Common Weeds Used as Beneficial Herbs There are a number of weeds used as beneficial herbs. Some of the most common ones include the following: Goldenrod – The commonly grown goldenrod is a natural occurring “weed” that has been used as an herb across the globe. Its genus name, Soledago, means “to make whole.” It was once used by Native Americans to cure respiratory problems. The plant has also been used for healing wounds, diabetes, and tuberculosis....

Choosing a Container for Potted Honeyberries Honeyberries, or Haskap, are native to Russia and Japan but have naturalized widely in Canada. The sweet berries look like mutant blueberries but pack a more honeyed flavor. The plants are easy-to-care-for bushes that need good circulation, full sun, and well-drained soil. They are remarkably tolerant of alternative conditions but the best products will be achieved in optimum conditions. When you grow honeyberries in pots, you should try to accommodate the plant’s preferences since it is in a closed environment....

What is a Potted Wishbone Flower? Named for its wishbone shaped stamen, these low-growing annuals are native to Asia and Africa. Other common nicknames include the clown flower or bluewing due to the bright colors of the petals. The trumpet-shaped throat of the wishbone flower is similar to that of its close relatives, the snapdragon and foxglove. In native species, the brightly colored lilac blue and deep purple petals are highlighted by a yellow throat....

Lantana Varieties Lantana nursery species are derived primarily from Lantana camara and Lantana montevidensis, a trailing form. Common lantana (L. camara) is the most cultivated form of the group. Wild lantana (Lantana horrida), found in Texas and other warm, arid regions, has pungently scented leaves. Lantana plants for the garden can flower all year in warmer climates. There are now dwarf forms of the plant as well as the trailing and bushy varieties of lantana....

Emergent water plants grow at the edges of bodies of water, and usually show off attractive leaves or fronds. They’re not known as flowering plants, but when they do produce flowers they’re usually spectacular. You can use emergent plants for ponds you build in the backyard; they’ll add an attractive natural touch to your landscaping design. About Emergent Water Plants What are emergent plants? These plants grow in ponds and other bodies of water....

Epiphyllum have flat-leaf stems set in disjointed connections. The stems produce brilliantly colored flowers that may span up to nearly 10 inches (25 cm.) in diameter but are more commonly an inch or two (2.5-5 cm.). As epiphytes, these plants grow on trees in their native regions. As houseplants, they prefer a lightly gritty soil with peat moss as an addition. Epiphyllum Cactus Fruit Epiphyllum flowers have a similar structure to any other bloom....

What is an Etrog? The origin of etrog, or yellow citron (Citrus medica), is unknown, but it was commonly cultivated in the Mediterranean. Today, the fruit is primarily cultivated in Sicily, Corsica and Crete, Greece, Israel and a few of the Central and South American countries. The tree itself is small and shrub-like with new growth and blossoms tinged with purple. The fruit looks like a large, oblong lemon with a thick, bumpy rind....

Growing Tropical Fruit Trees Many exotic fruit plants can be grown in regions of the United States that have temperate or tropical climates. Some plants can even thrive indoors if grown in optimal conditions. When picking out your tropical fruit plants, be sure that you understand which conditions are best. Most exotic fruit plants require a southern location near a house or other structure that will provide protection and heat during the winter....

Fatsia Plant Info The common names Japanese aralia plant and Japanese fatsia refer to the same broadleaf evergreen, known botanically as Aralia japonica or Fatsia japonica. The plant features huge, deeply lobed leaves that grow to about a foot (30cm.) in width atop long leaf stems that reach up and outward. The plant often leans to one side because of the weight of the leaves, and it can reach a height of 8 to 10 feet (2-3 m....

Eating in the Garden What is an alfresco garden? It’s nothing more than a fancy term for eating outdoors. My own past experiences of alfresco dining are far from picture perfect, having mainly been at family reunions or holiday cook outs, where the food was served buffet style on rickety card tables or picnic benches covered with that classic red and white picnic tablecloth. Food would be slopped onto flimsy paper plates that I’d struggle not to spill as I sat in a tippy lawn chair and ate, while swatting away flies and mosquitoes....

