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The 10 Most Interesting Pumpkin Varieties Black Futsu – Like a color-changing chameleon, this rare Japanese variety is one of the most unique pumpkins you can grow. Starting out as a greenish-black wart covered fruit, ‘Black Futsu’ turns chestnut color when mature, but not before transitioning through a grayish-green, moldy-looking stage. Unparalleled for its spookiness, the flesh of this variety has a sweet, buttery flavor. Cushaw Pumpkin – The green and white striped skin, coupled with a crook-necked shape, makes ‘Cushaw’ a variety of unique pumpkins to grow at home....

About Ornamental Cabbage Ornamental cabbage, also called flowering cabbage, has smooth, wavy edges with bright rosette centers of pink, purple, red, or white leaves. It grows about a foot (31 cm.) wide and up to 15 inches (38 cm.) tall with a mounding habit. Though considered edible– it has a very bitter taste– ornamental cabbage is more often used as a food garnish. It may be consumed with a double-boiling method to reduce bitterness or sautéed in olive oil....

What Does Adventitious Mean? Plants with adventitious roots have an extra edge on plants with traditional root systems. The ability to sprout roots from parts of the plant that are not actual roots means the plant can extend and propagate itself from several means. That increases its chance of survival and ability to grow and expand. Some examples of adventitious root systems might be the stems of ivy, the rhizomes of fast spreading horsetail, or the roots that form from aspen trees and links groves together....

Plant propagation may be accomplished in numerous ways. Seeds are the simplest method, but often maturity will take months or even years. Additionally, plants started from seed are not always identical to the parent plant. In order to ensure an identical copy, you need the genetic material. In other words, you literally use the plant itself. Layering propagation will produce genetically parallel new plants which will carry all the characteristics of the parent and one of the most popular forms of layering is air layering....

Arts and Crafts Ideas for Garden Exploration Can I teach art lessons to kids even if I’m not artistic? Yes! You don’t have to be an artist or even very creative yourself to combine art activities with nature. The final project doesn’t necessarily have to look like something you can identify, a famous painting, or even similar to another parent or sibling’s that’s also participated. The point of these art lessons for kids is to be child created and nature involved....

How Can I Attract a Hummingbird to my Garden? When attracting hummers to your garden, you should keep in mind that hummingbirds prefer to feed in shady areas and they need plenty of open space for flying. Adding appropriate feeders and flowers will also help to welcome these creatures to the area. Feeders An easy method of attracting hummingbirds to the garden is to hang hummingbird feeders. Hummingbird feeders can provide the amount of nectar found in 2,000 to 5,000 flowers....

Banana Tree Insects There are quite a number of banana tree insects that can cause minor damage to a single plant or wreak havoc through an entire plantation. Some of these banana pests act as vectors of disease as well. Control of pests on bananas requires early identification. Banana aphids Banana aphids are an example of a pest that acts as a vector of disease. These pests are soft-bodied, wingless, and almost black....

About the Pacific Northwest The Pacific Northwest encompasses a large amount of varied terrain including coastal areas, rain forests, desert climates, mountain regions, prairies and pretty much everything in between. That said, the most common perception of the Pacific Northwest includes the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and sometimes British Colombia. Other definitions include parts of Alaska, California, Montana, Wyoming and the Yukon Territory. That’s a lot of varied climate for one nomenclature!...

Strelitzia and Caesalpinia Bird of Paradise Plants Strelitzia is the common form of the plant in Hawaii, California, and Florida, and the classic birds of paradise recognizable from glossy, tropical pictures and exotic, floral displays. The genus that grows in the southwestern regions of the U.S., however, is called Caesalpinia. Cultivars of the Strelitzia genus of bird of paradise abound, but the Caesalpinia genus is nothing like the BOP with which most gardeners are familiar....

What is Black Garlic? Black garlic isn’t a new product. It has been consumed in South Korea, Japan, and Thailand for centuries. Finally, it’s made its way to North America, better late than never because this stuff is fabulous! So what is it? It is, indeed, garlic that has undergone a process that renders it unlike any other garlic. It achieves a heightened flavor and aroma that is in no way reminiscent of the almost acrid odor and intense flavor of raw garlic....

