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As a gardener, the names of Asian vegetable plants were conspicuously absent from my catalogs. Then, low and behold, two things happened; the ethnic Asian population grew and the rest of us became more health conscious, seeking more variety in our vegetables. Hurray for me! Today, Asian style vegetables are everywhere. Originating in East and Southeast Asia, these vegetables are finally available to the general population. For gardeners, the possibilities are endless....

Learn how to care for Japanese juniper and enjoy this low maintenance plant in your garden. About Japanese Juniper Shrubs Blue green foliage and elegant prostrate stems characterize this juniper plant. The dwarf, evergreen shrub makes a perfect addition to most sites with an adaptable nature and its only main requirement is full sun. As an added bonus, deer seldom bother this needled plant and it remains green throughout the winter....

Growing Mulberry Fruit Trees While people love mulberry fruit, birds also love the berries, and the tree is a beacon that attracts dozens of, ahem, messy guests. The tree also has an unwelcome habit of becoming invasive. Unfortunately, this brought the growing of mulberry fruit trees to a screeching halt in any but the most rural areas. Mulberry trees do have redeeming qualities, though, and one of the most outstanding is the minimal care they require....

How to Propagate a Mesquite Tree Mesquite trees are drought tolerant, stoic trees that thrive in hot, arid climates. They have become an interesting landscape specimen due to their adaptability and lovely cut pinnate leaves. The ornamental pods add even more seasonal appeal. Growing new mesquite trees may happen naturally by finding seedlings under a mature specimen. However, mesquite tree reproduction in this manner is uncommon due to the capriciousness of the seeds, and human intervention may be necessary if you want more trees....

Sugarcane Propagation Methods Sugarcane is a true grass and can grow up to 12 feet in height (3.6 m.) tall. It is a perennial plant and is harvested every 12 months. Sugarcane needs plenty of heat, water and fertilizer and grows rapidly. Canes are peeled for use and are a supply of one of the most sought-after sugar sources. Sugarcane plant propagation requires warm temperatures of 78 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit (26 to 33 C....

Parrot Tulip Information Parrot tulips, which first appeared in France, found their way to the Netherlands in the Eighteenth century, where they were highly prized and extremely expensive. The tulips are hardy in USDA planting zones 4 through 7. Parrot tulips are cup-shaped, fringed, twisted and ruffled tulips decorated with vivid, flame-like splashes, stripes or feathery markings. Parrot tulip flowers are available in a range of bright colors, including red, violet, yellow, orange, pink, green and near black....

Using Walls in the Garden Garden walls may be adapted to be more than just a barrier but to also accent the garden and soften or enhance these privacy structures. Garden wall plants create a conduit between the manmade structure and the garden that they protect. They may also form a symbiotic relationship with the wall as it supports them and provides them with a foothold. Planting on walls is also the equivalent of a gardener’s “tag....

Growing Roses In Containers I have grown Hybrid Tea and Floribunda rose bushes in containers, as well as miniature and mini-flora rose bushes. The containers I have used for container roses are approximately 20 inches (50 cm.) across at the top and 14 to 20 inches (35-50 cm.) deep. It must have a drainage hole, or your roses run the risk of problems such as root rot, mold and fungal attacks....

How to Grow Spinach in Containers Spinach, for good reason, is Popeye’s favorite food, boosting his strength and energy. Dark leafy greens, such as spinach, contain not only iron, but vitamins A and C, thiamin, potassium, folic acid, as well as the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. These carotenoids keep eyes healthy, reducing the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts as you age. The antioxidants, vitamins A and C, help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke while folic acid shows promise in reducing the risk of certain cancers....

What are Tree Peonies? Herbaceous peonies are perennial peonies that die back to the ground each year. The roots remain dormant under the soil, then the plant stems push up in the spring. Tree peonies are woody, deciduous shrub peonies. They lose their foliage in the fall but their woody stems do not die back to the ground like herbaceous peonies. Itoh peonies are a hybrid cross between herbaceous peonies and tree peonies, they do die back to the ground in fall like herbaceous peonies but their flower and growth characteristics are similar to tree peonies....

