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What is a Green Gage Plum? Compact Green Gage plum trees produce fruit that is sublimely sweet. They are a naturally occurring hybrid of the European plum, Prunus domestica and P. insititia, a species that includes Damsons and Mirabelles. During the reign of King Francis I, the trees were brought to France and named after his queen, Claude. The trees were then imported into England in the 18th century. The tree was named for Sir William Gage of Suffolk, whose gardener had imported a tree from France but lost the label....

Information on Keeping a Greenhouse Warm Just like keeping a home warm is easier when you have insulation and double-glazed windows, heating a greenhouse is a simpler task when you don’t lose as much heat during the night. Insulating the walls and roof with a simple system of Styrofoam boards can cut your heating needs by a large percentage. The heat that is collected in the daytime will stay around longer, keeping the inside warm without need extra help....

What is a Garlic Scape? Garlic scapes are curly tendrils of greenery that come up from hard necked garlic plants. They terminate in something that looks like a bud. If you let the scape grow, it will flower with a wiry white-tipped cluster of tiny blooms. Each bloom will swell at the tip and produce seeds that bloat and turn brown. The protuberances become bulbils or tiny bulbs, which may be planted and will become garlic in three to four years....

When to Sow Swiss Chard Seeds Swiss chard seeds are special in that they can germinate in relatively cold soil, as low as 50 F. (10 C.). Swiss chard plants are somewhat frost-hardy, so the seeds can be sown outside directly in the soil about two weeks before the average last frost date of spring. If you want to get a head start, however, you can start them indoors three to four weeks before the last frost date in your area....

That said, the plants are attractive and produce deliciously rich, sweet fruits that are excellent fresh or in desserts. Given enough guava tree information, it is possible to grow these small trees in a greenhouse or sunroom and reap the benefits of their Vitamin C-rich fruits. Guava Plants and Guava Tree Information The guava fruit grows on a small tree with a wide, short canopy and a sturdy single- to multi-stemmed trunk....

How to Till Soil by Hand with the Double Digging Technique Start by spreading compost over the soil where you’ll be tilling by hand. Next, dig a 10 inch (25 cm.) deep ditch along one edge of the space. When you double dig the garden, you’ll be working from one end to the other. Then, start another ditch next to the first. Use the dirt from the second ditch to fill the second ditch....

How to Harvest Thyme Knowing when and how to harvest thyme will garner the best results when drying. Woody stemmed herbs are best harvested just before blooming for peak flavor. Cut the stems for drying fresh thyme, just before a growth node. This will increase bushing and ensure a constant supply of the tasty leaves. Morning is the best time of day for harvesting thyme. How to Dry Thyme After harvesting thyme, wash it and shake off the excess water....

Choosing Hedge Plants for Zone 8 In USDA plant hardiness zone 8, winter temperatures dip to 10 to 20 degrees F. (-12 to -7 C.). You’ll want to pick zone 8 hedge plants that thrive in that temperature range. You’ll have so many hedge plants for zone 8 to choose among that you’ll have to narrow it down before going shopping. One big consideration is height. Hedge plants for zone 8 range from sky-scraping arborvitae to ornamental flowering bushes that are knee high or less....

Container Herb Garden Tips and Tricks Buy plants – If this is your first experience container gardening with herbs, you may have more success by purchasing seedlings from your local nursery rather than starting plants from seed. Germinating plants in the microclimate of a container requires stricter adherence to soil moisture levels and sunlight requirements. Use quality potting soil – Garden soil from the backyard can introduce pests and disease into an indoor herb garden....

How to Harvest Herbs – General Tips Your herb harvest will vary a little bit by type of plant. There are also general guidelines for all herbs grown in the garden. Here are some important tips to maximize your harvest: Harvest leafy annual herbs, like basil, by pinching off leaves at the tips of stems.Harvest leafy perennials – sage, tarragon, thyme, oregano – by removing longer stems of leaves.The stemmed herbs, like lavender, rosemary, parsley, and cilantro, should be harvested by cutting off stems at the base....

