Fruits to Grow in the Shade There are actually quite a number of fruit bearing shade plants. Most of these are in the berry category, but if you have a partially shaded area, even pears and plums may be grown. Pears do need some sun, but they will produce in partial shade. Try a variety such as ‘Beth’ planted in a westerly facing area that will get a few hours of sun in the afternoon....
Mice in the garden are a nuisance and a potential health threat due to the diseases these pests carry. It isn’t unusual to have mice in the garden, especially when there is a ready supply of food. If you wonder, “Will mice eat my vegetable garden?” the answer is a resounding “yes.” Mice are opportunistic and vegetable damage is one of the common mouse garden problems. Identifying Mouse Damage in the Garden Identifying mouse presence is the first step in starting garden mouse control....
In order to enjoy the beauty of gladiolus flowers year after year, most gardeners must store their gladiolus corms (sometimes also referred to as gladiolas bulbs) in the winter. Gladiolus bulbs, or corms, aren’t hardy through frozen winter months, so you must dig them up and store them until spring if you want to grow them again the next year. Read on to learn more about how to store gladiolas for the winter....
Epidendrum orchid care is a labor of love and provides a unique hobby for the orchid enthusiast. The following is an overview of how to care for Epidendrums. About Epidendrum Orchid Most orchid care is the same, but just in case you don’t have a clue which variety of orchid you have, here are some details on the Epidendrums. The majority of these plants are epiphytic and live suspended from a tree or cliff with minimal soil....
As a gardener, the names of Asian vegetable plants were conspicuously absent from my catalogs. Then, low and behold, two things happened; the ethnic Asian population grew and the rest of us became more health conscious, seeking more variety in our vegetables. Hurray for me! Today, Asian style vegetables are everywhere. Originating in East and Southeast Asia, these vegetables are finally available to the general population. For gardeners, the possibilities are endless....
How to Plant Mustard Seed Mustard seed plants are normally grown from seed but can be grown from purchased seedlings as well. When selecting mustard seeds for planting, any mustard plant grown for greens can also be grown for mustard seed. Plant the mustard seed about three weeks before your last frost date. Since you’ll be harvesting the mustard seed, there’s no need to use succession planting like you do with mustard greens....
What is Orach? A cool-season plant, orach is a warm-season alternative to spinach that is less likely to bolt. A member of the Chenopodiaceae family, orach (Atriplex hortensis) is also known as Garden Orache, Red Orach, Mountain Spinach, French Spinach, and Sea Purslane. It is also sometimes referred to as Salt Bush due to its tolerance for alkaline and saline soils. The name orach is derived from the Latin ‘aurago’ meaning golden herb....
About Planting Peanut Seeds If you’re interested in trying your hand at growing peanuts in the garden, there are a few things you should know. For instance, did you know that what we refer to as peanuts are actually not nuts but legumes, relatives of peas and beans? The self-pollinating plants bloom above ground while the pods develop beneath the soil. Inside each pod are the seeds. Once the blossoms are fertilized, the petals fall away, and the stalks, or pegs, located just under the ovaries, elongate and bend towards the earth, growing into the soil....
Growing Berries in Zone 9 Zone 9 can experience temperatures as low as 20 to 30 degrees F. (-7 to -1 C.) but rarely receive freezing events. What these areas do have is searing hot and long summers, as well as year-round mild temperatures. That requires a very special berry that doesn’t wilt with the heat, but also gets any chilling period required. Due to the region’s warm climate, it is considered a perfect growing zone provided plants get plenty of water....
Fire Damage to Trees Fire can damage and even kill trees in your backyard. The extent of the damage depends on how hot and how long the fire burned. But it also depends on the type of tree, the time of year the fire occurred, and how close the trees were planted. An out-of-control fire can damage trees in your yard in various ways. It can completely or partially consume them, dry them out and scorch them, or simply singe them....
