Your garden is overloaded with produce during the harvest this year, and you have come to the realization that you just can’t eat that much zucchini, tomatoes, or green beans all at once. But you lack freezer space, or perhaps it’s already overflowing with earlier production. The apple tree is starting to show signs of a major overload, too, warning you that you’re going to need to do something with all of this food....
What are alpine strawberries? Alpine strawberries were originally native to Europe and Asia, but the plants have been bred and cultivated to select varieties known for flavor that’s above and beyond the native wild strain. The fruits of alpine strawberry plants are small and conical. Known as fraises des bois in France (which translates to “berries of the woods”), they are celebrated and cherished throughout their harvest period. How is an alpine strawberry different from a regular strawberry Alpine strawberries are a completely different species than the strawberries you find on the grocery store shelves....
Orchids are usually collected by plant lovers worldwide as they are most valued for their attractive blooms and the exciting way they grow. You may have known that orchids are parasites, as this flower can grow on other living things. So, Are Orchids Parasites? Learn How Orchids Grow Without Soil in our guide. Find out the best Homemade Plant Food for Orchids here Are Orchids Parasites? It is a big misconception that orchids are parasites, and many people think so when they see them growing in the wild....
Yellow leaves look nice on autumn trees … but not houseplants. Aging foliage turns yellow naturally, but otherwise, it’s typically a sign of distress. In this article, we’ll examine how to make yellow leaves turn green again, and the reasons why they turn yellow. Yellow leaves are often a sign of stress, and it’s generally not possible for yellow leaves to turn green again. Poor watering and lighting are the most common reasons, but fertilizer problems, pests, disease, acclimatization, temperature extremes, or transplant shock are other potential causes....
As far as houseplants grown for their foliage are concerned, there are few that match Nerve plants (Fittonia albivenis) for their beautiful and delicate little leaves. This article is will provide a step by step guide to Fittonia propagation to help you multiply your collection. Fittonia propagation is best done by taking stem cuttings and propagating them in water or soil. They can also be propagated from seed, but this is slower and more difficult....
by Julie Christensen You probably don’t think much about your liver, unless, of course, it’s not functioning as it should. But, your liver serves many vital purposes in your body and keeping it healthy is one of the best things you can do to ensure health and vitality as you age. The liver provides the following benefits: Removes toxins from the blood stream that enter your body through your skin, respiratory system and digestive system....
Why should you care about fungus gnats vs fruit flies? Because you need to understand the difference in order to effectively get rid of them, and keep them from coming back. So in this post, I will show you exactly how to tell which one you have, and give you tips for eliminating them. One of the most common questions I get from readers is “How do I get rid of fruit flies around houseplants“....
Turnips (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa) are among those early-spring crops that you can sow in cool weather, before the heat lovers, like tomatoes and peppers go in. They are quick growing, so you’ll likely have a harvest by late spring. You can plant turnip seeds about two to three weeks before your last frost date. Stagger your sowing and you’ll extend your harvest period so you can enjoy them for longer....
Question: How do you care for parsnips? Is it like growing carrots? -Pamela C. Answer: A hardy biennial, parsnips are usually grown as an annual root crop.They look similar to carrots, only they’re usually a shade of white and oftentimes thicker. Unfortunately, I don’t lump parsnips in the “easy to grow” category. There’s a sort of finesse to getting their seeds to germinate. But, if you put the work in at the beginning of the season, you can just sit back and watch your plants take root!...
QUESTION: How do you store onions for a long time? How do I prepare them? -Kasey T. ANSWER: In order to store onions for an extended period, they need to be cured to remove excess moisture. Curing is a month-long drying process that prepares your onions for extended storage by removing excess moisture which would otherwise cause your onions to rot too quickly. To cure onions, spread them out on a flat surface in a sunny location just after harvesting, and allow them to dry for two to three days until the roots and bulbs begin to dry and turn brown and the outer skin becomes paperlike and crisp....
