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But if you thought raspberries and blackberries were juicy, meet the boysenberry. This plump, sweet-tart fruit takes juiciness to a whole new level. The biggest benefit of juicy, reddish-black boysenberries is that they make the most excellent pie filling you’ll ever taste. (Okay, rhubarb is one of my favorite fillings, too.) Each berry weighs around 7-8 grams, which is heavy for the fruit of a brambly Rubus plant. For comparison, a typical blackberry weighs 5-7 grams, and a raspberry averages 3-5 grams....

This article offers 5 tips for pruning forsythia to maintain its vigor and attractiveness. Forsythia is an easygoing shrub for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8 that is best known for its bright yellow springtime flowers. And while we consider it to be a low-maintenance plant, left to its own devices, it may become a tangled mess of bare woody stems. In our guide to growing forsythia, we discuss everything you need to know about cultivation....

A perfect, not-too-huge addition to your yard, Oak Leaf holly grows naturally in a pyramid shape and responds well to pruning, should you prefer to grow it as a formal hedge or privacy screen. Ilex x ‘Conaf’ Oak Leaf holly is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub with glossy foliage that produces bright red berries in autumn, and provides year-round interest in the garden. Named for the unique, shapely leaves that resemble those of an oak tree, Oak Leaf holly (Ilex x ‘Conaf’) reaches a mature height of 10-15 feet with a spread of seven to nine feet....

For either type, though, you’ll have the best harvest when you use your common sense and set reminders to alert you that the potential harvest window is open. Many human senses may come into play as you determine when homegrown pears are ready for harvest. For Asian varieties, Pyrus pyrifolia, your sense of smell or taste will let you know it’s time to pick. But for P. communis, European varieties that include ‘Bosc’ and ‘Anjou,’ you’ll rely only on your eyesight....

With low water needs and few maintenance requirements, it is also a popular houseplant in all regions. Kalanchoe tomentosa The panda plant is a fuzzy-leaved succulent suited to outdoor cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 11 and 12. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Read on to learn how to grow a panda plant indoors....

Though minor cases may be treated with fungicides with some degree of success, prevention is key to protect your plants from this disease. Phytophthora infestans Late blight is a serious disease that may affect tomatoes and potatoes. It can rapidly destroy entire fields and ruin a farmer’s income for the year. And it may affect crops in home gardens severely as well. You may not realize it, but you are probably already familiar with the organism that causes late blight....

There’s nothing that I can grow in my vegetable patch that reminds me of the coming winter in quite the same way as garden-fresh sprouts, roasted with some balsamic vinegar and pine nuts. There’s a lot to love about the arrival of cool weather. Cozy sweaters and fuzzy slippers come out of storage, warming up next to a real fire in the fireplace becomes an option… and there are brussels sprouts....

They also make striking additions spilling over the side of containers and retaining walls, creeping in rockeries, trimmed into fanciful topiary, stabilizing banks and slopes, and in xeriscapes. With pretty spring flowers, beautiful greenery, fantastic fall colors, and bright red berries, cotoneaster is an easy and reliable performer with great versatility. Different species provide varying architectural forms, making these shrubs wonderfully adaptable throughout the garden and landscape. Creeping and prostrate types are low-growing and are typically used as ground covers....

Peace lilies are mildly poisonous to cats, although the compounds they contain are fortunately not as toxic as those of true lilies. Just imagine: You are at home relaxing with your lovely houseplants and your wonderful kitty when suddenly, she starts yowling. Of course, you immediately rush into action and try to discover what’s wrong. You notice that chunks are missing out of your peace lily plant (Spathiphyllum spp.). Uhoh....

Let’s find out. We’ll take a look at the following: You know the old saying, don’t cry over split tomatoes? Or something like that… Tomatoes commonly split on the vine, creating an open gash. But are these still safe to use and eat? We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Why Do Tomatoes Split? Fruits may split while they’re growing due to changes in their hydration status....

