Where I’m from, at least, it’s not arid enough to cultivate many succulents outdoors, save for the occasional yucca. Sedum spp. I grew up in neighborhoods where the ground covers of choice were predominantly wintercreeper, ivy, and periwinkle. And over time, my eyes built up a visual immunity to them, like my taste buds did with honeycrisp apples. I can objectively say they’re great, but I don’t get that magical feeling of “WOW!...
It has saved my family from losing large portions of our garden to beetles, moths, and other crawly things. Nobody wants to see this first thing in the morning when they head out to the berry patch. And if you’re visiting my homestead during the gardening months, you’ll hear us refer to “D.E.” almost daily. The powdery substance, also known as diatomaceous earth, is one of my favorite weapons against garden pests....
If you want to add natural beauty indoors with the perfect combination of colors, then check out these really amazing Pictures of the Best Foliage Plants for Containers! Have a look at the best houseplants full of colors here Pictures of the Best Foliage Plants for Containers 1. Caladiums Botanical Name: Caladium 2. Indian Shot Botanical Name: Canna indica 3. Coleus Botanical Name: Coleus scutellarioides 4. Black Pearl Coral Bells Botanical Name: Heuchera ‘Black Pearl’ 5....
One such contribution is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault – nicknamed the “Doomsday” Vault – a seed bank on the Norwegian island of Svalbard that’s stocked with seeds from more than one million different crops, which can be used to preserve botanical diversity and kickstart agriculture in the event of a global apocalypse. Acer platanoides Speaking as an American who hasn’t left the continent, I think Norway is really, really cool....
But there is so much more to growing potatoes that you can learn. Solanum tuberosum When I told a friend I was writing an article about how to grow potatoes he said, “What’s to tell? You throw ‘em in a bucket, pile up the soil while they grow, and wait until you have spuds.” I objected at first at his suggestion, but then I realized that he’s right. Potatoes are about as easy to grow as a radish, so if you’ve got the patience of King Kong at a banana factory you can stop reading this article now and take that bit of advice with you....
If you’re in the category of those who love it, please enjoy this growing guide and reap the deliciousness of cilantro from your own garden. Coriandrum Sativum Cilantro is one of those love-it or hate-it ingredients. My aunt Karen, for example, thinks it’s the most vile-tasting herb on the planet. Interestingly, famed chef Julia Child disliked this plant’s flavor, as well. Me, I can’t get enough of it. I sprinkle it on everything....
Many varieties are repeat bloomers, giving a second wave of flowers after the first spring flush – often starting in midsummer and lasting until the arrival of heavy frost. Beloved for their fun funnel-shaped flowers and bold splashes of vivid color, azaleas are woody shrubs that thrive in semi-shade, adding a sassy punch to the shadows. They make a tidy anchor piece in beds, islands, and foundations and are simply mesmerizing when mass planted....
Many growers refer simply to “Asian type” eggplants when describing these – and I’m going to follow their example throughout this article. Japanese eggplants are known for their long, slender fruit, with thin skins and few seeds. The mild, delicately flavored flesh is less bitter than some of the varieties you would typically find in the grocery store. Some like to distinguish “Japanese eggplant” as a separate category of “Asian eggplant,” but quite often the two terms are used interchangeably to refer to the long, slender, thin-skinned varieties of this vegetable....
Reliably cold hardy, they also multiply freely, naturalizing abundantly in almost any soil type. Muscari spp. With their dazzling colors, fragrance, and easy growth, bulbs make a great addition to the garden. Take grape hyacinth, for example. This pretty, petite bulb is a perennial spring charmer with a carefree habit, and striking colors that look fantastic in small stands or big, bold drifts. They can be grown in beds or containers, forced indoors for winter growth, or naturalized in woodland settings....
