Posts

What is Agave Anthracnose? Like other agave fungal diseases, anthracnose of agaves generally occurs when growing conditions are wet and humid. While this may be due to the moods of Mother Nature, including splashing rain, it can also be the result of too much shade or excessive irrigation, especially via overhead sprinklers. The primary sign of anthracnose of agaves includes unsightly sunken lesions on the crown and sword-like leaves, often with a visible, reddish brown spore mass....

What is Bacterial Necrosis? Saguaro cactus can live for 200 years and grow up to 60 feet (18 m.) in height. These monstrous desert dwellers look imposing and impervious but can actually be brought down by a tiny bacterium. Saguaro cactus necrosis can invade the plant in a number of ways. It eventually creates necrotic pockets in the flesh which will spread. These necrotic areas are dead plant tissue and, if left unchecked, can eventually kill these regal plants....

What is Calabaza Squash? Calabaza squash plants, also known as Cuban squash and Zapollo, are useful because they’re especially resistant to pests and disease that can devastate other squash varieties. They’re not totally immune, of course, and can fall prey to downy mildew, powdery mildew, and the slew of bugs that attack squash like aphids, cucumber beetle, and squash vine borer. Compared to their cousins, however, Calabaza squash plants are quite tough....

What is Chaff? Chaff is the name given to the husk surrounding a seed. Sometimes, it can apply to the stem attached to the seed as well. In basic terms, chaff is all the stuff you don’t want, and that needs to be separated from the seed or grain after harvest. What is Winnowing? Winnowing is the name given to that process of separating the grain from the chaff. This is the step that comes after threshing (the process of loosening the chaff)....

Keep reading to find out if there is any prevention or treatment for this serious geranium disease. What is Geranium Blackleg? By the time you discover your plant has blackleg disease, it is usually too late to save it. This is because the pathogen attacks the root, where it is impossible to observe. Once it creeps up the stem, it has already affected the plant badly enough that nothing can be done....

What is Polish Hardneck Garlic? If you are familiar with Northern White garlic, you know how large and lovely the bulbs are. Polish hardneck garlic bulbs are just as ample and attractive. The Polish hardneck variety of garlic has a rich, musky flavor with a deep heat that has staying power. In short, Polish hardneck garlic bulbs are strong, long-storing garlic plants with heat. They harvest in summer and stay fresh until the following spring....

When to Buy Mums for Fall Potted chrysanthemum plants usually begin to appear at retailers in late summer, enticing shoppers with their brilliant array of blooms. Due to their high demand, the plants are often offered at a wide range of retailers. Deciding when to purchase your own chrysanthemum plant will play a role in the duration of bloom and amount of time in which it is able to be displayed before the arrival of cold weather....

Flaxseed Harvesting Time So when do you harvest flaxseed in the garden? As a general rule, flaxseed is harvested when approximately 90 percent of the seedheads have turned tan or gold, and the seeds rattle in the pods – about 100 days after planting seeds. There will probably still be a few green leaves, and the plants may also have a few remaining blooms. How to Harvest Flaxseed Grab a handful of stems at ground level, then pull the plants up by the roots and shake to remove excess soil....

Spring vs. Fall Garden Vegetables One reason is many cool season crops are biennials. These plants are preprogrammed to produce seeds once they have lived through a cold spell. Planting frost-tolerant veggies like lettuce and kale in early spring can expose them to winter-like weather. The onset of hot weather triggers these plants to flower, sometimes before they’ve reached a usable size. If you’ve ever been disappointed when your spring veggies bolted before you had a chance to enjoy them, you’ll find this is less likely to happen in a fall garden....

Reasons for Brown Leaves on Houseplants Houseplants are special because they’re kept in an unnatural environment. They depend upon you for everything nature would normally give them and they let you know when you slip up. Brown leaves on indoor plants almost always means that the plants are getting too much or too little of something important. Light – One very common problem with indoor plants is a lack of light....

Fun Garden Crafts for Winter Winter gardening crafts for kids help them pass the time until the sunshine is back, and the plants are blooming. It is also an important teaching opportunity. Kids can learn about different plants, foods, and bugs. Kid’s winter crafts are also a great family activity in which all ages can participate. The holidays are coming and that means time for wrapping paper. Collect any leaves that remain or press some in fall....

How to Grow Vegetables in a Greenhouse Greenhouse vegetable plants may end up growing faster and stronger than those grown in a traditional garden, because you will be giving them the ideal environment for growth. When it’s below freezing outside, passive solar collectors and small heaters can leave the interior of a greenhouse cool but perfectly liveable for most spring vegetables. In the heat of the summer, fans and other cooling units can protect tender plants from the scorching heat of a southern climate....

The weather is still warm for most of the winter but not too hot, the sun’s rays are weaker, so they won’t burn tender seedlings, and there are fewer insects to deal with. Gardeners in the warmest parts of the country can grow year-round gardens, simply splitting up the planting duties into cool weather and warm weather crops. Year-Round Gardens Winter gardening in warm climates is almost upside down from what northern gardeners are used to....

Naturally Yellowing Bleeding Hearts Bleeding hearts may be one of the first flowers peeking out of your woodland garden. The plant is found wild in forest edges, dappled glades and shady meadows with organic rich soil and consistent moisture. Bleeding heart plants can perform well in full sun locations too, but they will die back quickly when summer temperatures arrive. Those that are located in shadier spaces hold onto their green foliage a bit longer, but even these will enter a dormant period called senescence....

Growing Potatoes in Zone 8 Potatoes have been cultivated for over 2,000 years. There are somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 cultivars of these Bolivian tubers. They are related to eggplants and tomatoes and have the same potential toxins in their leaves and flowers. The tubers are the only edible part of the plant. The delicious spuds have innumerable uses and preparation methods. Such a versatile food is perfect for zone 8....

With a wide-ranging selection – from an elegant wine-bottle bird feeder to a cool cotton hammock for outdoor relaxing in the garden – these are unique and delightful gardening gift ideas that cost under $50 each, with half of them less than $25. Here at Gardening Know How we want to keep you in the know. If you make a purchase through one of the links below, we may collect commission or other compensation at no extra cost to you....

Variegated Hydrangea Hydrangea is a small-medium flowering, ornamental shrub with large clusters of four-petalled flowers. It grows well in zones 6 through 9 and is prized for its showy flowers that can range from deep magenta or blue to palest green and white. Most hydrangeas have solid green leaves, but this variegated type has foliage as striking as its blooms. They are bright green with white margins that perfectly set off pink-white flowers....

Ajuga plant propagation is so easy that the plants easily become invasive, rambling across the lawn and into places in the garden reserved for other plants. Read on for information about propagating ajuga plants. Propagation of Ajuga Plants Growing ajuga is easier than getting rid of it, so take its rapid growth into account before you decide on ajuga plant propagation. You’ll first want to prepare a garden space to plant your new ajuga....

What is an Allegheny Serviceberry? Native to the eastern U.S. and Canada, the Allegheny serviceberry tree is a medium-sized tree with multiple stems that form a pretty shape in the landscape. It can grow well in yards and gardens throughout a wide range of climates, between USDA zones 8 and 10. Expect a serviceberry you plant to grow to about 25 to 30 feet (7-9 m.) tall. Growth rate is medium to fast for this deciduous tree....

Cultural Almond Tree Issues Some almond tree issues are related to improper cultural care, like irrigation. To keep these trees healthy and productive, they require regular water, but not too much. Insufficient watering causes problems with almond trees not just in the year the drought occurs, but in following seasons as well. Almond tree problems are most serious if the trees have inadequate irrigation in the early months of bud and leaf development....