Kale, like many cabbage crops, is a cool season vegetable. As such, it is beneficial for the flavor to have a frost before harvesting kale. Planting at the right time will allow the plant to be of optimum picking size after frost. Baby kale leaves may be ready for harvest in as little as 25 days after planting but larger leaves will take longer. When to pick kale will depend on the use planned for the leafy green....

What is Hedge Cotoneaster? Hardy in zones 3 through 6, hedge cotoneaster (Cotoneaster lucidus) is native to areas of Asia, specifically in the Altai Mountain regions. Hedge cotoneaster is a more rounded upright plant than the very common wide, sprawling cotoneaster that most of us are familiar with. Due to its dense, upright habit and its tolerance of shearing, hedge cotoneaster is oftentimes used for hedging (hence the name), privacy screens, or shelter belts....

Eliminating Bulb Plants The first thing you will have to do when trying to remove bulbs from garden areas is to put a black plastic covering over the bulbs during growing season. This will block out all the sunlight and will prevent bulbs from growing. In the fall, dig out the unwanted bulbs. If any of the plants are above ground, you can pull them out, but this might leave some roots and sections of the bulb underground....

Planting Corn Indoors Start with corn seed. If you are growing corn indoors, it’s probably a good idea to plant a dwarf variety of corn such as: Miniature Hybrid Golden Midget Early Sunglow When indoor corn growing, the corn plants will be relying entirely on you for nutrients. Add plenty of composted manure or fertilizer to the soil for growing corn in containers. Corn is a heavy feeder and will need it to grow well....

Planting Lingonberry Fruit in Pots Lingonberry plants, just like blueberries, need highly acidic soil to grow. This is why, just like with blueberries, growing lingonberries in containers is ideal. Rather than trying to amend the soil in your garden that is almost certainly too high in pH, you can mix up just the right level in a pot. The best pH for lingonberries is right around 5.0. A soil mixture that’s very high in peat moss is best....

How to Ripen Squash Using a sharp, sterile knife, go ahead and remove all the squash fruits from their vines, leaving an inch or two (2.5-5 cm.) of stem on each one. Gently and thoroughly wash them in mild soap and water and rinse them well. Also, a great way to make sure they don’t carry any mold or bacteria into the ripening process is to dip them into some cool water that has a bit of bleach....

What is a Sport in the Plant World? A sport in the plant world is a genetic mutation that results from a faulty chromosomal replication. The results of the mutation are a segment of the plant that is distinctly different from the parent plant in both appearance (phenotype) and genetics (genotype). The genetic change is not a result of unusual growing conditions; it is an accident, a mutation. In many cases the new trait can be handed down to the organism’s offspring....

How to Grow Aucuba Shrubs Aucuba plant care is easy if you select a good location. Here is a list of ideal aucuba growing conditions: Shade. Deeper shade means brighter leaf color. Plants tolerate partial shade, but leaves turn black if they get too much sun. Mild temperatures. Japanese aucuba plants survive winters in USDA plant hardiness zones 7b through 10. Well-drained soil. The ideal soil is moist with a high organic content, but the plants tolerate almost any soil, including heavy clay, as long as it is well-drained....

Native to Southeast Asia, java fern attaches itself to rocks or other porous surfaces in rivers and streams where the strong roots keep the plant from being washed away in the current. Interested in growing java fern for aquariums? Read on for basic information on growing this interesting plant. Planting Java Fern in a Fish Tank There are several varieties of java fern for aquariums, including Windilov, Needle Leaf, Fern Trident, and Narrow Leaf....

What is Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate Plant? Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate (Polygonum orientale or Persicaria orientale) used to be very popular in the U.S. Originally from China, it was a particular favorite of Thomas Jefferson. As time went on and the popularity of compact, easily transplanted flowers grew, the kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate flower fell out of favor. It’s making a comeback now though, as more gardeners are learning about its benefits. Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate Info Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate is a very fast-growing annual that self-seeds in the fall....

