Basil is one of the warm season herbs that are classics in summertime cooking. The plant requires plenty of sun and heat but basil can be grown indoors by a southern window for convenience. There are many varieties of basil, adding a twist on the plant’s flavor in essences of citrus, licorice, cinnamon, and spice. Flies on Basil The intense scent and oil in basil and many other herbs are often used to deter common household pests....

Caring for Blue Poppies – Blue Poppy Info Blue Himalayan poppy (Meconopsis betonicifolia) looks just like you might expect, like a poppy but in a striking shade of cool blue. These perennials grow tall, 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) in height and have hairy leaves like other types of poppies. The blooms are large and deep blue to purple in color. While they do resemble other poppies, these plants are not true poppies at all....

Using Blue Star Creeper as a Lawn Blue star creeper ground cover (Isotoma fluviatilis) is a no-fuss plant that works well as a lawn substitute. It is also more than happy to fill in gaps between stepping stones, under shrubbery, or over your spring-blooming bulbs. At a height of only 3 inches (7.5 cm.), blue star creeper lawns require no mowing. The plant withstands heavy foot traffic and tolerates full sun, partial shade, or full shade....

Facts About Chinkapin Trees Chinkapins are native to this country, growing naturally in the wild from New England to the Mexican border. As part of the group of white oaks, they bear very pale, white bark. Their trunks can grow to 3 feet (1 m.) in diameter. Chinkapins are not small trees, growing to 80 feet (24 m.) in the wild and 50 feet (15 m.) tall when cultivated. The breadth of the open, rounded canopy tends to approximate the height of the tree....

Will Squash Grow in Pots? Many cultivars of cucumbers, peppers, peas, leaf crops, tomatoes, and squash can be grown in pots. Contrary to what you might think, these plants will produce just as much fruit in a container as they do in the ground, as long as you pick a suitable variety and provide the care that they need. Squash Varieties for Container Gardening There are a number of varieties of squash that are appropriate for container gardening....

Hardy Hibiscus vs. Tropical Hibiscus Although the flowers may be similar, hardy hibiscus plants are very different from the fussy, tropical hothouse plants available in floral shops and grown indoors. Hardy hibiscus is a non-tropical plant that tolerates punishing winters as far north as USDA plant hardiness zone 4 (with protection), while tropical hibiscus won’t survive outdoors north of zone 9. Tropical hibiscus is available in single or double blooms in colors that include salmon, peach, orange or yellow....

Celeste Fig Tree Info What is a Celeste fig? The Celeste fig tree produces fruit that is medium in size and has light brown to purple skin and bright pink flesh. The flesh is very sweet, and it’s popular eaten fresh as a dessert fruit. In fact, it is also referred to as “sugar fig” on account of its sweetness. This fig is also a good processing fruit and is frequently used for both preserves and drying....

Can Charcoal Be Composted? Many commercial compost bins and buckets come with an activated charcoal filter in the lid, which helps to neutralize odors. As a general rule, activated and horticultural charcoal can safely be incorporated into compost, and small amounts will help to neutralize unpleasant odors. However, charcoal from barbecue briquettes or your fireplace charcoal ashes in compost should be used sparingly, as too much can raise the pH level of the compost beyond the desired level of 6....

Flower Wilt on Christmas Cactus Christmas cactus bloom wilt is often caused by excessively dry soil. Be careful and don’t over-correct, as watering a Christmas cactus can be tricky and too much moisture may cause more serious problems, such as stem or root rot, which are usually deadly. For most of the year, you shouldn’t water the plant until the soil feels slightly dry, and then water deeply so the entire root ball is saturated....

Plants That Grow In Cold Weather What are cool season crops? Cool season crops germinate in cold soil and mature with cool weather and short periods of daylight, meaning they are perfect for planting in early spring. Pea, onion, and lettuce seeds will germinate as low as 35 degrees F. (1 C.), meaning they can go in the ground as soon as it is unfrozen and workable. Most other cold weather food crops will germinate in soil as cold as 40 degrees F....

