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First-quarter moon cycle (new moon to half full) – Things that are leafy, like lettuce, cabbage, and spinach, should be planted. Second-quarter moon cycle (half full to full moon) – Planting time for things that have seeds inside, like tomatoes, beans, and peppers. Third-quarter moon cycle (full moon to half full) – Things that grow underground or plants that are perennials, like potatoes, garlic, and raspberries, can be planted. Fourth-quarter moon cycle (half full to new moon) – Do not plant....

Strange Uses for Basil In Italy, basil has always been a token of love. Other cultures have had more interesting basil uses, or rather downright strange uses, for basil. Whatever the ancient Greeks and Romans were using it for, they thought it would only grow if you screamed and cursed at the plant. If that isn’t strange enough, they also thought that a leaf from the plant left under a pot would turn into a scorpion, although who wanted to attempt this miraculous act is beyond me....

There are about 28 types of hawkweed found in North America, but only half are native varieties. What is hawkweed? This relative of chicory is a fast spreading plant with introduced species that are rapidly claiming native habitat. The plant is considered a pest, and hawkweed control is paramount in some Northwest and Canadian areas. What is Hawkweed? There are around 13 types of hawkweed that are native to North America....

What is an Invasive Plant? An invasive plant species is an imported plant that grows and reproduces aggressively, damaging natural ecosystems and putting native plants and wildlife at risk. The difference between weeds and invasive plants is that weeds affect people rather than plants and animals. Invasive plants are unsightly in the landscape, compete with garden and agricultural plants for nutrients and moisture, and reduce agricultural yields. Some weeds are also invasive plants....

About Watering a Fig Tree Fig trees grow wild in dry, sunny regions with deep soil as well as in rocky areas. They thrive in light, well-draining soil but will also do well in poor soil types. Hence, the tree does especially well in areas that mimic the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean climates. Fig trees have a deep, aggressive root system that searches out groundwater in aquifers, ravines, or through cracks in rocks....

Toxicity of Peace Lily Plants According to Pet Poison Hotline, the cells of peace lily plants, also known as Mauna Loa plants, contain calcium oxalate crystals. When a cat chews or bites into the leaves or stems, the crystals are released and cause injury by penetrating the animal’s tissues. The damage can be extremely painful to the animal’s mouth, even if the plant isn’t ingested. Fortunately, peace lily toxicity isn’t as great as that of other types of lilies, including Easter lily and Asiatic lilies....

Can I Grow Jackfruit from Seed? There are multiple reasons to grow a jackfruit tree but enjoying the flesh of the large fruits is one of the most popular. These fruits are enormous and grow to an average size of about 35 pounds (16 kg.). The flesh of the fruit, when dried and cooked, has the texture of pulled pork. It takes on the flavor of spices and sauces and makes a great meat substitute for vegans and vegetarians....

There is nothing more frustrating to the rose loving gardener than this nasty pest from the land of the rising sun known as the Japanese beetle. A beautiful rose bed one day can be turned into a field of tears in just moments by an attack of these garden bullies. Let’s look at some ways on how to control Japanese beetles on roses. How to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles on Roses I have read about various methods to try to control and be rid of them from covering all the roses with a tight woven mesh netting to hanging Bounce dryer sheets in the rose bushes....

Why Jasmine Does Not Bloom Maybe your indoor jasmine plant looks healthy with lush green foliage. You’ve cared for it meticulously, feeding and watering and still jasmine flowers are not blooming. Perhaps fertilization is the problem. Too much nitrogen fertilizer will direct energy to growing foliage and take away from the blooms that are forming. This can also be the issue when most jasmine flowers are not blooming, but a few are peeking through....

What are Jonagold Apple Trees? Jonagold apples, as their name suggests, are derived from Jonathan and Golden Delicious cultivars, inheriting many of the best qualities from their parents. They are super crisp, large, yellow/green apples blushed in red, with creamy, white flesh and both the tartness of a Jonathan and the sweetness of a Golden Delicious. Jonagold apples were developed by Cornell’s apple breeding program at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York in 1953 and introduced in 1968....

