Mayhaw Propagation Growing new mayhaws can be achieved by seed or cuttings. •Growing New Mayhaws by Seed Some people have good luck planting mayhaw seeds directly outdoors, but experts provide the following information: Gather mayhaw fruit in fall, when they’re mature but not fully ripe. Soak the mayhaws in warm water for a few days to loosen the pulp, then place the clean seeds in a container filled with damp sand....

Why Won’t My Naranjilla Fruit? Producing fruits commonly referred to as “little oranges,” these edible members of the Solanaceae family are native to South America. Prized for its use in desserts and flavored drinks, the naranjilla plant produces small, orange-yellow fruits on upright shrubs. Though it is possible to purchase the plants online, naranjilla plants are most commonly propagated by growth from seed. When grown from seed, plants may begin to bear fruit in as little as nine months from planting....

What is a Fluted Pumpkin? Nigerian fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) is commonly called Ugu, and is widely cultivated throughout West Africa for both its seeds and young leaves. Ugu is an herbaceous perennial native to Southern parts of Africa. Like pumpkins, Nigerian fluted pumpkins creep along the ground and clamber up structures with the aid of tendrils. More commonly, growing fluted pumpkins occurs with the aid of a wooden structure. Additional Info about Fluted Pumpkins Nigerian fluted pumpkins have broad lobed leaves that are nutrient rich....

About Pansy Plants Learning how to grow pansies can guarantee color in the flower bed where none may have existed. Pansy plants are members of the Viola family, originating from the small and delicate variety known as Johnny-Jump Up. Include a few of the original violas in the landscape with pansies for a fine and frilly texture in your beds. Today’s hybrid versions of pansy plants are more adaptable to heat than those of the past with larger blooms displayed with more vigor....

When to Pick Pawpaws Pawpaw picking season varies depending upon the cultivar and the location they are being grown. Generally, you would begin harvesting pawpaw fruit in midsummer through the first frost. Don’t rush pawpaw picking season! Leave the fruit on the tree until it softens for maximum flavor. As to how long you will be harvesting pawpaw fruit, again, it depends on the cultivar, location, and weather conditions. Harvest may only last a few days or up to a month....

Though the notion of giving seeds to gardeners is simple, there are a few important aspects to keep in mind before wrapping this considerate gift. Seed Garden Gift Info Seed garden gifts are ideal for many reasons. Most avid growers are likely to be filled with excitement at the mere thought of growing something new, especially when given to them as a present. When it comes to buying seed, gift ideas can vary greatly and can include additional garden related items....

What is Potato Wilt? Verticillium wilt, also known as potato wilt, is a fungal disease that can be caused by either Verticillium dahliae or Verticillium alboratrum. Both of these fungi can survive in the soil, in infected plant parts, and seed pieces for a long time. In fact, Verticillium dahliae has been found to remain in soil for up to seven years. Wilt can result in a reduction in tuber size and stem-end discoloration....

Although the plant is easy to grow, saffron is the most expensive of all spices. To obtain saffron, the stigmas must be handpicked, contributing to the preciousness of this spice. Crocus plants can be grown in the garden or you can put this crocus bulb in containers. Growing Saffron Crocus Flowers in the Garden Growing saffron outdoors requires soil that drains well and a sunny or partly sunny location. Plant the crocus bulbs about 3 inches (8 cm....

Chalice Vine Trimming Chalice vines produce huge, golden, bell-shaped flowers, each one up to 10 inches (25.5 cm.) long, with thick, leathery petals. The evergreen foliage is also heavy, each leaf some 6 inches (15 cm.) long. The vine grows fast in any soil with good drainage. As it gets longer, it can smother entire fences and weight down pergolas with vines that run to hundreds of feet. Chalice vine trimming may be the only way to keep the plant from becoming the garden bully....

What are Quinault Strawberries? The Quinault strawberry is a cultivar that was selected for its ability to produce two harvests per year: in the late spring or early summer and again in the fall. They produce abundantly during these two seasons, but may also produce a little bit of fruit throughout the summer. The Quinault strawberry is named for an area of Washington, and it was developed by researchers at Washington State University....