The plant will produce the large, deep throated flowers for which hibiscus are noted. Braided plants can be costly and take years to mature in a greenhouse. When you know how to form a hibiscus braided tree, you can save money and have the satisfaction of creating a beautiful plant work of art. What is a Braided Hibiscus? Tropical Chinese hibiscus is suitable for USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and 10 but makes excellent patio plants in summer where temperatures are cooler....

Bright succulent flowers lend an exotic appeal to dish gardens, singular potted specimens and outdoor garden beds. One of the more commonly grown, hens and chicks, is a variety of Sempervivum, which is very hardy, low maintenance, and crowned with brightly colored blooms in summer. There are many more succulents with striking flowers that will bring a host of hues to your garden situations. Indoor Dazzling Succulents Many commonly available succulents are ready bloomers, but not hardy outdoors in most zones....

Moving Amsonia Plants In all my years working in garden centers and landscaping, I noticed a curious thing. When moving to a new home, many gardeners will dig up their favorite perennials, herbs or other landscape plants and take them, rather than purchasing or propagating new plants for the new landscape. While herbs or perennials, such as amsonia, are certainly easier to transplant than trees or shrubs, there are still some risks when transplanting any plant....

New Zealand Flax Plant Information New Zealand flax plants have two main species in cultivation but numerous cultivars. Cultivars exhibit red, yellow, green, burgundy, purple, maroon, and many more foliage colors. There are even variegated flax for exciting foliar contrast. If plants are in warm enough regions, caring for New Zealand flax is a breeze with few insect or disease complaints and hardy establishment. This flax is named for its fibrous leaves, which were once used to make baskets and textiles....

Types of Cherry Trees The two basic cherry tree types are those that yield sweet cherries that can be eaten immediately picked off the tree and sour cherry or baking cherries. Both cherry tree types ripen early and are ready for harvest in the late spring. Most sweet cherries need a pollinizer while sour cherries are predominantly self-fruitful. Common Cherry Tree Types Chelan has an upright, vigorous habit with fruit that matures two weeks ahead of Bing cherries and are resistant to cracking....

Kale Plant Protection Another fall project to foil diseases of kale is working compost into the soil. Most people know that compost is a great natural fertilizer, but did you know that it also helps the soil drain freely? Soil that can’t drain freely stays wet too long, and many fungi thrive in wet soil. Working in compost in fall allows it plenty of time to combine with the soil so that it is ready to manage water more efficiently in spring....

Sugarcane Insect Control How to deal with sugarcane plant pests depends largely on which one is affecting your crop. Below are some of the more common culprits you’ll come across when cultivating sugarcane. Sugarcane grubs Saccharum spp., commonly known as sugarcane, is a tropical, perennial grass that quickly self-propagates by underground stems. These underground stems, in particular, can fall victim to white grubs, also known as sugarcane grubs. These pests of sugarcane feed on the plant’s roots and underground stems....

Sumac Tree Types Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) and staghorn sumac (R. typhina) are the most common and readily available landscape species. Both grow 10 to 15 feet (3-5 m.) tall with a similar width, and have bright red fall colors. You can differentiate the species by the fact that the branches of staghorn sumac have a furry texture. They make excellent wildlife shrubs because they provide shelter and food for birds and small mammals....

What are the Best Pots for Growing Strawberries in Containers? Strawberries, in general, are fairly easy to grow and there’s nothing like a fresh berry plucked off your own plant. The best pots for strawberries are those which are urn-shaped, punctuated with holes down the sides in variable areas. Even though the holes make the pot look like dirt, water or even the plant may fall out of them, these pots are perfect for growing strawberries in containers....

Container Grown Lilies To grow potted lily plants, you will need these few things: Healthy lily bulbs – You can purchase lily bulbs from many places. Mail order catalogs, home improvement stores, garden centers and plant nurseries often have lily bulbs for sale in packages. When you get these bulbs home, it’s important to sort through them. Throw away any bulbs that are mushy or moldy. Plant only the bulbs that look healthy....