Harvesting Lemongrass Lemongrass is commonly used to add flavor and aroma to food. However, it is typically the stalk that is most often utilized and edible. Since the stalks are somewhat hard, they’re normally crushed in order to allow the lemony flavor to come through when cooking. Only the tender part inside is considered edible, so once it’s cooked, it can be sliced and added to various dishes. This tender portion also tends to be located towards the bottom of the stalk....

What is Crown Vetch Weed? Crown vetch (Coronilla varia L.) is a trailing herbaceous member of the pea family. This cool season perennial plant is also known as ax seed, ax wort, hive-vine, and trailing crown vetch. Introduced in North America from Europe in the 1950’s as a ground cover for soil erosion on banks and highways, this ground cover spread rapidly and naturalized throughout the United States. Although commonly planted as an ornamental, it is important that homeowners be aware this plant can become invasive in many areas, lending to its reference as crown vetch weed....

Bonsai ponytail palms are unique and have a trunk that resembles an elephant’s foot and cascading foliage. For this reason, this hardy plant is sometimes called “Elephants Foot.” The trunk is extremely practical and will hold enough water for four weeks. Ponytail Palm Bonsai Care Ponytail palm bonsai care does not differ much from that of any ponytail palm tree. This bonsai plant likes lots of sun but not for an extended amount of time....

Create new balloon flower plants by dividing existing mature plants, or by collecting the seeds in the fall and planting them the next spring. Using balloon flower seeds is very simple to do but dividing the plants can be a bit trickier. Balloon Flower Seeds Balloon flowers (Platycodon grandiflorus) are named because their bloom starts out looking like a purple, white, or blue balloon and then it pops open to a wide bloom....

Muscari Propagation Propagating grape hyacinths is so easy, it may not take any effort at all. You can propagate Muscari grape hyacinth from either seeds or bulbs. Grape Hyacinth Seeds When your grape hyacinth is done blooming, it will drop its seeds. By the spring, with any luck, these grape hyacinth seeds will have become their own plants. If not, you can propagate Muscari grape hyacinth by saving the seeds. Remove the dried seedpods from the plant, harvest the small seeds inside, and lay the seeds on a damp paper towel in a not quite sealed plastic bag....

How to Propagate Verbena Verbena can be propagated both by cuttings and by seed. If you want to be sure you get a genetic copy of the parent plant, you should grow from cuttings, as verbena seeds don’t always grow true to type. Propagating Verbena Plants from Seed To collect verbena seeds, allow a few of your plant’s flowers to die off naturally on the stem. The flowers should be replaced by small brown seed pods....

Should I Cut Back Mandevilla? This is a commonly asked question with a resounding, yes. Knowing when to prune mandevilla vines is key to continued health and vigorous blooms. Cutting back a mandevilla vine is best done in late winter or early spring, before the plant starts to produce new growth. Mandevilla vines put out new growth faithfully and quickly, and the summer’s flowers all bloom on this new growth. Because of this, cutting back a mandevilla vine drastically won’t hurt it or particularly affect its summer display, as long as you do it before it puts out its new shoots....

Well, not always. Once in a while you end up with misshaped cucumbers. Have you ever wondered what could be causing this to happen to the fruit? Read on to learn more. Reasons for a Deformed Cucumber Deformed cucumbers can happen for a number of reasons. Poor pollination – If your cucumber is funny shaped, you might have a problem with pollination. If there is a lack of insects in your garden area because you have been so diligent in removing or destroying them, you might find that there is nothing to pollinate your cucumbers....

Apple Cider Vinegar as Rooting Hormone Propagating plants by “starting” root cuttings is a simple way to add to your indoor or outdoor plant collection with little expense. Dipping the stems in rooting hormones get cuttings off to a healthy start and increases the chance of success. Many gardeners believe rooting hormones are an unnecessary expense, and that cuttings will root just fine on their own. It’s true that some plants, such as English ivy, will root freely without help, but many others enjoy the boost that hormones can provide....

About Vera Jameson Plants Sedum plants are succulents and belong to the same genus as jade plants and other popular succulents. They are easy-to-grow perennials that add an interesting texture and unique floral pattern to garden beds. Sedum plants grow in clumps to about 9 to 12 inches (23 to 30 cm.) tall and produce fleshy leaves. The flowers are small but grow in large clusters that are flattened across the top....

