Posts

1. Mini Copper Planters Very simple, plant the succulents in copper cap fittings. They will look attractive. Get more information at Poppytalk. 2. DIY Copper Planters What’s the story behind this copper planter project? Find it here. 3. Faux Copper Succulent Planter Recycle a small tin can into homemade copper planter using a self-adhesive vinyl copper sheet. Get the info here. 4. Copper Geometric Planters Shape scrap cardboard for a geometric look and cover it with contact paper to recreate this idea....

While going on vacation is one of the best parts of summer, it also means not tending to our gardens for days and even a few weeks at a time. I recently went away on a week-long trip during which there were several thunderstorms. When I came back, I saw many of my tomatoes had split from the rain. Along with the rain came a fruit fly infestation, like a veritable storm of them....

The harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica (Hahn) is named for this species’ unique coloration and pattern. The harlequin bug is a member of the stink bug family and has a similar shape and size as other stink bugs; they also produce odors as a defense mechanism against predators. Table of Contents Harlequin bug is an invasive pest in North America. Originating from Mexico and Central America, it was introduced to the U....

Our parsnip growing guide has all you need to know to raise your own crop, and our article on the health benefits of parsnips zeroes in on this root vegetable’s nutrient content. The parsnip, Pastinaca sativa, is a biennial root vegetable in the Umbellifer family that is usually grown as an annual, with a harvest at the first season’s end. It looks like a white carrot, but is sweeter and richer in heart-healthy folate....

We started out with a basic suburban lot adorned with rectangles of homeowners-association-mandated sod, a small garden bed, and a few trees (we got extra trees because we’re on a corner lot – woohoo!). Gardeners have many reasons for building paths in their landscapes. Some are looking to provide more convenient passageway from Point A to Point B. Others may want easier access to plantings. Some gardeners may be looking for interesting and attractive ways to delineate different parts of their gardens....

Table of Contents If you’re a grower, you’re probably looking into Metal Halide HIDs to give your garden a healthy beautiful green lush. Metal Halide grow lights have been in the market long enough to prove themselves as one of the favorite go to grow lights for growing plentiful, beautiful and nutritious green canopies. I’ve put up this guide in order to help you learn about Metal Halide grow lights, how they work, their advantages, and their downsides....

Plants, like humans and other organisms, are susceptible to viral diseases. Likewise, many viruses have also adapted to target specific species of plants. Mosaic virus is a broad term for a group of plant pathogens that disrupt the normal function of plant cells and result in foliages with a mottled or mosaic-like appearance. There are hundreds of strains of mosaic viruses that are not genetically related to each other. Many of these strains cause considerable economic damage to farmers and have names including the infamous Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Cucumber Mosaic Virus, Rose Mosaic Virus, Cowpea Mosaic Virus, and Pepino Mosaic Virus, just to name a few....

This also means that you will be able to reap all kinds of benefits from growing organically; however, if you are currently in the process of deciding exactly which vegetables to grow, here is a guide to which are the best crops to grow within a greenhouse. Tomatoes If you were used to the supermarket bought tomatoes before, you will have the lovely surprise of tomatoes that are bursting with flavour when you grow your own....

Grow a garlic crop, and you’ll have a garlic harvest. Then it’s time to preserve the flavor and shelf life by curing garlic bulbs. There’s nothing better than freshly harvested garlic, but cured garlic cloves have all the delicious flavor that you want out of your vegetable garden. Table of Contents There are multiple ways to cure garlic, each with its benefits. How you cure could determine how you store garlic....

The harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica (Hahn) is named for this species’ unique coloration and pattern. The harlequin bug is a member of the stink bug family and has a similar shape and size as other stink bugs; they also produce odors as a defense mechanism against predators. Table of Contents Harlequin bug is an invasive pest in North America. Originating from Mexico and Central America, it was introduced to the U....

