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About Challenging Vegetables Vegetables that are hard to grow may be difficult for one or more reasons. Sometimes these issues can be handled by a skilled and knowledgeable gardener while other times, these hard to grow vegetables are simply not viable in your USDA zone. Advanced vegetables are often those with particular likes and dislikes such as nutrient rich soil or consistent watering that the newbie gardener isn’t focused on enough to provide....

Rather than the production of flowers, poinsettias are actually known for their highly attractive, colorful bracts. Throughout late fall and early winter, potted poinsettia plants are commonplace at retailers, specifically throughout the holiday season. Though red poinsettias are considered to be the most traditional type, new visually-interesting cultivars offer their growers a much wider range of options in terms of color and pattern. In this article we will explore several different types of poinsettias that are likely to be available this season....

Garden Planning Software Features Whether you’re planning a total garden makeover, or you want a quick method for laying out your veggie patch, you can find garden design software to meet your needs. Some garden planning software can be used for free, while others charge a nominal fee. In addition to cost, these programs vary in the virtual garden design tools they offer. Here are the more common features available and how to use them to design a garden virtually:...

Learning to identify poison ivy, as well as understanding more about how to alleviate its symptoms, can help reduce its spread and the discomfort that it can cause. Treating a Poison Ivy Rash For many, exposure to poison ivy plants goes unnoticed until you begin to exhibit symptoms, usually about 12 to 72 hours later. Most frequently, contact points begin to itch and are soon covered in red bumps, irritating rashes, or painful blisters....

Vertical Strawberry Tower Plans In looking through a dearth of information regarding the building of a vertical strawberry planter, it seems that although an engineering degree might come in handy, some versions of the structure are DIY friendly for the novice architect. The basic gist for planting in vertical strawberry towers is to acquire material that is already tall, such as PVC piping or a 6- to 8-foot (2 to 2....

What are Witchetty Grubs? These are the larvae of a large wood moth native to Australia. The grubs can cause diminished vigor or even death with their feeding behavior. Witchetty grub control information is spotty, as the larvae is also a common and important food source. However, the adult insect can be prevented from laying eggs that turn into these damaging, yet delicious, grubs. Witchetty grubs are called witjuri by the indigenous people of Australia....

Where Does Nutmeg Come From? Nutmeg trees are evergreens native to the Moluccas (Spice Islands) and other tropical islands of the East Indies. The large seed of these trees garners two noteworthy spices: nutmeg is the kernel of the seed when ground, while mace is the grated red to orange covering, or aril, which surrounds the seed. Nutmeg Plant Info Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is steeped in history, although there is no written record of it until 540 A....

While all plants need some water for survival, having suitable drainage is important to prevent root rot. For this reason, you need to add a few holes for potted plants so the water can escape. It’s not complicated if you follow basic instructions and precautionary measures when drilling a drainage hole. (Always wear protective eye-wear when using a drill.) Adding Drainage Holes to Containers Plastic and wood planters are among the easiest to fit with drainage holes....

About Chicory Issues Preventing problems with chicory starts with proper growing conditions and hardy plants. Healthy chicory plants are tougher and less likely to be bothered by various chicory issues. Be sure your chicory plants are planted in fertile, well-drained soil and that they are watered properly. The soil should be uniformly moist but never soggy. Chicory requires several hours of bright sunlight per day. However, keep in mind that chicory is a cool-season crop and won’t do well when temperatures rise in summer....

When to Pick Apples Harvesting apples at just the right time is key, not only to obtaining the highest quality fruit but also to maximize the storage life. Each variety of apple has its own maturation time and can be dependent upon weather conditions during the growing season. For example, apples will ripen earlier if there is a mild, sunny spring which kick starts the tree’s fruiting cycle early. Because of this, you should gauge harvest time through other indicators rather than a specific date on the calendar....

