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Cover Crop Planting Times Gardeners have two options when planting cover crops. They can plant them in the fall and let them grow over winter, or they can plant them in early spring and let them grow during spring and summer. Most gardeners plant cover crops in fall and let them mature over winter – a time when they aren’t usually growing vegetables. This cover crop planting guide tells you the best time for planting different types of cover crops....

How to Grow a Dahlia Plant Dahlias are classified according to flower shape and petal arrangement. The plants are borne from tubers, which require well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight. Caring for dahlia plants starts at installation with the cultivation of the soil and healthy tubers. Learning how to grow a dahlia plant will likely lead to a hobby, as the spectacular blooms are quite addictive and the presence of one or two will lead to plenty more in subsequent seasons....

Desert Ironwood Tree Information The desert ironwood (Olenya tesota) is native to the Sonoran Desert from southern Arizona through the counties of Pima, Santa Cruz, Cochise, Maricopa, Yuma, and Pinal and into southeastern California and the Baja peninsula. It is found in the dry regions of the desert below 2,500 feet (762 m.), where temperatures very rarely dip below freezing. Desert ironwood is also referred to as Tesota, Palo de Hierro, Palo de Fierro, or Palo Fierro....

The separation of kids and nature has resulted in a number of issues lumped loosely together under the expression “nature deficit disorder.” What is nature deficit disorder and what does it mean for your kids? Read on for information about how a lack of nature injures kids and tips on how to prevent nature deficit disorder. What is Nature Deficit Disorder? If you haven’t read anything about this issue, you are likely to ask, “What is nature deficit disorder?...

What is False Banana? A valuable food crop, Ensete ventricosum cultivation provides more food per square meter than any other cereal. Known as “false banana,” Ensete false banana plants look just like their namesakes, only larger– 39 feet (12 m.) high, with leaves that are more erect, and inedible fruit. The large leaves are lance-shaped, arrayed in a spiral, and are bright green struck with a red midrib. The “trunk” of Ensete false banana plant is really three separate sections....

What is Ethylene Gas? Without scent and invisible to the eye, ethylene is a hydrocarbon gas. Ethylene gas in fruits is a naturally occurring process resulting from the ripening of the fruit or may be produced when plants are injured in some way. So, what is ethylene gas? Ethylene gas in fruits and vegetables is actually a plant hormone which regulates the plant’s growth and development as well as the speed at which these occur, such as hormones do in humans or animals....

So what is the difference between introduced, invasive, noxious, and nuisance plants? Keep reading to learn more. What Does Invasive Species Mean? So what does “invasive species” mean, and why are invasive plants bad? The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines invasive species as “a species that is non-native or alien to the ecosystem – the introduction of the species causes or is likely to cause harm to human health, or to the economy or environment....

If you enjoy figs (whether fresh, dried or in preserves) and if your tree is getting old (or your generous neighbor’s tree is getting old), you might be wondering how to propagate fig trees as opposed to buying a replacement. Fig propagation is an economical way to continue or increase production. Methods for How to Start a Fig Tree How to start a fig tree from fig cuttings is a simple process that can be accomplished in one of three ways....

What are Hybrid Seeds? Hybrid seeds are produced by companies through careful pollination of two specific varieties. Normally, this highly selective plant breeding is done to bring together two traits in each of the chosen varieties so that the resulting seed has both of the traits. So, for example, one tomato plant may be very drought tolerant and another tomato plant produces vigorously, the two plants might be cross pollinated to produce a drought tolerant tomato plant that produces a lot of tomatoes....

This plant is indigenous to southern Brazil and also commonly found throughout the South and Central Americas. Shrub-like in appearance, the flowering maple houseplant also has blooms similar in shape to hibiscus flowers. The flowering maple is striking enough to make a lovely specimen plant in the garden or in a container and will bloom from June through October. As mentioned, the leaves of the houseplant resemble those of the maple and are either light green or often stippled with gold hues....

