Astilbe plants are unique, thriving in those dark and damp spots in your yard where nothing else seems to want to grow. Astilbe, also known as “false spirea,” is a genus of flowering perennials that feature plumes of red, pink, or white flowers. You can easily grow them in containers to add a touch of color to a shady patio or deck. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....
When I save mine, I have plenty to plant the next year, with more to spare to share with friends who might be looking for an easygoing flowering annual for their own gardens. Bachelor’s buttons are such cheerful flowers. Also known as cornflowers, bright blue, pink, purple, or white Centaurea cyanus flowers are among the first to bloom in spring if you plant them right before the first frost. A draw for pollinators, they have edible blooms, and flower for months after that spring start....
And they make gorgeous cut flowers as well, with many folks growing them for the sole purpose of cutting. The bright, showy booms have fantastic forms and fascinating geometry, adding long-lasting allure to floral arrangements. Dahlia spp. When the late season garden starts to fade from summer’s heat, dahlias are one of the best choices to add delightful months-long displays of brilliantly colored blooms. The timing of these flowers is perfect!...
I’m talking about cultivars like ‘Ruby Streaks,’ which can grow as a microgreen in 10 to 15 days. I’m also referring to broadleaf varieties such as ‘Red Giant,’ that can grow 16 inches tall and fully mature 40 days after sowing. A lot of the vegetables you can grow in your garden require the utmost patience before you can pick. But mustard greens require a different skill set ahead of the harvest....
To make a good street strip shrub in regions with cold and snowy winters, the plants that you choose can’t be sensitive to salt, as it’s often used to melt ice on the roadway. Never underestimate the power of a little bit of year-round greenery. It can truly do wonders for walkways – and for your mind. When I lived in Oklahoma for two years, wintertime was difficult. There were few evergreen trees or shrubs in my neighborhood, and with no snow, just about everything that was once thriving and green turned a depressing shade of gray for months on end....
The fruit of dwarf trees is the same size and quality as that grown on a standard-sized tree, assuming it receives the same care. And dwarf types produce a larger crop, for their size, than standard-sized trees. Fragrant flowers. Beautiful, shiny, and evergreen foliage. Colorful, edible, and delicious fruits. A well-behaved root system. The ability to adjust to different types or methods of cultivation. All of these make the dwarf citrus a valuable plant for modern home gardening....
Ready to grow your own? I bet you are! Corylus spp. One of the things I was most eager for when I became a homeowner was finally having the space and time to grow my own fruit and nut trees. I was especially excited when I learned that hazelnut trees (also known as filberts) only take three to five years until the first harvest comes in. Hazelnuts are relatively quick and easy to grow, they don’t require as much space as other nut trees, and they produce sweet, delicious nuts each summer....
But if we thought about companion planting within your herb garden, a whole slew of questions might crop up. Herbs are the stars of the kitchen garden, adding strong tastes, aromas, potential health benefits, and overall zing to your cooking, homemade tea blends, and more. They make good companion plants for your vegetables, too. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....
Wandering Jew is a popular indoor/outdoor plant with purple leaves, stems, and blooms. The name comes from the plants’ trailing nature! Here’s all you need to know about the right Wandering Jew Care. Here are the best types of Wandering Jew plants you can grow Propagating Wandering Jew Propagation can be done at any time of the year by pinching off a 3-4 inches long stem and putting the cut end in a glass of water or soil....
Ready to learn more? Here’s what we’ll cover: Herbs and spices can add flavor to your meals. But did you know they’re also filled with nutritional components that may help to boost your health? Caraway, Carum carvi, is a member of the Apiaceae family, which includes carrots, celery, fennel, and parsley. The seeds are commonly found in America in rye bread, caraway seed rolls, and more. It is also common in European cooking and baking....