Common Types of Lily of the Valley Common lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) has dark green leaves, tops out at about 10 inches (25 cm.) in height, and produces small, extremely fragrant, white flowers. As long as it’s contained from taking over the garden, you can’t go wrong with this variety. There are, however, a large number of interesting cultivars that set themselves apart. Other Kinds of Lily of the Valley Plants Lily of the valley doesn’t necessarily mean white flowers anymore....

What is Geranium Rust? Geranium rust is a disease caused by the fungus Puccinia Pelargonii-zonalis. It originated in South Africa, but over the course of the 20th century, it spread throughout the world, reaching the continental United States in 1967. It is now a serious problem for geraniums worldwide, particularly in greenhouses where quarters are close and humidity is high. Geranium Leaf Rust Symptoms Rust on a geranium begins as small, pale yellow circles on the underside of the leaves....

Mandevilla plants in winter survive the season in fine shape if you live in a tropical climate that falls within the temperature ranges of USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and above. However, if you live in a more northern climate, planting the vine in a container is the best way to go. This tropical plant won’t tolerate temperatures below 45 to 50 degrees F. (7-10 C.) and must be wintered indoors....

Increasing Humidity of Boston Ferns There are several ways of increasing the humidity of Boston ferns and creating the ideal Boston fern indoor air. The easiest way to increase Boston fern humidity is to place the plant in a humid environment. In most homes, this means a kitchen or a bathroom with a window or a fluorescent light. However, Boston ferns tend to be large plants, so this isn’t always a practical solution for improving Boston fern humidity....

Squash Vine Borer Life Cycle As the saying goes “know your enemy,” so it is true when thinking about squash vine borer prevention. Squash vine borers can be found throughout North America east of the Rockies, from Canada to South America. While they do most damage to squash and pumpkins, signs of infestation may occur in cucumbers and melons as well. This borer overwinters as either a pupa or larva under the soil....

However, when it comes to plant pruning, many questions arise as to what is old wood and what is new wood? Distinguishing between old and new wood is crucial in understanding the correct wood pruning methods for your plants. What is Old Wood? Spring flowering shrubs such as forsythia bloom on last year’s stems, which are known as old wood. The best time to prune these types of plants is right after they bloom....

Planting Petunias in Hanging Baskets Petunias are perfect for locations exposed to full sunlight. Look for cascading petunias, which include any variety that produces flowers on long, flowing stems. Planting petunias in hanging baskets is a cinch, as long as you use a sturdy container with at least one drainage hole. Fill the container with a lightweight commercial potting mix, which will promote healthy drainage. Never use garden soil, which quickly becomes compacted and too heavy for proper drainage....

Pomegranate Tree Propagation If you’ve ever eaten a pomegranate, you know that the center contains hundreds of crunchy seeds, each in its own fleshy covering. The trees propagate readily from seeds, but there is no guarantee that the new trees will resemble the mother tree. Fortunately, there are other methods of pomegranate tree propagation, like using pomegranate tree cuttings. If you are propagating pomegranate trees from cuttings, you get a tree of the same species and cultivar as the parent....

Post Bloom Grape Hyacinth Care You really don’t want seeds to set on those grape hyacinth after flowering. The plant doesn’t need seeds and setting seeds depletes its energy supply. So that means grape hyacinth after flowering needs a trim. As soon as the flowers fade, trim them back with pruners or garden scissors. Remove the small flowers from the stem by running your fingers from just beneath the flower cluster to the tip of the blossom....

About Amaryllis Plants Amaryllis is a perennial bulb but isn’t very hardy. It will grow outdoors as a perennial only in zones 8-10. In cooler climates, this pretty flower is generally grown as a houseplant, with a forced winter blooming. If you thought that one winter bloom was all you would get from your plant, though, consider repotting amaryllis to get many years of lovely flowers. When to Repot an Amaryllis Many people get an amaryllis in the winter, around the holidays, and sometimes as a gift....