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What Can I Plant with Jalapeno Peppers? Some good jalapeno companion plants are those that improve the flavor of the peppers. Basil, in particular, improves the flavor of all pepper varieties, jalapenos included, if it is planted nearby. Jalapeno companion plants that improve the overall health of the peppers include chamomile and marigolds, which release a chemical into the ground that drives away harmful nematodes and eelworms that prey upon pepper plants, among others....

What is an Edger Used for in the Garden? Edgers for the garden are designed to make neat, tidy edges around plant beds or between the lawn and a driveway, walkway, patio, or street. An edger has a blade that cuts a small gap between grass and the area you are trying to neatly separate from the turf. The purpose of an edger is purely aesthetic. Imagine scraggly grass overhanging the driveway as compared to a neat line dividing lawn and concrete....

How to Grow a Pine Tree from Seed You can grow pine trees using seed in pine cone scales that are harvested from female cones. Female pine cones are considerably larger than their male counterparts. Mature pine cones are woody and brown in appearance. One cone produces about two seeds beneath each scale. These seeds will remain in the cone until it dries out and opens up completely. Seed in pine cones can usually be identified by the prominent-looking wing, which is attached to the seed for aid in dispersal....

Turning Lawns into Meadows Careful planning before you plant your meadow garden will prevent a multitude of headaches later on when it comes to meadow lawn care. You may want to start with a small meadow, especially if you want to retain a grassy area for picnics or for children to play. Native meadow plants require plenty of light and air, so be sure you have an open, sunny area. Research the laws and landscape ordinances in your area to ensure a meadow lawn is acceptable, then tell your neighbors your plans before you begin....

Cherry with Armillaria Root Rot Armillaria rot of cherries can live in the ground for many years, often on decayed roots. Thriving colonies of the fungus can exist underground before any symptoms are visible above ground. Mushroom rot of cherry is often transmitted to new trees when gardeners unknowingly plant trees in infected soil. Once a tree is infected, it spreads, via the roots, to neighboring trees, even if the tree is dead....

Nasturtium Seed Harvest: Tips on Nasturtium Seed Saving Collect plump nasturtium seeds when the plant is winding down in late summer or early fall, before the rainy season or first frost. Don’t gather nasturtium seeds too early because immature seeds aren’t as likely to germinate. Ideally, the seeds will dry and fall off the vine, but you may want to harvest them before they drop. Move the leaves aside to find the seeds in the centers of the flowers....

Mr. Big peas are easy to pick, and they remain firm and fresh on the plant even if you’re a little late to the harvest. As an added bonus, Mr. Big peas tend to be resistant to powdery mildew and other diseases that often afflict pea plants. If your next question is how to grow Mr. Big peas, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn more about growing Mr....

Pink Citrus Rust Mite Pests There are two types of rust mites that cause fruit loss in citrus trees, the citrus rust mite and the pink citrus rust mite. Both types suck juices from citrus fruit and citrus foliage, causing blemishes on the peel and subsequent fruit drop. Pink citrus rust mite pests would be easy to recognize if they were larger. But they are .005 inches (15 mm.) long and very difficult to view with the naked eye....

Growing Calendula from Seed Growing calendula is easy, as this plant will tolerate a lot of different conditions. It likes full sun or partial shade, prefers well-drained soil, and tolerates frost and colder temperatures. It is deer resistant and will tolerate poor quality soil. Collecting and sowing calendula seeds is pretty easy and worth the effort to keep enjoying this flower season after season without buying transplants. After the blooms have passed, they will produce seed heads, which if left alone will lead to self-propagation and volunteer plant growth....

Redbud Tree Information The redbud tree (Cercis canadensis) is a member of the bean family and is known as a Judas tree because according to some, Judas Iscariot used a relative of the redbud to hang himself. This tree is an attractive ornamental tree that is native to the eastern United States but will grow in USDA planting zones 4 through 8. Mauve-pink blossoms greet the spring, lasting for two to three weeks and adding color to any landscape....