Argentine ant colonies can become so large that they can take over whole city blocks. According to an article by the BBC, there is a supercolony in southern Europe that spreads for more than 3,700 miles. That’s a lot of insects. Linepithema humile Argentine ants, Linepithema humile, are among the most problematic of ant pests, listed by the World Conservation Union as one of the world’s worst invasive species. Unlike most ant species that have only one queen, Argentine ants can have multiple queens....
Without further ado, let’s get into how to take care of these carefree and glowing annuals. As far as satisfying gardening experiences go, I think I’ve got my top three favorites settled: biting into the first jalapeno of the season, watching my heuchera really wake up and shine in the early summer, and deadheading marigolds. I can’t say there’s a more satisfying chore than deadheading these annuals. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it produces almost immediate results....
It renews its appeal as it moves through its different growing stages, starting with tiny rooted leaves or stems, moving to young green specimens with thick, oval leaves, and gradually growing into a woody, treelike form with brown “trunks” topped with leafy branches. Crassula ovata The hardy, spritely green, low-maintenance jade plant, Crassula ovata, is a consistent day-brightener. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....
I live primarily in East Tennessee, though, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b, where the first annual frost isn’t anticipated until October 22. With judicious use of row covers and by planting in full-sun areas, I can usually harvest green beans right up until that time. When I plan carefully, I can harvest fresh green beans, Phaseolus vulgaris, from the garden in autumn. I often have these homegrown vegetables for casseroles or three-bean salads I take to football tailgates, and sometimes for the potlucks that a particular group of my friends likes to hold on the weekends near Halloween....
Here are some Fast Growing Indoor Plants that Grow Tall for those who want a quick jungle look! They are also easy to care for and make for a charming addition to your rooms. Here are some great tall houseplants with patterns Fast Growing Indoor Plants that Grow Tall 1. Snake Plant Botanical Name: Sansevieria trifasciata The upright, sword-like foliage grows fast and tall with edges in silver, grey, or gold hues....
C. amboinicus bears the nickname “Cuban oregano” thanks to its aroma, which resembles that of true oregano (Origanum vulgare). Cuban oregano’s flavor is also similar to that of O. vulgare, but with an added sharp edge of mintiness. Coleus amboinicus While its primary common name makes it sound like this plant comes from the Caribbean island, Cuban oregano is a plant known by many other names as well, including Mexican mint, Spanish (or French) thyme, and Indian borage....
From the micro-minis that stay under six inches tall to the bigger options that top out at under three feet, minis put on a macro display. Miniature roses can liven up your space, and you don’t have to sacrifice a big, bold display for a petite footprint. Though these plants are physically diminutive, they are mighty in their impact. And that’s doubly true when you grow them in pots. A pretty container in a prominent spot only serves to emphasize how attractive mini roses can be....
A healthy jade has erect stems and firm foliage that points outward, upward, or slightly downward. But when a plant is under stress, the young, soft stems may droop, and the foliage may hang limply, like fallen dominoes. The jade plant, Crassula ovata, is prized for its glossy, thick, evergreen foliage. Long-lived, water-wise, and low maintenance, it’s no wonder this South African succulent is prized as a garden specimen in Zones 11 and 12, and as a houseplant everywhere....
We arrived here in rural Rhode Island in time to catch the end of spring, and now summer is slipping into autumn. In these three months I can’t say that I have metamorphosed into a master gardener like Penelope Hobson or that our five New England acres in any way resemble the great gardens she created at Tintinhull. Still, I have learned some things that I would like to share with you....
Asian pear trees are loaded with lightly fragrant, pretty white blossoms in spring and finish off the season with a vivid fall display when the foliage turns intense shades of orange, red, and yellow. Asian pears bear delicious fruit with a crisp, juicy bite, and flavors that range from mild and melon-like to sweet caramel and butterscotch. Distinct in flavor and shape from their European cousins, the fruit has a rounded appearance like an apple and skins can be rough or smooth, with colors ranging from creamy pink, pale green, and yellow to bronze and russet, depending on the type....
