Tree Basal Shoots What is a basal shoot? By its terms, tree basal shoots are growth or shoots that appear at the base of a tree. When you start delving into the question though, it can be a little confusing. Some experts distinguish between water sprouts, suckers, offsets, and basal shoots, with recommendations on what to do with each. One of the primary distinctions is between a sucker and an offset....
What is a Jelly and Jam Garden? A jam and jelly garden is simply a garden that includes fruit that can be used to make these preserves. The most common plants to include are berry plants, but why stop there? Interestingly, there are a number of other plants that can be included to grow your own preserves. How to Grow a Jelly Garden Arguably one of the most popular jellies is grape jelly and if you have the space to grow grapes, do so....
What is a Little Baby Flower Watermelon? Of the many types of watermelons, Little Baby Flower (Citrullus lanatus) falls under the category of personal sized melon. This little cutie averages 2- to 4-pounds (just under 1-2 kg.) fruit with excellent flavor. The exterior of the melon has dark and light green striping while the interior has sweet, crisp, dark pink flesh that is very high in sugar. High yielders, hybrid Little Baby Flower watermelons produce 3-5 melons per plant that are ready to harvest in about 70 days....
Orostachys Plant Info Orostachys is a hardy succulent native to the frigid mountainous regions of North China, Mongolia, and Japan. The structure and growing habit of the plant is similar to the more familiar hens and chicks, although considerably smaller with a more delicate appearance. Chinese Dunce Cap succulents are suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 10. Dunce Cap Plant Care Growing Chinese Dunce Cap is easy....
How to Grow Porcelain Garlic Growing porcelain garlic is basically the same as growing any type of garlic. Porcelain garlic performs well in most climates, with the exception of extremely warm regions such as southern California, Florida, and Texas. It is well suited for cold weather and tends to be larger when grown in chilly northern climates. Plant porcelain garlic in well-drained soil sometime in the fall (between September and November) when the soil is cool....
When to Bring in Potted Plants Some especially hardy plants can spend the winter outdoors in containers. It’s important to remember, though, that containers raise a plant’s roots up out of the protective ground, where their roots are separated from the cold air by just the walls of the pot. USDA hardiness zones are meant for plants growing in the ground– if you’re planning on leaving container plants outside, they ought to be rated two whole zones colder than your local climate if you want them to survive....
Where Do Pine Nuts Come From? Many people eat pine nuts but ask: Where do pine nuts come from? Pine nuts come from pinyon pine trees. These pines are native to the United States, although other pines with edible pine nuts are native to Europe and Asia, like the European stone pine and the Asian Korean pine. Pine nuts are the smallest and the fanciest of all nuts. The taste is sweet and subtle....
Causes of Powdery Mildew on African Violets Powdery mildew thrives where conditions are warm and humid and air circulation is poor. Temperature fluctuations and low light can also contribute to fungal disease. Treating African violets with powdery mildew means taking precautions to avoid these conditions. African Violet Fungal Control If your African violets have powdery mildew fungus, you must first isolate affected plants to prevent the spread of disease. Remove dead plant parts too....
Causes of White Spots on Sweet Potato Foliage The most common causes of white bumps on sweet potato leaves are edema, mites, and mealybugs, which are all garden problems that are easy to control. Edema Edema occurs when the water distribution and intake systems in sweet potatoes get out of balance, causing high amounts of water retention. It may be caused by environmental problems, such as high humidity during cool, cloudy weather, or cultural conditions, like over-watering under high light where air circulation is poor....
About Onion Leaf Variegation As with most any other crop, onions are susceptible to their fair share of pests and disease as well as disorders. Most of the diseases are fungal or bacterial in nature, while disorders may be the result of weather, soil conditions, nutrient imbalances, or other environmental concerns. In the case of onions with streaked or variegated leaves, the cause is most likely a disorder called chimera in onions....
An indoor winter garden won’t provide you with all the produce you need but can flesh out the produce you purchase from the store. Plus, growing winter indoor plants allows you to keep your thumbs green, so to speak. Read on to learn how to grow food inside during winter. Can You Garden Inside During Winter? Yes, you can garden inside during winter and it’s a great way to beat back the winter blues while providing your family with fresh produce and herbs....
Yacon Root Info The yacon is native to the Andes, in present-day Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru. It’s gaining worldwide popularity, however, in part because of its unusual source of sweetness. Unlike most tubers, which get their sweetness from glucose, yacon root derives its sweetness from inulin, which the human body can’t process. This means you can taste the sweetness of yacon root, but your body won’t metabolize it. This is good news for people looking to lose weight and especially good news for diabetics....
Tips for Growing Lavender in Zone 4 Lavender requires plenty of sun, well-draining soil, and excellent air circulation. Prepare the soil by tilling down 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm.) and working in some compost and potash. Plant the lavender out when all danger of frost has passed for your area. Lavender does not need lots of water. Water and then allow the soil to dry out before watering again. In the winter, prune back the herb’s new growth by 2/3 of the stem length, avoiding cutting into the old wood....
Growing Yucca in Zone 6 Most varieties of yucca commonly grown are hardy to United States Department of Agriculture zones 5 to 10. These drought-tolerant plants are often found in desert settings where temperatures get scorching during the day but may dip to freezing at night. Such conditions make yucca one of the more versatile plants, as they have adapted to these extremes. Adam’s Needle is one of the more cold hardy species but there are several yuccas for zone 6 from which to choose....
Hardy Bamboo Plants Typical bamboo plants are hardy to about 10 degrees F. (-12 C.). Since the temperatures in zone 7 can dip to 0 degrees (-18 C.), you’ll want to grow cold hardy bamboo plants. Two principal kinds of bamboo are clumpers and runners. Running bamboo can be invasive since it grows quickly and spreads by underground rhizomes. It is very hard to eliminate once established. Clumping bamboos only grow a little every year, about one inch (2....
Selecting Flowering Shrubs for Zone 8 Adding some shrubs to new or existing landscaping, or just need to know how to grow flowering shrubs in zone 8? Zone 8 shrubs that flower add extra elegance to the landscape and the special surprise that blooming plants offer. Some regions in zone 8 can be quite challenging with either coastal aspects or hot punishing summer temperatures to consider. There are many plants from which to choose, however, each able to thrive in zone 8....
Growing Citrus in Zone 9 In zone 9, citrus trees are selected based on the size of the area. Dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties are best suited for small yards or containers, while a very big yard may house many large citrus tree varieties. It is also important to select citrus trees based on whether they require a second tree for pollination or not. If you have limited space, you may need to grow only self-fertile citrus trees....
About Olives for Zone 9 Olive trees like it hot– hot and dry in the summer and mild in the winter. Of course, if you live in a cooler climate, you can always container grow an olive and bring it inside in the winter, but be sure to choose a dwarf, self-fertile variety. If you don’t, space may become an issue since some olive trees can grow 20 to 25 feet (6-8 m....
