“I’m sure this is a silly question, but I always see it recommended to plant more than one seed per hole. But why? I just got a seed starting kit with some seeds and want to make sure I’m using them efficiently. Can you help me out?” It’s a great question, Sally! Understanding the answer to this question will improve your understanding of gardening and seed starting in general, because the answer hinges on an important concept: seed germination....
In this article, you’ll learn how to cultivate this landscape plant for foundation or stand-alone placements, as well as mixed borders and hedges. Spiraea thunbergii ‘Ogon’ (Mellow Yellow) Baby’s breath spirea, Spiraea thunbergii, is an ornamental woody shrub in the Rosaceae family. It has gracefully arching stems and slender, slightly-serrated lanceolate leaves. The ‘Ogon’ cultivar, S. thumbergii ‘Ogon’, aka Mellow Yellow, is noteworthy for its early spring bloom time and golden leaves....
In our guide to growing viburnum, we cover how to cultivate these plants in your landscape. Viburnum is a genus of over 150 species of deciduous and evergreen perennials that feature showy flowers and attractive foliage, many of which are native to North America. Most species are woody shrubs, though some have a spreading growth habit, and others can be pruned into a tree-like form. These versatile, low-maintenance plants are easy to grow and – depending on the species and growing zone – will thrive in shady locations or full sun....
Rosemary is one of the most popular culinary and medicinal herb native to the Mediterranean region. It’s also used for ornamental purposes due to its needle-like leaves and flowers. The flowers come in colors of purple, silver, pink, blue, and white, depending on the variety. Taste is somewhat bitter and astringent but is great for flavoring stews, soups, stuffings, sauces, roasts, and meat dishes. Also Read: How to Grow Rosemary...
Your crop should not be severely affected unless the weather is really wet during the spring and early summer, after the petals have fallen. Cladosporium carpophilum Peach scab is a hideous disease that is also known as black spot or freckles, due to its appearance on the fruit. However, the scab is usually superficial. Fruit that is peeled should be perfectly edible. The fungus that causes scab, Cladosporium carpophilum, is responsible for scab on peaches, apricots, nectarines, and plums....
Lovers of different types of pothos who are looking for another addition to your collection – look no further than Scindapsus pictus! While it is not technically a pothos (although it is a close relative) it is nearly indistinguishable – so much so that it is often referred to as silver or satin pothos. Table of Contents It has heart-shaped matte leaves and variegated foliage. It makes a lovely addition to any indoor garden....
Our guide to growing pomegranates has all the details on how to cultivate these trees in your landscape. In this guide, we’ll discuss when and how to harvest your homegrown fruit. Fruiting pomegranate trees, Punica granatum, are best suited to growing in hot, dry climates of USDA Hardiness Zones 7-11. The fruits can take between five and seven months – depending on the variety – to mature and ripen, ready for picking....
Many believe passionately in living our lives as naturally as possible and using natural, non-toxic pest control. While there is a wide range of organic pesticides and fungicides out there, sometimes we just want something that’s basic, simple, and that you can whip up when needed. Table of Contents Here, we’ll share some of the best DIY natural solutions with you that can be effective. These simple and easy homemade recipes may also save you money!...
To stay alive, plants need water. But is it that simple? Is pouring water over the plants keep them healthy and growing or that is not enough? How to water plants? The fact that we water regularly does not mean that we water well. Watering wrongly can cost the life of the precious plants. That is why, in this article, we talk about how to water plants and the most common errors people do when it comes to watering....
Perhaps you’ve got a serious case of damping off in your own gardens. Perhaps you’re not even sure what it is. Perhaps you’re suffering from extreme paranoia and just want to avoid the problem altogether. Whatever your status, there are a plethora of ways to prevent the disease from taking over, forcing you to throw your trowel in the trash. Here you will find the information you need to keep your plants on a healthy track....
