Posts

Citrus Fruit Brown Rot Brown Rot is caused by a common garden fungal pest, Phytophthora spp. This fungus is also responsible for diseases like damping off, which kills seedlings as they’re developing. Due to its flexibility, the Phytophthora fungus can appear during nearly any stage of growth and wreak havoc among a wide range of garden plants. In citrus, it primarily targets mature or nearly mature fruits. Brown Rot of citrus fruit typically starts as a small, discolored spot, but rapidly spreads across the affected fruit’s surface, creating leathery lesions that have a potent smell....

About Citrus Ganoderma Rot If you grow citrus trees, you should keep an eye out for different diseases that can attack your orchard. One fungal disease is called ganoderma rot of citrus or citrus heart rot. The first symptom you might observe indicating that your tree suffers from citrus ganoderma rot is a general decline. You might see some leaves and branches dying in the canopy. After a while, the fungi move up the tree from the roots to the crown and trunk via strands called rhizomorphs....

How to Grow Bleeding Heart in a Pot A large container is best for bleeding heart container growing, as bleeding heart is a relatively large plant at maturity. If you’re short on space, consider a smaller species such as Dicentra formosa, which tops out at 6 to 20 inches (15-51 cm.). Fill the container with a rich, well-drained, lightweight potting mix that mimics the plant’s natural environment. A compost or peat-based commercial mix works well but add perlite or sand to ensure the mix drains well....

Deadon Cabbage Variety The Deadon cabbage variety is really more of a partial savoy. It is similar to the cultivar known as January King, with leaves that are not as crinkly as a savoy but not as smooth as a ball head variety. Like savoy types, Deadon leaves are tender and more delicate than they appear. They are easier to eat raw than the smooth, thick leaves of a ball head cabbage and have a lovely sweet flavor....

Delphinium Companion Plants Depending on variety, delphinium plants can grow 2 to 6 feet (61 cm. to 2 m.) tall and 1 to 2 feet (31-61 cm.) wide. Oftentimes, tall delphiniums will need staking or some kind of support, as they can get beaten down by heavy rains or wind. They can sometimes become so laden with blooms that even the slightest breeze or little pollinator landing on them can seem to make them topple over....

About Dendrobium Orchid Plants Dendrobium is sort of the catch-all of orchid species. When you look for Dendrobium orchid info, you can find whole books devoted to each of the different types of Dendrobium orchids that can fall into this category. In general, though, you can separate them in a few different groups. Sheer beginners will love Nobile orchids. These hybrids go dormant for a couple of months in the winter, losing some of their leaves in the process....

One method in particular, using alcohol as herbicide in the garden, beckons the question, “is it safe?” Does Alcohol Kills Weeds? Like many “home remedy” weed killers or “weed killer recipes” that can be found online, the use of rubbing alcohol for weed control has been popularized. While rubbing alcohol may be efficient in killing weeds sprouting through the cracks in concrete sidewalks, killing weeds with rubbing alcohol is not an ideal or realistic option for the garden....

Coreopsis Deadheading Information Coreopsis are extremely low-maintenance plants, tolerating both heat and poor soil. The plants thrive throughout most of the United States, growing well in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 10. The easy-care feature isn’t surprising since coreopsis are native to this country, growing wild in American woodlands. Their tall stems tend to clump, holding their flowers high above the garden soil. You’ll find a wide variety of blossom types, from bright yellow to pink with yellow centers, to brilliant red....

Early Spring Blooming Bulbs When it comes to early flowering plants, most people think of bulbs. There are a few early spring flower bulbs that can bloom even before the snow is gone. Early spring bulbs include: Snowdrops Crested Iris Crocus Wood Hyacinth Grape Hyacinth Winter Aconite Snowflake Fritillaria Early Spring Flowering Shrubs Flower bulbs are not the only plants that can bloom in early spring. There are several dramatic early spring blooming shrubs....

Farfugium Leopard Plant Info Leopard plant is native to Asia. Some cultivars sport variegated, leopard-spotted leaves, thus the descriptive name. Small, daisy-like flowers atop 3- to 4-foot (1 m.) stems appear in late November or early December. However, much like hosta, some gardeners pinch the spiky blooms to direct energy to the leaves. Leopard plant is evergreen in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 10, but the plant dies down if temperatures drop below 30 F....

