What is Mosaic Virus of Okra? There is more than one type of mosaic virus, a viral disease that causes the leaves to develop a mottled, mosaic-like appearance. Strains with no known vectors have infected plants in Africa, but it is yellow vein mosaic virus that has been seen in U.S. crops in recent years. This virus is known to be transmitted by whiteflies. Okra with mosaic virus of this type first develops a mottled appearance on the leaves that is diffuse....

Orange Jasmine Growing Conditions Orange jasmine plants require protection from hot, direct sunlight. When growing Murraya orange jasmine, locate the plant where it receives morning sunlight and afternoon shade, or alternatively, where it is in broken sunlight or dappled shade all day. Well-drained soil is critical, as orange jasmine doesn’t do well in waterlogged soil. If your soil lacks drainage, improve soil conditions by digging in organic material such as compost, chopped bark, or leaf mulch....

Help, My Watermelon Seedlings are Dying Watermelon damping off has a set of recognizable symptoms. It affects young seedlings, which wilt and often fall over. The lower part of the stem becomes waterlogged and girdled near the soil line. If pulled out of the ground, the plant’s roots will be discolored and stunted. These problems can be directly traced to Pythium, a family of fungi that lives in the soil. There are several species of Pythium that can lead to damping off in watermelon plants....

Nectarine ‘Southern Belle’ Info Southern Belle nectarines are very large freestone nectarines. The trees are prolific, bloom early, and have a fairly low chilling requirement of 300 chill hours with temperatures below 45 degrees F. (7 C.). This deciduous fruit tree sports large, showy pink blossoms in the spring. Fruit is mature and ready to be picked in late July to early August. Southern Belle is hardy to USDA zone 7....

Saving Okra Seeds Grow okra plants in full sun in well-drained soil. Plant okra in the spring several weeks after all danger of frost has passed. Although okra grows with minimal irrigation, watering every week will produce more okra seed pods. If you’re interested in saving okra seeds from species in your garden, make sure the plants are isolated from other okra varieties. Otherwise, your seeds might be hybrids. Okra is pollinated by insects....

Orchid Light Conditions Though some types of orchid are more difficult to grow than others, many of these plants are highly adaptable to a wide range of indoor growing conditions. Upon purchasing an orchid or receiving one as a gift, researching that species of orchid light requirements is essential. The overall health of the orchid and light are directly related. Orchid plants should always be situated within the home with available light sources in mind....

Passion Flower Vine Winter Care Wintering a passion flower plant isn’t that difficult. In fact, passion flower winter care doesn’t require a lot of effort if you bring them indoors. Over wintering passion flower plants can be done in total dormancy by putting the plants in a dark, cool place. You can also keep some in a cool place to go dormant but let them have some light, or bringing the Passiflora indoors during winter months can simply mean a change of location, allowing them to continue to bloom as if nothing changed....

Top Zone 7 Drought Tolerant Perennials Here are some of the best perennials tolerant of drought in zone 7: Purple Coneflower – Hardy in zone 4 and up, purple coneflower grows 2 to 4 feet tall (61 cm. to 1 m.). They like full sun to part shade. Their flowers last all summer long and are great for attracting butterflies. Yarrow – Yarrow comes in many varieties, but all are winter hardy in zone 7....

Plant Ideas for Containers The following container garden themes may pique your creativity. Grow a Pizza Container Garden If your family loves pizza, they’re bound to enjoy a pizza container garden. A large container works well for this theme, but you can still have fun with a smaller container too. Plants for a pizza garden can include herbs and veggies such as: Miniature roma tomatoesSmall onions or chivesSweet bell peppersOreganoParsleyBasil...

How to Grow Grocery Store Basil Potted grocery store basil plants are appealing for many reasons. With their lush foliage, one can’t help but begin to daydream about their use in his/her favorite recipes. However, though plants within these pots might look healthy and vibrant, all may not be what it seems. Upon closer inspection, gardeners will quickly notice that the pot actually contains several densely packed plants. Under these cramped conditions, it’s highly unlikely that the basil will continue to thrive once it has arrived home....