About Root Knot Nematodes on Begonias Nematodes are the most numerous pests on our planet and unfortunate parasites to plant roots. They are non-segmented roundworms that occur wherever there is moisture. They are too small to see with the naked eye, which makes identification very difficult. Begonias with root knot nematodes are diagnosed from visual cues on the upper part of the plant. Usually, once symptoms are observed, it is too late to help the plant....

Choosing Houseplants for Kids’ Rooms When selecting houseplants for kids’ rooms, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. Most importantly, remember that your child is going to be spending time alone and unsupervised with these plants, which means toxic plants are completely out. Ideally, your child won’t be eating his or her plants, but to err on the safe side, you want to be sure it isn’t a problem....

What is a Sansa Apple? Not everyone is familiar with the delicious Sansa apple. Sansa apple trees produce a delicious, juicy, apple hybrid, resulting from a cross between Galas and a Japanese apple called Akane. Akane itself is a cross between Jonathan and Worcester Permain. If you start Sansa apple tree growing, your orchard will produce some of the first truly sweet apples of the season. They ripen late summer through fall and are ideal for eating right off the tree....

Types of Seedless Tomato for the Garden Many of the earlier seedless tomatoes are almost completely free of seeds, but some of them fall a little short of this goal. ‘Oregon Cherry’ and ‘Golden Nugget’ varieties are cherry tomatoes, and both claim to be mostly seedless. You’ll find about one-quarter of the tomatoes with seeds, and the rest will be seed-free. ‘Oregon Star’ is a true paste-type, or roma tomato, and is great for making your own marinara or tomato paste without having to mill out pesky seeds....

Do You Prune Mums? ‘Should I prune mums?’ remains one of the most frequently asked questions among first-time chrysanthemum growers. The answer to whether or not you should prune back mums will depend greatly upon the planting process. Each autumn, potted chrysanthemums can be found on offer at garden centers and nurseries. Already in bloom, these plants have already been pruned in order to produce the desired size and shape during the flowering window....

About Sunburst Cherry Trees Cherry ‘Sunburst’ trees were developed at the Summerland Research Station in Canada and introduced in 1965. They mature in mid-season, a day after Van cherries, and 11 days prior to LaPins. They are primarily sold in the United Kingdom and out of Australia. Sunburst is suitable for growing in containers. It is self-fertile, which means it does not need another cherry to set fruit, but it is also an excellent pollinator for other cultivars....

Can Swiss Chard Grow in Winter? Swiss chard not only grows well in the hot temperatures of summer, but it also tolerates frost. In fact, chard may actually taste better when it’s grown in cold weather. However, plants will be killed by temperatures below 15 degrees F. (-9 C.). That being said, there are two ways to include Swiss chard in winter gardens: First, you can plant cold-hardy Swiss chard in spring and again in late summer....

Basil Growing Indoors Growing basil indoors is easy. Container grown basil should be planted in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. Using the proper soil type is important in order to successfully grow basil inside. As basil is not tolerant of water stress, make sure pots provide adequate drainage. While the soil should be kept somewhat moist, it should never be soggy; otherwise, the roots will be prone to rotting. Basil growing indoors will require fertilizing....

Symptoms of Downy Mildew on Roses Initial leaf symptoms of roses with downy mildew are light green to yellow spots, called “oil spots” because they may appear greasy. Downy mildew on roses seems to attack the new foliage growth first and works its way down the rose bush. You may also see a reddening of the stem or sepals on the rose bush. Treating Roses with Downy Mildew Rose downy mildew can be a very tough customer to get rid of once it gets started....

What are Feeder Roots? Most gardeners are familiar with thick, woody, tree roots. These are the large roots you see when a tree tips over and its roots are pulled from the ground. Sometimes the longest of these roots is a tap root: a thick, long root that heads straight down into the ground. In some trees, like oak, the taproot can sink into the ground as far as the tree is tall....