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What to Know Before Planting Fall Vegetables Fall planting is different than spring planting simply because the crops will be dealing with a wide swing of weather conditions. Because of possible extremes of heat and cold, many gardeners turn to transplants. Sowing seeds can also be an option, but to ensure germination, sow the seeds deeper than recommended for spring plantings and sow more thickly than usual. A thick planting will help ensure germination and can then be thinned to achieve proper spacing....

How Do You Grow Brussels Sprouts? Basically, how to grow Brussels sprouts is much like how you would grow cabbage or kale. Brussels sprouts are a cole crop and like many vegetables in that group, they grow better in cool temperatures. Since Brussels sprouts take so long to mature, your best bet is to plant them in midsummer so that they reach full maturity in the cool fall months. Plan to put them in your garden about three months before the first frost for your area....

How to Grow Snap Peas Growing sugar snap peas is best when the temperature is 45 F. (7 C.) or higher, so wait until you’re sure chance of frost is past. The soil should also be dry enough to till without the dirt clumping up and sticking to your garden tools. After the early spring rains is definitely best. Sow your snap peas planting seeds 1 to 1 1/2 inches (2....

How Does Tree Grafting Work? Grafting trees begin with healthy rootstock, which should be at least a few years old with a firm, straight trunk. You must then find another tree, which can bear the fruit, referred to as the scion. Scions are usually second year wood with good leaf buds and about ¼ to ½ inch (6 mm. to 1 cm.) in diameter. It is important that this tree be closely related to the rootstock tree....

There are quite a few garden design programs available on the market. Most software for landscape design have a cost, but there are a few free programs or some that can be utilized as a trial period for a nominal fee. Keep reading to learn more about using this landscape design help. Using Free Landscape Design Software If you are really interested in using landscaping software, be sure to check out various free landscape design software applications or move into the professional garden design programs on the market....

How to Grow Lemon Thyme Plants Low growing lemon thyme plants appear as an evergreen shrub with small lemon scented foliage. They are an easy plant to grow with endless gastronomic uses in any dish requiring citrus and savory notes. How to grow lemon thyme is pretty straightforward. This little Thymus variety will flourish in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 9, remaining an evergreen in zones 8 and 9. Plant lemon thyme plants in the spring in a full sun setting and space them 12 inches (31 cm....

If you want to pull together some lessons on pollination for kids, you may be struggling on how to begin. Read on for some ideas for hands-on pollinator lessons. Pollinator Lessons for Kids While adults can read articles about the importance of pollinators, young children usually do not have the ability to do so. Not only are their reading abilities limited, but their shorter attention span is also an issue....

What is Summer Bibb Lettuce? Summer Bibb is a butterhead lettuce variety, one of many types of lettuce known for loose heads of leaves, pretty bright green colors, and a delicate texture and sweet, mild flavor. Butterhead leaves can be used in salads, but they’ll also stand up to light sautéing. Use the large, sturdy leaves to make wraps, or even through a wedge of a head on the grill. With Summer Bibb you can enjoy lettuce in all these ways, even if you live in a warmer climate where lettuce is typically more difficult to grow....

When to Split Lily of the Valley The optimum time for lily of the valley division is when the plant is dormant in spring or fall. Separating lily of the valleys after flowering ensures the plant’s energy is available for creation of roots and leaves. Divide lily of the valley four to six weeks before the first average hard freeze date in your area. This way, there is ample time for healthy root development before the ground freezes....

What is a Luffa Gourd? Luffa (Luffa aegyptiaca and Luffa acutangula), also known as loofah, vegetable sponge, or dishcloth gourds are grown mainly for their useful, fibrous tissue skeleton. Young fruits can be eaten as squash, used in stews, or even used in place of cucumbers. The luffa gourd plant is an annual tropical or subtropical climbing vine. When the fruit section of the plant matures, it can be used as an organic bath or kitchen sponge....

What is Lychee Girdling? Lychee production is big business in many parts of the world. The sub-tropical plants thrive in temperate to warm regions with high humidity. The attractive fruits almost resemble a berry and are, in fact, members of the soapberry family. Misnamed lychee nuts due to their solid exterior when overripe, the fruits develop from unremarkable tiny, greenish white flowers. According to lychee girdling information, the method will cause more of these little blooms to occur....

What is Diplodia Stem-end Rot of Citrus? During flowering and fruiting, citrus trees can develop many fungal problems, but such issues also occur once the fruit is harvested and stored. These diseases are the worst because you have to watch all that hard work go to waste. Diplodia citrus rot causes decay of the fruit. It spreads in packed citrus and can cause widespread damage. Stem-end rot on citrus occurs most frequently in subtropical regions....

Information On Kentucky Climate Zones This is the USDA Kentucky planting zone map. You can look at this map to learn the Kentucky climate zones and which one you live in. In order to find your USDA planting zone, simply look at the map and locate where you live. Then, match the color of that location to the legend to the right. This will tell you which of the Kentucky climate zones you live in....

Mexican Bean Beetle Facts Mexican bean beetles are found throughout the United States, east of the Rocky Mountains, but are believed to have originated in Mexico. These beetles thrive in locations where summers are wet or agricultural areas where a lot of heavy irrigation is required. Spotted, orange-red adults emerge by midsummer, seeking lima, snap, and soybean plantings where they lay their eggs in groups of 40 to 75 on the undersides of leaves....

Gardening for Millennials The millennial garden trend may come as a surprise to some, but it’s quite well established. Gardening for millennials includes both backyard veggie plots and flower beds, and offers young adults the chance to get out and help things grow. Millennials are excited about planting and growing. More people in this age bracket (21 to 34 years old) are engaging with their backyard garden than any other age group....

Monterey Pine Info What is a Monterey pine? The Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) is an elegant plant tolerant of a range of conditions but is best suited in warmer regions. The tree is an evergreen conifer with an irregular open crown which may be vase-shaped, conical, or even slightly rounded. It is not a small tree and should be given plenty of space in which to grow. Learn how to grow Monterey pine trees as part of a land management and habitat program or just simply to enjoy this towering plant on your property....

Using Mulch in Place of Soil Most gardeners prefer to plant in soil and spread a few inches (8 cm.) of mulch on top of the soil – around the plant but not covering it. As a general rule, most experienced gardeners aren’t crazy about the idea of planting in mulch, or about using mulch in place of soil. If you want to experiment with mulch gardening, it may be worth a try, but start small in case the experiment doesn’t work....

What Causes Mushrooms to Grow on a Lawn? The first thing to understand is what causes mushrooms to grow on a lawn. Lawn mushrooms are a fungus, and this fungus has the job of helping to breakdown decaying organic material. Unfortunately, in the average yard, there are plenty of sources of decaying organic material. Animal waste, old mulch and grass clippings can all spread and feed lawn mushrooms. Why are Mushrooms Growing on My Lawn?...

Why are Peppers Damping Off? The main culprit behind pepper damping off is a family of fungi known as Pythium. There are several species that can kill pepper seedlings, but the result tends to be one of two things. Either the seeds don’t emerge at all, or shortly after emergence the seedlings flop over at the soil line. Often, the stem just above the soil line is dark and shriveled. If dug up, the seedling’s roots are usually dark and shriveled too....

Why is My Tree Dead? Some tree species live longer than others. Those that grow slowest generally have longer life spans than trees with rapid growth. When you are selecting a tree for your garden or backyard, you’ll want to include life span in the equation. When you ask questions like “why did my tree suddenly die,” you’ll want to first determine the tree’s natural life span. It may simply have died of natural causes....