What are June Bugs? June bugs are scarab beetles. There are several different species that are commonly called June bugs and these include: Chafer Beetle Green June Beetle Japanese Beetle Ten-Lined June Beetle All of these pests appear roughly around late May through June, have roughly the same body shape with the oval back and pincers at the front, and feed on the leaves of landscape plants. The grubs of these insects can also cause damage to lawn and turf grass....

Reasons for Growing Lemon Balm Indoors All gardeners know that it is nice to have any green plants indoors, especially during the winter months. However, growing herbs like lemon balm in containers inside add much more than just a cheerful splash of living green. Lemon balm looks nice, but it also smells nice. A whiff of lemon in the winter, and at all times of the year, is a great mood booster....

How to Protect Strawberry Plants from Pests There actually are many ways of keeping pests away from strawberries, some of which I really did use…to no avail. The birds were the most obvious intruders. There are lots of things you can do to repel birds. Noise scares them off, but it’s so noisy. Fake predator birds will do the trick sometimes but, interestingly, our fake eagle is covered with bird manure....

Kellogg’s Breakfast Tomato Information There must be hundreds of heirloom tomatoes available. One such, Kellogg’s Breakfast, is a tasty, unique, orange fruit that is ripest when the color deepens to a classic carrot color. The plants produce mid-season and have prolific fruits for weeks. One of the more desirable heirloom tomatoes, Kellogg’s Breakfast is an indeterminate plant requiring staking. Big, 14 ounce (397 g.) fruits and meaty, almost seedless flesh characterize the Kellogg’s Breakfast tomato....

Apple Harvest Times Apple harvest dates aren’t an exact science. They vary of course depending upon the variety but also on weather conditions. For instance, many apple producing regions recently had an unusually cool spring which prolonged dormancy, hence, a delayed harvest time. If you are wondering when to pick your own home grown apples you need to first know the variety and then the approximate harvest date. The harvest date may vary slightly year by year, but this list will give you a good gauge as to when to harvest....

Laurustinus Plant Information Laurustinus viburnum is one of the short viburnum species, and even unpruned specimens rarely exceed 12 feet (3.6 m.) in height. Some cultivars, like Laurustinus Spring Bouquet, are much shorter. The dwarfed height is one of the key features that makes growing laurustinus shrubs popular. A gardener seeking a short hedge won’t need to prune every other week to keep the plant the right size. Laurustinus plant information states that these evergreen shrubs produce flower buds as early as January....

How do you go about growing a field of lavender? The following information explains more. Growing Conditions for Lavender Farming Lavender grows in Mediterranean climates where summers are warm and dry and winters are cool and mild. Don’t be discouraged if your climate isn’t ideal; some of America’s loveliest lavender farms are located in the rainy Pacific Northwest and the chilly Midwest. Some hardy lavenders tolerate winters as far north as USDA plant hardiness zones 5 or 6, but plants don’t do well in punishing cold winters with lots of snow....

Growing Lavender Mint Growing lavender mint (Mentha piperita ‘Lavendula’) isn’t difficult, as mint is generally not fussy and a perfect starter plant for those just getting into gardening. Like peppermint, lavender mint plants have a red stem and delicious floral overtones. One caveat that must be mentioned about growing any type of mint is its invasive nature. Once mint gets started, it runs like a freight train throughout the garden. It is best to contain lavender mint in a fairly shallow, wide pot, for best results....

Medieval Herb Gardens No respectable lady would be without her medicine chest, which often proved a lifeline for those afflicted with winter colds and fevers. Failure to secure a good harvest could be the difference between life and death. Herbs and plants grown in manor and castle gardens basically fell into one of three categories: culinary, medicinal, or household use. Some herbs fell into multiple categories and some were grown for their ornamental value....

Winterizing Lilac Shrubs Lilacs are one of the most winter hardy ornamental plants around. Do lilacs need cold protection? They can withstand temperatures of -40 degrees F. (-40 C.) but may need some protection from icy winds that damage the flower buds. They need well-draining soil to prevent frozen water from damaging their roots and killing the tree. Lilacs that have not been grafted are hardier than those that have been grafted to rootstock....