You might have noticed winding white trails of the leaf miner on some of your favorite plants. Maybe they suffered as a result of the loss of leaf tissue, or maybe they recovered. But letting leaf miners have their way in your garden comes with risks. Table of Contents What makes these trails in leaves is the leaf miner larva, which not only removes plant matter as it feeds, but has the potential to spread diseases in the process....
Brown rot is a group of fungal diseases that impact stone fruits and some pome fruits grown worldwide. It’s a problem during the development of healthy fruits as well as a leading cause of post-harvest fruit decay in peaches, cherries, plums, and apricots. Brown rot fungi can be found on young shoots, infected twigs, open or unopened blossoms, and rotting fruit. Table of Contents Brown rot diseases were first documented in 1796 and went through several taxonomic changes in the past few centuries until they became classified under the new genus Monilinia in 1928....
The money tree plant inspires visions of infinite wealth. But we all know that money doesn’t grow on trees… right? Table of Contents Let me introduce you to the Pachira. Also called Malabar Chestnut or saba nut, among other names, it’s often called money tree. Believed to bring good luck, multi-trunked money trees are often carefully braided while young. These braided bases can be stunning in an indoor setting. Pachira is important to those who practice feng shui....
We don’t give artichokes enough credit. They may descend from thistles and have a funny name, but these are actually very interesting veggies! Let’s take a look at the wonderfully weird features of this plant and you’ll soon be imaging it in your own garden. Table of Contents Artichokes are actually unopened flower buds. They have pointed leaves, called bracts, that wrap around the artichoke heart and developing flower. Depending on variety, the bracts are usually blue-green and dark purple....
As you prepare for the upcoming growing season, you gather together all you need to sprout seeds at home. You’ll go for your seed catalog, your garden draft, your starting station, and most importantly, your seed starting mix. Table of Contents Chances are if you’ve done this a couple of times you have a set of seed starting mixes you’ve tried. Maybe there’s one you know will work. But the seed starting mix you choose can be adjusted when you decide to grow new and different plants....
If you’ve ever been lost when trying to determine how to space vegetables in a raised bed, don’t give up hope. There are ways to space food crops in virtually any possible location! Table of Contents While working at a Washington D.C. based food-access nonprofit organization, I drove around town in a big green pickup truck affectionately known as The Truck Farm. This farm on wheels was a tiny, thriving urban garden that we took to community events, local libraries and schools as an educational tool to show kids where fresh food comes from....
Asparagus is a long-lived perennial vegetable that grows in USDA zones 3-8. It requires rich, well-drained soil, consistent moisture, and no weed competition. What better place to grow asparagus plants than in a raised bed where you can easily fill it with organic matter and control the planting conditions! Asparagus can easily live for 20 years, so you will need to plan the location of your asparagus raised bed carefully. Table of Contents...
Growing acorn squash is low maintenance and rewarding! Because of their large seed size, sowing acorn squash seeds is a great task for young children to get them involved in the garden. If you’d rather begin with pre-started plants then fear not! Squash seedlings are likely available at your local garden center. The growing process is long, but you’ll enjoy watching the acorn squash plant grow throughout the summer and into the fall....
Barbados cherry, popularly known as acerola, is a small tree or a bushy shrub that produces glossy green leaves. The tree produces a small cherry fruit in vivid crimson color. Cherry malpighia trees are fairly uncommon outside warm climates, but are worth growing for their unusual fruit. Table of Contents Acerola fruit is soft, succulent, and juicy with a sweet-tart cherry flavor. Extremely rich in vitamin C, this fruit can provide your daily requirement with ease....
While mice can be a problem, rats are the stuff of nightmares. Many people are on a seemingly neverending search for the best rat bait. Whether you’re opting for a rat-proof garden or want to keep rodents out of your home, it’s a constant need. Table of Contents It’s not an easy process to pick the right one. It depends in part on the type of rat, and in part on what other methods you’re using....