About Fatsia Plants Fatsia is a shrub native to Japan. It has a tropical appearance with bold, large leaves that are shiny and dark green. Fatsia grows 8 to 12 inches (20.5-30.5 cm.) per year and ultimately up to 10 feet (3 m.) tall and wide. In warm climates such as the southeastern U.S., fatsia makes a pretty ornamental and is an evergreen. Grow it in moist, rich soil that drains well and in areas with dappled shade for best results....

How to Grow Flashy Butter Oak Lettuce Plants Lettuce ‘Flashy Butter Oak’ is a cool weather plant, ready to pick about 55 days after planting. You can harvest baby lettuce or wait a couple weeks longer for full heads to develop. Flashy Butter Oak lettuce plants grow in nearly any type of moist, well-drained soil. Add a generous amount of compost or well-rotted manure a few days prior to planting. Plant Flashy Butter Oak lettuce as soon as the ground can be worked in spring....

Getting a Clivia to Bloom Again Young clivia plants can be much less expensive, but you will need to be quite patient to ever see it bloom, as it can take anywhere from two to five years for a clivia to bloom for the first time. It is better to purchase an already blooming clivia plant, which is usually in February and March. With a little effort, you can prolong clivia blooms or get clivia to flower again....

What is a Bow Rake? A bow rake is shaped very differently from your average leaf rake. The tines are short, only a few inches (8 cm.) long, and they are parallel to each other, setting them apart from the fanning shape of a leaf rake’s tines. The tines are perpendicular to the long, straight handle. They are strong and rigid, usually made of metal. While using a bow rake to collect leaves is not unheard of, the sharpness and strength of the tines make it more suited to heavier duty projects....

Northwest Gardening Tasks for July Keep your garden clean. An excess of garden debris is not only unsightly, but it invites pests and disease. Use slug bait to control slugs and snails in shady areas. Non-toxic slug baits are safer for pets and wildlife, but deadly for the slimy pests. Watch for spider mites when summer days are dry and dusty. Often, daily bursts of water from a garden hose are enough to keep them in check....

About Dragon Tongue Beans This is an heirloom bush bean variety with origins in the Netherlands. Other names for dragon tongue are ‘Dragon Langerie’ and “Merveille de Piemonte.” The pods of dragon tongue have no strings and are yellow with dramatic purple stripes. They grow five to eight inches (13-20 cm.) long and are flattened. The bush plants grow 24 to 30 inches (61-76 cm.) tall. The uses of dragon tongue beans in the kitchen are dual; you can eat them fresh like a snap bean or as shelled beans....

This is a great family project that involves celery sticks that turn colors as they absorb colored water. Read on for instructions on how to dye celery. Celery Dye Experiment Kids know that garden plants don’t eat or drink like people do. An explanation of osmosis – the process by which plants uptake water and nutrients – can quickly become too confusing for young children though. By engaging your younger kids, even toddlers, in the celery dye experiment, they will get to see plants drinking instead of hearing an explanation of it....

Supporting Vining Houseplants Wood, wire, rattan, and bamboo all make great supports for climbing houseplants. You can get a trellis, spindle, and even round arches. If you’re skilled enough, you can always make your own with a little wire coated with plastic or non-rusting wire. Whatever you use, be sure the supports for climbing plants are inserted into the pot at the time of planting. Thick stakes poked into the planting mix later will pose a threat to your established roots....

How to Thin Grapes Grape thinning is only one of the important tasks to do for a good fruit crop. The grapevine should be pruned in late fall or very early spring depending upon your zone. The plant also needs to be fertilized before flowers arrive to encourage a larger fruiting. Thinning helps keep fruit from rubbing and gives it room to develop and ripen properly. Good thinning practices also create tight clusters of grapes which travel and keep better than loose, thin clusters....

Compost Uses in the Garden Compost is called “black gold” for a reason. It adds nutrients and richness to soil to help plants grow better, healthier, more fully, and more productively. Here are a few of the basic methods for applying compost and making use of this natural material: Mulch. You can use compost as a layer of mulch around plants in your garden beds. Like any mulch type, it will help hold moisture in the soil and keep the soil warmer....