Choosing Seed Potatoes When you go to the grocery store, there are only about a half dozen different kinds of potatoes to choose from, but when you plant seed potatoes, you can choose from over 100 different varieties of potatoes. It is best to do some research about what kinds of potatoes grow best in your area and have the flavors and textures that you will like. Where you get your seed potatoes is important....

Growing Sago Palm from Seed Those wishing to grow sago palms have several options. Most commonly, the plants can be purchased online or at garden centers. These transplants are generally small and will take several years to gain size. However, their care and planting is simple. More adventurous and budget savvy growers, on the other hand, may look into the process of how to plant sago palm seeds. Sago palm seed germination will first rely on the seed itself....

Stonecrop Succulents The family of stonecrop succulents is large and encompasses low growing, trailing plants and tall spiked-flowering plants that may get up to a foot (31 cm.) in height. All stonecrop plants have a rosette form and most produce a flower held above the base foliage. The leaves are thick and semi-glossy. Most stonecrop plants cultivated in gardens have their origins in Europe and Asia, finding their way to North America and other places across the globe through exploration, trade, etc....

If you want to plant trees to help save the planet, there are ways to get started, working alone or with others. Read on for our best ideas on ways to plant more trees. Trees for the Environment If you are wondering about how trees can help the planet, there is a lot to be said on that topic. If you’ve ever heard trees referred to as the Earth’s lungs, that’s because they remove pollutants and contaminants from the air and significantly improve air quality....

About Heat Tolerant Wildflowers for Zone 9 Wildflowers are not only low maintenance, but come in a wide array of colors, shapes, and heights making them the perfect additions for those wanting to create a cottage garden. Once the wildflowers have been planted, they require little maintenance; they don’t even need to be deadheaded. Native zone 9 flowers will often reseed themselves, naturally refreshing and replenishing the wildflower garden on their own, year after year....

Can a Tomato Plant Pollinate By Itself? Many plants are self-fertilizing, or self-pollinating. Edible plants like fruit and vegetables with self-pollinating flowers are also referred to as self-fruitful. In other words, you can plant just one variety of the plant and still get a crop from it. Tomatoes are self-pollinating, as flowers are equipped with both male and female parts. One tomato plant is capable of producing a crop of fruit on its own, without the need of planting another one....

You can also both feed and enjoy birds in the garden using a bouquet of deadhead cuttings, which is especially helpful during the fall and winter months. What is a Bouquet Buffet for Birds? This type of “buffet for birds” is sure to be attractive to wildlife, as well as beautiful. To begin the planning process, learn how these types of bouquet buffets work in the landscape. Many species of backyard birds can be drawn to the garden....

Best Time to Pick Berries The following criteria are helpful in deciding when to harvest common types of berries. Primarily, let the eye be your guide. Color and size are definitive indicators of the ripeness of the berry. Berry color will usually change from green to a more vibrant end of the color spectrum, anywhere from red, orange, purple, and blue (and many combinations of those hues). Color alone, however, should not be the basis for harvesting berries; there are other of one’s senses you should utilize to ascertain peak quality prior to picking....

In mild climates, grow this nutritious crop almost year-round by planting successive crops and using heavy mulch to protect the carrots from winter temperatures. If your soil is hard or heavy, grow short varieties to get the most come carrot harvest time. How to Tell When Carrots are Ready to Harvest Knowing how to tell when carrots are ready to harvest is important for getting a good crop. First, consult your seed packet to see how many days it takes your chosen variety of carrots to mature....

Whether it’s a preference for organically grown produce, economic considerations, or just the good feeling you get from serving food you’ve grown yourself, there’s a renewed interest in home gardening. People are searching the net for the richness and flavor of old time varieties and learning about saving seed for the next garden generation. Collecting onion seeds for future production can be your contribution to the process. Collecting Onion Seeds from the Right Plants Before we talk about how to harvest onion seeds, we need to say a few words about what kind of onions you can harvest onion seed from....

