The sweet and tart, mulberry fruits are rarely available in the market due to their short shelf life and also the leaf harvest to feed silkworms don’t allow the fruit business to thrive. So, it’s a good idea to grow them in your garden or yard. But what if you don’t have enough space or you live in a freezing cold climate? In that case, growing mulberry in containers is the one option you can try....
What Your Garden Needs Now As the growing season winds down in the temperate zones of the US, gardeners have their work cut out for them. Flower and vegetable gardens alike have mature plants that have become scraggly and leggy with brown leaves, an overwhelming array of dead flower heads…the list goes on. How can you begin to tame this jungle and get things back in shape? Perennials Most blooming perennials have finished their first bloom period and are getting ragged-looking by now....
Pergolas are the perfect addition to gardens and outdoor spaces. They are easy to maintain and resistant to summer heat and climate exploitation. If you already have a pergola and you want to redecorate or replace it or if you are thinking to have one: Check out these interesting pergola design ideas. 1. Decorating your pergola with ornamental lighting is a great idea, especially if you plan to organize dinner outside....
You know what has gone into your food and you won’t have to worry about toxic chemicals being absorbed into your body. Spring is just around the corner, and now is the time to start planning your garden. Planting a garden can be a very rewarding activity. Not only do you get off your butt and out of the house, you get some exercise and you get to appreciate the natural beauty of growing your own food....
In our guide to growing celery, we discuss all you need to know to cultivate a crop of your own. The world of edible plants often reminds me of paintings from the Renaissance era, when the most artworthy models were full-figured and had alabaster skin. Who wouldn’t want a lustrous and shapely eggplant, or a voluptuous juicy pear? But lots of luck to the blemished tomato, the yam with the wireworm tunnels, and thin types, like me....
Although I mostly write about gardening, from time to time I like to touch on other yard-related activities… Including the lawn. For some, the lawn is a staple of the yard, and proper lawn care is something to be sought after. When thinking of lawn care, fertilizing, mowing, and edging comes to mind. But aeration? Dethatching? These are less common practices that are absolutely vital to proper lawn care. In this article, I’ll look at what aeration is, why it’s important, and which lawn aeration products are the best on the market....
Earthworms are tube-shaped worms, belonging to the genus of the annelids. Approximately 700 different types of earthworms exist worldwide. They live in the soil and help in increasing the amount of air and water into it. Earthworms are an important part of the terrestrial ecosystem, acting as little engineers, turning over and aerating the soil. They provide key assistance to gardeners, especially farmers as they act as compost-dwellers. What earthworms eat, they leave that behind in the form of feces, which is valuable fertilizer....
Fans of Harry Potter are no doubt familiar with the mandrake in that universe, a magical plant with the screaming gnarly roots and whose cry can be fatal for anyone who hears it. In our muggle world, some plants can develop a condition called clubroot, which gives the roots of the plants a similarly engorged appearance but is only fatal to the host plant. Infected plants may not show significant signs of damage, such as yellowing and wilted leaves, until much later in the disease progression because the symptoms first manifest underground....
In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know to grow bird of paradise successfully indoors. If you’ve fallen in love with bird of paradise plants but live in a cold climate, you can grow these tropical beauties indoors as houseplants. Given enough sunlight and the right conditions, the plant will put on a vibrant display of flowers, lending an atmosphere of tropical bliss to the interior of your home....
This tropical perennial herb is treasured for its use in the cuisines of India, the Middle East, and surprisingly, Sweden. Elettaria cardamomum Spicy, citrusy, minty… it’s difficult to describe the flavor of cardamom, other than to say it’s delicious! We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. What is Cardamom? Cardamom is a spice made from the seeds of two different species in the genera Elettaria and Amomum in the family Zingiberaceae....
We’re assuming that you’ve read our previous post on How to make a birdcage planter. If not, please read that first. Let’s see how to grow succulents in a birdcage Step One: If you are growing succulents, take cuttings of your favorite plants or buy them. Step Two: Fill the birdcage with a well-drained potting mix for succulents. You can make that soil at home, too by mixing 3 parts of potting soil, 2 parts of sand and 1 part of perlite....
I’ll let you in on a little secret: Growing veggies in the winter isn’t that much different from growing them in the summer, but instead of battling the heat, you’ll be confronting the cold. Most gardeners know that brussels sprouts prefer cool temperatures, but these tiny wannabe cabbages take the concept of cold-weather gardening to the next level. With the right care, you can grow a fresh harvest all through the winter....
Here is what we’ll cover in this article: While their flavor may be sour, the nutritional value of cranberries is quite sweet! Fresh berries, dried berries, sauces, and juice all have potential health benefits to offer. And they’re delicious in a plethora of dishes and preparations. In fact, you can even grow your own if you have the right climate and type of soil for it. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....
Read on to learn how to prevent these diseases, and what to look for if your plant becomes infected. Although you may fuss over and carefully tend your Dracaena plant, it could still come down with a disease. This can happen precisely because of the care you have given it, in fact. Unlike many other types of lush houseplants, these plants prefer allowing the soil they’re planted in to dry out between waterings....
There are heirloom types that have been grown for over a century, and hybrid varieties that have been bred to thrive in warmer climates or for improved disease resistance. Some are “self-blanching” and others require blanching in the garden if you want tender, mild-tasting stalks. Homegrown celery, Apium graveolens, is delicious. It’s nothing like the stringy, tasteless stalks you buy in the grocery store. But did you know there are a number of different cultivars available?...
Tough, drought tolerant and evergreen, Callirhoe involucrata or the purple poppy mallow is known for its beautiful extra bright magenta flowers that look like tiny wine cups. This is the reason why this plant is also called “wine cups” colloquially. You’ll find them growing in native plant gardens and rock gardens all over the US. Table of Contents This mat-forming plant is found abundantly in North America and is native to southwest and central United States especially Missouri where it most frequently grows in dry, rocky soils in fields, prairies, and along roadsides that are dispersed in a number of counties located in the northeast side of the Missouri River....
We will describe the many facets of this virus and how to control it. Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) can be a severe disease on cabbages and other types of brassicas. Many weeds are hosts to this virus. This makes the situation worse for growers of cole crops, since aphids are a key source for this virus. The weeds can harbor both the aphids and the virus. Since there is no cure for turnip mosaic virus, control is of paramount importance....
In our guide to growing fuchsia flowers, we cover how to cultivate these showy plants in your landscape. Fuchsias are undeniably fabulous, with their prolific and dramatic blossoms that seem to last all growing season long. But you can’t always just pop them in some soil and then sit back and enjoy the show. These plants take a little bit of work to maintain if you want to keep those flowers flowing as long as possible....
The peppery taste and unique leaf structure make it a chef favorite, used in soups, salads, and garnishes. For the home cook, cress is great for juicing, smoothies, or as an addition to a salad mix to add some extra spice. Cress Microgreens Quick Info Flavor – Bold and peppery, slightly bitter with a touch of sweetness. Soak – No Rinse / Drain – No Germination – 3-4 days Harvest – 8-12 days I’ve filmed a full video on growing cress microgreens that you can view below, or follow the step-by-step guide in this post....
Continue reading to learn a simple and fun technique for regrowing bok choy from a cutting. Bok choy is one of my favorite leafy greens. A few crisp and juicy green leaves can really make a soup or stir fry feel complete! Since it can be an expensive ingredient in comparison to other vegetables like cabbage, it tends to be a special treat in my household. So I was excited to learn that you can easily regrow it from a stalk....
