Posts

We’ll identify the phenomenon, explore causes, recommend avoidance measures, and learn if it’s okay to eat a crop in this condition. Cauliflower, Brassica oleracea var. botrytis, is one of the more challenging cruciferous crops to grow. It requires optimal conditions, including nutrient-dense soil, consistent moisture with good drainage, cool temperatures during head maturation, and minimal temperature fluctuations. Without an ideal environment, a variety of head disorders may occur. In this article, we will discuss why heads that should be smooth sometimes look fuzzy....

And there’s no denying the charm and cozy appeal of stacked firewood in the yard, ready to warm and brighten winter’s gloom. Okay, it’s true – splitting wood isn’t the most “girly” of activities. But I love it. When the garden’s tucked away for the winter, it’s a great reason to step outside into the crisp, cool air and get a bit of exercise. A highly productive task, large rounds or billets of wood are neatly transformed into halves, quarters, and kindling, ready for the fireplace or woodstove....

Tips for Starting Your Container Garden Soil isn’t the Only Solution: In your potting mix, adding one-third of organic matter like pine bark, leaf mold, compost or aged animal manure is an excellent way to enhance soil structure. It will also make a more robust potting medium. Also Read: How to Compost in a Balcony Soil Amendment: Adding rotted manure or compost to your soil mix aerates it, improving texture and balancing out pH abnormalities....

Roses are valued not only for their exotic fragrance but also for the showy appearance. Symbolizing love and care, there are many cultivars and hybrid varieties of roses. But most of them have the same basic requirements when it comes to caring. So if your rose is not blooming or if the blooms are not to their full potential, then these Tips to Make Roses Bloom will come in handy!...

Shrubs Looking to get the biggest and brightest blooms out of your lilacs this season? There are actually several things you can do to encourage the flower growth of these prolific bloomers. In this article, certified master gardener Liz Jaros walks through her top tips for getting the most out of your lilacs this year! By Liz Jaros Last updated: July 7, 2022 | 11 min read In temperate climates, where winters are cold and summers are warm, lilacs rule the landscape in spring....

If you’re like me, you think of the slick, sweet flesh as you bite down and are hit with something that tastes like a honeyed mango met a mild apricot, mixed with a bit of cinnamon and nuttiness. When I say “persimmon,” what do you think of? Perhaps you once bit into an underripe fruit and it conjures up a memory of that tingly, cottony feeling you get on your tongue when you’ve eaten something full of tannins....

Do you have a small space? Want to make it look more interesting? You can use these amazing Rainbow Vertical Garden Ideas for a splash of colors. Have a look at some creative vertical garden ideas here Rainbow Vertical Garden Ideas 1. Hang Colorful Tin Cans Tin cans are great to grow plants and you can paint them in different shades for that rainbow look. 2. A Colorful Tire Vegetable Garden Tires can be great to grow vegetables and they also look good in different colors....

Practical and easy, here are some Clever Ways to Use Pegboards for Plants that will help you to display your green friends in style without taking too much space! Check out some amazing window shelf ideas for plants here Clever Ways to Use Pegboards for Plants 1. Display Lot of Pots! It can be a great way to hang pegboards to display many pots in a limited space. If you have an open wall, go for it!...

If your kitchen window receives proper sunlight or at least 4-5 hours, you can grow your favorite herbs without a fuss! How? Check out these DIY Kitchen Countertop Herb Garden Ideas! Here are the best herbs you can grow in partial shade Kitchen Countertop Herb Garden Ideas 1. Toolbox Countertop Herb Garden Learn how an old toolbox made into a countertop herb garden in this blogger’s tutorial post here. 2. Used Food Can Kitchen Counter Garden A few food cans can be the next containers for your kitchen countertop herb garden....

Nature is full of surprises, and you will be astonished to learn that there are many wonders in the plant world that can amaze you with their shapes and patterns. Here’s a list of unique Flowers that Look Like Things. Check out our article on succulents with unique shapes here Flowers that Look Like Things 1. Monkey Orchids Botanical Name: Dracula simia The interesting feature of this orchid is that it looks like a monkey’s face....