Eryngium Rattlesnake Master Info Eryngium rattlesnake master is an herbaceous perennial, growing in tall grass prairies and open wooded places, where it’s golf ball-shaped blooms (called capitulas) appear atop tall stalks. These are densely covered with tiny white to pinkish flowers from midsummer through autumn. Foliage is often a greenish blue tint, and the plant may reach 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) in growth. Use rattlesnake master in native or woodland gardens, planted singly or in masses....

June Planting in the Ohio Valley Late springs coupled with cool temperatures or copious amounts of rain can delay Ohio Valley planting. If these vegetable crops didn’t make it into the ground in May, there’s still time to add them to Ohio Valley gardens in early June: BeansBrussels SproutsCabbage (Late varieties)CeleryCornEggplantNew Zealand SpinachOkraPeppersTomatillosTomatoes In areas where squash bugs and cucumber beetles are problematic, delaying Ohio Valley planting of cucurbits can curb destructive populations of these insects....

Reverend Morrow’s Tomato Plant Info Reverend Morrow’s Long Keeper tomatoes are determinate tomatoes that grow into stand-up bushes, not vines. The fruit ripens in 78 days, at which time their skin turns a golden orange-red. They are also known as Reverend Morrow’s heirloom tomatoes. Whatever name you choose to use, these long keeper tomatoes have one principal claim to fame: the incredible length of time they stay fresh in storage. Reverend Morrow’s tomato plants produce tomatoes that keep for 6 to 12 weeks over winter....

While root lesion nematode management is difficult, there are things that may help keep the pests in check. Read on to learn how to prevent lesion nematodes. Root Lesion Nematode Information Root lesion nematodes spread rapidly in contaminated soil. The pests, which damage plants by puncturing the cells, are active when the soil is wet, becoming dormant when conditions are dry. Affected plants aren’t always killed, but their ability to absorb moisture and nutrients from the soil is significantly reduced....

Shelling Pea Information – What are Shelling Peas? The term ‘shelling peas’ refers to varieties of pea that require the pea to be removed from the pod or shell prior to use. Though shelling peas are one of the most popular types of pea plant in which to grow, they are often referred to by many other names. These common names include English peas, garden peas, and even sweet peas. The name sweet peas is especially problematic as true sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are a toxic ornamental flower and are not edible....

Soapweed Yucca Information The Native Americans of the Great Plains valued soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca), using it for aches and pains, sprains, inflammations, and also to staunch bleeding. The roots were used as a laxative and the soapy juice was an effective treatment for poison ivy and other minor skin irritations. The stout fibers were incorporated into sandals, baskets, brooms, and whips. Soapweed yucca, with a taproot of up to 20 feet (7 m....

About Southern Blight of Potatoes Southern blight is a fungal infection that can affect multiple types of vegetables but which is commonly seen in potatoes. The fungus that causes the infection is called Sclerotium rolfsii. This fungus lives in the soil in masses called sclerotia. If there is a host plant nearby and conditions are right, the fungus will germinate and spread. Signs of Potato Southern Blight Because the fungus survives as sclerotia in the soil, it begins to infest plants right at the soil line....

Creating a Living Succulent Wall A wall that appears to be only plant material is enjoying success in many commercial landscapes and even indoors. Succulent wall displays in or around businesses are usually maintained through hydroponics (water growth) and often too pricey and complicated for the home gardener. However, there are plans for succulent wall planters growing in traditional soil situations that are simple and affordable. Sometimes a handmade shelf with several levels is built from wood....

Should I Fertilize Sunflowers? Like any plant in the home landscape, deciding how and when to begin feeding sunflower plants will be largely dependent on conditions in the garden. Whether growing sunflowers commercially or in a small row in the backyard, these plants will require ample nutrients. In fact, sunflowers are known to be extremely heavy feeders throughout the growing season. While it is possible to grow them without feeding sunflower plants, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and a wide range of micronutrients will all need to be present in the soil in order to obtain the best results....

What is a Swamp Azalea? Swamp azalea is also known as swamp honeysuckle and clammy azalea, the latter because the flowers secrete a substance that makes them moist. The flowers bloom well after the leaves have appeared and may be white or pink. This is a deciduous wetland shrub that thrives in moist soils and tolerates periodic flooding. Swamp azalea growth can be as much as 12 feet (3.6 meters) wide and up to about five feet (1....