What is Plant Propagation? You may be wondering, what is plant propagation? Plant propagation is the process of multiplying plants. While there are many types of plant propagation techniques, there are two categories into which they generally fall: sexual and asexual. Sexual propagation involves the use of floral parts to create a new plant from two parents. Asexual propagation involves the vegetative parts to create a new plant using one parent....

What Causes Papaya Damping Off? Damping off in papaya is seen as a serious disease in high heat situations. Very young seedlings are most susceptible and become more resistant as they grow. The fungus causes stem tissues to collapse and eventually the little papaya plant will die. Both pre-emergence and post-emergence damping off can occur. The first occurrence causes seeds to fail to germinate, while the second slowly kills young plants....

What is a Peanut Pumpkin and is Peanut Pumpkin Edible? So, what is a peanut pumpkin? Peanut pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima ‘Galeux d’Eysine’) is an heirloom pumpkin varietal notable for its distinctive peanut-like growths peppering the exterior of its pink hued rind. Certainly unique looking, some might say unattractive, the “peanuts” are actually a buildup of excess sugar in the flesh of the pumpkin. Excess sugar, you ask? Yep, peanut pumpkin is more than edible; the flesh is sweet and delicious....

Motherwort Plant Info Motherwort plant info lists its other common names of cowthwort, lion’s ear, and lion’s tail. Motherwort herb growing in the wild appears as a sturdy stemmed perennial of up to 5 feet (1.5 m.) tall with pink to pale purple clustered flowers of six to 15 axils, or spaces between the leaf and stem, and prickly sepals. Like other members of the mint family, the foliage, when crushed, has a distinct odor....

However, once you start reading up on growing fruit trees, you’ll discover many fruit trees planted by seed can take three to eight years to start producing fruit. In eight years, the kids may be off to college or starting families of their own. For this reason, many gardeners choose to purchase immediately fruiting trees that are grafted on already established rootstock. What is rootstock? Continue reading to learn about rootstock plants....

Reasons Houseplants Die If your indoor plants keep failing, it’s most likely due to cultural issues, many of which can be easily fixed. Too Much Water If you are watering too frequently, or your soil is taking too long to dry out, your plant can suffer from root rot and die. Some signs of root rot include a plant with leaves that are wilting. If you notice that your leaves are wilted and the soil feels moist, chances are that you have root rot....

Wild Blackberry that is Invasive More than 2,000 blackberry varieties can be found growing throughout the Northern hemisphere. In California alone there are 11 species of wild blackberry plant (Rubus fruticosus), four of which are considered weeds. Two of these are non-native: cutleaf blackberry (R. laciniatus) and Himalaya blackberry (R. discolor) and two are native to the region. Of the native species, Western thimbleberry (R. parviflorus) competes with evergreen establishment in reforested regions while Pacific blackberry (R....

Avoiding Sick Dogwood Trees When delicate blossoms open on your dogwood tree boughs, you know that spring is on the way. This native tree grows wild throughout the eastern states, and it is also a popular ornamental. The small size works well in home gardens and backyards, but improper culture can cause sick dogwood trees. The best defense against pests or diseases attacking your dogwood is to provide appropriate care for your tree....

What are Edible Perennials? Edible perennials are simply those that require less work, come back in the garden each year and, of course, you can eat. This can include vegetables, herbs, fruits, and even flowering plants. By planting perennials that you can eat, you don’t have to replant them each year. Generally, they die back in winter, coming back once again in spring – or even summer, making your gardening endeavors much easier....

About Zone 8 Kale Plants Kale has been getting a lot of attention in the last few years due to the high amounts of vitamins and minerals it contains. Packed with vitamin A, K, and C, along with a good percentage of daily recommended minerals, it’s no wonder that kale is categorized as one of the super foods. The type of kale most commonly found at the grocers is grown for its ability to withstand handling, transport, and display time, not necessarily for its flavor....