In order to grow the best crop of watermelons, it is best that growers better familiarize themselves with pests and diseases that may impact the overall health of plants. One such disease, watermelon southern blight, is especially harmful during the hottest parts of the growing season. What is Southern Blight of Watermelons? Southern blight on watermelons is a fungal disease caused by the fungi, Sclerotium rolfsii. Though the incidence of this specific type of blight has increased in other crops over the last several years, the blight of crops such as watermelon and cantaloupe is common and can often occur in the home garden....

How to Get Rid of Sow Bugs Sow bug control begins with cleaning up debris in the garden. Rake up and remove dead plant matter, bricks, wooden planks and anything that gives sow bugs in the garden a protected place to hide. Pay particular attention to debris near or against the foundation, as this is often a spot that holds moisture. Eliminate sow bugs near the foundation to stop them from entering your home through cracks and crevices....

What is Leaf Scorch on Strawberry? Scorched strawberry leaves are caused by a fungal infection which affects the foliage of strawberry plantings. The fungus responsible is called Diplocarpon earliana. Strawberries with leaf scorch may first show signs of issue with the development of small purplish blemishes that occur on the topside of leaves. Over time, the spots will continue to grow larger and darken. In severe cases, dark spots may even cover entire portions of strawberry plant leaves and cause them to completely dry and fall from the plant....

What is Swan River Myrtle? What is swan river myrtle? Its scientific name is Hypocalymma robustum. Although it is native to the southern tip of western Australia, it has been grown with success in most Mediterranean-type climates. In colder climates, it can be planted in a container and brought indoors for the winter. A relatively small shrub, it tends to grow to between 3 and 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) in height, although certain varieties can reach up to 12 feet (4 m....

Talladega Plant Information Not every tomato plant thrives in the southeast, where the weather can get very hot in the summers and delay fruiting. Talladega tomato plants meet this challenge nicely. This cultivar likes hot weather. It takes about 70 to 90 days to produce fruit and they are worth the wait. Those growing Talladega tomatoes report heavy crops of large, delicious tomatoes. How to Grow Talladega Tomatoes Those interested in learning how to grow Talladega tomatoes will be pleased to learn how easy-care they are....

What is a Tit-Berry? Tit-berry shrubs (Allophylus cobbe) are generally shrubby in habit but may also be a climber or on occasion even a tree that can reach 33 feet (10 m.) in height but more commonly is no more than 9 to 16 feet (3-5 m.) tall. The foliage is a glossy dark green distinguished by its make up of three serrated leaflets that may be densely haired to smooth....

Magnolia Tree Pruning Although pruning magnolia trees is not necessary, young trees can be shaped as they grow. Trimming a magnolia tree when it is young will also improve the health of the tree and encourage more blooms. Mature magnolia trees do not recover from pruning and can sustain fatal wounds. Therefore, magnolia tree pruning on older specimens should only be done as a last resort when necessary. When to Prune Magnolia Trees Knowing when to prune magnolia trees is important....

Reasons for Trumpet Vine Leaves Falling Off Heat – Excessive heat may be the reason for trumpet vine leaves falling off or turning yellow. If this is the case, the plant should rebound as soon as temperatures moderate. Insects – Pesky insects, such as scale or mites, may be to blame for problems with trumpet vines. Scale consists of tiny, sap-sucking insects that live under waxy shells. The shells are often seen in clusters....

Learn More About The Map Of USDA Hardiness Zones For Plants & Trees In California Discovering what your planting zone for California is will help you to have a nicer garden. Because it is such a large state, California climate zones cover a wide range of temperatures. To find the planting zone for California that you live in, simply find the area on the map above that you live in and match the color of that area to the map legend to the right....

About Water Lilies Water lilies are low-maintenance plants that grow in shallow, freshwater ponds and lakes in tropical and temperate climates. They can also be grown in buckets or large aquariums. The rounded leaves appear to float on the surface of the water, but they actually grow atop long stalks that extend to roots in the soil at the bottom of the pond. The plants are peaceful and colorful, but water lilies also serve several important functions in the environment....