But sometimes your herbs can get away from you, and if you’re growing them outside, they can get beaten back by fall frost. In these cases, the best thing to do is to cut and preserve them. What are some of the best ways to do that? Keep reading to learn more about preserving herbs from the garden. Preserving Herbs from the Garden There are a few herb preservation methods, but two of the easiest and most successful are freezing and drying....

Red and Green Flowers for Christmas Though the task of crafting memorable centerpieces for the holidays may seem intimidating, doing so is actually quite simple when considering a few floral arranging basics. First, DIY-ers will want to select a vase. Large, tall vases are ideal for adding dramatic appeal, while smaller, low vases are better for dinner tables. As you explore ideas for Christmas floral arrangements, always consider how the display will draw the eye, making certain not to cause interference between guests....

Distinguishing between jams, jellies, and preserves may confuse some, though. The terms are rooted in an old-fashioned process that was necessary before the arrival of modern refrigeration. Keep reading and we will explain the varieties of canned fruit spreads. Why Make Fruit Spreads? Not everything in a canning jar made from fruit is a jam, nor is it strictly a jelly or preserve. Jelly, jams, and preserves contain different amounts of fruit and sugar and have very distinctive textures....

About Caterpillars in the Garden Caterpillars can pose a conundrum for gardeners. Exploring how to get rid of caterpillars is an interesting study. We want to prevent caterpillars from ruining our vegetables and munching on our perfect leaves and it’s not always easy to see them, so controlling caterpillars can be a challenge. Caterpillars are simply larvae that are waiting to transform into moths and butterflies. They are often very hungry guests in the garden, however unwelcome....

How to Plant Showy Milkweed Seeds Also known as Asclepias speciosa, showy milkweed plants are hardy to USDA growing zones 3-9. Once established, these perennial plants will return and bloom seasonally. Though much of the milkweed habitat is threatened by development, individual plants are able to quickly spread through rhizomes. Still, milkweed is most commonly known for its production of seed. After showy milkweed flowers complete bloom, each plant produces uniquely shaped pods....

Breadfruit is usually propagated by taking root cuttings or shoots, which produce a tree identical to the parent plant. Other common methods include layering, in-vitro propagation, or grafting. Once established, breadfruit trees require very little care. If you’re ambitious, you can definitely try growing breadfruit from seed, but keep in mind the fruit won’t develop true to type. If you’re interested in planting breadfruit seeds, read on for more information on breadfruit seed propagation....

How to Preserve Vegetables from the Garden Here are the most common methods for preserving vegetable crops: Freezing Freezing is one of the easiest ways to preserve vegetables for winter. Almost all vegetables are suitable, with the exception of cabbage and potatoes, which tend to become limp and waterlogged. Most vegetables need to be blanched first, which involves boiling them for a set amount of time– usually one to three minutes....

Hybrid Fuchsia Information Hybrid fuchsia plants (Fuchsia x hybrida) are created when several different species of the plant have been crossed – Fuchsia magellaniaca x Fuchsia coccinea x Fuchsia fulgens x Fuchsia arborescens. These crosses produce certain desired traits within the plants. Some of these preferences include tolerance to cold or a specific growth habit. Hybrid fuchsia plants are more tolerant to cooler summer conditions and thrive in partial shade. This makes them an excellent choice for many northern gardeners or anyone wanting to brighten up a dark, shady area....

Cold Hardy Hydrangeas Growing hydrangeas in zone 4 was once a no-no due to their frost and snow tenderness. Today, we are fortunate enough to have plant enthusiasts that are constantly developing new species and cultivars with the ability to withstand extreme temperatures. There are now numerous cold hardy hydrangeas from which to choose, with the leading hardy cultivars stemming from H. paniculata and H. arborescens. The former is a panicle forming bush while the latter is in the smooth leaf category....

Common White Flower Weeds in Grass