Usually, this development occurs in the spring or summer, when the plants are actively growing. Is that a flower bud on my rubber tree? I understand why you’re here, because not so long ago, I found myself asking the same question. Everyone on the planet who owns one of these houseplants seemingly asks this at some point, particularly if they are not familiar with the growing habits of plants in the ficus, or fig family....

I’ll get down to the nitty-gritty shortly. First, here’s a quick overview of what I’ll cover: Growing vegetables from seed always feels like a magical feat, and carrots are no exception. Once you grow your own, there’s no going back. And once your seedlings are coming along nicely, you’ll want to make sure you know how and when to best harvest these tasty Umbellifers. You have a few options as to when you can pick these veggies, but when it comes to how you pick them, you want to make sure you follow our recommended procedures....

These evergreen plants are decked out with gorgeous, frosty blue-green foliage that forms dense cushions or mats, spreading out into an effective ground cover when mass planted. Dianthus alpinus A must-have for rock gardens, alpine pinks (Dianthus alpinus) are hardy perennials noted for their compact growth, sweetly spicy fragrance, and masses of brightly colored flowers. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

Allium cepa var. aggregatum and A. oschaninii Lacking the sharpness of onion or the aromatic spice of garlic, the shallot somehow takes the best of both of those beloved alliums and blends them into one beautiful, sweet yet savory flavor. This unassuming bulb is used in a variety of cuisines around the world. It’s a staple in Sri Lanka, Iran, India, France, and Ethiopia, while in the US it’s something of a fine-dining delicacy....

I grew up in a part of the Nebraska river bottom where black walnut trees (Juglans nigra) were abundant. I enjoyed picking the nut meat from the shells each year, after my grandmother ran the hard nuts over with her car in the driveway! While I dreamt of each season’s bounty and Gram’s famous black walnut brownies, I didn’t know that these tasty nuts came with a price. It wasn’t until my husband and I were well into the landscaping plans of our own 4-acre homestead that we started to notice trouble....

To grow violets and other members of the Viola genus indoors, you’ll want to plant them in containers – our guide to growing violets in pots provides detailed how-to instructions to get them going in planters. If you want to start your spring garden early, or you simply desire some cheerful, indoor blooms, why not try growing violets indoors? These charming members of the Viola genus possess one quality that I just adore in plants: forgiveness....

What do Drew Barrymore, Lenny Kravitz, and Kelly Clarkson have in common? These celebs are only three of the growing list of stars who have launched a line of home goods. Our pick: Rake Brass Chair (opens in new tab) How can a chair be rock and roll? Are You Gonna Go My Way singer Lenny Kravitz shows us how. Backed by a five-star rating, the black leather and goldware is a head-turner in any space....

To keep this calathea happy indoors you’ll need to meet a few specific needs. But once you understand these requirements, caring for it is quite easy. Goeppertia makoyana (syn. Calathea makoyana) The peacock plant is a gorgeous variety of prayer plant with beautifully patterned, variegated leaves. This houseplant provides texture and color to living spaces, and including one in your collection is an absolute must! We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Their large, green, scalloped or rounded leaves can be inconspicuous in the garden, but these plants are remarkably stunning when they’re in bloom, in a wide range of available colors. Alcea rosea Are you looking to infuse more attention-grabbing flowers into your garden? Then hollyhocks are perfect for you. Growing and caring for A. rosea is easy. Their flowers create impressive displays, and they’re also exceptional pollinator plants. Stunning additions to the garden; they can reach nine feet tall when in flower!...

It’s hard not to love this group of plants. They’re adaptable, sturdy, long-living, and give you a big bang for your buck. I mean, what would fall be without those neon red leaves? Acer spp. A lazy day under the shade of a leafy tree. Digging into a big plate of pancakes covered in syrup. An elegant, bright red focal point in a shady garden. Maples give us so much....