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How Many Kinds of Aster are There? Most gardeners are familiar with asters. These workhorses in the autumn garden brighten the landscape even as most perennials are fading. There are many different types of aster from which to choose, most of which thrive in temperate to cool season climates. As native plants, they are adaptable to many sites, but do seem to prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Both the New England and New York asters are native to North America and thrive in a wide range of growing conditions....

About Vines for Windy Locations It is true that sustained winds or gusts can wreak havoc with many plants. As the plants are tugged at by the wind, the roots are pulled from the soil, making them weaker and weaker. They may lose their ability to absorb water, which leads to smaller plants, unusual development, and even death. Winds may also break stems, branches, or even trunks, which disrupt the plants ability to uptake water and nourishment....

Are Groundnuts Legumes? We have established that groundnuts aren’t, as their name would lead us to believe, nuts at all. So what are groundnuts then? Are groundnuts legumes? The groundnut, a climbing vine, is a member of the pea or bean family (Leguminosae) and distantly related to the soybean. It can be found from Ontario and Quebec to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the western prairies to the Atlantic coastline....

What are Standard Plants? While perusing nursery catalogs you may come across the term “standard.” What does this mean? It means you are in for a real treat, both in ease of care and in eye-catching beauty. Standards may be needled evergreens, deciduous fruiting, or even flowering perennials. It takes time to create a standard, so for the do-it-yourselfer, patience is a virtue. Many enthusiasts have fun names for standards such as ball on a stick or lollipop....

What are Thai Bananas? Thai banana fruit comes from Musa black banana plants. These hardy banana trees grow to about 20 feet (6 m.) in height. The plant starts out green but after a few months, the trunk and petioles turn a dark brown to black in color. They can be grown in USDA zones 7 through 11 and make a great house or patio plant grown in containers. This variety is not only cold hardy, but disease and wind resistant too....

What is Wrong with My Aloe Plant? Aloe vera plant distortion on the leaves and stems is caused by a little rascal called an eriophyid mite. These almost microscopic insects reproduce rapidly and travel by wind, water, insects, birds, and even people. Once the plant has the insects, it is possible aloe mites can infest other similar plants. Interestingly, it is not their tunneling activity that causes the distorted aloe leaves but the injection of a potent toxin that changes leaf and plant cell structures....

What is Plant Parenting? It’s a term coined by the millennial generation, but plant parenting isn’t really anything new. It simply refers to caring for houseplants. So, yes, you probably are a plant parent and didn’t even realize it. Millennial plant parenthood is a positive trend. Young people are increasingly interested in growing plants indoors. The reason behind this may be the fact that millennials have put off having children. Another factor is that a lot of young people rent rather than own homes, limiting outdoor gardening options....

How to Use Ring Culture for Tomatoes Tomato plant ring culture allows roots access to a large volume of water and nutrients with being grown in a soil medium. Simply put, the tomato plant is grown in a bottomless ring or pot that is partially submerged in a water retaining base. Because tomato plants have strong root systems with an ample tap root, tomato ring culture growing is an ideal method for cultivation in the greenhouse....

There are two reasons that squash plants abort their fruit. These reasons are either poor growing conditions or poor pollination. Squash Falling Off Due to Poor Growing Conditions In the case of poor growing conditions, this is normally too much heat or not enough water or even a combination of both. Examine the ground around your squash plant. Does the ground appear to be overly dry, even cracked? Dig down a few inches (8 cm....

Types of White Strawberries Probably one of the more commonly grown, the white alpine strawberry is one of several varieties of white strawberries. Before we get into that, let’s get a little background on white strawberries in general. While there are several varieties of white strawberry, they are hybrids and don’t grow true from seed. There are two strawberry species, Alpine (Fragaria vesca) and Beach (Fragaria chiloensis), that are true white strawberries....

About Planting Fall Gardens As mentioned, planting a fall garden extends the harvesting season beyond summer produce. Fall harvest can even be extended further by providing frost protection by planting in cold frames or hotbeds. Many vegetables adapt well to fall planting. Among these, of course, are the cool season veggies such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and carrots. In zone 7, spring temperatures often heat up rapidly, causing crops like lettuce and spinach to bolt and become bitter....

