can be found on the stems Fusarium Wilt – plants wilt despite proper watering Gray Leaf Spot – small brown spots on leaves that rot out and leave small holes in the leaves Late Blight – leaves turn pale brown and papery and the fruit develop indented spots Leaf Mold – light green or yellow spots on the undersides of the leaves that eventually cause whole leaves to turn yellow Powdery Mildew – leaves will be covered with a white powdery coating Septoria Leaf Spot – brown and grey spots on the leaves, mostly on older leaves Southern Blight – plant wilts and brown spots can be found on the stem near or at the soil line Spotted Wilt – Bulls-eye type spots on the leaves and the plant will be stunted Timber Rot – The tomato plants will have hollow stems and moldy spots on leaves and stems Tomato Tobacco Mosaic – The plant is stunted with patchy yellow and bright green leaves Verticillium Wilt – Plants wilt despite proper watering...

About African Violet Ring Spot Of all the African violet diseases, African violet ring spot is about the least serious that you can encounter. In fact, it’s really not even a disease, though it presents just like one. When leaves on African violets are spotty and you’ve ruled out fungal and viral pathogens, there’s only one answer that makes sense: African violet ring spot. Hobbyists are far too familiar with this problem, but it’s an easy one to manage....

About Pollinator Trees Bees are the most important pollinator of flowers and crops. The recent decline in the bee population has everyone worried, including farmers and gardeners. Planting bee-friendly trees and shrubs is one way to help these essential species by providing a long-term balanced habitat. Certain trees and shrubs are the backbone plants for a bee-friendly ecosystem. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plant smaller pollinator plants since habitats should be multi-tiered....

Why Won’t My Tree Leaf Out? Trees not leafing out? A tree with no leaves when spring comes indicates a tree in some degree of distress. It is best to do a thorough investigation before jumping to any conclusions regarding the lack of growth. A tree with no leaves can be attributed to bud issues. If the tree has some leaves, begin your assessment of buds that never broke. If you cut into the bud and it is brown and dead, it is an indication that it has been dead quite a long time....

What is Tumbled Glass Mulch? Glass mulch is a commonly used synthetic, or inorganic mulch. Using tumbled glass mulch made from used glass bottles, old windows, and other glass products keeps glass out of the landfills. The ground, tumbled glass, which may display minor flaws common to recycled glass, is available in various shades of amber, blue, and green. Clear glass mulch is also available. Sizes range from very fine mulch to 2 to 6 inch (5-15 cm....

Wondering how to choose a winter squash for your garden? Read on for more details about different kinds of winter squash. Winter Squash Varieties Acorn – Acorn squash is a small squash with a thick, green and orange rind. The orange-yellow flesh has a sweet, nutty flavor. Buttercup – Buttercup squash is similar in size to acorn squash, but the shape is round and squat. Buttercup’s rind is dark green with pale gray-green stripes....

Growing Verbena Plants Verbena is a great summer plant with long bloom times and a great tolerance to heat. It is a perennial, although some people grow it like an annual because it will not always last as long as you might expect. Verbena absolutely must have full sun and well-drained soil, so choose the location carefully. With shade and too much moisture, these plants will develop mildew and fail to bloom....

Gardening in Oregon – Flower, Shrub and Tree Planting with the USDA Plant Map Gardeners, especially those new to the hobby, want nothing more than to see their flowers, shrubs, and trees thrive. Sometimes choosing plants can be overwhelming, as there are some many varieties from which to select. While many factors come into play when considering the suitability of a particular plant, the Oregon USDA plant hardiness information should always be considered first....

Can You Use Cedar Mulch in Vegetable Gardens? With all mulch comes the danger of wind. In areas with very high winds, it may be best not to apply mulch at all. If it’s only a little wind you’re battling, shredded wood mulch resists getting blown away better than chips. That said, cedar sawdust has been shown to negatively affect young plants and should be avoided. The problem with using any woody material as a mulch is that it draws essential nitrogen from the soil as it decomposes....

What is a Weed Barrier? Attaining popularity in the mid 1980’s, garden weed barriers composed of these geotextiles are usually covered with mulch for not only aesthetic reasons but to also hinder the degradation of the fabric weed barrier from the sun and to help maintain consistent moisture beneath the weed barrier cloth. A fabric weed barrier, whether poly propylene or polyester, is a burlap-like fabric that will last a minimum of five years with a weight of at least 3 ounces (85 g....

Verbena Companion Plants Companion planting can be based on a few things. One major reason to place certain plants near each other is pest management. Some plants naturally repel certain pests or attract their natural predators. These are best grown near other plants that tend to suffer from those pests. Verbena, especially if it is unhealthy or neglected, can often fall prey to spider mites and thrips. Some good companion plants for verbena that repel spider mites are dill, cilantro, and garlic....

What is a Viroid? Viroids are very similar to the viruses you might have studied in biology class. They are incredibly simple organisms that barely meet the criteria for life, but manage somehow to reproduce and cause problems everywhere they go. Unlike viruses, viroids consist of a single strand RNA molecule and lack a protective protein coat. They were discovered in the late 1960s, and since then we’ve been trying to determine just how viroids differ from viruses....