When to Divide a Tree Lily Bulb The best time to divide tree lily bulbs is in autumn, three to four weeks after blooming and, preferably, a few weeks before the first average frost date in your area, which allows time for the plant to establish healthy roots before the first cold snap. A cool, dry day is healthiest for the plant. Never divide lilies when the foliage is still green....

How to Propagate Peonies If you have been considering propagating peony plants, you should know there are some important steps to follow. The only way to multiply peony plants is to divide peonies. This might sound complicated, but it’s not. First, you need to use a sharp spade and dig around the peony plant. Be very careful not to damage the roots. You want to be sure to dig up as much of the root as possible....

Raised Garden Bed Soil What is the best soil for raised garden beds? As you might guess, the best soil type for raised beds depends entirely on what you intend to grow and won’t be the same in all situations. Some plants thrive on acidic soil, like blueberry bushes. Others prefer a soil with higher pH. This plant preference remains just as true in a raised bed situation as in a ground garden....

Ivy Plant Propagation Ivy plants have long trailing vines with multiple leaves growing along their lengths. Vines such as these are simple to cut and root, as long as you use the right cutting methods. One vine can be cut into multiple pieces and grown into new plants, turning one plant into a dozen. The secret to rooting ivy vines is in the cutting and care you give them during the rooting process....

How to Stop White Fungus on Soil The number one reason that white, fluffy fungus grows on your seed starting soil is high humidity. Most seed growing tips will suggest that you keep the humidity high over the soil until the seeds have fully germinated. Your seedling planter probably has a lid or cover that helps with this, or you have covered your indoor seed starting container with plastic. Sometimes this raises the humidity to a level that is too high and encourages the growth of this white, fluffy fungus....

Why Shoots on Asparagus are Thin Thin asparagus spears appear for a number of reasons, but the root cause is ultimately the same: the asparagus crown lacks the rigor to create bigger shoots. Depending on how old your asparagus is, it’s probably due to one of these reasons: Inappropriate Age – Very young and very old asparagus plants do not yield optimally; this is why it’s recommended to leave young plants unharvested for the first three years and to divide or replace any crowns over ten years of age....

About Variegated Song of India Dracaena The Song of India variety of dracaena (Dracaena reflexa ‘Variegata’), also known as pleomele, is native to islands in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. In the wild or in a garden with the right conditions, this dracaena will grow as tall as 18 feet (5.5 m.), with a spread out to eight feet (2.5 m.). Indoors, as a houseplant, you can keep this variety much smaller, and, in fact, they generally only grow to about three feet (1 m....

How to Use Spinach Spinach is great in salads, especially the young, tender leaves. Online recipes suggest a warm bacon or pomegranate vinaigrette dressing. Get creative with your family’s favorites. Add spinach to other greens or make the salad exclusively with spinach. Older leaves make a tasty stir-fry. Fresh spinach dip is another simple way of disguising the spinach. Quiche Lorraine is an easy main dish for lunch and supper. Most likely, the spinach will be disguised by the other ingredients....

Causes of Leggy Geranium Plants Most leggy growth on geraniums is the result of irregular pruning maintenance. Geraniums are naturally leggy, woody plants in the wild, but in our homes, we like them to be compact and bushy. In order to keep a geranium compact and bushy and prevent it from getting leggy, it needs to be pruned hard at least once a year. The more regularly you prune your geranium, the better able a geranium is able to keep a pleasing shape....

When to Divide Sweet Potatoes Sweet potatoes grow year-round in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 to 11, but in cooler climates, sweet potato tubers must be stored in a cool, dry area for the winter. Either way, spring is the best time for splitting sweet potatoes. Divide in-ground sweet potatoes as soon as new shoots measure 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm.). Divide winter-stored sweet potatoes as soon as you remove them from storage – after all danger of frost has passed....