What is Apple Russeting? Apple fruit russet is the brown scarring that sometimes appears on the skin of the fruit. It is a symptom rather than a disease, which means it can have several different causes. One of the most common causes of apple russet is genetic tendency. Some varieties are so prone to it that they actually get their name from it, like Egremont Russet, Merton Russet, and Roxbury Russet....
Sweet Corn Stunt Causes Stunt in sweet corn is caused by a bacterial-like organism known as spiroplasma, which is transmitted from infected corn to healthy corn by corn leafhoppers, small insects that feed on corn. The bacteria overwinters in adult leafhoppers, and the pests infect corn in early spring. Symptoms of stunt in sweet corn usually appears about three weeks later. How to Manage Sweet Corn with Stunt Unfortunately, there are currently no chemical or biological treatments approved for corn stunt disease....
What is Silicon? Silicon makes up the second-highest concentration of the earth’s crust. It is commonly found in soil but can only be absorbed by plants in the form of monosilicic acid. Broadleaf plants (dicots) take up small amounts of silicon and accumulate very little into their systems. Grasses (monocots), however, accumulate up to 5-10% in their tissue, a higher than normal range over that for nitrogen and potassium. Function of Silicon in Plants Silicon seems to improve plant responses to stress....
Winter Gardening in Zone 6 When should you be planting winter vegetables? Many cool weather crops can be planted in late summer and harvested well into the winter in zone 6. When planting winter vegetables in late summer, sow the seeds of semi-hardy plants 10 weeks before the average first frost date and hardy plants 8 weeks before. If you start these seeds indoors, you’ll protect your plants from both the hot summer sun and capitalize on space in your garden....
Annual vs. Perennial vs. Biennial The annual, biennial, perennial meanings are related to the life cycle of plants. Once you know what they mean, these terms are easy to understand: Annual. An annual plant completes its entire life cycle in just one year. It goes from seed to plant to flower to seed again during that one year. Only the seed survives to start the next generation. The rest of the plant dies....
What is an Arizona Poppy? Arizona poppy plants (Kallstroemia grandiflora) aren’t true poppies because they belong to a different plant family. Also called summer poppy and orange caltrop, the bright yellow-orange flowers resemble those of California poppies. They are native to the U.S. southwest, from Arizona to New Mexico to Texas. They’ve also been introduced in southern California. Bloom time is generally August to September, which coincides with desert summer rainfall....
Choosing Trees with Showy Bark Here are some common varieties to choose from for ornamental bark on trees. River Birch – A tree that grows very well on the banks of streams, it can also serve as a specimen on a lawn or garden. Its bark peels away in papery sheets to reveal a striking color contrast with the bark underneath. Chilean Myrtle – A relatively small tree at 6 to 15 feet (2 to 4....
Fertilizing Basil Plants If your soil is rich, your plants may do just fine with no fertilizer at all, or you can dig an inch or two (2.5 to 5 cm.) of compost or rotted animal manure into the top 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20.5 cm.) at planting time. If you think the plants need a little extra help, you can use a very light application of a dry fertilizer once or twice during the growing season....
How to Compost Feathers Safely Can you compost bird feathers? You absolutely can. In fact, feathers are some of the most nitrogen-rich composting materials around. Compostable items are generally split into two categories: browns and greens. Browns are rich in carbon and include such things as dead leaves, paper products, and straw. Greens are rich in nitrogen and include things like coffee grounds, vegetable peelings, and, of course, feathers. Both browns and greens are essential to good compost, and if you feel like you’re too heavy on one, it’s a good idea to compensate with a lot of the other....
Can You Grow Sunflowers in Containers? As mentioned, dwarf varieties, those under 4 feet (1 m.) in height, lend themselves very well as container grown sunflowers. If you want to grow the really impressive 10 footers (3 m.), which is still doable, a larger container will be required. About Potted Sunflowers The size of the sunflower will dictate the size of the pot. Smaller varieties will do well grown as sunflowers in planters....
