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Preventing Melon Blossom End Rot This disease occurs when the end of the fruit that was attached to the bloom is deprived of calcium at a critical point in development. Small spots appear that may enlarge and become infected by other diseases and entered by insects. Preventing melon blossom end rot is something most gardeners aspire to. Blossom end rot in melons can be prevented by following these suggestions: Soil Testing Take a soil test before you plant the garden to learn the pH of your garden soil....

Big Blooms but No Tomatoes on the Tomato Plant Several factors can lead to a lack of fruit setting, such as temperature, irregular watering practices, and poor growing conditions. You don’t need two plants in order to produce fruit either—this is a popular misconception. Lush Foliage but No Tomatoes If you’re troubled with lots of lush foliage on your tomato plants but can’t seem to get any tomatoes, it may be due to poor lighting or watering....

What are Rose Weevils? The fuller rose beetle is another one for our Garden Bad Guy or Unwanted Garden Visitors list. This beetle goes by different names in the scientific readings out there, those being: Naupactus godmani Pantomorus cervinus Asynonchus cervinus The fuller rose beetle adults are brown and do not fly. They have a snout that resembles other beetles in a group known as snout beetles. Viewing them from the top, their head and bulging eyes are different from other snout beetles, as the snout is less sharply pointed to the ground than that of the vegetable weevils....

Trimming Boston Ferns When it comes to pruning Boston fern plants, you should always look towards its leaves for inspiration. It is not uncommon for this plant to exhibit old, discolored fronds. These fronds may be yellow or brown. Older leaves often get shaded out by new growth. The plant may also have leafless runners dangling down from the plant. These are all good indications that trimming may be needed. Unsightly plants with erratic growth can always benefit from pruning to maintain an attractive shape as well....

What are Weeds? So what are weeds and where do weeds grow? By definition, a weed is known as “a plant in the wrong place.” For the most part, these plants are known more for their undesirable qualities rather than for their good ones, should there be any. Weeds are competitive, fighting your garden plants or lawn grass for water, light, nutrients, and space. Most are quick growers and will take over many of the areas in which you find them....

Growing Flowers in Zone 7 Although it isn’t an everyday occurrence, winters in zone 7 can be as cold as 0 to 10 degrees F. (-18 to -12 C.), so it’s important to keep this possibility in mind when selecting flowers for zone 7. While USDA hardiness zones provide a helpful guideline for gardeners, also bear in mind that it isn’t a perfect system and doesn’t consider a number of factors that affect the survivability of your plants....

How to Use Strawberries If you’ve been eating fresh berries until you feel like Veruca Salt in Willy Wonka and both friends and family are refusing to take any more, what can you do with strawberries before they go bad? Strawberries lend themselves well to preserving, so there’s always the option of making jam. They also freeze quite well so you can make freezer jam or just freeze the berries for later....

How to Make a Basket Planter Nearly any basket will work. However, sturdy and thick baskets last longer. You may want to apply a coat or two of clear protective spray or wood sealant, which will also help the basket last longer. Be sure to let the coating dry thoroughly before planting. If the basket is very tightly woven, you may be able to go ahead and plant. Most baskets, though, need some type of lining added to retain moisture and prevent loss of soil....

Are Goats Good for Controlling Weeds? Goats have been used for centuries in different cultures as meat, for their milk, and as four-legged brush clearing machines. Goats will eat almost any vegetation and have a capacity to digest even plants with stickers and thorns. Goats will even eat poison ivy and many other pest plants. Goats in the garden are a win-win solution as long as you don’t have prize roses or other vegetation nearby that these animals might find tasty....

What are Vegetable Cover Crops? In lieu of tilling garden soil at the end of the growing season, gardeners are finding value in sowing what is best described as “green” manure cover crops. These vegetable cover crops are planted in the fall, grow over winter, and then are tilled into the soil in the spring. Cover crops prevent erosion of garden soil and leaching of nutrients over the winter, once these plants are tilled into the soil, they begin returning nutrients to the garden....

