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Most gardeners are familiar with coconut coir products, especially container liners. The coir is the fibrous husk just under the outer shell that coats the coconut. It is removed prior to using the coconut in most cases. The product has moisture capturing capabilities and is a readily renewable resource. Using Coconut for Gardening Biodegradable containers like those made out of paper, wood, or coconut fiber are excellent alternatives to plastic nursery pots....

A Little Stinzen History Bulb lovers probably are familiar with stinzen plants, but may not know they have such history. What are stinzen plants? They are introduced bulbs whose genesis was from the Mediterranean and Central European regions. Widely grown in the Netherlands, they are called stinzenplanten. This collection of bulb-forming plants is now widely available commercially. Stinzen vintage bulb plants were found on the grounds of large estates and churches....

What is a Gravenstein Apple? The Gravenstein apple history is long and storied as compared to many of the current apple varieties. It has a hold on the current market due to its versatility and depth of flavor. Much of the fruit is grown commercially in areas like Sonoma, California, but you can learn how to grow Gravensteins and have a ready supply of these tasty apples too. This fruit has a remarkable tang combined with sweet flavor....

Del Monte Pink Pineapple If you’re wondering how a pineapple can have pink flesh, the answer is simple. Like other red or pink-fleshed fruits, the coloration comes from lycopene. This is the same pigment found in tomatoes, red peppers, and watermelon. Pink pineapple fruit is an exciting innovation as lycopene has antioxidant properties. This pigment has been shown to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer and to slow the spread of cancer cells....

What is Bokashi Composting? Bokashi is a Japanese word that means “fermented organic matter.” Bokashi composting is a method of fermenting organic waste to create a quick, nutrient rich compost for use in the garden. This practice has been used for centuries in Japan; however, it was Japanese Agronomist, Dr. Teruo Higa who perfected the process in 1968 by recognizing the best combination of microorganisms to quickly complete the fermented compost....

What is Radicchio? Radicchio is a member of the Chicory family (Asteraceae), commonly found and utilized in many areas of Europe. Radicchio’s popularity has more recently crossed the pond and is now commonly utilized in restaurants in salads, sautéed, and often used as a garnish due to its ruby hue. Radicchio (Cichorium intybus) can now be found at farmers markets and even the local grocery produce department. Radicchio has burgundy colored leaves with white ribs, resembling a small cabbage head, and is not to be confused with radichetta, another chicory type with the red coloration but lacking the heading form....

Fig trees and their sweet fruit are gaining popularity with home gardeners across the globe. Once confined to the regions around the Mediterranean Sea, figs are now found everywhere in the world where the winters are mild. The trees are relatively pest free and easy to propagate, so why does that one simple question keep popping up? Why are my fig leaves turning yellow? Reasons for a Fig With Yellow Leaves Just like people, plants can suffer from stress, and stress is the cause of those yellow leaves on fig trees....

Yellowing Leaves in Watermelon Yellowing leaves on a watermelon plant can be signs of pretty serious problems that are hard to manage. When watermelon leaves turn yellow, you can eye these culprits: Nitrogen Deficiency – Both young and old leaves can show signs of nitrogen deficiency and may appear any shade of lighter green to yellow. This is common during both dry spells and when plants simply aren’t being fed enough....

About Olives for Zone 9 Olive trees like it hot– hot and dry in the summer and mild in the winter. Of course, if you live in a cooler climate, you can always container grow an olive and bring it inside in the winter, but be sure to choose a dwarf, self-fertile variety. If you don’t, space may become an issue since some olive trees can grow 20 to 25 feet (6-8 m....

10 Reasons to Love Flower Gardens There are hundreds of reasons to plant a flower garden next season, but here are my top ten. The Birds and the Bees…and the Butterflies too! Every year, regardless of which flowers I plant or how much I neglect them, that fabulous trio of winged creatures always finds them. Be sure to provide bird feeders, baths, and houses to maximize your bird watching enjoyment!...

