When to Plant Pumpkin Seeds Before you can grow pumpkin seeds, you need to know when to plant pumpkin seeds. When you plant your pumpkins depends on what you plan on using them for. If you plan on making jack-o-lanterns with your pumpkins, plant your pumpkins outside after all chance of frost has passed and the soil temperature has reached 65 F. (18 C.). Take into account that pumpkin plants grow faster in hot climates than cold climates....
Purple Loosestrife Info Coming from Europe, purple loosestrife was introduced to North America some time in the early to mid 1800’s, probably by accident, but attempts at purple loosestrife control did not begin until the mid 1900’s. It has an aggressive growth habit and because it has no natural enemies (insects and wildlife won’t eat it), there is nothing out there to stop the spread of purple loosestrife. Control measures have also been hampered by local gardeners who take the plant home....
What to Do in The Garden in March Below are the most common regional gardening chores to tackle during March: Northwest You’re still ordering seeds if you live east of the Cascades, but west-side gardeners in the Pacific Northwest region have work to do. Set out slug bait. Look for nontoxic bait if you have children or pets.Buy seedlings and plant cool-weather crops such as cabbage and cauliflower. Add new rhododendrons to beautify empty spots....
Getting Rid of Lawn for Wildlife Habitats Whether a disdain for mowing the grass or the wish to welcome more pollinators into the landscape, the practice of replacing home lawns with wildflowers and other native plants is not a new concept. Restoring habitat at home is an exciting process, as the possible combinations of flowering shrubs, trees, grasses, and bushes is nearly limitless. The first step to creating a new backyard habitat is to remove portions of lawn....
Choosing the Best Rose Fertilizer There are just about as many rose fertilizers or foods available on the market currently as anyone could think up a name for. Some of the rose fertilizers are organic and will not only have food for the rose bushes in the mix but also materials that enrich the soil. Enriching the soil as well as taking good care of the microorganisms that dwell in the soil is a very good thing!...
Feeding Sago Palms Fertilizing a sago palm plant isn’t too difficult. Your sago palms will absorb nutrients best when growing in well-drained, rich, and slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Otherwise they may develop either a magnesium deficiency, which is indicated by the yellowing of older leaves, or a manganese deficiency, in which the younger leaves yellow and shrivel. Keep in mind that a lawn fertilizer applied near sago palms may also adversely affect their nutritional balance....
What Is a Sandbox Tree? A member of the spurge family, the sandbox tree (Hura crepitans) grows 90 to 130 feet (28-40 m.) tall in its native environment. You can easily recognize the tree by its gray bark covered with cone-shaped spikes. The tree has distinctly different male and female flowers. Once fertilized, the female flowers produce the pods containing the sandbox tree’s exploding seeds. Sandbox tree fruit looks like little pumpkins, but once they dry into seed capsules, they become ticking time bombs....
How to Winter Sow Flowers Save a few translucent or clear plastic containers for sowing flower seeds in winter. Milk or water jugs work well, or you can use 1-liter (1 qt.) soda bottles or similar containers. Use a sharp craft knife to cut the bottles around the middle, but don’t cut completely around the jug – instead, leave a small uncut area to work as a “hinge.” Punch several holes in the bottom of the jug because your winter-sown seeds will rot without drainage....
Starfish Flower Cactus These plants aren’t exactly cactus, but are members of the succulent group of plants. They are soft stemmed plants without spines spreading out from a central point. They are thickly skinned and resemble carrion flesh. Starfish flower cactus may produce amazing five-petaled flowers that exude a rather unpleasant odor. The scent attracts flies and other insects, which pollinate the blooms. Flowers are red to brown and may be mottled with a couple of colors....
When Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) won’t bloom, it’s a huge disappointment to those who look forward to its summer-long display. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 10a, Sweetbay is deciduous in zones 7-8. It prefers an acidic, moist soil like those found in Eastern U.S. swamps. While it is susceptible to Verticillium wilt, Sweetbay is not usually bothered by pests and disease. Learn more about Sweetbay magnolia problems. Sweetbay Magnolia Won’t Flower: Reasons Why Sweetbay Magnolias Don’t Bloom There are many reasons plants may not flower and it is sometimes difficult to pinpoint the exact cause....
