What is Full Sun? Yes, this may seem an obvious question to some, but in fact, it is not. Many people think this means having sun all day; others feel that full sun is direct sunlight part of the day. For example, your garden might receive three to four hours of direct sun in the morning with a break in sunlight around lunchtime and then full sun for the remainder of the day....

If you are wondering when to pick macadamia nuts, you have to wait until they are ripe. The nuts ripen at different times depending on where you are and what type of tree you have. Even on one macadamia tree, the nuts don’t all ripen the same week or even the same month. Read on for more information about macadamia nut harvesting. When are Macadamia Nuts Ripe? So when are macadamia nuts ripe enough for picking?...

Growing Martha Washington Geraniums: Tips on Martha Washington Geranium Care Plant Martha Washington geranium plants in a hanging basket, window box, or large pot. The container should be filled with good quality commercial potting mix. You can also grow in a flower bed if your winters are mild but well-drained soil is essential. Dig a generous amount of compost or well-rotted manure into the soil before planting. Apply a thick layer of leaf mulch or compost to protect the roots from winter chill....

What makes cucumber skins tough? A tough cucumber skin is most likely the result of the variety of cucumber being grown. Of course, if the cucumber skin is too hard, it can always be peeled; but if you would rather grow fruit without a tough cucumber peel, keep reading. What Makes Cucumber Skins Tough? Cucumbers grown for eating fresh from the garden are of two kinds. There are cukes suited for growing in the greenhouse and those that are more suitable for growing outdoors....

Because of the positive mycorrhizal fungi effects on citrus, a lack or uneven spread of fungus can lead to unhealthy or lackluster trees and fruit. Keep reading to learn more about mycorrhiza in citrus and mycorrhizal fungi fertilizer. Uneven Growth of Citrus Fruit Mycorrhizal fungi grow in the soil and attach themselves to tree roots, where they thrive and spread. Citrus trees have especially short roots and root hairs, meaning they have less surface area for taking in water and nutrients....

Can Native Plants Become Invasive? A native plant can become invasive, even after years of growing it without any problems. Part of the confusion on this subject is the term invasive; it’s relative. A stand of fast-growing, out-competing goldenrod can potentially take over your garden, and you might call it invasive. Yet, in the meadow down the street, it’s just a natural part of the native landscape. Generally, we consider aggressive, non-native plants that out-compete native plants to be invasive, but there are conditions under which plants native to a certain area become a nuisance....

About Recycled Newspaper Pots Seed starter pots from newspaper are simple to make, plus starting seeds in newspaper is an environmentally friendly use of the material, as the paper will decompose when the seedlings in newspaper are transplanted. Recycled newspaper pots are fairly simple to make. They can be made in square shapes by cutting the newspaper to size and folding the corners in, or in a round shape by either wrapping cut newsprint around an aluminum can or folding....

Reasons for Non-Blooming Clematis Figuring out why a clematis is not blooming is the first step in fixing the issue. Fertilizer – Improper fertilization is often the reason for a non-blooming clematis. Usually, the problem isn’t lack of fertilizer, but too much, which may produce lush foliage and few blooms. As a general rule, clematis benefits from a handful of 5-10-10 fertilizer in the spring, along with a layer of compost....

Growing Orient Express cabbages is almost the same as growing regular cabbage, except the tender, crunchy cabbage ripens much faster and is ready to use in only three to four weeks. Plant this cabbage in early spring, then plant a second crop in late summer for harvest in fall. Orient Express Cabbage Care Loosen the soil in a spot where Orient Express Chinese cabbages are exposed to several hours of sunlight per day....

Tea Olive Cultivation Osmanthus bush uses revolve around the shrub’s scent. Plant it near windows, outdoor seating, and patios where you can enjoy the fragrance the most. Growing Osmanthus plants as a hedge creates a wall of fragrance. Passers-by will wonder at the source of the delightful fragrance, never suspecting the tiny little flowers on the Osmanthus shrub. Fragrant tea olives begin blooming in fall, and in warm climates, the blooms continue all winter....

