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What is a Mangold Root Vegetable? Mangel-wurzel (mangelwurzel) is also referred to as mangold-wurzel or simply mangold and hails from Germany. The word ‘mangold’ means “beet” and ‘wurzel’ means “root,” which is exactly what mangold vegetables are. They are often confused with turnips or even “Swedes,” the British term for rutabagas, but are, in fact, related to the sugar beet and the red beet. They tend to be larger than regular beets, however, and reddish yellow in color....

Why Didn’t My Tree Lose its Leaves? Deciduous trees lose their leaves every fall and grow new leaves each spring. Some usher out the summer with fiery fall displays as the leaves turns yellow, scarlet, orange, and purple. Other leaves simply brown and fall to the ground. Particular types of trees sometimes lose their trees at the same time. For example, once a hard frost sweeps through New England, all the ginkgo trees in the region promptly drop their fan-shaped leaves....

Why Won’t My Forget-Me-Nots Bloom? There’s nothing quite like the show put on by a big, healthy stand of forget-me-nots in the garden, but what happens when those forget-me-nots won’t bloom? Since the plants must reseed to continue their legacy, a lack of blooms is more than just a cosmetic inconvenience – it could spell the end of your stand! When a forget-me-not plant doesn’t bloom, it’s often an easy-to-fix problem....

How to Grow Window Box Garden Vegetables First, you’ll need to install window boxes if you don’t already have them. If you rent your home or you live in an apartment type building, you may need to secure permission from the owner or tenant’s association. Here are other considerations to keep in mind: Consider the weight and durability of the window box. Plastic or fiberglass window boxes weigh less than wood or stoneware, but the former may become brittle when exposed to sun or freezing temperatures....

What is a Yellow Rocket Plant? In its first year, the plant forms a rosette of leaves. In its second year, the rosette bolts up with one or more flowering stalks. This cool season annual to biennial grows to about 8-24 (20-61 cm.) inches in height. It has long leaves capped by rounded ends and with a lobed or indented lower section. The flowering rosette becomes an inflorescence of bright yellow blooms in the spring that rise up above the foliage....

Indoor Plants for Home Offices Choosing plants for workspaces in your home is similar to that of any houseplant you have. Consider growing conditions, such as available light and space, when choosing houseplants for a home office. Generally, plants for workspaces are relatively compact, but in the home nearly anything goes. Most require little care and tolerate occasional neglect. Here are a few suggestions for home office space plants. Pothos (Epipremnum): A popular office plant for good reason....

What are Hardy Succulent Plants? Zone 7 is a fortunate growing zone in which to live. The temperatures are mild, and the coldest days of the year rarely drop to 10 degrees F. (-12 C.). The growing season is long, and the average days of sun are off the chart when compared to places like the Pacific Northwest. Therefore, suitable succulent plants for zone 7 offers a broad list from which to choose....

Plants like tomatoes and peppers do not like cold temperatures and will signal their distaste for cool weather by dying back. If you still have fruit that needs to ripen, consider ways to protect plants from cold. How do I protect my plants from the cold, you may ask? Some simple cultivation actions will assist, as well as easy plant covers during the night. How Do I Protect My Plants from the Cold?...

Apple Tree Root Rot Symptoms The apple tree root diseases called crown rot is caused by Phytophthora cactorum, which also attacks pears. Some rootstocks are more susceptible to the disease than others, with dwarf rootstocks being the most vulnerable. It is often seen in low lying areas of poorly draining soil. Symptoms of root rot in apple trees appear in the spring and are heralded by a delay in bud break, discolored leaves, and twig dieback....

Pests That Cause Azalea Branch Dieback If your azalea bushes are dying, look for pests. Two boring insects that cause dying branches on azaleas include the rhododendron borer and the rhododendron stem borer. Although the names are similar, these are two distinctly different insects. Fortunately, the treatment for these two insects is the same, so you don’t have to differentiate them. Rhododendron borers and rhododendron stem borers prefer rhododendrons, but rhododendron borers sometimes attack deciduous azaleas (those that lose their leaves in winter)....