Problems with Cape Marigold Plants Given the right conditions, problems with cape marigold may begin with their invasion and stopping it. Confine them to appropriate spots in the landscape where they can be easily contained. Deadhead regularly to prevent their spread. Soil that is too rich creates Dimorphotheca problems. This flower grows well in sandy, well-draining soil and will even grow in amended clay. An attractive covering of mulch helps retain moisture....
Coreopsis flowers may be annual or perennial and come in a variety of heights. A member of the Asteraceae family, blooms of growing coreopsis are similar to those of the daisy. Colors of petals include red, pink, white and yellow, many with dark brown or maroon centers, which makes an interesting contrast to the petals. Coreopsis is native to the United States and 33 species are known and listed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of USDA on their website’s plant database....
What is Parsley Root? Though its root sets it apart, parsley root is indeed a variety of parsley. Parsley is a member of the carrot family, which goes a long way to explain its appearance. Although its root could be mistaken for a parsnip or a white carrot, its flavor is most similar to celery. Its texture is dry like a parsnip, however, and it can be cooked like one. The leaves are broader and tougher than those of herb parsley varieties, and their flavor is stronger and a bit more bitter....
Peace Lilies and Pollution The NASA study focuses on common air pollutants that tend to be given off by manmade materials. These are chemicals that become trapped in the air in enclosed spaces and can be bad for your health if breathed in too much. One of these chemicals is Benzene, which can be naturally given off by gasoline, paint, rubber, tobacco smoke, detergent, and a variety of synthetic fibers. Another is Trichloroethylene, which can be found in paint, lacquer, glue, and varnish....
Using the Cockscomb Flower in the Garden The cockscomb plant is versatile in height, sometimes remaining as short as a few inches (8 cm.) while others grow to a few feet (1 m.). The irregular growth habits of the cockscomb plant can lead to surprises in the garden. Though an annual flower, growing cockscomb reseeds freely and often supplies a wealth of plants for next year. Learn how to grow cockscomb and others of the cockscomb Celosia family for attractive specimens in the summer flower bed....
Types of Ferns for Cold Climates Here’s a list of ferns for zone 3 gardens: Northern Maidenhair is hardy all the way from zone 2 to zone 8. It has tiny, delicate leaves and can grow to 18 inches (45.5 cm.). It likes rich, very moist soil and does well in partial and full shade. Japanese Painted Fern is hardy down to zone 3. It has dark red stems and fronds in shades of green and gray....
Artichoke Plant Companions Artichoke companion planting is not especially complicated. Artichokes don’t repel any pests, but at the same time, they’re not really bothered by any. Because of this, they don’t really benefit their neighbors, but neither do they need good neighbors. They are, however, very heavy feeders that require extra rich, slightly alkaline soil. The best companions for artichoke plants have similar soil requirements. Peas, in particular, are good artichoke plant companions because they exude nitrogen that artichokes will gladly leech up from the soil....
Cubanelle Pepper Facts What is a cubanelle pepper? A variety of sweet pepper, the cubanelle is similar in a lot of ways to the ubiquitous bell pepper. Unlike its cousin, however, it has a long, tapered shape that usually reaches 5 to 7 inches (13-18 cm.) in length. It tends to twist and bend as it grows, giving it a unique, rustic appearance. The walls of the fruit are thinner than those of a bell pepper, which means it cooks much more quickly....
Managing Pansies and Pests Of all the pansy plant pests, aphids are probably the most prevalent. There are several species of aphid that feed on pansies, including crescent-marked lily aphid, green peach aphid, melon aphid, pea aphid, and violet aphid. They tend to appear on pansies in the spring, attacking the ends of new growth. It can be hard to treat aphids chemically because they reproduce so quickly and effectively. If you miss even a single one, the population will be able to bounce back....
A Christmas-themed terrarium can include mini houses, trees, colorful ornaments, deer, and artificial snow. Ideal plants include miniature tropical plants, ferns, and other woodland plants. It’s easier than ever to create a mini ecosystem, as a layer of rocks along the bottom are no longer needed or recommended. All you need are a glass container, potting soil and/or sand, and plants! Here are more Christmas terrarium ideas and how to build them....