Peony Tulip Information What are peony tulips? Peony tulips are a type of double late tulip. As the name implies, the large double blooms resemble that of peony flowers. These double-petaled blooms are known to last much longer in the garden than their single flowered counterparts. Their size, in combination with their fragrance, makes peony tulip flowers excellent for use in both landscaping and for use in cut flower arrangements. Additionally, container planted peony tulips look stunning when grown near front porches and in window boxes....

Performing a Semi-Hardwood Snap Test Plants are propagated by cuttings for several reasons. Asexual propagation, such as propagating plants by cuttings, allows the growers to get identical clones of the parent plant. With sexual propagation, also known as seed propagation, the resulting plants may be varied. Propagating with semi-hardwood cuttings also allows growers to get a sizeable, fruiting and flowering plant much more quickly than from seed propagation. There are three different types of stem cuttings: softwood, semi-hardwood, and hardwood cuttings....

Is Pineapple Sage Edible? The fragrance may lead one to wonder is pineapple sage edible? Indeed it is. Leaves of the pineapple sage plant may be steeped for teas and the minty-tasting blossoms can be used as an attractive garnish for salads and deserts. Leaves are best used fresh. Pineapple sage flowers may also be used in jelly and jam concoctions, potpourri, and other uses limited only by the imagination. Pineapple sage has long been used as a medicinal herb with antibacterial and antioxidant properties....

Plane Tree Information London plane trees grow wild in Europe and are increasingly cultivated in the United States. These are tall, sturdy, easy-grow trees that can get to 100 feet (30 m.) tall and 80 feet (24 m.) wide. The trunks of London plane trees are straight, while the spreading branches droop slightly, creating graceful ornamental specimens for large backyards. The leaves are lobed like stars. They are bright green and huge....

What is Full Shade? Full shade and full sun are the easiest of light categories to interpret when it comes to growing plants. Full shade basically means that the shade lasts all day long. Very little, if any, direct sunlight hits the plant at any time of the day. Sunnier areas of the yard or light-colored walls may reflect some sunlight into the shaded area, however, none of this is direct sunlight....

Distinguishing Red Bird of Paradise from Mexican Bird of Paradise Tree Known as Mexican bird of paradise (along with many other common names), the red bird of paradise (C. pulcherrima) is oftentimes confused with the actual Mexican bird of paradise tree (C. mexicana). While both species are considered shrubs or small trees and both are evergreen in frost-free regions and deciduous in others, they are two different plants. Unlike the red bird of paradise, the Mexican variety has bright yellow flowers with long red stamens....

How Do I Collect Sweet Pea Seeds? Old fashioned or heirloom sweet peas are charming and fragrant flowers. Choose an heirloom variety for saving seeds. Seeds saved from modern hybrids may prove a disappointment because they probably won’t look like the parent plants. If you plan to grow sweet peas in the same garden spot again next year, you don’t have to go to the trouble of saving seeds. As the seed pods dry, they pop open and drop their seeds to the ground....

Sea rocket information indicates that the plant is, indeed, edible and actually quite healthy and packed with nutrition. Sea rocket information is included in many foraging posts and guides online. Is Sea Rocket Edible? As a member of the crucifer or mustard family, the sea rocket plant is related to broccoli, cabbage, and Brussel sprouts. Sea rocket provides potassium, calcium, and a range of B vitamins, as well as beta-carotene and fiber....

What is a Self-Cleaning Rose? The term “self-cleaning” rose refers to the varieties of rose bushes that require no deadheading or pruning to clean up the old blooms and get them to bloom again. This also means that self-cleaning roses do not develop rose hips. Since these self-cleaning rose bushes do not develop rose hips, they start to bring forth another cycle of blooms just as soon as the previous blooms start to fade or drop petals....

Benne Seeds vs. Sesame Seeds Is there a difference between benne seeds and sesame seeds? Not a bit. Benne is simply the African name for sesame (Sesamum indicum). In fact, many plant historians believe benne was brought to the New World in slave ships. The name is largely a regional preference and sesame seeds are still known as benne in certain areas of the deep south. Benne Health Benefits Sesame seeds are a great source of minerals including copper, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, and selenium....