How much water do these tropical indoor plants require? I’ll delve into that, along with some tips for setting yourself up for success right from the start. Anthurium species grown as houseplants can offer two distinct types of visual appeal, but all benefit from the same watering strategy. This genus includes around 825 species, and the popular A. andraeanum and A. scherzerianum are prized for their colorful, heart-shaped spathes. With other types, including A....

Here’s the lineup: Agricultural lime is a conditioning agent that many folks apply to their lawns, vegetable gardens, flower beds, and pastures. If you’re not sure whether it’s right for you, read on! Is your grass lush, like a thick green carpet, or is it marred by bare patches and weeds? Do you have problems growing basic leaf lettuce in your veggie patch? One reason your lawn or vegetable garden may be in distress is that the dirt is too acidic, and this is where we’ll begin our discussion of lime....

Here is a quick guide of the Best Japanese Herbs that are used in the variety of cuisines across Japan, for their lip-smacking taste! Pick your favorite from the list and enhance the taste of your dishes! Check out our article on making Japanese Balcony Garden here! Herbs for Japanese Garden 1. Shiso Botanical Name: Perilla fructescens USDA Zone: 2-11 Shiso has a distinctive flavor that combines the aromas of citrus, mint, basil, anise, and coriander....

1. Hilling Potatoes When grown in a barrel or grow bag, potatoes have to be hilled up by the addition of loose organic material, such as soil or compost. This is essential as potatoes form the underground part of the plant, so when you hill them, you elongate the underground portion effectively and stimulate productivity. Additionally, hilling triggers potato tubers to grow broad and far down and encourages nascent potatoes to grow over maturing ones....

If you’re anything like me, you love to bring the outdoors indoors. Air plants are a fantastic way to do that. These resilient, low-maintenance plants don’t need soil or rocks to live in, nor do they need an exotic stand. In fact, you can easily DIY an air plant display out of virtually anything you have on hand and in any style! Table of Contents A gorgeous display can be had simply by setting your air plants into seashells if you like beach style....

If you don’t have space for a garden, there is no reason why you can’t enjoy deliciously, ripened tomatoes. Heirloom tomato plants grow exceptionally well in containers. Most heirloom tomato plants grow well in a container so long as you know how to grow them properly. Which cultivars are better and easier to manage. Also Read: Best Tomato Varieties to Grow in Containers Determinate vs. Indeterminate Determinate varieties do better in containers because they only grow up to three or four feet tall and are compact in nature....

There’s nothing better than having access to fresh, nutrient-dense salad greens that practically grow themselves, right? Table of Contents I can already hear you saying, “Yeah, that’d be nice, if they existed…” Well, they do, and they’re called microgreens. Practically any plant can be grown as a microgreens, which is just the even-younger cousin of baby greens. Typically harvested around 8-20 days after planting, microgreens are the quickest turnaround crop you’ll ever grow in your garden....

As soon as you see the damage, you’ll need to spray your tree with a fungicide and then repeat the treatment 10 days later. Botryosphaeria ribis You think you’ve got it made with your pecan trees, Carya illinoensis, and have visions of pies (at the least) or even some sales at the farmers market when all of a sudden – the husks start turning black. There are several things that can cause this, and one of the most serious is stem end blight....

Kevin and Jacques love to bake bread (like this pocaccia bread recipe) with the wheat harvests from the Epic Homestead, and there’s a really good reason for that. There is nothing quite as uniquely satisfying as enjoying the literal fruits of your harvest… or, in this case, berries, as wheat produces seeds called wheat berries that can later be ground into flour for baking fresh, whole-wheat bread. But remember, this is a team spearheaded by the Potato Daddy himself....

Table of Contents Ficus benjamina, also known as the weeping fig tree, is a beautiful and beneficial tree that comes from Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. In this guide you’ll learn exactly how to grow a weeping fig plant in your home, as well as the beneficial properties it has for your health.​ Weeping Fig Tree Overview The weeping fig tree is one of the best plants to have in your home when it comes to remove formaldehyde from the air....