Peach Tree Harvesting Before even thinking about harvesting peaches, I hope you have planted and cared for your peach tree correctly for optimal production. First, when you bring the tree home from the nursery, open the wrapping from around the roots and soak the roots for 6-12 hours. Then plant your tree in soil that has been pre-prepared, raked to remove stones and debris and with a pH of 6.5. Set the tree at the same depth it was planted at the nursery and work the soil in around the roots....

What is Hellebore? Hellebore is a group of several species that produce early blooming flowers. Some of the common names of the species indicate when they bloom, like Lenten rose, for example. In warmer climates, you’ll get hellebore flowers in December, but colder regions see them bloom in late winter to early spring. These perennials grow in low clumps, with the flowers shooting up above the foliage. They bloom hanging down on the tops of stems....

Hindu Temple Gardens Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion, and many historians believe it is the world’s oldest religion. It is the predominant religion in India and Nepal, and is widely practiced in countries around the world, including Canada and the United States. Hindu temple gardens are places of worship, designed to connect people with gods. The gardens are rich in symbolism that reflects Hindu values. Creating Hindu Gardens A Hindu garden is a tropical paradise resplendent with beautiful tropical flowers that explode with bright color and sweet aroma....

Common Pests and Diseases Damaging Holly Bushes For the most part, hollies are extremely hardy, suffering from few pests or diseases. In fact, most problems that do occur are usually associated with other factors, such as environmental conditions. However, pests and diseases damaging holly bushes can happen so it’s important to become familiar with the most common ones for help in prevention as well as treatment. Holly Tree Pests Holly tree pests such as scale, mites, and holly leaf miner are the most commonly seen affecting hollies....

Coffee Grounds Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, plus they add organic matter to the soil, aerate it, and help with water retention. After brewing your coffee, simply add a few spoonfuls of grounds directly to the top of the soil around your plant. (Don’t use grounds that haven’t already been brewed – these are too acidic and can hurt your plants). Eggshells Eggshells are packed with calcium, which is essential for plants....

Horsenettle Identification Like most seedlings, horsenettle begins life as two small, rounded leaves sitting opposite of each other on a short stem. The first true leaves come as a cluster. Although it still has smooth leaf margins at this point, the plant is beginning to show its true nature because it has prickly spines along the vein on the undersides of the leaves. As they mature, some of the leaves develop lobes and numerous hairs and spines....

Reasons for Yellow Hosta Leaves Hosta leaves turn yellow for a wide variety of reasons, and it is important for you to figure out the particular reason that applies to your plant. Hosta Leaves Turning Yellow from Scorch Perhaps the easiest situation to remedy is when yellow hosta leaves indicate too much sun. Hosta are plants that grow best in partial shade or even full shade. In fact, they are regular fixtures in the shade garden....

When to Harvest Hazelnuts Hazelnuts, also known as filberts, thrive in regions of mild, moist winters combined with cool summers. Hazelnuts produce nuts when they are around 4 years of age but don’t really become productive until they are closer to 7 years of age. Clusters of blossoms appear in the late winter to early spring between February and March. Once the flowers are pollinated, nuts begin to form. Over the course of the summer months, the nuts continue to mature leading up to the harvesting of hazelnuts in October....

What is a Plant Growth Regulator? A plant growth regulator (PGR) is a natural chemical substance produced by plants, also called a plant hormone, that directs or influences some aspect of a plant’s growth and development. It may guide the growth or differentiation of cells, organs, or tissues. These substances operate by acting like chemical messengers traveling between cells in a plant and play a role in root growth, fruit drop, and other processes....

Watering Lemongrass As a native of southeastern Asia, lemongrass prefers hot, humid weather. It will thrive in many soil levels but can be killed when temperatures drop below 40 degrees F. (4 C.). During the growing season, it is important to keep the plant hydrated regularly. How often should I water lemongrass? The answer is as easy as sticking your finger in the soil. If you have never grown lemongrass before, you may wonder about its care....