However, you can learn how to plant an avocado tree as a potted indoor plant or in a protected area outdoors to grow your own crop of this rich, versatile fruit. Warm indoor temperatures, bright sunlight and good avocado tree care can have you on your way to homemade guacamole and a host of other gustatory delights. Avocado Information Avocado tree growing is a fun way to introduce organic fruit for you and your family....

Suburban Garden Planning There are as many ways to garden as there are people who work the soil. First, think about how much time you have and how much equipment you will need. I prefer to use the raised bed-no till method of gardening. My equipment list includes a shovel, spade, and a good pair of gloves. The entire garden should be planned in detail before anything is planted. There are thousands of sites on the internet that will give you free plans for your gardens; these plans include flower, herb, water, or vegetable gardening....

About Ornamental Grasses Ornamental grasses may be native, hybrid, suited for sun or shade, vary in height from low to incredibly tall, and come in a variety of colors and textures. Ornamental grasses are also one of the few plants that can be incorporated into the landscape that give almost year-round interest to the garden. Ornamental grasses are categorized as either warm or cool season. Their active growth period will tell you if a grass is cool or warm season....

What is Bishop’s Cap? This delicately lobed woodland plant pops up in spring and blooms soon after with little white cup-like flowers. The species is an easy-to-grow addition to a native landscape and bishop’s cap ground cover will produce an eruption of dainty leaves and charming scented bells. Not only do native species like bishop’s cap fit into the landscape more easily than exotics, but they are easier to maintain. This is because the conditions they are used to thriving in are already provided....

Bottle Palm Tree Info Plants develop all sorts of amazing adaptations to help them survive. Bottle palm trees have evolved with thickened trunks topped with scaly crowns. The purpose is unclear but might have been a water storage device. Whatever the reason, the trunk makes for a standout silhouette in the garden or even as a potted plant. Caring for a bottle palm tree is a low maintenance chore due to its slow growth and drought tolerance once established....

What Are Boxelder Bugs and What Do Boxelder Bugs Look Like? Easily recognized, boxelder bugs are black bugs marked by bright red stripes. Adult boxelder bugs measure about ½ inch (1.5 cm.) in length. Freshly laid boxelder bug eggs, which are laid in spring, are yellow, turning reddish-brown as the nymph inside the egg gains maturity. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, boxelder bugs are most prevalent during hot, dry summers followed by warm, mild springs....

What is a Cactus Longhorn Beetle? Cactus devotees and managers of cactus gardens may shudder when they see the cactus longhorn beetle. Do cactus longhorn beetles hurt cacti? The adult is not the destroyer of the plants, but rather its progeny. The insect’s favorite plants are those that are not densely spined but also haunt Cholla and Prickly Pears. If you see holes in the plant filled with a black substance, you may well have longhorn larvae inside your cactus....

How to Grow Tulips in Water They say hunger makes the best sauce, but I am too impatient to wait for results in my landscape. Growing tulips without soil is a DIY favorite trick to get these Dutch darlings faster into the home. Tulips have a chilling requirement of 12 to 15 weeks, which they get outside naturally unless you purchase pre-chilled bulbs. You can also do it yourself in your refrigerator at any time and be that much closer to a bounty of blooms....

Before Planting Apples in Containers There are a couple of things to consider before planting apples in containers. First of all, choose your cultivar. This sounds easy, just pick the variety of apple that you like best, right? Nope. Most nurseries will only carry trees that grow well in your area, but if you wish to purchase your tree online or from a catalog, you may not be getting one that will do well in your region....

Considerations for Banana Plants for Zone 9 Bananas are native to the tropical and semi-tropical areas of the world. The plants come in several sizes, including dwarf varieties. Can you grow bananas in zone 9? Outside of the hardy varieties, bananas are suited for United States Department of Agriculture zones 7 to 11. This puts zone 9 gardeners right at the middle of the range. Zone 9 banana trees will thrive, especially with some thoughtful site conditions and judicious care....