While nobody wants to bite into a rotten or diseased fruit, the fact that there are brown spots on apple skin doesn’t mean the fruit should be tossed. Read on to find out what causes this kind of frost rings, aka russeting on apples. Frost and Apple Trees Gardeners who are growing apples rely on the average last-frost date that applies to their area. But there is no guarantee that fruit trees will wait until after that date to bloom....

Do Fungus Gnats Harm Spider Plants? Fungus gnats are attracted to spider plants and other indoor plants because they like organic soil and warm, humid conditions. Fungus gnats are nuisances but they generally don’t harm plants. However, certain species of fungus gnats lay eggs in the soil where the larvae feed on the roots or, in some cases, may even burrow into the leaves and stems. This is when some type of fungus gnat control is needed, as the larvae can be harmful in large numbers, and may damage plants or stunt plant growth....

Galinsoga Facts Any gardener familiar with shaggy soldier weed plants understands the challenges faced with their eradication. This stoic weed can take anything you can dish out and still merrily leave behind offspring to plague you the next year. In non-crop situations, you can bring out the chemical warfare and fairly easily combat these weeds; but in food crop situations, the battle isn’t so simple and often the soldier weeds win....

Garbage to Garden If it’s the dead of winter and your gardening fingers are itching to plant, look no farther than your garbage bin. Seriously, all those bits and pieces thrown into the compost pile or otherwise dispatched down the disposal can be turned into cheap plants and, on occasion, even bear edibles. Plus, it’s fun! As children, many of us had our first planting experience via the avocado pit. I remember watching the roots grow from the pit suspended from toothpicks in a clear glass of water (the better to view this little miracle of nature)....

Using a Microwave in Gardening There have been some studies, particularly on radishes, which suggest that seeds experiencing no more than 15 seconds of moist heating will germinate more rapidly than those without the treatment. This is not effective on all seeds and can actually kill the embryo within if done for too long at a high power. But other microwave gardening ideas have more practical benefits. We’ll investigate a couple of the most useful ways of using a microwave in gardening....

Preventing Disease Problems in Greenhouses Controlling disease in a greenhouse requires a combination of good sanitation and a keen eye. Your plants may all be perfectly healthy until one rogue from the neighbor’s garden is introduced, then suddenly you can’t kill fungus and bacteria fast enough. Without preparation, a tiny disease outbreak can make you want to throw in the towel. There are many things you can do to minimize the risk of diseases in the greenhouse, which includes:...

The common periwinkle plant (Vinca minor) is often spotted creeping down steep hillsides and banks, offering a green and growing effect in areas which might otherwise be bare. The periwinkle plant is exceptional as an erosion control specimen. Periwinkle is also used as a spreading shrub in USDA garden zones 4 to 8. Periwinkle is often also called creeping vinca or creeping myrtle. Periwinkle is most often grown as a ground cover....

Elements of Hydroponic Gardening There are many advantages to hydroponic gardening. For instance, all the required elements that influence healthy plant growth can be easily controlled and maintained. This includes factors such as light, temperature, humidity, pH levels, nutrients, and water. The ability to control these elements makes hydroponic gardening easier and less time consuming than gardening with soil. Light When using hydroponic gardening methods indoors, light can be provided through a bright window or beneath suitable grow lights....

There are a number of easy DIY garden gifts you can create using herbs, veggies, and flowers already in your garden. Edible Gifts from Garden Produce Naturally, the best time to make gifts from garden produce is during the growing season. You can turn that abundance of seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs into a wealth of garden gifts. Try some of these inspirational ideas for creating your own edible homegrown gifts:...

Whether it’s a preference for organically grown produce, economic considerations, or just the good feeling you get from serving food you’ve grown yourself, there’s a renewed interest in home gardening. People are searching the net for the richness and flavor of old time varieties and learning about saving seed for the next garden generation. Collecting onion seeds for future production can be your contribution to the process. Collecting Onion Seeds from the Right Plants Before we talk about how to harvest onion seeds, we need to say a few words about what kind of onions you can harvest onion seed from....