Are you looking for a good substitute for cilantro? Because cilantro is prone to bolt in the summer, it can be frustrating to grow – and it’s the season we want to grow it for our salsa! I have an alternative for you: papalo herb. Table of Contents Although lesser-known, it’s an easy to grow herb that boasts a strong, vibrant flavor. It reminds me of a mixture of nasturtium flowers, lime, and our beloved cilantro....
Rose Maintenance 1. Choose Sunny Location Roses love the sun. Find a location that receives as much sun as possible. A couple of hours of shade in an afternoon or a spot with light shade might not hurt the plant. 2. Ventilation is Important Good ventilation is important for growing roses. Make sure that your roses are not growing densely. Due to the proper ventilation, the leaves dry out quickly after you water them or when rain falls....
Kale has been eaten for thousands of years, and in the Middle Ages, it was used to feed both humans and livestock. Originally descended from wild cabbage, most kale varieties are native to Europe and parts of Asia. Table of Contents Able to withstand frost and cold climates, kale often symbolizes the coming winter season. Kale is so traditionally popular in Scotland that kitchen gardens there are called “kale yards” and a general dinner meal is called “kail”....
Since the differences in gender are meaningful when it comes to your yearly harvest tally, recognizing the gender of these plants can be a helpful gardening skill. In my book, asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is king of the edible perennial garden. Producing tender spears early in spring, this veggie makes for delicious seasonal meals – and a sensational start to the year’s growing season. Unlike some garden vegetables such as peas, which are self-pollinating, asparagus is dioecious, meaning some plants are male and some are female....
If you’re growing your own pumpkins and you aren’t sure how to tell when they’re ready, this article is for you. The other day, I brought my friend out to the garden and parted the vines of my ‘Howden’ pumpkin plant, revealing an enormous green fruit. “Wow!” said my friend. “That’s beautiful. It looks like a watermelon!” She was right. My ‘Howden’ was enormous, but green through and through. And this got me wondering: how would I know when it was ripe?...
Our guide to cover cropping discusses how to use the technique in the home garden. Cover crops are fast-growing plants that we sow densely to cover fallow soil. Cover cropping is a common farming practice, with applications for smaller scale plots and raised beds where flowers, fruits, herbs, and vegetables grow as well. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....
There are between 21-24 species of aglaonema, although the exact number varies depending on which botanical registry you are looking at. However, there are hundreds of different aglaonema varieties in a diversity of leaf colorations. The variations are myriad and all lovely! Table of Contents It’s more common to find Chinese evergreen plants classified by their cultivar names than by true botanical name, which complicates identification. In fact, it can be a bit dizzying sorting it all out....
Perennial gardening is a great practice to take up if you’re interested in growing a sustainable crop. Instead of sowing seed each spring, perennial garden plants replenish themselves year after year. Save for adding nutrients to the soil and pruning back plants in winter, a perennial garden is great for those who consider themselves lazy. Planting asparagus is one way to create the center of a good perennial garden, but you’ll probably want some asparagus companion plants too....
Table of Contents Today we’re profiling a new type of LED light to come on the market from The Green Sunshine Company. The owner, Dan, reached out to me and we got on the phone to talk about the tech. He actually helped me understand plant biology and lighting at a deeper level, which prompted me to write this piece today. He even showed me some interesting results in his HPS vs....
The principle of spiral herb garden is simple but functional A herb spiral is basically a small herb garden. It is three-dimensional and have beds in a confined, sloppy space of spiral shape, which can be used to grow various herbs. The top area of the spiral receives the full sun and has superior drainage, therefore, herbs that like exposure to the sun and good drainage are planted there. The bottom area of the spiral is suitable to grow herbs that require moist soil and less sun....
The daily chores and routine can make us all a little tired. Having a calming space at house can help us have a peaceful time where we can sit and relax. Here are some really great Indoor Meditation Garden Ideas that you can use to create a spiritual abode at your home. Check out our article on indoor rock garden ideas here Indoor Meditation Garden Ideas 1. Zen Meditation Room An indoor zen meditation room with a Buddha statue in the middle is a perfect place to meditate and have a peaceful time....
Green caterpillars are mostly found feeding on the leaves. They are mostly harmless and non-poisonous, but some may cause severe stings and even spit acid! Almost all green caterpillars usually consume a lot of leaves before transforming into beautiful butterflies or moths! Let’s have a look at the Types of Green Caterpillars in detail. Check out our article on beneficial garden insects here Types of Green Caterpillars 1. Winter Moth Caterpillar After Scientific name: Operophtera brumata...
If you are worried about your greens this winter season then these Masterful Tips for Overwintering Balcony Garden Plants will keep them healthy all winter long. Check out great tips on how to keep houseplants alive in winters here Best Ways to Overwinter Balcony Garden Plants 1. Shelter or Wrap Plants To save plants from cold drafts of air, cover them along with the pot using a bubble wrap or a piece of breathable cloth....
Some compare the scent to grape Kool-Aid, soda, or gum, but the fragrance is deeper, richer, and more floral than the artificial aroma of processed food. Dermatophyllum secundiflorum The intoxicating fragrance of Texas mountain laurel is enough to cause drivers to slam on the brakes or dog walkers to abruptly stop short, giving poor Fido whiplash. Famed TV chef Emeril Lagasse used to lament the non-invention of “smell-o-vision.” I wish for “smell-o-website” so I could share with you the heavenly scent produced by the pretty purple flowers of these shrubs....
Whatever the reason, peonies can be propagated in a few ways, saving you a bucket load of cash and allowing you to reproduce a plant that you particularly love. If you’ve ever eyeballed your neighbor’s perfect peony bush and wished for one of your own, you’re in luck. Provided you have a generous neighbor, you can take a small division from their plant and have your own to show off in no time....
Lettuce is the crop of choice for both experienced and beginner garden enthusiasts. A quick-growing plant that can be eaten during almost any of its life stages, and available in hundreds of varieties, this vegetable is everywhere! But just like any other plant, lettuce goes through a life cycle. It starts as a seed, developing leaves, putting out a flower stalk to get pollinated, and then producing seed and dying. This natural process can mystify some, until now....
Natural Ingredients When you’re down and out with the aches and congestion of seasonal ailments, the plant world offers a wide selection of relief-giving ingredients – like the ones found in this soothing herbal tea. Even if you’re ultra-vigilant with handwashing during cold and flu season, it’s still difficult to avoid exposure to nasty germs and viruses – they’re in the air, and on practically every surface in public places....
If you’ve ever looked out across the mountains in southern California, you may well have seen the matilija poppy, Romneya coulteri. Also called Coulter’s matilija poppy or California tree poppy, this gigantic plant was once among the contenders for California’s state flower! Alas, it lost to another form of poppy. Table of Contents But this California native perennial is still quite popular today as an erosion control plant on hillsides. It’s also seen growing in foothills or canyons, sometimes as one of the first plants to reappear after a brushfire has passed....
One of the most frustrating aspects of gardening is dealing with insect pests, which may frustrate some home gardeners to the point of giving up. Before you throw in the trowel once and for all, you need to hear about spinosad spray if you aren’t already familiar with it. It’s an organic form of pest control that’s derived from a bacterium called Saccharopolyspora spinosa and doesn’t pose much of a threat to nature, except for some beneficial insects....
All species thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 10-12, and sometimes in parts of Zone 9 if you keep them warm in the winter months. You can grow them in colder zones as indoor plants, or as outdoor plants in the summer, and indoors in the winter. With their tufted heads and uncanny beaks, all the different types of bird of paradise flowers (Strelitzia spp.) are showstoppers in their own right....
