Yellow Wax Cherokee Beans Cherokee wax beans produce five to six inch (12-15 cm.) long yellow pods from 18 inch (46 cm.) tall bean bushes. The beans are delicious whether eaten fresh, frozen, or canned. Cherokee wax bean plants are warm season annuals that are ready for harvest in a little more than 50 days after germination. They produce a generous crop of beans that keep coming for two weeks or more....

Evergreen Trees for Zone 5 While there are many evergreens that grow in zone 5, here are some of the most favored choices for growing evergreens in zone 5 gardens: Arborvitae – Hardy down to zone 3, arborvitae is one of the more commonly planted evergreens in the landscape. Many sizes and varieties are available to suit any area or purpose. They are especially lovely as standalone specimens but make great hedges too....

Hardy Flowering Trees Selecting ornamental trees for zone 7 can be overwhelming, as there are literally tons that you could choose from. To make your selections easier, here are some of the more popular types of ornamental trees you may find suitable for this zone. Crabapple (Malus spp.) – Pink, white, or red flowers in spring, colorful fruit in summer, excellent color in shades of maroon, purple, gold, red, bronze, or yellow in autumn....

How Do Houseplants Benefit Humans? Did you know that houseplants can actually increase the humidity in our indoor air? This is especially important for those of us that live in drier climates, or that have forced air heating systems in our homes. Houseplants release moisture in the air by a process called transpiration. This can help our indoor air humidity stay at a healthier level. The more plants you have grouped together, the more your humidity will increase....

Can You Grow Apples in Zone 8? It is possible to grow apples in hot climates like zone 8, although the variety is considerably more limited than it is in cooler areas. In order to set fruit, apple trees need a certain number of “chill hours,” or hours during which the temperature is below 45 F. (7 C.) As a rule, many apple varieties need between 500 and 1,000 chill hours....

Are Calla Lilies Annual or Perennial? Many people treat their gift calla lilies as annuals. They receive a potted flower, or buy them for spring decorating, and then toss it when the blooms are done. In truth, though, calla lilies are perennials, and you can actually save your potted plant and watch it bloom again next year. Will calla lilies come back? It depends on how you treat your plant and where you put it for the winter....

With these attributes in mind, it is easy to see why many growers may have cause for alarm when their previously healthy begonia plants begin to show signs of distress, such as leaf spots on begonia. What Causes Begonia Leaf Spot? Leaf spots of begonia are caused by a pathogen called Xanthomonas. Among the first signs and symptoms that growers may notice when dealing with leaf spot on begonia is the appearance of darkened spots or “water soaked” leaves....

About Bougainvillea Colors First, note that the flowers you describe on bougainvillea are actually bracts, not petals. The true flowers are tucked inside these leaf-like structures that come in bright colors. The bract color for bougainvillea may come in various shades of pink, red, purple, yellow, and white. And, yes, they can change color without warning. Why Did My Bougainvillea Turn Colors? There are a number of reasons that could explain why your bougainvillea changed color....

What are Cabbage Palms? Cabbage palms are capable of reaching heights of 90 feet (30 m.) or more in the wild, but in cultivation they usually grow only 40 to 60 feet (12-20 m.) tall. The tree’s 18 to 24 inch (45-60 cm.) wide trunk is topped by a rounded canopy of long fronds. It isn’t usually considered a good shade tree, but clusters of cabbage palms can provide moderate shade....

Can You Eat Fava Bean Leaves? Most growers of fava beans probably never even thought about eating the tops of broad bean plants, but it turns out that, yes, broad bean leaves (aka: greens) are, indeed, edible. The wonders of fava beans! Not only does the plant provide nutritious beans and amend the soil with nitrogen, but the fava greens are edible and absolutely delicious too. Eating the Tops of Broad Beans Fava beans are cool-season veggies that are extremely versatile....

Can You Grow Sugarcane in Pots? You may have seen fields of sugarcane in photos growing in Hawaii or other tropical locations and longed to try growing a little yourself. If you don’t live in a hot climate, try container-grown sugarcane. Can you grow sugarcane in pots? Yes, you can, and this makes it possible to have a mini-sugar plantation no matter where you live. The secret is growing the canes in containers....

Mock Orange Plants Though it’s not a true orange, its name supposedly derives from the fragrant white flowers which in some varieties are thought to resemble that of orange blossoms. While the blooming of this lovely shrub is short (only about a week or two), you can still enjoy the dark green foliage of mock orange plants. Mock orange bushes come in many varieties, ranging in height from 4 to 8 feet (1-2 m....

Should I Prune Catnip? Catnip will grow well in almost any soil but prefers a moderately rich loam that is well-draining. This herb prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Water young plants twice a week but as they establish, reduce watering to once a week depending upon weather conditions. Really, that’s about it with regards to caring for these herbs, with the exception of pruning catnip plants. If you’re asking, “When should I prune catnip?...

Are Catnip and Catmint the Same? It can be easy to mistake these two plants as simply different names for the same thing, but they are, in fact, different plants. Both are part of the mint family and both belong to the Nepeta genus – catnip is Nepeta cataria and catmint is Nepeta mussinii. Here are some other differences and similarities between the two plants: Catnip has a weedier appearance, while catmint is often used as a pretty, flowering perennial in beds....

Many familiar vegetables such as asparagus, squash, carrots, garlic and spinach also have wild relatives. In fact, most domestic plants have at least one wild relative. Crop wild relatives often don’t taste as good as domestic crops, and they may not appear as appetizing. However, they have traits that make them important. Let’s learn more about the usefulness of crop wild relatives. Importance of Crop Wild Relatives Why are crop wild relatives important?...

Gardening with Sharp Leaved Plants When it comes to plants that have sharp edges, many gardeners may immediately think of plants like succulents and cacti. Though these plants are better suited to drier regions, they can thrive in most places, as long as the proper growing conditions are provided. If these plants are not ideal for your yard, however, many other sharp leaved plants are available in the form of palms and ornamental grasses....

What to Do in the Upper Midwest in December – Maintenance It’s cold outside and winter has begun, but you can still get in some garden maintenance work. Take advantage of days that are unseasonably warm to do tasks like fence repair or work on your shed and tools. Take care of perennial beds by adding mulch if you haven’t yet. This will help protect against frost heaving. Keep evergreens healthy and whole by knocking down heavy snow that threatens to break branches....

Digger Bee Information: Facts on Bees in the Ground Female adult digger bees live underground, where they build a nest about 6 inches (15 cm.) deep. Within the nest, they prepare a chamber with plenty of pollen and nectar to sustain the larvae. Male digger bees don’t help with this project. Instead, their job is to tunnel to the surface of the soil before the females emerge in spring. They spend their time flying around, waiting to create the next generation of digger bees....

Dill Plant Types So what are some different varieties of dill? There aren’t too many varieties of dill, but here are some notable types: Bouquet is probably the most popular variety, grown for its fragrant leaves and seeds that are used in both cooking and pickling. Long Island and Mammoth are also both very popular, largely because they grow so tall. Both can reach five feet (1.5 m) in height and are excellent for pickling....

What is Guava Thinning? Guava thinning is the strategic removal of some fruits before they reach maturity. This practice allows the tree to expend the same amount of energy on developing fewer fruits, which results in them growing much larger. It also gives them more space to grow, improving air circulation and cutting down on disease and pests. Do Guavas Need to be Thinned? Should I thin my guavas? Guava thinning isn’t strictly necessary....