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Sweet potatoes are highly nutritious and come in two different varieties — dry flesh types and moist flesh types. The moist fleshed types convert more starch to sugars when cooked, thus becoming softer and sweeter than their dry kin and are more often referred to as yams, although true yams can only be cultivated in tropical climes. Either variety has roots variously hued from white to orange to red, depending on the cultivar....

Understanding Agave Propagation Monocarpic species are those which bloom once and die back. This is a reproductive strategy that produces offspring in a number of ways. Sexual reproduction occurs when the flowers are pollinated and seeds are formed. This method of agave propagation can produce offspring which are genetically different from the parents. Depending upon the species, some agave produces aerial bulbils. These are essentially new plantlets that form on the flower stalk....

Protecting Roses from Hot Weather When the temps are in the mid to high 90s to 100s (32-37 C.) and up, it is important to try and keep them not only well hydrated/watered but also to provide them some form of heat relief. When the foliage looks wilted, it is a form of natural protection that will usually come out of it during cooler times of the evening. In places such as Tucson, Arizona, where there is little time for such “relief breaks” from the intense heat, it is important to try to create a means for such “relief breaks....

Is Pruning Crepe Myrtle Trees Needed? Before going into how to prune crepe myrtle trees, we need to look at if you need to prune you crepe myrtle at all. While pruning crepe myrtle trees is good for helping to keep the tree shaped like you would like it to be, it is not normally necessary to the health of the tree. Prune crepe myrtle trees when you wish to shape them or if you find the branches are too close together for your taste, but for the most part, you do not need to prune crepe myrtle trees....

Pumpkins are the icons of Halloween decorating. However, choosing pumpkins isn’t always that easy unless you know what you’re looking for. This article can help with that so you can pick the best pumpkin for your situation. Halloween Pumpkin Selection Pumpkins are one of the most popular symbols of Halloween, representing not only the autumn harvest but also Halloween décor. The old Irish tradition of carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, which was once done using large turnips, still goes on today....

Diaper Filling for Moisture Control Have you ever wondered how disposable diapers hold so much liquid? You might be surprised to learn that these highly absorbable, throwaway diapers contain hydrogel – that’s the same stuff you can buy in gardening stores, usually labeled as water retention crystals or something similar. They work because each little crystal swells up like a sponge, keeping in moisture. For this reason, helping your plants grow with diapers is extremely plausible....

How to Make a Rainbow Color Garden A color garden is created just like any other garden design. Select rainbow garden plants that grow well in your area and be sure those chosen share similar growing requirements when planted together. You can also grow different types of plants in containers for more flexibility. Help your child pick plant colors that will complement one another as well as the overall design to avoid looking too busy, and choose age appropriate plants too....

Growing Flowering Crabapple Ralph Shay crabapple trees are suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. The tree grows in nearly any type of well-drained soil, but isn’t well suited for hot, dry desert climates or areas with wet, humid summers. Before planting, amend the soil generously with organic material such as compost or well-rotted manure. Surround the tree with a thick layer of mulch after planting to prevent evaporation and keep the soil evenly moist, but don’t allow the mulch to pile up against the base of the trunk....

Define Ratoon A ratoon is a new sprout or shoot that emerges from the base of a monocot crop (after it has been cropped. Ratooning is a method of propagation by which a monocot (monocotyledon), a plant having an embryo with only one cotyledon, is harvested leaving behind stubble which then re-grows. The earliest known record of ratooning can be traced back to the Vedic period of India with reference to farmers cultivating barley using this method....

If you are wondering what to do for West Coast gardening in October, we’re here to tell you. Read on for your very own regional to-do list. Regional To-Do List Your October garden tasks include harvesting the fruits and vegetables you worked so hard on during the summer growing season. In the West, this includes apples— that should be stored at 40 degrees F. (5 C.), potatoes (that must go into storage in a dark area), and pumpkins (just in time for Halloween)....

Although rock gardens are sometimes located in sunny, open areas, they are often created where they add beauty and stabilize the soil on difficult slopes or hillsides. Speaking of soil, what can be found in a rock garden soil mixture? Read on to learn more. Soil for Rock Gardens If you’re creating a rock garden on level ground, begin by marking the perimeters of the garden with spray paint or string, then dig down about 3 feet (1 m....

Rome Beauty Apple Info Introduced in Ohio in 1816, popular Rome Beauty apple trees are widely grown across North America. Rome Beauty trees are available in two sizes. Dwarf trees reach mature heights of 8 to 10 feet (2-3 m.), with a similar spread; and semi-dwarf, which reach heights of 12 to 15 feet (3.5-4.5 m.), also with a similar spread. Although Rome Beauty apple trees are self-pollinating, planting another apple tree in close proximity can increase the size of the harvest....

What are Rove Beetles? Rove beetles are members of the Staphylinidae family, which contains thousands of North American species. They range in length, though are typically about an inch (2.5 cm.) long. Rove beetles have the interesting habit of raising up the end of their bodies like a scorpion when disturbed or frightened, but they can’t sting or bite (they do, however, produce pederin, a toxin which can cause contact dermatitis if handled)....

Are mountain ash and rowan trees the same? They are exactly the same tree. Read on for more information on these trees. European Mountain Ash European mountain ash trees are not true ash trees, nor is the tree found in the ash genus, Fraxinus. Rather, the tree’s botanical name is Sorbus aucuparia and it is native to Europe and Asia, not North America. However, the tree has been planted in Canada and the northern US as an ornamental and it has naturalized there....

Conifers in the Shade Conifers are evergreen trees that have needle-like leaves and bear seeds in cones. Like other types of trees, conifers don’t all have the same cultural requirements. Some grow best if planted in sun, but you can also find conifers for shade. Conifers have a reputation of requiring a sunny location to thrive. This may stem from a few, prominent sun-loving members of the conifer family like pine trees....

Shaving Down Tree Roots Shaving down tree roots is not recommended. It can compromise the stability of the tree. The tree will be weaker and more susceptible to blowing over in a windy storm. All trees, and especially large trees, need roots all the way around them to stand tall and strong. Shaving exposed tree roots leaves a wound where disease vectors and insects can penetrate. Shaving down tree roots is better than completely cutting the roots off, however....

What is sheet mulching? Keep reading to learn more about sheet mulch gardening. What is Sheet Mulching? Sheet mulching involves the layering of organic materials, similar to lasagna gardening. Different layers of ingredients are placed on the ground in layers, much like building lasagna in a pan. The layers turn the existing weeds into compost and add nutrients and soil amendments to the dirt underneath, while allowing a first year’s planting to start your garden....

About Sky Pencil Holly Sky Pencil hollies are narrow, columnar shrubs that grow up to 8 feet (2 m.) tall and 2 feet (61 cm.) wide. With pruning, you can maintain them at a height of 6 feet (2 m.) and a width of just 12 inches (31 cm.). They produce small, greenish flowers and female plants produce tiny, black berries, but neither is particularly ornamental. They are grown primarily for their interesting shape....

They are common in warm, moist locations but the actual appearance will vary from zone to zone. Slime molds will not hurt the environment or your plants, so there is no real slime mold control. While ugly, the organism may actually be helping your plants by consuming pathogens and bacteria that could harm them. What is Slime Mold? The slime mold organism reproduces and survives much like a fungus. It is also capable of moving itself to some degree....

What is a Smart Hose? The timers we’ve used in the past have seen improvements that led to the name of smart hose. They may also be called smart faucet timers, as the intelligence is in the timer. Smart garden hose uses can feature about a dozen various ways to manage your gardens. These are often used in pool upkeep as well. The app for the smart hose is downloaded to your phone, working from your home W-Fi....