Side Shoots on Broccoli Once the main head has been harvested, lo and behold, the plant will begin growing broccoli side shoots. Harvesting broccoli plant side shoots should be done in the same manner as harvesting the main head, and side shoots on broccoli are just as delicious. There is no need to grow a special type of broccoli for side shoot harvesting. Pretty much all varieties form broccoli plant side shoots....

Mosaic Virus Symptoms Squash mosaic virus is usually apparent from the earliest leaves, since this disease is frequently seed-borne. As susceptible plants mature, symptoms can all but disappear, making diagnosis difficult, but early leaves are typically distorted or mottled. Although an older plant can appear more or less normal, mosaic disease of squash causes reduced vigor, poor branching and mottling of maturing fruits. More obvious cases of squash mosaic virus include symptoms like infected leaves that cup upward or develop irregular patterns of dark and light coloration....

Symptoms of Corn with High Plains Virus Symptoms of high plains virus of sweet corn vary widely, but may include weakened root systems, stunted growth and yellowing of the leaves, sometimes with yellow streaks and flecks. Reddish purple discolorations or wide yellow bands are often seen on mature leaves. The bands turn tan or pale brown as the tissue dies. Sweet corn high plains disease is transmitted by the wheat curl mite – tiny wingless mites that are carried from field to field on air currents....

How to Grow Sweet Onions The key to successful sweet onion growth is giving the plants enough time to form really large bulbs. The best way to do this is to plant them in late summer or early autumn and let them grow through the winter. This means sweet onion plants grow best in climates that have mild winters. The most popular sweet onion plants for winter growing are called short-day onions, a variety that still grows well during the short days of winter....

Gardening on a Fire Escape There’s one big question that needs to be addressed first: Is fire escape gardening legal? That really depends upon your city, though the answer may very well be no. Many gardeners who show off their fire escape gardens online acknowledge that they’re not following the letter of the law, but they always make sure to leave a path wide enough for people to pass in the event of a fire....

What is Begonia Pythium Rot? You may have never heard of begonia stem and root rot. If your begonias are infected, you’ll likely want to know more about it. This is a disease caused by the fungal-like organism Pythium ultimum. This organism lives in the soil and can subsist there for long periods of time. It is likely to become active when the ground is very wet and the weather is cool....

Powdery Mildew Fungus on Trees Powdery mildew attacks many plants, and trees with powdery mildew are no exception. Trees can be infected by different fungi. Most powdery mildew fungus on trees release overwintering spores when conditions are moist. Moist conditions are also necessary for the spores to germinate and infect a tree. Once a tree is infected, however, the fungus grows well without humidity. Preventing and Treating Powdery Mildew on Trees Trees with powdery mildew are not usually damaged seriously by the fungus, but fruit trees are the exception....

In this article we will take a look at the fullness of blooms when it comes to rose bushes. One attribute of roses that is often not thought about is how big or full a rose blossom will be. Roses of varying fullness each have their own appeal but knowing how full the rose you choose to grow will be means that you will have a better idea of what the rose blossoms on that rose bush will look like....

Pennsylvania Zones – Understanding Plant Hardiness One of the first things that any new gardener should do is find where he or she lives on the Pennsylvania USDA plant hardiness map. Click on the map above to enlarge it and find your plant hardiness zone. Plant hardiness, as defined by the USDA, refers to the hardiness of a particular species to tolerate average extreme winter low temperatures. Winter temperature data for the 2012 map was collected from thousands of weather stations all over the country over a period of thirty years....

How to Grow Paula Red Apples Paula Red apple growing is relatively straightforward as long as suitable pollinating partners are nearby. This apple variety is semi-sterile and will need a neighboring crabapple or other apple pollinizer like Pink Lady, Russet or Granny Smith. This medium sized red fruit is harvested quite early, mid-August to September, and is hardy to zones 4a-4b, from at least 86 to -4 F. (30 C. to -20 C....