Landscaping in the Southwest often leaves out fussy water-loving plants in favor of low maintenance, drought-tolerant landscape alternatives. Fortunately, there are many lawn alternatives that work well in these dry areas. Read on for information on Southwest alternatives to grass lawns. Landscaping in the Southwest It is a real pleasure to walk barefoot across thick, healthy turf grass but tending that kind of a lawn in the Southwest is no fun at all....

What is Arborsculpture? You may think that a living tree sculpture is an impossible dream but professional arborists and eco-artists have perfected the techniques for centuries. Formal gardens of the past used to include many forms of plant training, from espalier to topiary. Tree training arborsculptures is simply a larger project using those techniques as well as grafting and pleaching. The finished project may take years or even decades, so it is not a task for the impatient....

Buying, selling and trading different varieties of edible seeds became popular, allowing gardeners’ access to different varieties of their favorite fruits and veggies. Edibles that had been limited to certain regions suddenly became available all over. One such heirloom fruit tree that was popular is the Arkansas Black apple. What is an Arkansas Black apple tree? Continue reading for the answer. What is an Arkansas Black Apple Tree? In the late 1800s, a sudden boom in apple orchards in the Ozark regions introduced the entire country to different varieties of apples that had previously just been regional favorites....

Gardening for Kids with Autism Autism impairs communication and social skills. It may also cause several sensory issues, wherein an autistic individual may be over or under sensitive to external stimuli. Autism gardening therapy is an excellent way to tackle these issues. Individuals who have added anxiety created with sensory processing issues greatly benefit from autism gardening therapy. Many people with autism, especially children, struggle with fine motor skills such as zipping up a coat or using scissors....

The question stands, “How to tell if an avocado is ripe?” First off, picking avocados right off the tree will definitely not be a good barometer of maturity as avocados do not ripen on the tree. The problem is in knowing when do you harvest avocados. It isn’t always easy to discern the peak avocado harvest time. Are there some peak avocado harvesting time tips on how to pick an avocado that is ripe?...

What is Banana Squash? With this dizzying array of uses, I’m sure the question, “What is banana squash?” is foremost in your mind as well as how to grow banana squash. Banana squash plants are a member of the Cucurbita family (C. maxima). There are hybrid varieties referred to as “rainbow,” heirloom varieties such as Sibley or Pike’s Peak as well as blue and pink banana types of squash. Banana squash plants can be traced back to ancient sites in Peru and were traded across the Americas....

What is Biennial Bearing? The tendency of some fruit trees to bear heavily on alternate years is termed as biennial bearing or alternate bearing. Fruiting is highly reduced in the intervening year. Sometimes an abundant crop is followed by more than one lean year. Fruit setting is closely followed by the initiation process of the next year’s flowering. Heavy bearing of fruit depletes the energy stores of the tree and jeopardizes the flower formation of the coming year, resulting in poor crop yields that year....

What are Biosolids? Biosolids is an organic material made from wastewater solids. Meaning, everything we flush down the toilet or wash down the drain turns into biosolid material. These waste materials are then broken down by micro-organisms. Excess water is drained and the solid material that remains is heat treated to remove pathogens. This is the proper treatment the FDA recommends. Biosolids created at wastewater treatment plants need to follow strict guidelines and are tested often to make sure they do not contain pathogens and other toxins....

Common Causes of Bitter Lettuce Most gardeners will tell you that bitter lettuce is the result of summer heat; lettuce is known as a cool season vegetable. When temperatures rise, the plant snaps into maturation mode and bolts — sends out a stalk and flowers. It’s during this process that bitter lettuce is produced. This is a natural process that can’t be stopped, but it isn’t the only answer to what makes lettuce bitter....

Brussels Sprouts Problems Sprouts are harvested in fall when the cool weather produces the best flavor. Brussels sprouts are not difficult to grow, but they are heavy feeders and need supplemental fertilization or heavily amended soil. However, soils that have been worked prior to planting are too loose to support good growth. This condition produces loose sprouts. Sow seed directly into the garden in mid-summer and provide plenty of water for best growth....