The options are vast with varieties ranging from 6-7 feet (1.8-2.1 m.) tall to just 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 m.) tall at maturity. The oversized flowers feature ruffled petals in all shades of pink, red, magenta, white, and bicolor, some with dark centers or intense veining atop leaves that are green to dark wine purple. If you’re looking to try your hand at growing one of these spectacular plants, let’s look at the 5 things you need to know about growing rose mallow....

Tips for How to Buy Rose Bushes First of all, I highly recommend the beginning rose gardeners NOT buy any of the rose bushes you can buy cheaply that come in plastic bags, some with wax on their canes. Many of these rose bushes have severely cut back or damaged root systems. Many of them are misnamed and, thus, you will not get the same rose blooms as are shown on their covers or tags....

Can You Grow Asparagus from Seeds? Asparagus is often grown from bare root stock crowns. The reason for this is that growing asparagus requires patience. Crowns take three growing seasons before they are ready to be harvested! Even so, this is significantly faster than if you try growing asparagus from seeds. That said, yes, asparagus seed propagation is very possible and a little cheaper than buying crowns. Asparagus seeds, or berries, turn bright red in autumn....

Succulent Cacti Flowers for Dry Gardens Hot, arid zones can be troublesome to landscape. Finding plants that thrive in such punishing conditions may be difficult unless one opts for native plants or those whose wild situation is similar. That’s where flowering cacti are particularly useful. Cacti that flower will thrive in such sites and add their amazing blooms to brighten the landscape. Plants need water but that is not always an easy resource to provide in plenty....

Reasons for Cutting Back Birch Trees There are several reasons for cutting back birch trees: Remove dead, diseased, and injured branches for the health of the tree. Branches that rub together offer entry points for insects and disease, so remove one of them. Branches that grow nearly straight up have weak attachments to the trunk. Take them down while they are small to prevent them from breaking off later on. Remove a branch that is too close to another branch....

What is Flaxseed? Exactly what is flaxseed and why is it so important? Flaxseed, rich in fiber and Omega-3 fatty acids, is considered by many to be a wonder food that may reduce the risk of serious health problems, including diabetes, liver disease, cancer, stroke, heart disease, and depression. Your next question may be, “Can I grow flaxseed in my garden?”. Growing your own flaxseed isn’t difficult, and the beauty of the plant is an added bonus....

Ginseng (Panax sp.) is an extremely popular herb, with medical uses dating back many hundreds of years. The plant has been a valuable herb in the United States since the days of the early settlers, and today is outsold only by ginkgo biloba. Is ginseng edible though? Read on to learn more. Edible Parts of Ginseng Can you eat ginseng? The herb’s therapeutic uses are widely studied but most claims of the herb’s curative qualities are unsubstantiated....

What are Currants? Currants are small berries that pack a lot of nutrition. According to the USDA Nutrition Handbook, they have more vitamin C, phosphorous, and potassium than any other fruit. In addition, they are second only to elderberries in iron and protein content, and they are lower in fat than any fruit except nectarines. Currants come in red, pink, white, and black. Reds and pinks are used primarily in jams and jellies because they are quite tart....

Sometimes the amount of work needed after a season of storms and previous seasons’ debris can become overwhelming. It helps to have a list of late winter gardening tips to help focus on the most necessary tasks to promote a vigorous garden. Why Start End of Winter Garden Maintenance? The weather may still be frigid or drizzly or just plain stormy, but late winter gardens still need a little TLC to give them a good start for spring....

What are Carpenter Bees? Although carpenter bees look a lot like bumblebees, you can easily see the difference. Both types of bees have black bodies with a covering of yellow hair. The yellow hair covers most of a bumblebee’s body, while carpenter bees only have hair on their head and thorax, leaving the lower half of their body solid black. Female carpenter bees excavate a small cell off the gallery she has created, and then forms a ball of pollen inside the cell....