Successful Babiana Bulb Growing The various types of Babiana species originated in Southern Africa. Babiana plants are commonly called the baboon flower after the same-named, old-world monkeys who would use the Babiana corms as a food source. The flowers range in color from brilliant hues of blue and lavender to deep pink. They make excellent cut flowers and, as long as no baboons escape from the local zoo, baboon flower care is pretty straightforward....

Cultural Beaver Control Information Unfortunately, there isn’t an effective beaver repellent available to keep them at bay. However, you can generally deter these critters simply by avoiding certain plants within the landscape and by clearing shrubs and trees near ponds and similar water sources. Beavers are vegetarians, feeding on small herbaceous plants and twigs. Tree bark is one of their primary food sources with cottonwood and willow trees being a particular favorite....

Growing a Beer Garden Home beer brewing has taken off as a personal hobby and enthusiasts everywhere have developed their own take on this classic alcoholic beverage. Producing your own beer ingredients in the garden gives easy access and allows you to control your personal blend. Selecting the right hops variety is the first step, as each cultivar has specified zonal requirements and flavors. Then you can experiment with different spices and fruits as you find your way to the most pleasing palate sensation....

About Blueberries for Zone 4 Blueberry bushes need a sunny location and well-drained acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5). With proper care they can live for 30 to 50 years. There are a few different types: low-bush, mid-height, and high bush blueberries. Low-bush blueberries are low growing bushes with plentiful small fruit and are the hardiest while mid-height varieties are taller and a little less hardy. High bush is the least hardy of the three, although as mentioned, there are recent introductions of this type suitable for cold hardy blueberry plants....

Starting Boxwood Cuttings Not as easy to start as your average garden perennial, boxwood cuttings require a little time and patience. You’ll probably have a few cuttings that refuse to root, so take more than you think you’ll need. Here’s what you’ll need for starting boxwood cutting propagation: A sharp knife Rooting hormone Large plastic bag with twist-tie Pots filled with clean, fresh potting soil Taking boxwood cuttings in midsummer catches the stems at just the right stage to give you the best chance of success....

How to Propagate Breadfruit Trees from Seed Breadfruit tree propagation can be done by seed. However, breadfruit seeds lose their viability in just a few weeks, so seeds need to be planted almost immediately after harvesting them from the ripened fruits. Unlike many plants, breadfruit relies on shade for germination and proper growth. To successfully propagate breadfruit, you will need to provide it with a location that is at least 50% shaded throughout the day....

Growing Cactus in Cold Climates It is almost an addiction once you have been bitten by the cactus bug. That being said, most of us collectors are stuck growing plants indoors as cold northern temperatures can kill our prized specimens. Interestingly, there are zone 4 cactus plants that can survive the temperatures in winter, which can exceed -30 degrees Fahrenheit (-34 C.) in some areas. The key is to choose cacti for zone 4 that are winter hardy and provide them with a microclimate that can shelter them somewhat....

Choosing Colorful Garden Plants Working in plant sales, I am often asked to suggest the best plants for color. I usually answer this question with other questions – like “Are you looking for color in a sunny location or in shade?” and “What colors do you feel most drawn to, and why?”. These are things to consider when picking out colorful garden plants. Additionally, garden color schemes can have various effects on the look and mood of the landscape....

How to Clean Garden Tools Starting the gardening season off right requires a thorough check of your garden equipment. Ideally, tools should be cleaned and evaluated after each use but we all know that doesn’t always happen. Rust, broken parts, and dull blades are an inevitable part of using these helpful implements. Lay a large tarp out in an open area and bring everything out where you can see it. Wash all the gardening tools completely and allow them to air dry before proceeding with the next step....

Growing Grapes in Zone 5 In cooler regions, choosing the correct varietal is crucial. They need to be able to mature before the first frost hits. Even with cold hardy grape varieties, the northern gardener will probably be leaving the grapes on the vine well into early fall, sometimes up to the first killing frost of the season. This puts the grower into a perilous area. The grapes won’t ripen off the vine, but a hard freeze will ruin them....