Posts

What is Tree Spinach? Chaya spinach is a leafy green vegetable in the genus Cnidoscolus consisting of over 40 species, of which only chayamansa refers to chaya spinach tree. A member of the Euphorbiaceae family, growing spinach tree provides nutritious leaves and shoots for years and is prized as a necessary and important food through the Pacific Rim and along the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, where is grows naturally in thickets and the open forest....

Cold frames are simple structures that will keep semi-hardy plants safe in cool weather. There are kits available for purchase, but it is fairly easy to knock together a cheap DIY cold frame. A wood frame is the most common and may be constructed out of a free pallet or scrap wood. The unit may also be positioned over a raised bed created out of landscape pavers, brick, or other handy material....

Citrus Tree with Thorns Citrus fruits fall into several categories such as: Oranges (both sweet and sour) Mandarins Pomelos Grapefruit Lemons Limes Tangelos All are members of the genus Citrus and many of the citrus trees have thorns on them. Classified as a member of the Citrus genus until 1915, at which time it was reclassified into the Fortunella genus, the sweet and tart kumquat is another citrus tree with thorns....

About Cold Hardy Dogwood Trees Dogwoods are known for their classic foliage and colorful, flower-like bracts. The true flowers are insignificant, but many species also produce ornamental and edible fruits. Planting dogwood trees in cold climates requires some knowledge of the plant’s hardiness range and a few tricks to help protect the plant and help it survive some seriously cold weather without damage. Zone 4 is one of the coldest USDA ranges and dogwood trees need to be adaptable to extended winters and freezing temperatures....

About Cold Tolerant Avocado Trees Avocados have been cultivated in the tropical Americas since pre-Columbian times and were first brought to Florida in 1833 and California in 1856. Generally, the avocado tree is classified as an evergreen, although some varietals lose their leaves for a brief period prior to and during blooming. As mentioned, avocados thrive in warm temperatures and are, thus, cultivated along the southeast and southwest coast of Florida and southern California....

Collecting Gunnera Seeds There are over 50 species of gunnera, but the most impactful is the huge Gunnera manicata, which is native to the mountains of southeastern Brazil. This monster of a plant can have leaves of 11 by 6 feet (3 x 2 m.) on petioles that are 8 feet (2 m.) in length. It is the most common in cultivation and harvesting seeds from the plant is relatively simple but they need special treatment to ensure germination....

Dealing with Sick Tomato Seedlings Tomatoes are one of the most versatile fruits and something to which we all look forward in summer. They are easy to grow in areas with plenty of sunshine and warmth, but they are also prone to many fungal, viral, and bacterial diseases. Many things can cause sick tomato seedlings but there are steps you can take to prevent problems. Some information on tomato seedling diseases may help avoid issues as they grow....

What is Dittany of Crete? Dittany of Crete (Origanum dictamnus) is also referred to as Eronda, Diktamo, Cretan dittany, hop marjoram, wintersweet, and wild marjoram. Growing dittany of Crete is an herbaceous perennial that grows wild on the rocky faces and gorges that make up the island of Crete – a multi-branched, 6 to 12 inch (15-30 cm.) herb with round, soft fuzzy grey leaves emanating from slender arching stems. The white, down-covered leaves highlight the 6- to 8-inch (15-46 cm....

Dahlia Plant Types If you have ever been to a county fair, one of the biggest attractions is often the dahlia building. Here you can see a vast array of dahlia plant types, represented by their flowers. Serious collectors and hobbyists breed specific forms in an attempt to outdo each other on size and spectacle. The results are an ocean of color with amazing forms across the area. The different types of dahlia are astounding and mind numbing in their excess....

Disease Problems of Brugmansia Understanding the pathogen is the best way to get started with diseased brugmansia care. Although this list is far from exhaustive, being able to recognize these common brugmansia diseases will help you make the right care decisions for your plant: Bacterial Leaf Spot – Caused by the bacteria Xanthomonas campestris pv. hederae, bacterial leaf spot is encouraged by high humidity. It appears as a series of small, brown spots surrounded by a yellow halo and can spread rapidly....