We have handpicked some stunning and useful DIY Plant Risers for Indoor Plants that will add instant charm while taking their looks to new heights! Check out some Fantastic DIY Ladder Planter Ideas here DIY Plant Risers for Indoor Plants 1. A Simple Wooden Stand Follow this DIY and raise up your flowering plant by keeping it on this simple yet elegant plant stand. Find out some Creative Plant Stand Ideas here 2....

First here’s a quick overview of what I’ll cover: Do you live in a cold region where winters are long and summers are short, and still fancy growing apricots, Prunus armeniaca, in your orchard? Well, luckily for you, despite the challenges of your chilly northern climate, you can indeed grow these lush, sweet, and tart stone fruit in your own orchard. If you pick the right variety. There are a number of different cold hardy apricot trees available, and you can ensure a bountiful harvest if you choose the right cultivars for your growing Zone and take a few extra measures to protect your trees....

It’s impossible to have a garden without water. Plants need it, lawns need it. We all have to have a way of conveying that water to where it needs to be. And we all have old, heavyweight hoses lying about, as they’re a requirement in the yard. But in recent years, expandable garden hoses have jumped onto the market. How do they work, and which one’s best for you? Are there drawbacks or benefits of expandable hoses when compared to old-fashioned heavy hoses?...

By Matt Gibson and Erin Marissa Russell To figure out what organic fertilizers you need, you need to find out what type of nutrients your plants need. This will depend on the soil conditions in your area, what fertilizers you have used previously, and what type of plants you want to grow. In order to find out what your soil is lacking, you need to run a soil test. One option is to purchase a home test kit, which are somewhat inaccurate and can be fairly expensive....

Do you know what will be the best houseplant specimens this year? To help you follow the trend, here are the Best Types of Indoor Plants for the Year 2022! Confused about which plants for which room? Find out the answer here Best Indoor Plants for the Year 2022 1. Climbing Houseplants Climbing vines will gain popularity in the coming year, and if you want to add one to your room, then start with mini monstera (Rhaphidophora tetrasperma)—looks sculpturesque as it climbs....

Flowers Looking to add some blue asters to your garden, but aren't sure which ones to add? There are many different blue aster varieties to choose from, so making the choice can be a bit difficult! In this article, we take a look at some of the top varieties of blue asters you can add to your garden space, as well as which hardiness zones they prefer. By Jason White Last updated: July 15, 2022 | 8 min read Blue asters can make for a delightful addition to any garden....

What is a cabbage worm? Technically called the imported cabbage worm, this pest is a native of Europe. It’s now found across much of North America, and their quick life cycle means they produce several generations per year. Adult cabbage worm butterflies (they are not moths) are also known as cabbage whites or small whites. They are a common summertime sight in yards and gardens, my own included. The white butterflies have a wing-span of about one to one-and-a-half inches....

Are you looking for a cool weather brassica that is as versatile as spinach, but keeps longer? Look no further than growing tatsoi. Packed with nutrients and easy to cultivate, tatsoi (Brassica rapa) is an Asian green that is cooked like bok choy. Tatsoi has origins in China. It is structured like bok choy but is smaller and slightly more bitter. Table of Contents At the end of winter or in the fall, it’s a poor time to grow flowers or warm weather lovers like okra, tomatoes, and peppers....

Grape jelly is easier to make than most people realize, especially with my quick recipe. In this post I’ll show you exactly how to make it, step by step. There is something so delicious and special about homemade grape jelly, and this recipe is the best, especially for beginners. If you have always loved the thought of making your own grape jelly, but felt intimidated to do so, this recipe is for you....

Preparing the Garden Bed The garden is an excellent starting point to establish communion with nature and heal in the process. You see there is a touch of magic in all forms of wildlife and everything natural contributes to replenishing the life force energy in and around your home. Your first step in creating a witch’s garden is to build a place of solitude in the midst of greenery and cleanse it using the elements....