What is Red Toch Garlic? Red Toch is one of the garlics found to grow vigorously near the city of Tochliavri in the Republic of Georgia, of former USSR. This small area claims a variety of tasty cultivars, with Tochliavri garlic becoming a favorite in many places worldwide. Wondering what makes it such a favorite? An Allium sativum offering a mild, yet complex, flavor and a unique aroma, many use this Tochliavri garlic for occasions when it will be eaten raw – yes, raw....

When to Plant Forget-Me-Nots Who doesn’t like forget-me-nots? True, they aren’t very attractive when they die back after blooming but, in the meantime, they have an uncomplicated, endearing nature that is trouble free and easy. Forget-me-nots are very hardy little plants that die back in winter but will re-sprout in spring. Plants that are at least a year old will flower the next spring. These little blue bloomers are so unfussy you can plant them almost anywhere at any time and expect some flowers within the next year and a half....

Crinum lily pup division is the technique most growers use to propagate and produce new plants. Propagating crinum lilies is the best way to get more of the large and hardy plants. Learning more about dividing crinum lilies can help gardeners maintain the health of established plantings and add more plants to the garden at no additional cost. Getting More Plants from Crinum Lily Pups The crinum lily is a member of the Amaryllis family and produces a bulbil, growing on the stem at the base where the flower sprouted....

What is Silphium Believed to have been a fennel-like plant belonging to the genus Ferula, Silphium had a hollow stem, tiny yellow umbels of flowers and golden celery-like leaves. Its stout roots were covered in black bark and the silphium heart-shaped seeds are credited with inspiring the connection between the heart shape and love. In the ancient Mediterranean world, this plant had many uses in addition to food, medicine and perfume....

But potted trees that survive winter don’t necessarily need to be brought inside. In many areas, it’s entirely feasible to overwinter potted trees outside – including both potted evergreen trees and potted deciduous trees – if you take proper precautions. If you are interested in winter tree protection, read on. Potted Trees That Survive Winter Trees planted in pots feel the cold of winter more than trees with roots in the ground....

When to Plant Crops in Zone 5 When do you plant vegetables in zone 5? This is a very important detail if a successful garden is to be achieved. Young starts are very susceptible to late season freezes. Zone 5 can experience temperatures of -10 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 to -18 C.). Planting anywhere near the time of year these temps are experienced is plant suicide. You need to know the date of your last frost....

Why Do My Apricots Stay Green? It can be difficult to determine why apricots aren’t ripening on the tree, but there’s a good chance the tree is experiencing some sort of stress. For example, stress can be caused by unseasonably hot, dry weather. In the absence of rainfall, apricots need a good soaking every ten days. Stress can also be caused by lack of sunlight. Be sure the variety is suitable for your USDA growing zone....

Shedding Bark on Ash Trees When your ash tree is shedding bark, it may feel like the time to panic, but try to keep your cool. Often, this is simply indicating an easily correctable environmental problem. Ash trees typically grow on or near the banks of permanent water sources like streams and ponds. Because of this, they’re not very adaptable when the weather dries out and they can’t get the moisture they require....

What is Aster Yellows? Aster yellows on flowers isn’t really caused by a virus at all. It is caused by a cross between a bacterium and virus called a phytoplasma, and for such a tiny organism, it can cause a great deal of trouble. Flower hosts of aster yellows are too numerous to list, as it affects more than 200 species in over 40 plant families. Aster yellows virus is a disease carried from an infected plant to a healthy one by a creature known to entomologists as Macrosteles fascifrons and to gardeners as aster leafhopper....

Yellowing Bamboo Leaves Bamboo is a popular ornamental and edible plant. Many homeowners and gardeners plant bamboo because it can screen out unwanted views or create a private space. Bamboo is fast growing and spreads quickly. Like all ornamental plants, bamboo has certain requirements to stay healthy. True bamboo has hollow stems and bright green leaves. If your bamboo leaves are yellow, this could be a sign that your plant is failing....