Guinea Flower Info HIbbertia plants can grow as medium to large shrubs or as wide reaching, woody, stemmed vines. The snake vine, Hibbertia scandens, produces long stems that range out from the center of the plant in a scraggly manner. These stems do not grow vertically, nor do they self adhere like ivy and other vines. The vine-like stems can get nearly 11 ½ feet (3.5 m.) long. Shrub-like forms, such as Hibbertia empetrifolia, are evergreen and generally hardy and pest free....

Other benefits of a hanging strawberry garden are its resistance to insect infestations and soil borne diseases along with its compact harvest area. If deer or other wildlife tends to nibble on your berry crop before you get a chance at a taste, hanging strawberries may very well be the solution to keeping the tender berries up out of their reach. Hanging strawberry baskets are also easy to move out of the heat or winter cold in order to protect the plant....

What is Charleston Wakefield Cabbage? This variety of heirloom cabbage was developed in the 1800s on Long Island, New York and sold to F. W. Bolgiano seed company. Charleston Wakefield cabbages produce large, dark green, cone-shaped heads. At maturity, the heads average 4 to 6 lbs. (2 to 3 kg.), the largest of the Wakefield varieties. Charleston Wakefield cabbage is a fast-growing variety that matures in as little as 70 days....

When is the Best Time to Transplant a Holly? The best time to transplant a holly bush is in early spring. Transplanting in early spring helps to keep the plant from losing its leaves due to the shock of being moved. This is because the extra rain in the spring and cool temperatures helps the plant retain moisture and this prevents it from shedding leaves as a way to retain moisture....

Here are a few of our favorite indoor houseplant tools. Tools For Indoor Plants: Essential Houseplant Tools When it comes to houseplant gardening tools, a small hand trowel is definitely at the top of the list. A trowel is handy for digging, and for moving small amounts of potting mix from one place to another. A scoop is much like a hand trowel, but the larger size allows you to scoop more material....

These questions and more have been studied, and the verdicts are in…. sort of. Can Plants Really Communicate? Plants have truly amazing adaptability and survival techniques. Many can survive long periods in near darkness, others can fend off competing plants with toxic hormones, and still, others can even move themselves. So it’s not out of the realm of possibility that plants can communicate. Just what do plants use to communicate?...

This is where the Universal Edible Plant Test comes into play. If you aren’t sure what your wild food is, you should test a plant’s edibility by following this guide. How Does The Universal Edibility Test Work What is the Universal Edibility Test and how does it work? It is a very simple, but specific, plan to ID wild plants and ascertain their safeness for eating. Basically, it is how to tell if a plant is edible....

Types of Miniature Gardens There are all sorts of miniature landscapes, each one being unique to the individual gardener. The hardest part in creating a miniature landscape is figuring out the type of garden you want to build. Create a miniature Japanese Zen garden with fine sand, miniature Japanese bridges, and bonsai trees. Create a formal garden filled with tiny moss pathways, fountains, and miniature sculptural urns. Create a country garden filled with tiny birdhouses, terracotta pots, and twig furniture....

These things can damage your plants and ruin all the hard work you’ve put into your garden. If you are wondering how to keep squirrels out of gardens or how to get rid of squirrels, keep reading to find out more. How to Keep Squirrels Out of Garden So, what keeps squirrels away? There are some things you can do that will help with repelling squirrels. However, depending on where you live, you might find that these methods are truly inconvenient and inappropriate....

Choosing a Location for Bamboo Plants Bamboo (Bambusa spp.) is a versatile plant and most species can survive in many conditions. But bamboo growing in full sun will grow the fastest. Bamboo plants also like to have fertile, slightly acidic, well drained but moist soil. Remember, these are simply the best conditions under which to get the best bamboo growth. As long as you provide a few of these conditions, most bamboos will still be happy....