Balcony Gardens in Winter In the not so distant past, annuals were the primary plants set out in containers on balconies. Today, everything from perennials to small trees and shrubs are grown in containers on our decks and balconies. Unlike fading annuals, the thought of tossing out a perennial is antithesis to the gardener. However, the roots of these potted plants are above ground and, therefore, more susceptible to freezing. So overwintering balcony gardens is of paramount interest....

What is Aromatherapy? Scent has a transporting effect in that it can soothe the mind or jar the senses. This is the basis of aromatherapy, where naturally derived oils are used for specific effects on the body. Gardeners armed with aromatherapy information can try their own hand at making cosmetics, perfumes and concoctions for wellness. There are many simple recipes using plants found in most kitchen gardens with the potential to balance mind, body and spirit....

You may be looking for full-sun groundcover Texas plants, perennials, native plants, or even Texas superstars. Many annuals and tropicals love full sun, too. Best Full Sun Plants for Texas Gardens Perennials are often the staple of a summer garden. They come back year after year from their own roots. They are easily propagated by seed, division, or cuttings. In many cases, division will invigorate the root system of an herbaceous perennial....

What is Blanching? For many people, particularly those familiar with the vocabulary of cooking and preserving food, blanching means plunging a fruit or vegetable into boiling water for a very short period of time to stop the maturation process, then rapidly transferring it to ice water so the item does not become fully cooked. What is blanching in vegetable gardening, however, is something entirely different. It is the technique of covering a plant or plant part to prevent the development of color....

What is a Breadfruit? Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is native to the Malayan Archipelago and gained some recognition due to its affiliation with Captain Bligh’s famed ship, the Bounty, in 1788. Aboard the Bounty were thousands of breadfruit trees bound for the islands of the West Indies. The fruit is grown in South Florida in the United States or imported from the West Indies, particularly Jamaica, from June through October, sometimes year-round, and is found in local specialty markets....

First imported to the U.S. in 1824, Brunswick cabbage history says all cole crops were exported under the Brunswick name at that time. The German heirloom, a large drumhead, is becoming rare as winter cabbage growing decreases. For many years it was a favorite for making sauerkraut. It is a shame for this specimen to face extinction. Let’s learn more about growing this cabbage plant. When to Plant Brunswick Cabbage You may plant Brunswick cabbage in winter or spring, as well as fall....

Common Lawn Pests Treating lawn pests is difficult if you aren’t sure what kind of pest you have. Caterpillars, such as armyworms, cutworms and lawn moth insects, are often found in lawns. You may also find white grubs or chinch bugs in the lawn. Here are some tips to help you identify and treat these pests. Caterpillars A few caterpillars won’t do much damage, but in large enough numbers, they can cause serious problems....

About Calathea Zebra Plants Calathea zebra plants are natives of Brazil and their bright green leaves can be boldly striped in white, yellow, or pink in a striking feather-like pattern that is sure to catch the eye. As tropicals, caring for zebra plants in the home is not as difficult as some gardeners may think. With proper zebra plant care, these plants can grow up to 3 feet (1 m.) tall and 3 feet (1 m....

How to Grow a Spider Plant Outside The easiest way to grow spider plants outside is just to move your potted spider plant outdoors when weather permits and indoors when it is too cold. Spider plants make excellent plants for hanging baskets, with small white, star-shaped flowers arching down on long flower stalks. After flowering, grass-like new little plantlets form on these flower stalks. These little spider-like hanging plantlets are why Chlorophytum comosun is commonly called spider plant....

What is Allspice Pimenta? Allspice comes from the dried, green berries of Pimenta dioica. This member of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) is found in the Central American countries of Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras and was presumably brought there by migratory birds. It is indigenous to the Caribbean, specifically Jamaica, and was first identified around 1509 with its name being a derivative of the Spanish word “pimiento,” meaning pepper or peppercorn. Historically, allspice was used to preserve meats, generally wild pig called “boucan” during the 17th century peak of pirating along the Spanish Main, leading to them to being labeled as “boucaneers,” today known as “buccaneers....