Hibiscus Growing in Zone 9 Few plants can match the beauty of hibiscus plants. In zone 9, you have the option of choosing a tropical variety grown in a pot and overwintered indoors, or a hardy species which can be grown in ground. The hardy varieties can withstand temperatures of -30 degrees F. (-34 C). Hibiscus that grows in zone 9 are unlikely to experience such low temperatures but it is good to know they have the ability to survive cold weather....
How to Grow Broccoli As a cool-season plant, knowing when to plant broccoli is the key. If harvesting broccoli plants in midsummer is desired, it’s best to start broccoli indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date. Sow seeds ¼ to ½ inch (6 to 13 mm.) deep in a quality seed-starting mix or soil pellets. As a rule of thumb, broccoli seeds germinate within 4 to 7 days when ambient temperatures remain between 45- and 85-degrees F....
About Chinese Forget-Me-Not Chinese forget-me-not (Cynoglossum amabile) is a flower native to China and Bhutan. It can be grown as a perennial or annual, depending on your region’s climate. In most places, gardeners use it as a cool weather annual. Other common names include blue showers and hound’s tongue. The leaves of Chinese forget-me-not are grayish-green, oval, and long, and the growth habit is full and bushy. The real show, though, are the flowers....
Tips to Grow Melons There are plenty of tips to grow melons that you will hear when you tell people you are planting melons in your garden this year. One of the best is to remember that the soil should be slightly acidic – with a pH around 6.0 to 6.5. Another tip to keep in mind is that they cross-breed easily with other vining plants such as cucumbers and squash....
Darkling Beetle Facts It’s rare to see a darkling beetle in daylight, although you may occasionally find them running across the ground from one hiding place to another. They like to hide under bits of debris and clods of dirt during the day and come out to feed at night. Many types of birds, lizards, and rodents eat darkling beetle larvae, which are called mealworms. If you feed your pets mealworms, it’s better to buy them from a pet store or mail order source rather than collect them from the wild....
Let’s take a look at the most critical elements of growing the rex begonia as houseplants. Growing Rex Begonias Indoors Rex begonias are rhizomatous begonias. A rhizome is basically a thickened stem, and the leaves emerge from the rhizome. Generally, the rex begonia indoors prefers relatively cool temperatures, moist soil, and humid conditions. Rex begonias do well in bright indirect light. Some direct sun is okay for short times, especially if it is from an eastern window that has morning sun, which is gentler....
About Pasque Flowers Pasque flower (Pulsatilla patens syn. Anemone patens) is the state flower of South Dakota and found across much of the northern United States. It is a prairie flower with an early appearance in spring, often peeking out of the snow. Pasque flowers appear in March and stay through April. The flowers are the first players on the stage, to be followed later by their foliage. Pasque flowers are perennial herbs also known as prairie smoke, goslinweed and prairie crocus....
Growing edible houseplants satisfies the urge in many of us to grow, nurture, and harvest our own foodstuffs. Even in a small apartment, it’s possible to grow edible plants indoors. Growing edible houseplants are free of pesticides or herbicides and are a boon to the growing number of people who are environmentally and health-conscious. It can also be less expensive than store-bought produce. What Houseplants are Edible? First, let it be said that almost any plant that can be grown in the garden can be grown indoors as well....
Does it Harm Trees for Ivy to Grow? In spite of differing opinions, English ivy has the potential to damage trees and shrubs at some point, especially when the vine is allowed to run rampant. Overgrown ivy plants can eventually suppress nearby vegetation and engulf tree trunks. This can lead to a number of issues affecting the overall health of trees. While a tree may survive initially, the growth of ivy vines can weaken it over time, leaving it susceptible to pests, disease and wind damage as well as poor foliage growth....
Today, many gardeners know better. The government at both federal and state levels now lists invasive species so that you can make better choices. Avoid these pretty, but harmful flowering invasive bushes and choose native plants instead. Common Invasive Shrubs Butterfly bush. Native to Asia, butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) appeared in North America around 1900 and is now recognized as invasive in 20 states. Gardeners like this species because it produces clusters of delicate purple flowers and attracts butterflies....