Are Store-Bought Potatoes Safe to Grow Growing grocery store potatoes which have sprouted can produce a delicious crop of potatoes which are safe to consume. However, there is one caveat with growing potatoes from the store. Unlike seed potatoes, which are certified to be free of disease, grocery store potatoes may be harboring pathogens like blight or fusarium. If you’re concerned about introducing disease-producing plant pathogens into your garden soil, you can always grow sprouted potatoes in a container....

Hydrangeas for Zone 7 When choosing zone 7 hydrangeas for the landscape, consider the following varieties: Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), zones 5 to 9, common cultivars include: ‘PeeWee,’ dwarf variety, white blooms fading to pink, foliage turns red and purple in autumn ‘Snow Queen,’ deep pink blooms, foliage turns dark red to bronze in autumn ‘Harmony,’ white blooms ‘Alice,’ rich pink blooms, foliage turns burgundy in autumn Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), zones 6 to 9, two flower types: Mophead and Lacecaps, cultivars and bloom colors include:...

Sunflower Companions Many gardeners have heard of the Three Sisters planting system. It is an ancient practice that native people used for centuries. When the majestic sunflower is added to the trio, the Four Sisters have even more power in the garden. The classic sunflower companions in the Three Sisters are beans, corn, and squash. These pair beautifully with sunflowers, both visually and as a beneficial grouping. The companion planting sunflower is a hard working specimen that is a valuable support for scrambling vines and towering stalks....

About Black Cohosh Plants Found in the eastern United States, black cohosh plants are herbaceous wildflowers with an affinity for moist, partially shaded growing areas. Black cohosh is a member of the Ranunculaceae family, Cimicifuga reacemosa, and commonly referred to as black snakeroot or bugbane. Growing black cohosh gets the name ‘Bugbane’ in reference to its unpleasant odor, which renders it repellent to insects. This wildflower has small plumes of star-shaped white flowers that soar upwards of 8 feet (2....

What is a Bogbean? A wildflower that needs excessive moisture to exist, you’ll find the bogbean plant (Menyanthes trifoliata) blooming in areas where most flowers would die from overly wet soil. It is an aquatic, rhizomatous perennial plant, returning year after year with white flowers that are enticingly beautiful. Look for it in its damp, native habitat near ponds, bogs, and woodland soil that remains moist from spring rainfall. It may also grow in shallow water....

Can You Grow Citrus in Zone 8? Citrus was introduced to the continental United States in 1565 by Spanish explorers. Over the years there have been increasingly large groves of many types of citruses, but most of the oldest stands have died to freeze damage. Modern hybridizing has led to citrus plants that are hardier and more able to withstand such factors as high humidity and occasional light freezes with protection....

Canna Seed Propagation Propagation of canna lily by seeds is possible, as many varieties produce viable seeds. Since most of the plants with dazzling flowers are hybrids, starting canna lilies from seed may not give you the same variety. Nevertheless, if you find it interesting to raise plants from seeds just to find out how they turn out, it is definitely worth a try. Moreover, you are not likely to be disappointed, as the wild varieties of canna lilies are all rather pretty, with striking colors and markings....

What is Turquoise Tails Sedum? Succulents are noted for their adaptability, ease of care, and wondrous forms and tones. Turquoise tails blue sedum is a cultivar that provides all these traits with deer and rabbit resistance and drought tolerance. What is turquoise tails sedum (Sedum sediforme)? It is a past Plant Select Waterwise winner with years of landscaping excellence ahead of the sedum. As a Mediterranean plant, it is suitable for climates with hot, sunny summers and cool winters....

Collecting Cattail Seeds Saving cattail seeds and planting them where you want these fabulous plants helps create a wild animal sanctuary and waterfowl habitat. It is quite easy to do and an excellent way to replant a devastated marsh or waterway. A single cattail can contain up to 25,000 seeds, which can go a long way to repopulating a native species. Some tips on how to plant cattail seeds once you have harvested them, can speed you on the way to a useful and beautiful stand of these one-time native foods....