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Celery can be a difficult plant to start from seed and may frustrate beginner gardeners. However, with a little knowledge and some patience, anyone can learn how to grow celery at home! Table of Contents Homegrown celery often has a much stronger taste than store-bought celery because commercial growers blanch their celery. This gives the plant a lighter green color and a mild, sweet taste. Celery has been cultivated in the Mediterranean for thousands of years....

A really interesting plant that’s getting a lot of attention these days is shampoo ginger, also known as ‘awapuhi kuahiwi. A relative of both turmeric (Curcuma longa) and ginger (Zingiber officinale), red pinecone ginger is one of those tropical plants with aesthetic appeal and medicinal applications. It even shares the same genus with ginger, so you know it has to have a synergistic effect. The bright red flower has been used as a hair conditioner for a long time in its native homes of Asia and Australia, and also in Hawaii where it is naturalized....

The black knot fungus, Apiosporina morbosa, is a plant disease that affects species from the Prunus genus of trees and scrubs. This disease creates large black galls and cracks on trees – causing significant economic damage to stone fruit crops, ornamental plants, and the timber industry. The wounds also create opportunities for many other diseases to enter the plant and cause secondary infections. Table of Contents This wood decay fungi is indigenous to North America and common throughout Canada, the U....

Peter Piper picked a peck of pepper. But first he had to plant the peppers, and so can you! In fact, it’s so easy to learn how growing bell peppers works that you’ll never have to pick peppers at the grocery store again. This makes them the perfect plant for veggie-loving, low-maintenance gardeners. Table of Contents Not only are they a great addition to any meal, but bell peppers are also very ornamental plants....

Lobelia laxiflora is a sprawling perennial with medium green leaves and colorful tubular flowers. Also known as Mexican Lobelia, the plant is native to Mexico, Central America, and Southern Arizona. As a care-free perennial plant with bright orange and red flowers, it grows best in warm and dry regions – a perfect plant for xeriscape gardens. As gardeners, we love these species as they’re beautiful, easy-to-grow, and attract colorful hummingbirds....

However, the more seasoned gardener knows that this is simply not the case. Although spring and summer are generally regarded as the more fruitful seasons, there are still a number of crops that can thrive throughout the colder months. There are also many ways to continue to grow other crops indoors or with the use of protective equipment such as cold frames or greenhouses. You can even build your own polytunnel....

There are many things that can attack your garden plants and flowers, so it’s always a good idea to have a basic understanding of plant diseases so you don’t have to deal with infected plants that have the potential to cause damage to your garden. Today we’re discussing aster yellows, an infection that is found in the plant sap of a host plant; the tiny organism, called phytoplasma, is spread by infected leafhoppers....

Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus, is one of the hardiest plants in the mallow family. It is thought to have originated in Africa and Asia but today it is grown across the United States, especially in temperate zones and mild seasons. But did you know that there are great okra companion plants that will enhance your garden efforts? Table of Contents Growing okra plants is not hard if you have full sun and good soil in your garden....

The vibrant colors of Aeonium Kiwi make it an instant show stopper. This succulent has leaves variegated with deep shades of yellow and green. When placed in the sun, its tips are crowned with brilliant red. The spoon-shaped leaves grow uniformly into beautiful rosettes. Table of Contents The origin of Kiwi Aeonium is a mystery. The most common belief is that it’s a hybrid of Aeonium haworthii, which is from the Canary Islands....

Tomatoes are one of the most common plants you’ll find in a backyard garden. They are popular because they’re fairly easy to care for, can be highly productive in the right conditions, and many varieties work well in containers or a raised bed. Indeed, growing tomatoes in raised beds is a great way to grow them in a small space or an accessible garden! Table of Contents Since there are so many tomato varieties to choose from, have some fun and make themed beds such as a salsa garden, or opt to include tomato companion plants....

Korean cuisine seems to have taken forever to become popular in the United States. It’s only been the last 10-15 years when it seems to have taken off like a rocket, likely aided by the interest in K-pop and a desire for something new. Among Korean dishes, kimchi is the best known and copied. Knowing how long to ferment kimchi has become a necessity! This fermentation process is required for making kimchi....

We talk about root rot around here pretty often. It’s a common, but really annoying plant disease, and it can be deadly in some circumstances. To the new gardener, it can seem like it happens when you overwater… but that’s only partially true. Table of Contents It’s also a little tricky to diagnose root rot for someone inexperienced, solely because you can’t see the root system. It’s hidden in the soil, after all, and we’re certainly not advocating digging your plants up on a regular basis to check and see if the roots are intact....

Table of Contents The Nutrient Film Technique, sometimes referred to as NFT, is one of the most popular types of hydroponic systems. It’s prized for how versatile and modular it is. By adding more NFT channels to the system (I’ll cover what those are later in the article), you can significantly increase your yields without too much extra effort. Listen to this post on the Epic Gardening Podcast Subscribe to the Epic Gardening Podcast on iTunes...

Summertime is approaching and bringing the sweltering heat with it. We’ll be reaching for ice cream, ice buckets, and … ice plants! Their flowers won’t cool your garden down, but they do add an icy appearance. Each petal is covered with translucent hairs that shimmer like ice crystals in the sunlight. Any ice plant variety you choose is sure to make a splash in your summer garden! Table of Contents...

The moniker potato bug refers to several insects. The Jerusalem cricket is one such insect, which has a striking appearance and a nasty bite. There are also pill bugs, and three-lined potato bugs. However, today, we’re discussing the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Table of Contents Just like the Jerusalem cricket, these bugs feast upon potatoes. The Jerusalem cricket prefers the subterranean tuberous roots of potatoes, whereas the potato beetle dines on the leaves of plants....

Table of Contents Have you heard about COB LED grow lights, and now you’re wondering what all the fuss is about? Then look no further, because I’ve got a treat for you. In this article, I want to go over the COB LED phenomenon. I will explain what they are, and how they’re a significant development for indoor grow light technology and also why they’re being rapidly deployed into many indoor grow rooms all across the planet....

I’ve found that a lot of people who get into hydroponics will start out very excited only to become disinterested because their garden starts to fail. When I ask them a few questions it always seems to come down to the fact that they weren’t doing the small things on a daily basis that keep hydroponic gardening running smoothly. What Gets Measured, Gets Managed The above is a quote from the legendary management guru Peter Drucker, but his wisdom applies to anything that can be measured – especially your garden!...

If you only have a little area to clear, you don’t necessarily need a snow blower. At that point, it’s time to find a quality shovel. But what’s the best snow shovel for your needs? Are there actually any differences, and is any type better than all the rest? Table of Contents Today we’ll go over everything you need to know to pick the right snow shovel for your task. By the time we’re finished, you should know exactly what you need to quickly dispatch those piles of white stuff....

The Elephant Ear plant, also known as Colocasia or Alocasia, is known for its huge leaves. This plant is great for layered landscape settings due to these heavy, dark, and sometimes patterned leaves. Table of Contents Elephant ear plants come in various colors, which range from green to black and purple. If you’re thinking of planting elephant ear bulbs in your garden, you’ve come to the right place. What Are Elephant Ear Bulbs?...

Lamb’s ear, cattail, gooseberry … we have a tendency to name plants after our furry friends. And if any plant is deserving of its name, it’s burros tail. This succulent’s long, trailing stems are packed with plump leaves, giving it the shape and visual texture of a donkey tail! Table of Contents Aside from eye-catching detail, burro’s tail is prized for being both drought and a shade tolerant succulent. In warm climates, it thrives outside year-round....