USDA zones — 4-9 Other Names — Fossil Tree, Maidenhair Tree, Japanese Silver Apricot, Baiguo, Bai Guo Ye, Kew Tree, Yinhsing, The Tree of Forty Crowns Difficulty — Easy How to Grow Ginkgo Biloba Propagation Ginkgo tree can be propagated from seeds or by cuttings. Propagation from cuttings is better. To propagate it from cuttings, cut around 10 cm long cutting and plant it in a pot with potting soil lightened with perlite....
So, what are B vitamins exactly, and which types of veggies should you choose to grow at home to ensure that you’re getting enough of these essential nutrients? Let’s take a look. Since I’ve sadly outgrown the Flintstones Chewables stage of life, ensuring that I’m getting all of my essential vitamins can sometimes feel like a guessing game. As a dietitian, patients often ask me about taking vitamin supplements to address any potential deficiencies that they may have....
Let’s have a look at the three easiest ways to propagate hard-working spirea shrubs. Spirea is among the easiest of shrubs to grow and care for. One of the most popular of flowering woody shrubs, pretty flowers in shades of mauve, pink, rosy red, and white bloom in spring and summer, depending on the variety. The fine textured foliage varies from bright chartreuse to dark green and gives a fiery autumn display in tones of orange, purple, and red – for three full seasons of interest....
Understand the Inverse Square Law Because most of us are lighting our hydroponic grows artificially, I figured that it would be a good idea to cover one of the most important concepts to consider when you’re making lighting decisions for your grows: the inverse square law for light. The inverse square law states that if you double the distance that your light is from your plants, it will spread over four times as much area as it did before....
CALAMINTHA While calamint (Calamintha) might not be the most well-known shrub in the United States, it certainly deserves a more prominent role in our landscapes. A hardy, deer-resistant perennial that produces profuse and showy delicate blooms from early summer to autumn, calamint offers a number of varieties and cultivars that make a fine addition to gardens of all types. Characterized by a distinctive minty scent, this plant is native to many parts of the world, most notably the Mediterranean, with couple of varieties that are native to North America....
The Brazilian native, pitangatuba, is a must-have, low-maintenance evergreen shrub that produces juicy delicious fruit. Commonly referred to as star cherry, the yellow fruit resembles star fruit and has a pit in the middle like your typical cherry. The acidic fruit is a combination of sweet and sour with hints of tropical fruit flavors like mango, passion fruit, and pineapple. Star cherry thrives in the heat and requires mild winters. Fortunately, it can be brought inside for protection during the winter making it possible to grow almost anywhere....
Table of Contents Your garden is your pride and joy, and you put a lot of time and effort into making it flourish. So you’re going to want a rat proof garden. As a gardener, rodents are one of your biggest nightmares. They eat your crops, leave droppings everywhere, spread disease, and hide in the most inconspicuous places. Not only that, but they multiply insanely fast. In fact, a rodent only has a three-week gestation period....
There are multiple species in the Achillea genus, some wild natives, and several stunning ornamental cultivars featuring a wide range of colors including pale pink, purple, red, white, and yellow. With its long history of medicinal use, I find yarrow to be one of the most incredible and fascinating common garden plants. An herbaceous perennial and member of the aster family, it is distinguished by its feathery leaves and flowers that bloom in densely arranged clusters....
While a couple holes in a head are not a big deal, these caterpillars can eventually defoliate plants if they are present in large numbers, leaving only their stems and large veins in place. Pieris rapae While butterfly collectors may rejoice that the cabbage butterfly now lives in all 50 states and southern Canada, people who grow cole crops and crucifers do not share their joy. Also known in their adult form as small white, cabbage white, white, or even small cabbage white butterflies, these pretty pests are also often referred to erroneously as cabbage moths in the United States....
Of all the creepy crawlies out there, earwigs are one of the scariest looking ones. It doesn’t help that these insects have had a serious PR issue dating back hundreds of years. They even starred in one of the scariest episodes in television history on the 1972 NBC show “Night Gallery”, where a woman put earwigs into her husband’s ears to eat his brain and eventually drove him insane. It should not come as a surprise that this show was written by the master of macabre Rod Serling, creator of “The Twilight Zone”....
