Posts

Why a Nectarine Tree Oozes Nectarine fruit oozing is caused by a couple of major offenders — primarily environmental problems and insect pests. Sometimes, oozing nectarines aren’t cause for alarm, since it can be a natural part of the ripening process, but it can also be a sign that the tree isn’t getting adequate care. Environmental issues Improper care – Be sure to provide your fruiting nectarine with plenty of water during dry periods, adding mulch when necessary to help even the moisture levels out....

Honeycrisp Apple Information Honeycrisp apples are noted for their creamy, juicy flesh and versatility. Whether you want a pie fruit, sauce apple or fresh crispy specimen, honey crisp apples are winners. The trees are widely available and Honeycrisp apple information touts their cold hardiness, making trees suitable into United States Department of Agriculture zone 4 and possibly 3 in protected locations. Learn how to grow a Honeycrisp apple tree and enjoy years of mid-season fruits with unparalleled flavor....

About Turmeric Root Native to Southeast India, turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a member of the ginger family harvested for its root. Harvested for over 5000 years, turmeric root is a major component in Indian curries as well as other Asian, East African and Caribbean dishes. The active in ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. It is used to give curry its yellow color once the rhizomes have been harvested, boiled and then sun dried for about a week....

How to Grow Ginger Root Planting ginger starts with finding some ginger root to plant. You can find a ginger root dealer online, but just as easily you can head to your local grocery store and buy a ginger root right out of the produce section for growing ginger plants. Choose a healthy, plump looking ginger root that is about 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 cm.) long with at least a few “fingers....

The Benefits of Growing Plants in Bags of Potting Soil It’s a unique idea to grow plants right in the bags of potting soil you get from your local garden center, but there is also a lot of sense behind it. These are some of the reasons to try it and the benefits of growing plants this way: Better soil. One of the best reasons to consider this type of growing is that you get purely high-quality soil for your plants....

Harvesting Fresh Raspberries Berries have always been good for us, but of late they are getting even more of a pat on the back due to the flavonoids (anthocyanins) that give raspberries their color. Additionally, they are a good source of vitamin C and fiber, and, although sweet, rank low on the glycemic index – making them an excellent choice for those monitoring their blood sugar levels. All that aside, they are just plain delicious....

What is Mushroom Coffee? Mushroom coffee is a blend of ground coffee beans and mushroom powder. Known as functional mushrooms, these fungal species are valued for the health benefits they provide as well as their nutritional value. From a nutritional standpoint, adding mushroom powder to coffee provides fiber and complex B vitamins to the daily diet. Most functional mushrooms contain niacin, riboflavin, and pantothenic acid, which work with the B vitamins in coffee beans to boost the body’s ability to release energy from fat....

How to Propagate Hellebores One of the outstanding late winter to early spring blooming plants is the hellebore. With their persistent deeply cut leaves and softly hued blooms, hellebores are perfect for shady to partially shady locations with plentiful moisture. Their bell-shaped blooms last for a month or more and add gentle elegance to the plant. Hellebore propagation methods vary dependent upon species. The stinking hellebores are best propagated with seed while oriental hybrids are usually divided to ensure new plants are true to the parent....

Propagating Cacti and Succulents There are several ways to take cuttings off of succulent plants. Sometimes you’ll root the whole leaf. Sometimes you can cut a leaf into sections. Short stubs are taken from cacti. If you are detaching leaves, you have to be sure not to ruin the mother plant’s shape. If you take a few from the back of the plant, it’s probably not going to be a problem....

There is nothing more frustrating to the rose loving gardener than this nasty pest from the land of the rising sun known as the Japanese beetle. A beautiful rose bed one day can be turned into a field of tears in just moments by an attack of these garden bullies. Let’s look at some ways on how to control Japanese beetles on roses. How to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles on Roses I have read about various methods to try to control and be rid of them from covering all the roses with a tight woven mesh netting to hanging Bounce dryer sheets in the rose bushes....

