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What is a Spring Onion? There seems to be some confusion surrounding exactly what a spring onion refers to. This could be that it is referred to as a green onion in Canada and the United Kingdom. And then the green onion is often called a scallion, so that identification becomes somewhat perplexing. Simply put, a green onion in the United States is also a scallion. Same animal…ahem, allium. What is the difference between a green onion (scallion) and a spring onion then?...

What’s Wrong with My Strawberries? Strawberry plants produce nutritious, aromatic, sweet fruit. They vary in hardiness depending on the cultivar. Wild strawberries are hardy to USDA zones 5 to 9 while cultivated strains are hardy to USDA zones 5 to 8 as perennials and as annuals in USDA zones 9 and 10. You’ve probably purchased strawberries, put them in the refrigerator, and then a day or two later went to use them only to discover a white film on the strawberries....

As winter marches toward spring, you may want to try making your own syrup. Read on for information on other trees you can tap for sap – and what to do with the sap when you get it. Tapping Trees for Sap Long before colonists set foot on this continent, Native Americans were tapping trees for sap. They learned that extracted maple sap could be transformed into a sweet syrup and passed this information on to the settlers....

Growing Beautiful Succulents Succulents exhibit a number of survival tactics, which allow them to adapt easily to their particular environment. For instance, they will go dormant in times of excessive heat or dryness as well as during extreme cold spells. They also have the ability to adapt to areas of the home having little light, making them excellent candidates for nearly any location. Container-grown succulents make excellent indoor gardens. Growing succulents indoors will not only spruce up the home but will offer more flexibility as to both decorating and gardening options for those having little space....

Why String Up Tomato Plants? So, the idea behind a trellis for tomato plants is simply to train the plant to grow vertically. What are the benefits? Trellising or building a hanging support for tomatoes maximizes production space. In other words, it allows you to produce more fruit per square foot (0.1 sq. m.). This method also keeps the fruit off the ground, keeping it clean but, more importantly, reducing any chance of soil-borne disease....

Diseases in Orange Trees There are several common diseases that can impact citrus trees and that are caused by fungi, bacteria, or pests. Keep a close eye on your trees and look for the characteristic signs that you have sick orange trees. When you know the symptoms you can quickly diagnose and manage a particular disease. Greasy spot – Greasy spot is fungal infection that causes dark, greasy-looking spots on leaves, leaf drop, and reduced tree vigor....

Tree Protection during Construction Did you build your home near mature trees to take advantage of their beauty and aesthetics? You are not alone. Many trees take decades to develop the strong deep roots and attractive canopies they attain at maturity. Unfortunately, the trees you want near your home are at risk during construction. Preventing tree damage in work zones is a matter of planning carefully and working closely with your contractor....

Trimming a Hickory Tree When Young Learning how to prune hickory trees during their early years is a crucial step for healthy trees and greater nut yield. Other reasons for hickory nut tree pruning might be aesthetics and ease of maintenance. Removal of broken or diseased stems over the tree’s life can be done at any time but early training should occur when the tree is dormant. As with any tree pruning, sanitary practices and correct cut methods increase the benefits and reduce possible harm to the plant....

Types of Hot Peppers for Making Sauce There are an almost unending number of hot pepper plants to choose from. Chili colors alone range from brilliant orange to brown, purple, red, and even blue. The heat levels vary according to the Scoville heat index, a measure of the capsaicin in the pepper — from knock your socks off hot to a subtle tingling on the tip of your tongue. With such variety it’s difficult to narrow down which chili pepper to plant....

Caihua Plant Info Late-season cucurbits tend to be coated in mildew, besieged by insects, and, in general, a garden nightmare by the end of the season. This is when you are busy harvesting, canning, and eating your way through your biggest crops. Knowing how to grow Caihua will eliminate much of the drama associated with cucumber crops. These reliable fruits are generally trouble-free and tenacious. The Caihua stuffing cucumber (Cyclanthera pedata) is also known as Achocha, lady’s Slipper, wild cucumber, slipper gourd, caigua, and many other colorful names....

