What is an Ophelia Eggplant? Ophelia is an eggplant variety that grows into small plants and diminutive fruits, only about two ounces (57 grams) each. The eggplants grow in clusters like tomatoes and are deep purple and egg shaped. The flowers are lavender and white stunners, and they add to the ornamental look of this plant. The taste and texture of Ophelia eggplants are of good quality. They are tender and not bitter....

What is Chaff? Chaff is the name given to the husk surrounding a seed. Sometimes, it can apply to the stem attached to the seed as well. In basic terms, chaff is all the stuff you don’t want, and that needs to be separated from the seed or grain after harvest. What is Winnowing? Winnowing is the name given to that process of separating the grain from the chaff. This is the step that comes after threshing (the process of loosening the chaff)....

Galangal Plant Information Galangal is a tropical plant that grows in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and above. The plant requires partial shade and moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Galangal rhizomes, or “hands,” widely available at ethnic supermarkets are ideal for planting. Many gardeners prefer to plant whole rhizomes, but if the rhizomes are too large, cut them into chunks with at least two “eyes.” Keep in mind that larger pieces produce bigger rhizomes at harvest time....

What is Red Sanders? Sandalwood includes plants in the genus Santalum. There are some 10 species, most native to southeastern Asia and the islands of the South Pacific. What is red sanders? According to red sandalwood information, red sanders is a type of sandalwood native to India. The trees have been cultivated for centuries for their beautiful heartwood that is used in religious rites as well as medicinally. This type of sandalwood tree does not have fragrant wood....

What is Rio Grande Gummosis? Citrus Rio Grande gummosis is a fungal disease caused in part by the pathogen Diplodia natalensis along with several other fungi. What are the symptoms of Rio Grande gummosis of citrus? As mentioned, citrus trees with Rio Grande gummosis form blisters on the bark of trunks and branches. These blisters ooze a sticky gum. As the disease progresses, the wood beneath the bark turns a pinkish/orange color as gum pockets form under the bark....

Tomato fruit set occurs when the flowers of the tomato plant are pollinated. This pollination usually happens with the help of wind or insects. However, sometimes the conditions for pollination are not conducive to fruit set. Luckily, for gardeners whose tomato plants are struggling, there are some options, like tomato hormone spray, to help encourage tomato fruiting. What is Tomato Set Spray? Failure to set fruit commonly occurs early in the growing season when temperatures are still cool....

How to Find the Seed End of Potatoes Which end of the potato is up? Basically, the only thing to remember when planting potatoes is to plant with the eyes facing up. Here’s a little more detail: Small seed potatoes that measure 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm.) in diameter (about the size of a chicken egg) can be planted whole with, as noted, the eye facing up. Preferably, the seed potato will have more than one eye....

Why Won’t My Almond Tree Fruit? So maybe getting nuts from your almond tree wasn’t the only reason you planted it. It provides shade and height for your landscape, but you also really hoped to get a harvest of almonds out of it. An almond tree not producing nuts can be a big disappointment. One reason that you may not be seeing nuts yet is that you just haven’t waited long enough....

Winterizing a Lawn Before grass goes dormant and stops growing for the season, there are several important steps that will prepare it for winter and the next growing season. Aerate. Every lawn needs aeration every few years and fall is the time to do it. This process breaks up the soil a little and allows more oxygen to get to roots. Fertilize. Fall is also the right time to put down some fertilizer to keep the grass healthy as it heads into winter....

What is X Disease? Despite the name, peach tree X disease, also known as X disease of stone fruits, isn’t limited to peaches, as it can also affect nectarines and wild chokecherries, and has done extensive damage to California’s cherry crops. Although X disease of stone fruits was initially believed to be the result of a virus, experts have now determined peach tree X disease is caused by a tiny parasitic organism (X disease phytoplasma)....