With fall and winter right around the corner, parents may be looking for off-season gardening ideas. Learning through gardening activities can work as a school project or for any parent who wants to teach their kids how to nurture nature. Off-Season Gardening with Kids COVID gardening with kids can bring them to a closer relationship with nature and they can learn many life skills too. Here are just a few off-season-gardening activities to share with children of all ages....

Northeast The winter blues can make monthly garden chores a bit dreary. Hang in there! Spring is right around the corner. Start cool-season vegetables in the house. Try Brussels sprouts or kohlrabi this year. Clean the freezer and cupboards. Inventory food you preserved last fall. Clean up downed tree limbs following ice storms. Gently brush heavy snow off bushes and shrubs to prevent damage. Central Ohio Valley Shoveling snow is a predictable chore this month but includes indoor tasks on the gardening to-do list too....

The Hardneck-Softneck Garlic Difference When visually comparing softneck vs. hardneck garlic, it’s easy to distinguish between the two. Hardneck garlic (Allium sativum subsp. ophioscorodon) will have a woody stem protruding up through the center of the circle of cloves. Even if this stem is trimmed at the top of the garlic head, a portion remains inside. Referred to as a scape, this flowering stem is the result of the garlic plant bolting during the growing season....

Climate change has us all scratching our heads. Weather wackiness seems to be the norm and affects most parts of the world. Meteorologists sort some of the forecast out for our gardens, but strange weather conditions interrupt at the least expected times. Extreme temperatures for plants range from too cold to too hot, but can also include things like winds, drying conditions, flooding, and other weather related conditions that cause plants to suffer....

Horsetail Plant Info To some people it is a nuisance; to others it is an interesting and ancient herb that has earned its rightful place in history, the medicine closet, and beauty products. Growing where other plants dare not, horsetail plant is a member of the Equisetum family and is closely related to ferns. Like ferns, horsetail plants reproduce via spores and they have a very deep rhizome system that can tunnel up to 3 feet (1 m....

Distinguishing between jams, jellies, and preserves may confuse some, though. The terms are rooted in an old-fashioned process that was necessary before the arrival of modern refrigeration. Keep reading and we will explain the varieties of canned fruit spreads. Why Make Fruit Spreads? Not everything in a canning jar made from fruit is a jam, nor is it strictly a jelly or preserve. Jelly, jams, and preserves contain different amounts of fruit and sugar and have very distinctive textures....

How to Force Rhubarb There are several ways to force rhubarb, but they all rely on three key factors: Chill hours – Rhubarb requires exposure to chill hours, or cold temperatures below 37 degrees F. (3 C.) for a period of 7 to 9 weeks, or 500 hours below 49 degrees F. (9.4 C.). Warmth – The return of warmer temperatures triggers the rhubarb to break winter dormancy and begin growing....

Starting a Vegetable Garden First, you must begin the planning stages. Typically, planning is done during the fall or winter months, allowing you plenty of time to figure out what you want and where you want it. You’ll need to learn more about your particular climate and soil conditions. Also, educate yourself on the different types of vegetables and their individual requirements. Using the non-gardening season to plan will not only help you find useful information, but you can find out whether or not particular plants are worth your time since some varieties require more maintenance than others....

Boxwood Shrub Pests Boxwoods are generally easy-care shrubs that can be grown in either full sun or shade and are predominantly used for small to medium-sized hedges. Despite their ease of care, many insects thrive on boxwood bushes. Boxwood leafminer The most detrimental pest of boxwoods is the boxwood leafminer. It is a small fly that is indigenous to Europe but is now found throughout the United States. Both adults and their larvae cause serious damage to the boxwood foliage in the form of blistering and discoloration....

A common mainstay in many gardens either in containers or as bedding plants, impatiens are one of the easiest flowering plants to grow. These attractive flowers can be easily propagated as well. So if you’re looking for an easy way to add more of these flowers to the garden, impatiens rooting takes little time or effort. Rooting Impatiens Cuttings in Soil Most of impatiens plants are propagated by cuttings. Choose a non-flowering stem on the impatiens with at least two leaf nodes and make a cut just below a node....