About Indigo Plant Dye The process of turning green leaves into bright blue dye through fermentation has been passed down for thousands of years. Most cultures have their own recipes and techniques, often accompanied by spiritual rites, to create natural indigo dye. The birthplace of dye from indigo plants is India, where the dye paste is dried into cakes for ease of transportation and sale. During the industrial revolution, demand dyeing with indigo reached its zenith due to the popularity of Levi Strauss blue denim jeans....

Help! My Calla Lily is Drooping! These plants are as lovely for their sword-shaped leaves as well as the cupped blooms. The leaves may become limp and drag if you have given the plant too much nitrogen fertilizer, which encourages leafy growth. They will also droop if the soil condition is too dry or too wet. The problem can also simply be that the blooms are too large. Stems may grow 2 to 3 feet (61-91 cm....

Crafting Things from Nature Whether made as a celebration of bountiful harvests or a welcome of the cooler weather, the exploration of fall nature crafts is an excellent way to get creative with family and friends. While homemade wreaths are especially popular, exploring various fall craft ideas may help one gain a greater appreciation for the changing seasons. DIY crafts for fall are ideal for both young and old. In fact, crafting is among the most popular ways to spend quality time with grandchildren....

Fruit Flies in Citrus There are a number of fruit flies in citrus. These are some of the most common marauders: Mediterranean fruit fly One of the most disastrous pests, the Mediterranean fruit fly, or Ceratiitis capitata (Medfly), has afflicted areas from the Mediterranean, southern Europe, the Middle East, western Australia, South and Central America, and Hawaii. Medfly was first recognized in Florida in 1929 and damages not only citrus fruits but the following:...

What is Gac Melon? While the fruit is commonly referred to as gac, it is variously referred to as baby jackfruit, spiny bitter gourd, sweet gourd (which is it?), or cochinchin gourd. Its Latin name is Momordica cochinchinensis. Gac grows on dioecious vines – male flowers bloom on one plant and females on another. They are a common sight growing on lattices at the entries to rural homes and gardens in their lands of origin....

Benefits of Gardening Both gardening and yard work contributes to healthy living. Approximately 300 calories an hour can be burned just by gardening. Not only can you burn calories, but in the end, you’ll have a beautiful landscape to show for it. Gardening can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol or prevent diabetes, heart disease, depression, and osteoporosis when practiced on a regular basis. Exercise in the garden gives all major muscle groups a good workout including your legs, arms, buttocks, stomach, neck, and back....

Grow Light Information Before you go out and spend a bunch of money on grow lights, it is important to understand why grow lights are almost indispensable. Plants need light in order to photosynthesize, this much we all know, but many folks don’t realize that plants absorb different spectrums of light than just what is visible to people. Plants mostly use wavelengths in the blue and red parts of the spectrum....

Traditional Holiday Plants Amaryllis – What better way to celebrate the holidays and bring in the New Year than by forcing one of these huge flower bulbs to burst forth in bloom? Proper care after flowering will ensure Amaryllis bulbs are ready for forcing again next fall. Choose a white variety for Hanukkah or use red Amaryllis to accent Christmas decorations. Christmas Cactus – Native to South America, this thornless succulent is readily available in the U....

Choosing Cold Hardy Berry Plants Berries are getting a lot of attention for their nutrient rich compounds, which are said to combat everything from heart disease to constipation. If you’ve bought berries recently though, then you know that this natural health food comes with a hefty price tag. The good news is you can grow your own berries almost anywhere, even in the cooler regions. A little research is in order before purchasing your cold hardy berry plants....

Heather Seed Propagation If your experimental gardener’s mind is wondering, “How do I propagate heather with seeds?”, you should take a look at the likely results before starting the project. Like many other woody plants, heather will not reproduce true to the parent plant with seeds. This means that your seeds will produce some sort of heather, but there’s no guarantee what it will look like. The height of the plant, its spread, and even the color of the flowers is completely random....