With their ease of care and aesthetic appeal, it’s no wonder these houseplants are so popular, often being used not just in homes but also in commercial offices, lobbies, or shopping malls. Philodendron spp. Philodendrons provide a gateway to growing rooms full of houseplants for many aspiring indoor plant enthusiasts, including myself. For most of my gardening days, I’ve focused on outdoor plants, but when my partner opened a yoga studio that needed some lush greenery as fast as possible that could also handle low light conditions, I turned to philodendrons....
When I say the dead of winter, I mean it. Pastinaca sativa doesn’t just tolerate freezing weather – it needs it. It tastes best after it has lived through a few weeks of some seriously chilly temps. I don’t know why parsnips aren’t more popular. Their cousin, the colorful carrot, is a kitchen garden must-have. But when you mention parsnips, it tends to elicit looks of confusion (if not disgust)....
Before we proceed, I’d like to encourage you to see this as a separate opportunity from planting the towering varieties in a garden plot or field, not a second-best choice because you can’t have the “real” thing. If sunflowers have always seemed out of reach for you, how about growing them in containers? You may have assumed that only those with big garden plots, or perhaps a field out back, would be able to plant their own Helianthus annuus....
Few plants in the garden offer the refined payout that roses do. From their iconic flowers to their euphoric aromas, these plants are a mainstay for a reason. By the end of every fall I find myself swearing off roses. But at the beginning of every summer to follow, they suck me back in. The promise of gorgeous flowers and carpets of petals, and the delectably tedious art of pruning, makes the headaches over diseases that commonly affect these plants tolerable....
With smooth bark that roughens and fissures to create interesting textures with age, Acer bark is a gorgeous part of the tree that is often overlooked. When it comes to maple trees, the foliage gets all the attention… and why wouldn’t it? In addition to having an iconic shape and providing bountiful shade from the sun, Acer leaves reveal beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow in autumn. A maple’s foliage is arguably its best feature....
Maybe you set your new seedlings out in the garden and they never developed the flowers you so eagerly expected. Marigolds are pretty, but part of the reason they’re so popular is because they offer up their sunny blossoms week after week without much – if any – input from you. You can set them in the ground and go about your life, for the most part, and they’ll still be out there doing their thing....
And now, for some true-blue flowers that are sure to delight! There’s no better way to make a garden pop than by introducing a bold splash of blue. Whether your color scheme is pinks and reds, yellows and oranges, or an eclectic mix, the addition of blue – at random or as a focal point – wakes up a garden. The plants listed are all native to the US and do exceptionally well in their appropriate regions....
If the produce is easily obtainable in my local community, it may not be worth its real estate in my edible landscape. When you grow your own fruits and vegetables at home, you have your choice of options. And if you have an adventurous streak, there are a wide array of unusual varieties available to you, provided you have the right growing conditions. Whether it’s annuals for my garden patch or trees for my orchard, there’s a question I always ask myself before I consider adding a new fruit or vegetable: how easy is this to find at the supermarket?...
If conditions are right, the fruit rot can cause enormous losses, especially in the southeast. The fungus is mercurial. Some years may result in devastating fruit losses, while it may not even infect fruit the following year. Botryosphaeria dothidea Bot rot, also known as white rot, is caused by the fungus Botryosphaeria dothidea. Infection can result in a complex of diseases – two types of fruit rot and cankers on the limbs and twigs....
A lesion forms around the collar of the tomato stem, usually covered in a white mold. Within the patch of mold, round beads of a white or brown color resembling mustard seeds can be seen lying in the soil. Sclerotium rolfsii Southern blight is dreaded by home gardeners and commercial growers alike. The fungus that causes the blight is believed to be able to lie dormant in the soil for up to four years....
A durable snow shovel is a must-have piece of kit, and if you’re in the market for a new shovel or to replace that old broken one that’s been languishing in the shed all summer, we’ve got you covered. Winter’s on its way, and that means frosty flakes will soon be falling here in the northeast. As autumn gives way to winter and the cold weather brings frosty sidewalks and blankets of snow on the driveway, it’s time to make sure you are prepared....
