And while there isn’t a lot of hard and fast science to back it up, generations of home gardeners swear by planting certain herbs next to mustard to enhance the taste as well. One thing I love about gardening is the planning, with seed catalogs, soil test results, graph paper, and maybe a cup of coffee at the ready. I find it especially gratifying to map out companion planting ahead of time....

And when I lived in Arizona I would visit an old bridge in town that was home to a colony of thousands. They’d all take flight at about the same time, following the first one daring enough to enter the twilight sky. Ever since I was a child, a favorite pastime during the summer evenings was watching bats fly over an open yard. I’d lie down in the shaggy grass and watch them hunt, admiring their acrobatics....

But you should still take steps to protect your crops, and treat them if needed. This disease can predispose asparagus plants to crown rot and result in an early death. Pleospora herbarum Purple spot is an asparagus disease that can infect between 60 and 90 percent of the new spears when conditions are right. Most prominent in cool weather, it typically subsides when conditions become dry. The disease manifests as small, superficial, reddish-purple lesions on the lower half of new spears....

Unfortunately, like all types of plants, occasional visitors can turn into unwelcome pests draining the life and beauty from your beloved succulents. Mites are one type of pest that can damage your trendy collection of colorful, shapely plants. Generally, succulents are problem-free plants that seem to thrive on neglect. Don’t over- or underwater, and you’ll be able to keep these thick leafed, eye-catching beauties thriving in your home or garden....

Whether you want to care for an existing tree or you’re interested in bringing the beauty of the Benjamin fig to your yard, a little knowledge goes a long way towards preventing heartache down the road. Ficus benjamina Elegant, evergreen, and fast-growing, weeping figs have become incredibly popular in warm regions. But growing these tropical treasures requires a bit of finesse. They can falter in the wrong location, or even worse, become so robust that they destroy your plumbing – or even your neighbor’s....

At around 17°F, you’ll see leaf and small stem damage, and the tree will likely be killed to the ground at temperatures below 10°F, although mature trees may regrow from the roots. Olea Europaea Are you up for a challenge that is extraordinarily rewarding? Grow olive trees! Of course, if you’re located in the US and you don’t already live in certain olive-friendly parts of California, Texas, Georgia, Florida, Arizona, Oregon, Alabama, or Hawaii, you’ll have to move there....

1. Built-in Barbecue Pit Build this simple barbecue pit; it’s a relatively easy job and likely to cost less than a fancy new gas grill. With the right tools, materials, and a little skill, you can put together a basic brick barbecue in a weekend. Visit This Old House to read the full DIY post! 2. Mini Charcoal Grill Centerpiece Create this Mini charcoal grill and use it as a table centerpiece and enjoy your urban summer grilling party....

Curry leaves is native to the Indian subcontinent and is often mixed with Helichrysum Italicum (which is also called curry plant in confusion). Its leaves are aromatic — sweet and pungent, which releases the mouthwatering fragrance and used in cooking. Keep reading this article to learn Growing Curry Leaves Plant! Botanical Name: Murraya koenigii Other Names: Curry tree, Curry leaves tree, Curry plant, Sweet neem, Meethi neem, Kadhi patta. USDA Zones: 9-12...

They have big, beautiful, glossy leaves and are pretty darn forgiving of those with black thumbs. If you forget to water your plants or live in a dry climate though, take note: Coffea arabica Whether you’re a confirmed java lover or more of a tea person, coffee plants are excellent to have around. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

When it comes to feeding houseplants, always ensure that the proportions are correct. To see the plant grow beautifully is a sign that your fertilizer is doing a great job! But how to tell that you have overfed them? Well, here are the Top Overfertilization Symptoms in Indoor Plants and Solutions for you! Have a look at the best liquid homemade fertilizers here Overfertilization Symptoms of Indoor Plants 1. Yellowing and Wilting of Lower Leaves Wilting and yellowing are mainly caused due to excessive fertilizer, causing the leaves to burn away and turn yellow....

We provide an overview of the major insect pests of turnips and rutabagas and advice on how to control them. Turnips are vulnerable to several pests, including cabbage aphids and root maggots, that plague other crucifers. In addition, other insects are more annoyances than serious pests. Examples include whiteflies and caterpillars that feed on the turnip foliage. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

Even still, as reasonable as fuchsias are, there is a right and a wrong way to make them truly shine. Fuchsias respond super well to pruning, and unlike roses or lilacs, you don’t run the risk of ruining this year’s display if you mess things up a bit. Phew! Isn’t it nice to work with a plant that is totally low pressure? Having said that, you don’t just want to head out with the snips and go all Edward Scissorhands on your shrub....

Want to learn more about plant-based sources of this essential nutrient? Here’s what we’ll cover: Can you build strong bones with… vegetables? For many of us, when we think of calcium, our minds go to the classic “Got Milk?” advertisements, but we can get a surprising amount from many of the vegetables that are growing in our gardens. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

Tomatoes are very easy to grow and planting them in your garden or indoors will ensure you will be getting fresh supplies all year round. Here are the most common Mistakes When Growing Tomatoes that most of us do! Want to grow Tomatoes in hanging baskets? Click here Mistakes When Growing Tomatoes 1. Growing Heirloom Varieties If you are a novice in growing tomatoes, it is better to choose a hybrid variety....

Even if you aren’t trying to make a beautiful arrangement, thornless (or nearly prickle-free) roses are perfect for planting along walkways or in other high-traffic areas. I know, I know. The song says that “every rose has its thorn.” But does it really? Breeders have been working for a long time to make roses that don’t shred your arm to pieces when you walk by or go out to take a stem or two for an arrangement....

Indoors, jade requires bright, indirect sunlight, fast-draining potting soil, and water before the soil completely dries out. The jade plant, Crassula ovata, is a succulent species in the sizable Crassulaceae family of plants. Native to South Africa, it is suited to outdoor cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 11 and 12. It may be cultivated as a houseplant in all regions and it is popular for being water-wise, not prone to pests or disease, and long-lived....

With just a few minutes of extra work during autumn, you will be rewarded next spring with better germination rates, earlier sprouts, and healthier, more robust plants. I am the kind of gardener who tends to get overexcited and take on too much, and then I become overwhelmed when there is just too much to do! Does this sound like you? I am therefore always on the lookout for easier ways to do things....

Fortunately we humans have figured out how to harness that potential and benefit from this strategy so we can have lots of new ferns. Ferns are smart. Their reproductive strategy is to just flood the world with their spores. Each frond can release millions of spores, and even if only a single plant takes, that’s still a lot of potential for future reproduction. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Let’s take some of the mystery out of spring planter design. We’ll provide the encouragement you need to put together your own! Blooming bulbs and the first green buds on the trees sing the song of a changing season, but it’s the spring planter that lets us know spring is here to stay. Spotting a nice design in the neighbors’ yard or at your local cafe is all it takes to get the itch to plant your own....

In the garden it’s prolific, attracts pollinators, and is easy to grow. Mentha x piperita If the very thought of a peppermint patty makes your mouth water (guilty!), or the idea of peppermint tea sends you running to the kettle, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t grow this marvelous herb at home. Mentha x piperita is a hybrid of watermint (M. aquatica) and spearmint (M. spicata). It’s sometimes called black or candy mint....