Why Distilled Water for Plants? Is distilled water good for plants? The jury is divided on this, but many plant experts claim it’s the best liquid, especially for potted plants. Apparently, it reduces chemicals and metals that are contained in tap water. This, in turn, provides a clean water source that will not harm plants. It also depends on your water source. Plants need minerals, many of which can be found in tap water....

Spring triggers a bell, calling all those gardeners to start choosing annual flowers for West-North-Central garden beds. Those annuals must be tough, adaptable, and open to surprise. Why Annuals for West North Central? Northern prairie annuals are perfect plants for the western half of the Midwest. This area includes North and South Dakotas, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, and Iowa. Not only can these areas have severe winters, but their summers bring brutal heat and powerful thunderstorms....

Effects of Wet Weather in Gardens As mentioned above, excessive rain on plants promotes disease often evidenced in stunting, spots on foliage, decay on leaves, stems, or fruit, wilting, and, in severe cases, death of the entire plant. Extreme wet weather also keeps pollinators at bay affecting bloom and fruiting. If your plants exhibit these symptoms, it may be too late to save them. However, by monitoring and early recognition, you may be able to avert disaster in the garden due to excessive rain on plants and the resulting diseases that plague them....

What is Tomato Mosaic Virus? Tomato mosaic virus is a serious and extremely contagious disease. It is also hard to identify, with symptoms varying wildly depending upon the variety and age of the infected plant, the strain of the virus, and environmental conditions. To make matters worse, it is very hard to distinguish from the closely related tobacco mosaic virus. Tomato mosaic virus symptoms can be found at any stage of growth and all parts of the plant may be infected....

Companion Planting with Cosmos Cosmos don’t attract many pests – except aphids. Sometimes cosmos are put to work in the garden by drawing aphids away from other plants, a method known as decoy planting. For example, plant cosmos away from your prized roses. The cosmos plants take the brunt of the aphid attack while the roses benefit. Negate the damage to the poor, sacrificed cosmos with a regular dose of insecticidal soap spray or neem oil....

Duration and form of growth are the main ways to tell the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes. Which type you choose will depend upon the use, available space and the length of your growing season. How to Distinguish a Determinate from an Indeterminate Tomato There are so many varieties of tomato, and the choices can be overwhelming. One of the first things to consider is the length of your growing season....

How to Get Ixora Flowers on Pruned Plants Ixora is an evergreen bush that is excellent when used as a hedge, in a large container, or as a stand-alone specimen. Many forms produce white or yellow blooms, but the bright pink-orange cultivars are the most common. If you have bushes in nutrient poor or alkaline soil, you may wonder, “Why won’t my Ixora plants bloom.” Fertilizer may be the answer, but it could also be poor siting or soil pH....

Boston Fern Propagation Propagating Boston ferns isn’t too difficult. Boston fern propagation may be accomplished via Boston fern shoots (also referred to as Boston fern runners), or by dividing Boston fern plants. Boston fern runners, or stolons, may be removed from a mature parent plant by taking the offset whose runners have formed roots where they come into contact with the soil. Thus, the Boston fern shoots create a new separate plant....

But do those patches of brown foliage result from cicada damage to leaves? Cicadas may or may not be responsible. Read on for more information about cicada branch damage and the many other potential causes of brown leaves on trees. Cicada Damage to Trees It’s quite rare to have just one or two cicadas in your garden. While their populations are limited in forests, in backyards, parks and orchards, higher populations are the norm....

What is a Bud? Most of us have noted them. Those subtle swellings on plants in early spring. These are buds on plants and are the harbinger of things to come in the growing season. Both herbaceous and woody plants produce buds, either as they produce new leaves or as part of the blooming process. There are several types of buds, delineated by their location, but all will eventually burst forth and become new plant material....