What are Hardwood Trees? The term “hardwood tree” is a botanical grouping of trees with similar characteristics. Hardwood tree characteristics apply to many of the tree species in this country. The trees have broad leaves rather than needle-like leaves. They produce a fruit or nut, and often go dormant in the winter. America’s forests contain hundreds of different hardwood tree species. In fact, about 40 percent of American trees are in the hardwood category....

What Causes Papaya Stem Rot? Stem rot on papaya trees is a syndrome rather than a specific disease, and it has been known to be caused by a number of different pathogens. These include Phytophthora palmivora, Fusarium solani, and multiple species of Pythium. These are all fungi that infect the tree and induce symptoms. Papaya Stem Rot Symptoms Stem rot, no matter the cause, tends to affect young trees the most, particularly when they have recently been transplanted....

Becoming familiar with the common concerns of growing vinca will help growers keep their planting looking vibrant and beautiful throughout the summer season. One of the most frequent issues involving this plant is related to vinca leaves changing color. If your vinca is turning yellow, one or more issues may be the cause. While a yellowing vinca plant does not necessarily indicate disease, it is possible. Causes of Yellowing Vinca Plant Yellow vinca leaves can be caused by a large range of environmental factors....

What is a Japanese Red Pine? Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) is an evergreen conifer native to Japan. In the wild, it can reach up to 100 feet (30.5 m.) in height, but in landscapes, it tends to top out between 30 and 50 feet (9-15 m.). Its dark green needles measure 3 to 5 inches (7.5-12.5 cm.) and grow up out of the branches in tufts. In the spring, male flowers are yellow and female flowers are yellow to purple....

What is Rice Bacterial Leaf Blight? Bacterial leaf blight in rice is a destructive bacterial disease that was first observed in 1884-1885 in Japan. It is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. It is present in rice cropping regions of Asia, Africa, Australia, Latin America and the Caribbean and very rarely in the United States (Texas). Symptoms of Rice with Bacterial Leaf Blight The first signs of rice with bacterial leaf blight are water-soaked lesions at the edges and towards the tip of leaf blades....

You’ll find many types of basil available in commerce. One heirloom variety you might want to try is basil Serata (Ocimum basilicum ‘Serata’). Read on for lots of Serata basil information, including tips on how to grow Serata basil in your herb garden. What is Serata Basil? Basil is a popular garden herb and a favorite of gardeners since it is so easy to grow. All annual basil varieties thrive during the warm season and require a sunny location in the garden....

What is Whorled Pennywort? Whorled pennywort plants have thread-like stems and disk-shaped leaves. They are similar in size to a half dollar. They are aquatic plants, perfect for adding in the wet areas near bodies of water. These plants sometimes provide food for birds and pond dwellers such as fish, amphibians, and ducks. Plants may grow into a bush. Stems can reach about 10 inches (25 cm.) in height, but most are shorter....

Types of Trowels In general, a trowel refers to any small handheld tool with a specialized blade. Most gardeners are already familiar with traditional garden trowels, which are used for digging. However, several other kinds of trowel do exist for use in the garden, each with uniquely shaped parts that help us efficiently perform various tasks. Though you may not feel a need for the addition of these more specialized tools, strong well-constructed trowels can prove to be an invaluable asset over the span of their use in the garden....

Reasons for Brown Leaves on Houseplants Houseplants are special because they’re kept in an unnatural environment. They depend upon you for everything nature would normally give them and they let you know when you slip up. Brown leaves on indoor plants almost always means that the plants are getting too much or too little of something important. Light – One very common problem with indoor plants is a lack of light....

Winter Desiccation of Euonymus Euonymus winter damage can be caused by too much heavy snow and ice, which snap branches or bend them out of shape. It can also be caused by temperatures that yo-yo around the freezing point. This can freeze the moisture in the euonymus and promptly rethaw it, causing expansion and possible breakage. Another serious aspect of euonymus winter damage is desiccation. Throughout the winter, evergreens lose a lot of moisture through their leaves....