Do Choose Healthy Tomato Plants Whether you start your own plants or purchase seedlings, the health of the tomato plants has a big impact on their future success. Tomato seedlings should have a bright green color, a hardy stem to support the plant, and be free of pests. Unless the tomato seedlings will soon be transplanted into the garden, it’s advisable to repot any plants which are root bound or have become leggy....
Plants for Tropical Borders There are a number of commonplace semi-tropical flowers and plants for borders that you can use without having to look for exotic varieties. Here are just some of the types of plants you can add to the garden border for tropical appeal. Bedding Plants Plants for tropical borders need not be limited strictly to exotic species. For instance, did you know that some of the most popular bedding plants used for borders are actually considered to be tropical?...
Diseases of Cauliflower Knowing diseases of cauliflower can also help with your other cruciferous crops, such as cabbage and rutabaga. Diseases may be caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Alternaria leaf spot, or black spot, is caused by Alternaria brassicae. This fungus presents as brown to black ringed spots on lower leaves of the cauliflower. In its advanced stage, this fungal disease turns the leaves yellow and they drop. While Alternaria leaf spot primarily occurs on leaves, the curd may be infected as well....
There are plants with healing energy through their herbal qualities and oils, but also using live plants in hospitals brings a promise of life and renewal of hope. They soften the sterile white corners and naturalize what is otherwise a very unnatural experience, creating a sense of calm in patients and reducing their stress. These effects are a winning combination from which any patient can benefit. What are the Benefits of Indoor Plants in Hospitals?...
Using Vegetables as a Vitamin B Source Vitamin B is known to help store energy and utilize carbohydrates, produce red blood cells, aid in digestion, promote a healthy nervous system and more. These health benefits translate to less heart disease, lower risk of birth defect, clearer brain function, and healthy skin. B12 is the only compound that is found in animal products and must come from supplements in a vegetarian diet....
What is a Waggie Palm? Trachycarpus wagnerianus is the scientific designation for the waggie palm. It is one of the windmill palms, so called because its large fronds are reminiscent of old windmill vanes or blades. There are several windmill palms, known as Trachys, such as: T. fortunei T. latisectus T. martianus T. wagnerianus, the waggie Gardeners in cool regions can rejoice because waggie palms have great tolerance to wind and snow loads....
Citrus Rinds as a Starter Pot Growing seeds in citrus peels is about as eco-friendly as you can get. You start with a natural product, grow a beneficial plant in it, and then repurpose it in the earth to act as a nutritious composting agent. It’s a win/win. While you may use any variety of citrus rinds for use as a starter pot, from a user-friendly standpoint, the bigger the better....
What Does Biennial Mean? So what are biennial plants? The term biennial is in reference to the plant’s longevity. Annual plants live just one growing season, performing their entire life cycle, from seed to flower, in this short period of time. Only the dormant seed is left to cross over into the next growing season. Perennial plants live three years or more. Usually, the top foliage dies back to the ground each winter and then regrows the successive spring from the existing root system....
Murder Hornet Facts What are murder hornets? First of all, there’s no such thing as murder hornets. These invasive pests are actually Asian giant hornets (Vespa mandarinia). They are the largest hornet species in the world, and they’re easy to recognize not only by their size (up to 1.8 inches, or about 4.5 cm.) but by their bright orange or yellow heads. Asian giant hornets are definitely something you don’t want to see in your backyard, but so far, small numbers have been found (and eradicated) in Vancouver, British Columbia, and possibly northwestern Washington State....
What is an Italian Eggplant? Many varieties of eggplant are available, with the Italian type often used for popular culinary dishes. There is one called Baby eggplant, more tender and tasty than most others. Eggplant Parmesan is a classic for Italian eggplant uses, along with a favorite dish called Eggplant Rollatini and one called Caponata. Some Italian types are larger and provide a substantial amount of meat (what the edible part is called)....