Table of Contents The world of hydroponics can be a bit intimidating to someone new to the methods. Even the subject of growing medium can seem convoluted. Should I use floral foam? Growstones? Perlite? Oasis cubes? Coconut chips or fiber? Rockwool? Should I just go jump in a river and fish for rocks? Before you end up shivering from a frigid dip in the nearest river, look to this guide for information on a particular growing medium that is quite popular amongst hydroponics gardeners....
There are actually two plants that qualify as Mexican sunflower, both of which are Tithonia species. Tithonia rotundifolia is also called the “red sunflower,” but Tithonia diversifolia has a slew of names ranging from “Japanese sunflower” to “tree marigold” or “Mexican tournesol.” Table of Contents Both share the common name “Mexican sunflower,” but the former is orange-to-red in color, and the latter is yellow. Each Mexican sunflower is so closely related that their care is identical....
The red clover plant has a ton of uses that will benefit any gardener. Home gardeners often use this plant as a cover crop to restore the soil or as a trap crop to attract pests away from the food crops. Beneficial pollinators love red clover, including butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Farmers often use red clover to feed their livestock since it’s a fast-growing plant, which is why one of the nicknames for this plant is cow grass....
Finding the best pH meter is quite a chore. In fact, hydroponic gardening, in general, can feel a lot like an undergraduate-level science class at times! Table of Contents Unlike soil-based gardening, growers need to keep track of every little detail. Your water quality, and especially the pH level of your nutrient solution, is vital to track. Failing to properly monitor your nutrient solution can result in sickly plants and a healthy dose of frustration....
Evergreen ground cover plants are the perfect option to fill difficult garden spaces and a way to add beauty and color to your landscape. There are many choices of evergreen ground covers and we know it’s overwhelming to decide which one is right for you, your region, and your landscape. Table of Contents This article highlights 25 evergreen ground cover plants that may be an option for you, or at the very least, give you ideas for that perfect ground cover....
Have you ever wondered about growing tarragon – or, for that matter, what it’s used for? Table of Contents There are several varieties of tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus), but French tarragon is the culinary star and one of the four fines herbes of French fine cooking: parsley, chives, chervil, and tarragon. Estragon, tarragon in French, has an anise or licorice taste and pairs well with fish, chicken, and egg dishes. It’s often infused with vinegar to easily acidify sauces and pickles, giving them an herbal punch....
Weeds are the arch-enemy of gardeners so we’ll do anything to keep them at bay. Luckily, there’s an easy solution that’s simple, easy to install, and long-term. The best landscape fabric will save you! Table of Contents This material provides a physical barrier between the soil and the sun. It cuts off weeds from the sunlight and literally holds them back if they manage to sprout. With it, your plants can freely grow without all the competition and you can focus on more important things....
Table of Contents No matter how cute and lovable your furry friends are, they can make a mess of your precious garden space. Cats and dogs are both capable of doing not-so-nice things like pulling up your plants, digging up soil, making your green turf turn yellow, and a whole lot of other things. Also, some plants can be dangerous to your pets, even when they’re perfectly safe for you! So it’s important to make a pet-safe garden....
Erigeron karvinskianus, or Mexican daisy, is a popular border and flowering accent plant and a top choice for gardeners with small garden spaces due to its size and growth characteristics. Table of Contents This plant is known by a number of names such as Santa Barbara daisy, Mexican fleabane, Mexican daisy, seaside daisy, and more. The Mexican daisy shows great versatility in the way it can be planted. You can use it as a ground cover, as a perimeter lining for garden beds, plant it behind small retaining walls to cascade over edges or simply plant it in pots and enjoy its blooms....
Pimpinella anisum is a peculiar little plant. Throughout history, its bursts of white flowers have been cultivated for their seeds. Those seeds were used medicinally, in sweets, and even liquor. Today, anise is still a well-known spice. What isn’t well-known though is that the plant behind those seeds has another tasty use: anise microgreens! Table of Contents Growing anise as a microgreen is much easier and faster than one would expect....
