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Will Spaghetti Squash Ripen Off the Vine? Well, the short answer is “yes” to the ripening of spaghetti squash off the vine. The longer answer involves a “maybe.” I’m not getting all wishy-washy on you. The fact is that the answer depends on spaghetti squash ripeness, or how mature the squash is. If the squash is green and soft, it is more likely to rot than ripen off the vine. If, however, there are hints of yellow and the squash appears to be full-sized and sounds solid when thumped, I would go ahead and try it....

So what if you’re looking to cook Russian cuisine? What are some common herbs for Russian cooking that you can grow at home? Keep reading to learn more about how to grow Russian herbs. Growing a Russian Herb Garden Russia has a famously harsh climate and short summer, and Russian herb plants are adapted to that. That means they tend to have either short growing seasons or high cold tolerances....

Collecting Seeds from Melons Melons are members of the cucumber family, and they are open pollinated by wind or insects. This means that melons cross-pollinate with others in their family. Before you start saving melon seeds, be sure that the melon species you want to propagate are not planted within a half mile of other types of melons. Melon seeds grow inside the fleshy fruit. Wait until the fruits are fully ripe and separated from the vine before collecting seeds from melons....

What are Silhouette Lights? Silhouette lighting in gardens is a form of outdoor garden lighting called uplighting. It is also a form of back lighting. It creates a focal point with a sense of drama and romance. Silhouette lighting techniques work well with shrubs and trees that have interesting bark and structure. On the West Coast, for instance, plants look stunning when silhouetted against a wall include: Large manzanitas Arbutus trees Agave...

But, you can make an estimate on what size garden will feed a family so that you can try to plant enough to enjoy all of your favorite vegetables all season long. Let’s look at the what size garden will feed a family. How to Grow a Garden for a Family The most important thing to consider when deciding how big your family garden should be is how many people in your family you need to feed....

What is a Selloum Philodendron? Philodendron selloum is also known as split-leaf philodendron and split-leaf elephant ear. It belongs to the group of philodendron plants that are among the most common of houseplants for their ability thrive and still be ignored. A green thumb is generally not required to grow philodendrons successfully, in other words. Split-leaf philodendron plants grow quite large, up to ten feet (3 meters) high and 15 feet (4....

Saving Peach Seeds Storing peach seeds may not be necessary, depending upon where you live. In order to germinate, peach pits have to be exposed to prolonged cold temperatures. If your climate experiences long, reliably cold winters, you can just plant your peach pit directly in the ground. If you don’t get hard winters, or just want the more hands-on approach, saving peach seeds makes sense. The first step to storing peach seeds is washing and drying them....

Wouldn’t such a welcome experience be a wonderful way to honor someone you know and care for every month of the year? Right now is the season when we’re pondering the most thoughtful and pleasing gifts for the people we love, and there’s nothing more appreciated than a monthly delivery of brilliant fresh flowers. The vibrant colors are almost surreal, the cool greens slightly moist and fragrant. Sustainably Grown Flowers with a conscience: Expertly curated floral subscriptions and gifts that are sustainably grown and ethically harvested from farms around the world....

Japanese gardens Chinese gardens Desert gardens Wildlife gardens Butterfly gardens Types of theme gardens vary widely, and when it comes to themed garden ideas, you’re limited only by your imagination. Read on to learn more. Designing Themed Gardens Coming up with themed garden ideas is the most challenging step involved in creating a themed garden. Once you have settled on an idea, everything else will come naturally. The easiest way to devise a concept is to think about what you enjoy – like a specialty garden....

How to Care for Ming Aralia Houseplants Like most houseplants, Ming Aralia is a tropical plant, meaning it cannot survive temps below 50 degrees F. (10 C.). In warmer climates, Ming Aralia makes an excellent outdoor shrub. One important thing to keep in mind when growing Ming Aralia indoors is that it must be kept constantly moist. Even in the winter, when most houseplants need a reduction in the amount of water they receive, this plant’s soil should still be kept consistently moist (but not wet)....