One of the biggest mistakes that new gardeners make is breezing over the importance of feeding their container plants. If you’re new to growing in containers, then you might not realize how important fertilizing potted plants really is. Feeding container plants can be a confusing and intimidating topic for newbies, I know it was for me! So it’s just easier to ignore it, right? Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a chemist to figure out how to fertilize a potted plant....
These large deciduous shrubs or small trees come in a number of shapes and sizes. Acer spp. If you’re looking for a focal point to really set off your home’s curb appeal, don’t overlook Japanese maple trees. Japanese maple most commonly refers to any cultivar of Acer palmatum, which is native to Japan, China, and Korea. But cultivars of A. japonicum and A. shirasawanum are sometimes thrown into the mix as well – which are also native to Japan....
Don’t let our silly drama scare you off. G. sempervirens is a colorful and beloved vine that is native to the southeastern and south-central United States as well as to Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico with nary a homicide to its name. Gelsemium sempervirens Though the profuse bell-shaped, yellow flowers that adorn the lengthy, twisted vines of Carolina jessamine are truly breathtaking, they conceal a deep, dark secret. They, along with the rest of the plant, are capable of murder....
By Erin Marissa Russell Mustard greens are a member of the Brassica family of plants and are sometimes referred to as simply mustard or as brown mustard, Chinese mustard, Indian mustard, leaf mustard, mustard spinach,or white mustard. This cool-season vegetable is a popular choice for home gardeners because it’s easy to care for and matures quickly, with maturation periods ranging from four to six weeks. Although in cuisine greens as a dish are most commonly associated with the American south, mustard greens can be grown by gardeners in the central and northern regions of the United States as well during the part of the growing season with cool weather in their regions....
By Saffyre Falkenberg Tomatillos are a relative of the nightshade family, like the tomato. They have been grown in Mexico for centuries and were an important aspect of Mayan and Aztec culture. While they commonly come in green, tomatillos can also be yellow, red, or purple. Though similar in appearance, the tomatillo tastes much different than the green tomato. The plant itself typically grows to be around three feet tall, and the flowers come in a variety of colors, including white, yellow, and purple....
Black and shiny, they are often confused with beetles from the Eleodes genus in the Tenebrionidae family, such as the malodorous-when-threatened desert stink beetle. Moneilema spp. Cactus longhorn beetles, Moneilema spp., account for 20 of the 35,000 species in the large Cerambycidae or longhorn beetle family. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. However, unlike these desert counterparts, cactus longhorns cannot fly and do not feed on grasses or burrow into farmers’ crops....
The answer is simple: ginger is a tropical plant, and it’s fairly hard to grow in regions that are less warm and humid. Zingiber officinale We all know ginger – a tasty culinary herb (or, more accurately, a spice) that you can buy practically anywhere. Whether you’re using the whole root, paste, or powdered form, it’s a spice any seasoned cook will reach for, especially when they want an easy way to add a dash of Asian flavor to their dishes....
These easy-to-grow cuttings are perfect for filling up your own home, and they make excellent gifts for people who need a little more green in their households. My home is filled with houseplants, and about 30 percent of those are some variety of dracaena. This is in part because of my (infamous) tendency to favor fuss-free houseplants, but another factor at work is how dang easy it is to propagate dracaena from cuttings....
If you enjoy visiting birds and other wildlife or have outdoor pets, you should control these pests in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. April showers bring May flowers, but they also bring those slimy pests, slugs and snails. Raiders of the night, they have a discerning appetite for succulent foliage and flowers. And from dusk to dawn, they can make short work of leaves, flowers, soft herbs, vegetables, seedlings, tender green bark, and ripening fruit....
Properly storing seeds is essential, especially if you want them to last as long as possible. If done incorrectly, it’s easy for them to be destroyed by critters, moisture, or just plain old time. Whether you have leftover purchased ones, got them from friends, or even your own garden, proper storage will keep them viable for a long time. If you want to save your seeds for next year and beyond, there are some important steps to take to make sure they will last....