Yacon Root Info The yacon is native to the Andes, in present-day Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru. It’s gaining worldwide popularity, however, in part because of its unusual source of sweetness. Unlike most tubers, which get their sweetness from glucose, yacon root derives its sweetness from inulin, which the human body can’t process. This means you can taste the sweetness of yacon root, but your body won’t metabolize it. This is good news for people looking to lose weight and especially good news for diabetics....

Help, My Zucchini Plants are Falling Over! First of all, don’t panic. Many of us who have grown zucchini have experienced the exact same thing. Sometimes zucchini plants fall over from the outset. For example, if you start your seeds indoors when there isn’t a sufficient light source, the little seedlings tend to stretch to reach the light and will often topple over. In this instance, you can try to mound soil around the base of the seedlings to give them extra support....

Can You Eat the Leaves of Okra? Okra is thought to have originated in Africa and cultivation spread to the Middle East, India, and into the southern reaches of North America, most likely brought by the French via West Africa. It has since become a popular food in southern parts of the U.S. While it is the pod which is most favored, okra leaves are, indeed, edible too. Not only the leaves but the beautiful blossoms as well....

Growing Korean Giant pear trees is relatively straightforward, and you’ll have an abundance of juicy pears in about three to five years. Let’s learn how to grow Korean Giant pears. Growing Asian Pear Korean Giant Korean Giant Asian pear trees are suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 6 through 9, although some sources indicate the trees will survive chilly winters as far north as zone 4. Korean Giant Asian pear tree is not self-pollinating and needs another pear tree of a different variety nearby for pollination, preferably within 50 feet (15 m....

What Does Astrantia Look Like? Astrantia grows to be about 1 to 2 feet (31-61 cm.) tall. Astrantias come in a wide variety of colors. The flowers on the masterwort plant are unusual looking, as they are a group of tightly packed florets that are backed by petal-like bracts. This makes the flower look very much like a star or a firework. The leaves look a little bit like Italian parsley or carrots, which is not surprising as Astrantia are in the same family as carrots....

Designing an Asymmetrical Garden In simple terms, a garden bed is designed around a central point, which may be an object such as a plant, a front door, a tree, or a container. The central point can also be unseen, or imaginary. You can have either symmetrical or asymmetrical garden design layouts. A symmetrical garden design is equal on both sides of the central point. For example, a large shrub on one side is mirrored by a nearly identical shrub on the other side....

Basket Willow Trees There are three willow tree species commonly grown as basket willow trees: Salix triandra, also known as almond willow or almond-leaved willow. Salix viminalis, often known as common willow. Salix purpurea, a popular willow known by a number of alternate names, including purple osier willow and blue arctic willow. Some weavers prefer to plant all three basket willow trees. The trees are perfect for baskets, but basket willow uses are also ornamental, as the trees create a variety of bright colors in the landscape....

How Far to Plant Spreading Plants As a general rule of thumb, most groundcovers do well when spaced 12 to 24 inches (31-61 cm.) apart, but when it comes to figuring the distance between groundcover plants, it’s important to consider the growth habits of the particular plant and how quickly you want to fill the space. Of course, your budget is also an important factor. For example, creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) is a hardy, well-behaved evergreen that can eventually spread to a width of 6 to 8 feet (2-2....

Tips on Calathea Care in Winter Calathea is a moisture loving plant, but you can cut back slightly during the winter when the plant is dormant, and growth is slow. Don’t let the soil become bone dry and always water if the plant appears wilted. Calathea plants require humidity, especially during the winter months when indoor air is dry. The best way to add moisture to the air is to use a humidifier....

Rhododendron Container Care Growing rhododendrons in containers is relatively easy because they have such shallow root systems. In fact, the major concern with rhododendron container care is not the size of the container, but its drainage capabilities. Rhododendrons like moist soil, but their roots will rot easily if they get too soggy, so make sure your container has plenty of drainage holes. If you’ve just bought a small rhododendron, you can either transplant it or keep it in its nursery container for the first year....