When to Prune Lithodora When discussing when to prune lithodora plants, there are quite a few considerations. Pruning lithodora plants can happen at different times throughout the season. While trimming and rejuvenation are most likely to occur in the early season, the removal of overgrown plant matter in late winter will also be important in maintaining quality plants. Since the plant is an evergreen, lithodora trimming is common in the early spring, just as winter has ended....

Earliana Plant Info The tomato ‘Earliana’ variety is a longstanding member of the American seed catalog. It was first developed in the 19th century by George Sparks in Salem, New Jersey. Legend has it that Sparks grew the variety from a single sport plant he found growing in a field of Stone variety tomatoes. Earliana was released commercially in 1900 by the Philadelphia seed company Johnson and Stokes. At the time, it was the earliest producing variety of tomato available....

Irish Mint Echeveria Info What is an Irish Mint succulent? An echeveria cultivar, Irish Mint is the resulting offspring of Echeveria derenbergii and Echeveria runyonii ‘Topsy Turvy.’ The plant can be identified by its bright mint green leaves that have a distinct tubular shape and grow in an upswept pattern. It tends to grow to about 6 inches (15 cm.) in height. Like most echeveria plants, it will readily produce pups that can be separated and started as their own plants....

About Colletotricum Fruit Rot This fungal infection is caused by a species called Colletotrichum melongenae. The disease is also known as anthracnose fruit rot, and it is prevalent in temperate and sub-tropical climates. The infection usually strikes in fruits that are overly ripe or that are weakened in some other way. Warm and humid conditions especially favor the infection and its spread. So, what do eggplants with Colletotrichum rot look like?...

What Causes Eggplant Yellows? Tobacco ringspot virus is often called yellows when it infects eggplants. This is because the symptoms include yellowing of the leaves and eventually of the entire plant if the infection is severe. Although tobacco ringspot virus is named after tobacco, it can affect a lot of different plants that may grow in your vegetable garden, including: Tomatoes Potatoes Cucumbers Peppers Eggplant The virus is spread by dagger nematodes, but infected seeds and plant debris also contribute to the spread of the disease....

Facts about Flying Duck Orchids The complex flowers have evolved to attract male sawflies, which are tricked into thinking the plants are female sawflies. The insects are actually trapped by the “beak” of the plant, forcing the unsuspecting sawfly to pass through the pollen as it exits from the trap. Although the sawfly may not intend to be a pollinator for flying duck orchid plants, it plays a critical role in the survival of this orchid....

How to Force Tulip Bulbs Forcing tulips starts with choosing tulips bulbs to force. Tulips are commonly not sold “ready to force” so you most likely will need to prepare them. In the early fall, when spring bulbs are being sold, purchase some tulip bulbs for forcing. Make sure that they are firm and do not have any blemishes. Keep in mind that larger tulip bulbs will result in larger tulip flowers....

Keep reading for some helpful tips on forget-me-not houseplant care. Growing Forget-Me-Nots Inside Plant annual forget-me-nots by seed or purchase small plants at a garden center. You can also start cuttings from established plants in midsummer. Place indoor forget-me-nots in containers filled with fresh potting mix. Be sure the pot has a hole in the bottom, as the plants will rot without adequate drainage. One plant per container is best for growing forget-me-nots inside, as the plants need plenty of air circulation....

Kits for Edible Countertop Growing Kits work well for new gardeners as well as seasoned pros, indoors or out. When outdoor growing becomes an impossibility, look no further than countertop growing kits ideal for kitchens and windowsills. Here are some options for gifting kits to grow food. Herb and vegetable kits seem to be the biggest demand, but you can even find mushroom growing kits and, well, edible chrysanthemum greens. Pricing runs the gamut from low to high, so gift giving is easy....

Gourmet Pear Info Gourmet pear trees are medium in size, growing 15 to 20 feet (4.5-6 m.) tall and spreading 8 to 15 feet (2-4.5 m.). These pears are hardy in zones 4 through 8, so they can be grown throughout most of the upper Midwest, the plains states, the Rocky Mountain region into the southeastern states, and New England. The fruit of the Gourmet pear tree is medium with skin that is mostly yellow when ripe but with a tinge of green left....