Can You Grow Oats at Home? Oats are used in a multitude of ways, whether crushed or rolled or ground into flour. Oats are even used for brewing beer in England and in Latin America a cold beverage made from ground oats and milk is popular. But I digress, we were wondering about growing oats in home gardens. It is very possible to grow your own oats even if you only have a small garden plot....

Can You Propagate Hyacinth Seeds? While not the quickest and easiest method of hyacinth propagation, with some patience, you can grow hyacinths from seed. To do so, first you’ll need to allow the hyacinth seeds to mature on the plant. Rather than cutting the faded blooms back on all your hyacinth, leave a few to develop seed pods. At first, these seed heads will be bright green and fleshy but, as they mature, they turn a tan color and split open to disperse little black seeds....

What is Canola Oil? Canola refers to edible oilseed rape, a plant species in the mustard family. Relatives of the rapeseed plant have been cultivated as food for millennia and were used as both food and fuel oil since the 13th century throughout Europe. Rapeseed oil production peaked in North America during the World War II. It was found that the oil adhered well to moist metal, ideal for use on marine engines crucial to the war effort....

How to Keep a Christmas Tree Alive Keeping a Christmas tree alive and healthy throughout the holiday season is easier than one might think. It takes no more effort in caring for a live Christmas tree than it does a vase of cut flowers. The most important aspect of live Christmas tree care is water. This is true for both cut trees and living (root ball intact) Christmas trees. Water will not only keep the tree alive but will also prevent safety issues associated with drying out....

November Ohio Valley Gardening As you look around, you may be surprised to see a number of November gardening tasks still needing attention. Check out the following Central Ohio Valley to-do list for additional tasks. Lawn and Trees Removing autumn leaves from the lawn before snow falls tops the list for November gardening tasks this month. A few leaves are okay, but thick piles can smother the lawn and kill the grass....

Choosing Foundation Plants for the Front Yard Foundation plants for the front yard should be attractive year round. While many people prefer evergreens as foundation plants, you shouldn’t overlook the potential of deciduous plantings, as their leaf and twig color can be equally interesting. Use bright colors sparingly when located near the house, as these can be considered an eyesore up close and are better viewed at a distance. Plants located within 5 to 10 feet (1....

What are Citrus Scale Pests? Citrus scale pests are tiny insects that suck sap from the citrus tree and then produce honeydew. The honeydew is then feasted upon by ant colonies, further adding insult to injury. The female adult scale is wingless and often has no legs while the adult male has one pair of wings and notable leg development. Male scale bugs on citrus look similar to a gnat, are generally not visible, and they do not have mouth parts to feed....

What to Plant with Flowering Quince Chaenomeles speciosa is the botanical name for flowering quince. These attractive plants can be espaliered for maximum vertical impact or simply left to grow into a natural form. The deep rose red of the blooms looks impressive when combined with golden foliage and floral tones. The flowers form before the plant leafs out, so evergreen flowering quince companion plants complement the stark grayish brown stems decorated with wicked spines....

Cruciferous Weed Information These days, in the horticulture world, the term “cruciferous” is usually used to describe vegetables, such as: Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Brussels sprouts Bok choy Garden cress These vegetables are considered cruciferous because they are all members of the Brassicaceae family. When discussing healthy eating, nutrition or super foods, leafy green cruciferous vegetables are very popular. In fact, cruciferous vegetables are the dominant crop all over the world. Up until the early 20th century, plants which we now consider members of the Brassicaceae family were classified in the Cruciferae family....

Creeping Thyme Facts Thymus praecox is a low-growing perennial hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 with fairly minimal requirements. An evergreen with lightly haired foliage, this tiny-growing creeping thyme varietal — rarely over 3 inches or 7.5 cm. — will appear in low, dense mats, which sprawl randomly and quickly fill in areas as a ground cover. T. serpyllum is another creeping thyme variety. Just like other thyme varieties, creeping thyme is edible with a flavor and aroma akin to mint when crushed or steeped for teas or tinctures....