They withstand heat, drought, and even salty air to thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10, or even 11, as outdoor plants – and bloom and bloom again while they’re doing it. You know the phrase, “an iron fist in the velvet glove”? Scholars like to quibble over who uttered it first, with Napoleon as the leading candidate. Me, I’d argue only that they could have been talking about oleander when they said it....

Growing tea at home can be rewarding and fun. The best part is, you can also grow it in your balcony or patio! There’s nothing like watching a tea plant grow and sipping a piping hot tea made from the homegrown, organic tea leaves! Here’s everything about Growing Tea Leaves at Home! Botanical Name: Camellia Sinensis USDA Zone: 6-10 Check out our article on growing Coffee at home here What are Tea Leaves?...

This bulbous vegetable offers plenty of nutrients and potential health benefits. Let’s discuss these in more detail! It may have a funny name, but the health benefits of kohlrabi are no laughing matter! We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. What Is Kohlrabi? Kohlrabi is a cultivar of wild cabbage, within the same species as broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, and collard greens – Brassica oleracea....

There are several varieties, which can come in different colors including purple, red, white, and green. The leaf shapes can also differ as some are smooth while others, like savoy are crinkly. Despite looking a lot like lettuce, cabbage is actually a member of the Brassica genus of vegetables, along with broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

Helen of Troy was beloved by all, but her beauty also resulted in her abduction and the subsequent Trojan War. Anyone who’s strikingly attractive knows that such beauty draws all kinds of attention, both good and bad. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Modern-day gorgeous celebrities are adored wherever they go, but they also have to deal with the paparazzi and hyper-devoted fans....

For comparison, the popular jalapeno pepper weighs in at between 2,500 SHU at the mild end, all the way to 8,000 SHU at its spiciest. Capsicum assamicum The ghost pepper, bhut jolokia, was the first hot pepper to be measured at over 1 million Scoville heat units. In 2007 it was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “hottest pepper in the world” – but it has since been knocked off its podium by the sinister-sounding ‘Carolina Reaper....

Of course, there’s a bit more to it than that, and there are some things you can do to increase your chances of success. There are lots of ways to propagate roses, from grafting to saving seeds. Propagating stem cuttings in water happens to be one of the easiest methods. If you’re out trimming your shrubs in the morning, it’s pretty much as simple as tossing some of those ends into a cup of water and keeping the liquid fresh until roots form....

However, there are environmental concerns about peat’s use due to the release of carbon as it breaks down in the soil. Perhaps you’ve seen it at your garden center. Maybe you even know how to use it. But what is peat moss? And is its use in the garden necessary? Staring in the 1950s, sphagnum peat moss became widely used as a principle ingredient in the potting soils sold in the United States....

1. Raised Graden Bed DIY Create a very durable raised bed for your garden using corrugated metal, redwood and some basic hardware. Understand the procedure here. 2. Galvanized Garden Beds Another galvanized raised bed idea for your garden that lasts long and serves its purpose well. Check out the steps here. 3. Steel Planters Adorn your outdoor space with attractive galvanized steel planters. Learn more about this here. 4. Culvert Planter Reuse the leftover culverts to create these bulky planters for your outdoor container garden!...

Ready to find out more? Here’s what’s ahead in this article: Nothing says summer like a large harvest of homegrown zucchini. And as much as you enjoy the freshly-plucked fruit, there are several garden pests who feel the same way about nibbling on your zucchini plants. From the tiny aphid to the colorful cucumber beetle, there are a lot of creepy crawlies around that can’t wait to get their teeth into your veggies....

In this article, you’ll learn all you need to know to grow Colchium, a unique flower that offers lush foliage in the spring and crocus-like blossoms in the fall. Colchicum spp. Autumn crocuses, Colchicum spp. are not crocuses at all. While they may resemble those familiar spring-blooming members of the iris family, Colchicum is a separate genus in the Colchicaceae family that grows from bulb-like corms. Their cup-like blossoms are pink or purple, often with a white center....

This Valentine’s Day, create a romantic ambiance at home with a heart-shaped floral centerpiece that you can make in minutes. This lovely low-profile arrangement is called a pavé. It’s made with carnations, roses, mums, baby’s breath, and berries that have had their stems cut short to create the effect of a surface paved with flowers. It’s easy to make and perfect for a Valentine’s Day table for two. Read on to learn how to make your own!...

In this article, I’ll include options for growing these vegetables in different conditions so you can find the best way to bring your plants to a tasty harvest. Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus If you love to eat artichokes, why not grow your own fresh supply? You can grow this highly ornamental plant in your garden or yard, where its silvery foliage can do double duty as a striking landscape feature....

However, all of the pet owners I know shudder at the thought of pussy or fido undergoing any suffering after they opted to make a meal of one of their houseplants. The Dracaena genus includes many different species that are popular as houseplants. But did you know that all of them can make your cat or dog sick if he or she ingests any part of the leaves, stems, bark, or roots?...

Your options for controlling this disease vary depending on what part of the country you live in. States vary in the number and types of fungicides that you can use to control Alternaria leaf spot on crucifers. Alternaria brassicicola / brassicae Two species of the fungus Alternaria, A. brassicicola and A. brassicae, can cause leaf spot on turnips. You will know that you have Alternaria leaf spots on your turnip or rutubaga leaves when they develop yellow to black leaf spots with concentric rings like a target....

There is no better way to countdown to the holiday season than with the best Christmas advent calendars. From sweet treats to tiny trinkets, advent calendars are a delightful way to mark the days to Christmas. There’s an advent calendar for everyone, according to their favorites, from candy to candles, and taking into account their interests from general to niche. We’ve rounded up 15 exciting and unique options, and finish off with ideas to make your own advent calendar, if you’re up for the task....

How do you know which ones are the best for your garden and the varieties that you’re growing? They’re not one-size-fits-all, after all. So, you’re looking for the best options for fertilizing your vegetable garden. Your goal is most likely to support plant health while increasing productivity, right? If you’ve spent some time shopping around but you’re not sure exactly what you’re looking for, then chances are that you might be feeling pretty overwhelmed....

Turtle vine is a low creeping succulent that grows with rounded green leaves with an underlying purple tone. An easy plant to grow, it can be resilient and very low maintenance as long as you know the tips and tricks of Callisia Repens Care. So, let’s find out! Other Names: Creeping Basketplant, Turtle Vine, Bolivian Jew, Creeping Inch-Plant Learn how to care for bromeliads here Requirements for Growing Callisia Repens Potting and Propagation As the plant hardly grows above 4-5 inches tall, 4-6 inches of pot would be great....

This applies quite well to Japanese beetles. There are no guaranteed ways to eliminate these insects from your garden, but we can take steps to minimize their presence and strive to eliminate it when the beetles show their coppery butts on your rose buds. Popillia japonica It just isn’t summer in the northeast without Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) tearing through raspberries, roses, and other plants gardeners tend to hold near and dear....

That’s what we’ll discuss in this article – how to grow and care for this houseplant, from A to… well, Zebrina! Goeppertia zebrina (aka Calathea zebrina) You may have heard that zebra calathea is a slightly fussy plant to grow. I’d like to convince you that the care involved is well worth it. All it takes really is learning what this tropical species needs so you can successfully meet its requirements....