Causes of Rotting Corn Kernels Fresh corn on the cob, with its juicy kernels and sweet flavor, is best when it comes straight from the garden plot. If harvest time sees you frustrated because there is kernel rot in sweet corn, it’s time to get proactive to prevent the problem next year. Sweet corn with kernel rot is a common sight when weather is wet and humid, and plants exhibit nutrient or cultural deficiencies....

Why Soil Compaction is Bad What would be easier to run through, a pile of bricks or a pile of pillows? For a plant, compacted soil is like a pile of bricks. Roots must work harder to grow into soil, which means that there will be less roots, which means that the plant takes up fewer nutrients and water. All this translates to poor plant growth. Beyond this, when soil is too compact, it can make it difficult for water to percolate through the ground....

What is a Loquat? You may be wondering exactly what is a loquat. Loquats (Eriobotrya japonica) are trees that produce small, round, or pear-shaped fruits, rarely more than 2 inches (5 cm.) long. Sweet or slightly acidic in flavor, the juicy flesh may be white, yellow, or orange with a yellow or orange-blushed peel. Loquats are tasty when peeled and eaten fresh, or you can freeze the whole fruit for later use....

What to Do in the Garden in May Here are some suggestions and gardening tips for May specifically for your region of the country. Northeast Maple syrup season has ended throughout throughout the northeastern states and it’s now time to focus on those monthly garden chores for May. Continue harvesting spring crops of asparagus, lettuce and peas Deadhead early spring flowers Harden off frost-tender annuals Plant summer-blooming bulbs Central Ohio Valley Expect changing weather patterns throughout the month across the Ohio Valley....

Mountain Laurel Information You’ll find many lovely cultivars of mountain laurel to choose from, thanks in large part to Dr. Richard A. Jaynes of Hamden, Connecticut. Here are just a few of his enticing creations: ‘Elf’ is a dwarf that grows 3 feet (1 m.) tall with pale pink or white blossoms. ‘Heart of Fire’ has deep red buds that open to pink flowers with dark pink edges on a 5 foot (1....

Why Do Prayer Plants Leaves Turn Brown? Prayer plants are beautiful tropical foliage plants. They naturally live in the understory of Brazilian tropical forests and need moderate light and high humidity. This makes them perfect houseplants for most conditions. However, if you say, “my prayer plant has brown leaves,” you need to ask if you are providing those conditions. Prayer plants with brown leaves may be trying to tell you that the cultural conditions aren’t correct for this glossy leaved plant with a habit of folding its leaves together at night in worshipful prayer....

Onion bulbs develop in direct relationship to hours of daylight and are divided into two groups. Short-day cultivars produce the best bulbs when days are short and nights are long. Long-day cultivars produce during long days of sunlight when the nights are short. Long-day varieties tend to be more strongly flavored and store better. The perfect onion will have 13 leaves and 13 rings of scales for each bulb. Onions are easy to grow; however, even in perfect soil, nutrient, and light conditions, gardeners face a problem over which they have little control: onion bolting....

Orange Tree Not Fruiting There are several reasons why an orange tree may have no oranges. On trees that flower but don’t produce fruit, the problem may be that the flowers aren’t pollinated, especially when they are grown in a protected area such as a sunroom or greenhouse. If the tree doesn’t flower, look at the location of the tree and the care it receives. Orange trees need sun, plenty of water, and regular fertilization....

What is an Organic Garden? Organic gardening is a term used to designate that the flowers, herbs or vegetables have not been subjected to any chemical or synthetic fertilizers or herbicides. This distinction also includes the ground they were grown in and how they were treated while producing. An organic garden is one that uses nothing but natural methods of bug control and natural, organic means of fertilizing the soil. The belief is simply that organic food products are safer and healthier for us to eat....

Basics of Growing Gardens Under Trees Below are some of the basic guidelines to keep in mind when planting under trees. Do trim away lower branches. Trimming away a few of the lower branches will give you more space for planting and allow light to come under the tree. Even if the plants you want to use are shade tolerant, they too need a little light to survive. Don’t build a raised bed....