What Causes Citrus Quick Decline? Quick decline of citrus trees is a syndrome brought about by the citrus tristeza virus, commonly known as CTV. CTV is spread mostly by the brown citrus aphid, an insect that feeds on citrus trees. As well as quick decline, CTV also causes seedling yellows and stem pitting, two other distinct syndromes with their own symptoms. The quick decline strain of CTV does not have many noticeable symptoms – there may only be a slight staining color or bulge at the bud union....

About Sooty Blotch on Pears Pears with sooty blotch are under attack by a fungus or perhaps several fungi. These can include: Gloeodes pomigena Zygophiala jamaicensis Leptodontium elatius Peltaster fructicola Geastrumia polystigmatis The fungi that cause sooty blotch causes black smudges on the skin of the pear, smudges that are actually fungal strands. Pears with sooty blotch look a little dirty, as if someone handled them with sooty fingers. Sooty blotch fungi overwinter in infected plants....

Tangerine Sage Plant Info Tangerine sage, also known as pineapple sage, is a member of the mint family. This is a good time to mention that although not as wildly invasive as many of its mint cousins, tangerine sage can be somewhat aggressive in certain conditions. If this is a concern, tangerine sage is easily grown in a large container. This is a good-sized plant, topping off at 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1....

Whitegold Cherry Info Whitegold cherry info states that the tree is self-pollinating and does not need a partner to set fruit. That is just one of the amazing traits of this delicious fruiting plant. The tree is not a very common variety, but if you can find one, it produces some of the tastiest, golden blush cherries available. This unusual cherry tree is a cross of Emperor Francis and Stella, a self-fertile cherry....

About Moroccan Mound Euphorbias The Moroccan mound plant grows 1-2 feet (30.5 to 61 cm.) in height by about 4-6 feet (1 to 2 m.) across. It is a succulent that has an upright habit of pale blue-green, four-sided stems with brown spines along the margins and near the rounded tip. The plant bears small yellow blooms in late winter to early spring. A hardy plant, Moroccan mound euphorbia can be grown in USDA zones 9-11....

While they may not be as popular, the gardeners who grow them often declare them to be even better than their red counterparts. One such winner is the Yellow Baby watermelon. Keep reading to learn more about Yellow Baby melon care and how to grow Yellow Baby watermelons. Watermelon ‘Yellow Baby’ Info What is a Yellow Baby watermelon? This variety of watermelon has thin skin and bright yellow flesh. It was developed in the middle of the 20th century by the Taiwanese horticulturist Chen Wen-yu....

What is an ISD Treatment? ISD is an acronym for imidichloprid soil drench, which is a systemic insecticide for citrus trees. Citrus propagating nurseries in Florida are required by law to use an ISD treatment on citrus trees before selling them. ISD tags on citrus trees are put on to let the buyer know when the tree was treated and when the treatment expires. It’s recommended that the consumer treat the tree again before the expiration date....

Dong Quai Plant Info Although Chinese angelica plants are attractive and aromatic, they are grown primarily for the roots, which are dug in fall and winter, and then dried for later use. Dong quai herbs have been used medicinally for thousands of years, and they are still in wide use today, primarily as capsules, powders, tablets, and tinctures. Traditionally, dong quai herbs have been used to treat female ailments such as irregular menstrual cycles and cramps, as well as hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause....

Leggy Plants Indoors There are a couple of reasons a plant might become leggy. Some plants, like the easy to grow pothos, are prone to growing and looking rather rangy. Luckily a leggy pothos plant is an easy fix; and you end up with pothos plants to share with friends. The other reason a plant may become leggy is because it is stretching to reach a light source. This results in long spaces between leaf nodes making the plant look a bit scraggly....

What is Orchid Bud Blast? When orchids drop their buds, it is commonly called bud blast. Likewise, when orchid’s drop their blooms, it is called bloom blast. Both conditions are the orchid’s natural defense to something going wrong in their present growing environment. Orchids are very sensitive to environmental changes. In stressful situations, they drop buds to divert energy to the stems, foliage, and roots. Orchid bud drop can also be a sign of overwatering or underwatering....