What Does Everbearing Mean At first mention of the term “everbearing,” gardeners may mistakenly believe they’ve discovered the ultimate fruit plant. Images of plants continuously laden with fruit year after year pop into one’s mind. Unfortunately for gardeners, this is not the case. Fortunately for everbearing varieties of plants, this is also not the case. Fruit production is the method plants use to protect their seeds while they mature. As part of the reproductive process, growing fruit requires a large expenditure of energy....

Building Living Willow Structures A willow dome is a teepee or dome-shaped structure made from living willow whips or branches. These willow whips can be purchased online in bundles or kits. Many of these lots also come with willow dome instructions. You can also try to use strong sturdy willow whips taken from your own dormant willow trees. Be sure to use only long, sturdy whips that are pliable enough to be arched in to a structure....

Traditional Moose Deterrents Moose are beautiful, statuesque animals with warm eyes and vegetarian dining preferences. The latter is what might get your garden in trouble. Moose graze a host of different plants both native and ornamental. They will invade the vegetable garden or eat your hedge. Their lack of pickiness in the vegetative realm means many of your landscape plants could be in danger. Moose are huge and can dwarf a small SUV, which means keeping them out of any area can be a challenge....

Types of Willow Trees There are tree and shrub willows, all of which are characterized by their love for moist soil and their rangy, sometimes invasive root systems. You may even find a willow tree growing at the edge of a stream or river. Weeping and pussy willows are probably two of the better-known types of willow trees, but there are many others. Weeping willows – Weeping willows have graceful arching stems that dangle delicately and shiver in the breeze....

Previously, the ZZ plant would only be found in planters in malls and large office buildings where they would frequently be mistaken for fake plants, partially because they needed so little care and always looked healthy. But in recent years, they have found their way onto the shelves of both big box and hardware stores where anyone can purchase one. This has led to many people wondering how to grow ZZ plants....

What is Apple Blotch Fungus? Apples are a beautiful addition to the home orchard and also work wonderfully as standalone plants in the landscape. Growing apples, however, isn’t as easy as growing other hardy perennials. If you want your apples to thrive and produce lots of fruit, you’ll want to pay close attention to their care throughout the year. Apple blotch fungus disease is just one common problem for both apple farmers and homeowners alike....

Reasons for Companion Planting Spinach Companion planting in general benefits the garden in a multitude of ways. It not only can deter pests but attract beneficial pollinators. Companion plants may provide support for other crops, as in the classic “Three Sisters” planting comprised of squash, beans and corn. In this case, the corn provides support for the beans; the beans affix nitrogen into the soil and the large leaves of the squash shade and protect the roots of all three from the harsh rays of the sun....

What are the Best Grapes for Wine? To say there are lots of wine grape varieties is an understatement. These include grapes that ripen early in the season, those that are early to mid-ripening, mid to late ripening, and, of course, the late-ripening grapes. The ones you choose will depend on your region and preference. Early ripening varieties include: Chardonnay Viognier Gamay noir Sauvignon Blanc Melon Pinot noir Muscat Blanc Orange Muscat...

When to Propagate a Bleeding Heart With its lacy, fern-like foliage and pillowy, heart-shaped flowers, bleeding heart is one of the champions of the low light landscape. The plants will bloom for years but often flowers slow down as the plant gets older. This is when to propagate a bleeding heart by division. Such activity will rejuvenate the plant while also allowing you to grow more. Division can occur either in fall or in early spring....

Have you a passion for violet-blue flowers? Then discover sky vine growing! What is a sky vine you ask? Read on to learn more about growing this charming landscape plant. Sky Vine Growing Sky vine (Thunbergia grandiflora), also commonly referred to as clock vine, a member of the tropical Acanthaceae family and is an evergreen in frost free climates, where it also produces fruits, but growth slows or stops in cool temperatures....