Steps for Making a Bean Teepee Growing runner beans on teepees is not a new concept. This space saving idea has been around for centuries. We can apply this space saving technique to making a fun playhouse for kids. Building the Bean Teepee Frame To make a children’s bean teepee, we need to start by building the teepee frame. You will need six to ten poles and string. The poles for the bean teepee can be made of any material but you do need to keep safety in mind in case the children knock the teepee over....

Growing Orchids with Kids Learning how to grow an orchid with your child is easy enough with a bit of homework. Once you’ve gathered info about the best beginner orchids for kids, take your child on a shopping expedition and let him or her select an orchid. Help your child learn about orchid growing conditions, and how to choose the best spot for the orchid. Read the tag carefully and keep in mind that different orchids have varying needs for light and temperature....

What is Bleeding Tooth Fungus? Picture a pale flesh dotted with deep pores seeping thick red fluid. Then turn the thing over and the base is studded with small, but nasty looking spines. Meet bleeding tooth fungus. Bleeding tooth fungus mushrooms are so called because they are a “tooth” fungus and the mushroom oozes a thick substance that looks like blood. In spite of the appearance, the fungus is not dangerous and, in fact, may have a host of health benefits....

Identifying Bugs That Eat Burning Bush Healthy burning bush plants don’t have a lot of problems with insects, but under the right circumstances, any plant can come under attack. Monitor the overall health of the plants and watch for insects and leaves that show evidence of insect feeding. Try to identify the problem before treating the pests of burning bush shrubs. Spider mites are a problem in dry climates or during long dry spells....

Planting a variety of butterfly-friendly plants is only the beginning. A successful butterfly garden requires an understanding of butterfly garden feeding, including beneficial food and water sources for butterflies. How to Feed and Water Butterflies Butterflies are picky about their diets and different types of butterflies have different preferences, but in general, they require a liquid or semi-liquid diet. Most are happy with the sweet nectar in flowers, but others like foods that humans find unpalatable, such as rotten fruit, animal manure or tree sap....

What are Coralberries? Coralberry shrub (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus) is a member of the Caprifoliaceae family and is native to such areas of Texas, eastward to Florida and New England, and north again through Colorado and South Dakota. In its indigenous regions, coralberry shrub is considered to be more a weed than a garden specimen. Growing coralberry plants thrive in clay and loam soils found in the understory or shaded areas of the woods....

Tips for Indoor Cherry Tomatoes Growing indoor veggies comes with a unique set of challenges, especially during the winter months. As with any indoor plant, use a well-drained planter with a good quality potting soil mix or a soilless medium. Limit one cherry tomato plant per 12 to 14 inch (31-36 cm.) pot. Avoid root rot issues by checking the surface of the growth medium before watering. Pest issues can also be more problematic on cherry tomatoes grown indoors....

Plants for Indoor Containers Indoor planting possibilities are endless. The ideas you can come up with are only as limited as your budget, patience, imagination, and space. Whether you are just wintering geraniums on the windowsill or raising orchids in your bathroom, growing plants indoors opens you up to all sorts of fun. Indoors, you can grow plants that are native to the tropics or desert without much trouble. Foliage plants are great for a variety of reasons....

Pine Needle Uses Gardeners with pine trees in the yard may consider the debris from dropped needles a nuisance, however, these conifer leaves are actually useful in many different ways. Why should you harvest pine needles? The needles make excellent fire starters, flavoring for teas and vinegars, grill smoke to season meats, air fresheners, and, of course, mulch. They have many medicinal properties as well. Collecting pine needles and processing them correctly can help you harness any of these natural properties....

Why is My Lavender Plant Dying? If you’ve noticed your lavender plant is looking a bit peaked, the first order of business is to identify the cause. Lavender plants can be a bit persnickety. For one thing they require well-draining soil with a pH of 6 to 8. A soil test will help to determine if the pH needs adjusting. To raise pH, amend the soil with limestone. As lavender hails from the Mediterranean, this plant needs plenty of sun; six to eight hours per day....