About Pawpaw Trees Pawpaws (Asimina triloba) are small deciduous trees that can fit into almost any landscape. Native to North America, they grow wild in 25 eastern states and Ontario. Thriving in river-bottom lands where the soil is deep, moist, and fertile, you can usually find them growing in clumps and thickets. The pawpaw trees available for sale in nurseries and online sources are usually grown from seeds, although you can occasionally find grafted trees....

Reasons Pepper Leaves are Turning Brown Browning pepper leaves may be the result of environmental conditions such as frost damage/chilling injury. Usually, this type of injury will encompass the entire plant. That is, not only the leaves, but the entire plant may become discolored and wilted. Also, the inside of any fruit will become brown as well. If leaves are turning brown on your pepper plants, it may also be because you forgot to water them....

Types of Worms on Peppers There is a pepper caterpillar called the tobacco hornworm. This particular pepper caterpillar is green and has a red anal horn. The pepper caterpillar will munch on both the fruit and the leaves of your pepper plant. You will know he’s been there because he leaves large open scars on the peppers themselves. Pepper grubs eat at the roots of the pepper plant and prevent the plant from absorbing the nutrients it needs from the soil....

What is Phenology? Everything in nature is the result of phenology. Granted, human involvement and natural disasters can alter the natural order of phenology but, generally speaking, organisms, including human beings, rely on and act according to the predictable nature of seasonal changes. Modern phenology began in 1736 with the observations of English naturalist Rober Marsham. His records of the connections between natural and seasonal occurrences began that year and spanned another 60 years....

When to Pick Leaf Lettuce Lettuce is a cool-weather crop and, although it needs sun, is one of the few crops that will do well in partial shade. Unlike lettuces such as iceberg, loose-leaf lettuce doesn’t form a head but, instead, loose leaves. This means that while the entire head of iceberg is harvested, picking loose-leaf lettuce is just that – picking leaves. So when to pick leaf lettuce? Loose-leaf lettuce harvest can begin anytime the leaves have formed but prior to the formation of a seed stalk....

Can Blueberries Be Pink? Pink blueberry bushes with pink fruit are not a fantasy. In fact, pink blueberry plants have been around a long time. The cultivar ‘Pink Lemonade’ was developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture some 50 years ago, but nurseries were sure people wouldn’t like pink berries on a blueberry plant and the bush went nowhere fast. But ‘Pink Lemonade’ is staging a come back as gardeners increasingly want blueberries for their cancer-fighting antioxidants....

Plant Propagation Calendar A plant propagation calendar itemizes what plants can be propagated each month. Some seasons are more conducive to softwood or hardwood cuttings, layering, or saving seeds. Fall plant propagation is generally done by softwood or hardwood cuttings. When to Take Cuttings in Fall As temperatures cool, you can start taking cuttings from tender perennials that are generally grown as annuals, such as coleus or geraniums. After a good frost, you can start dividing perennials and take hardwood cuttings....

Planting Florence Fennel Fennel germinates quickly in soils that are well-drained and in a sunny location. Check the soil pH before planting Florence fennel. Fennel require soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0, so you may need to add lime to raise the pH. Sow the seeds 1/8 to ¼ inch (3-6 mm.) deep. Thin the plants after they have sprouted to a distance of 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm....

Planting Flowers in Fall In planning a flower garden, possible choices can greatly be impacted by weather. Knowing the difference between cool season and warm season blooms will be essential to success. Many choose to sow perennial plants in the fall, as this allows for a longer establishment period and accounts for any vernalization or stratification that may be needed for germination. This method is especially effective for those planting native wildflowers....

Companion Planting with Celery Companion planting is an important part of integrated pest management in your garden. Deliberately planting crops together can work to bring balance to your garden. The idea of companion planting works on many levels to improve your garden’s ecosystem, including discouraging insect pests without applying potentially harmful pesticides. Experts advise that certain plants will grow well in a garden bed with celery, and that others will limit your crop....

Information on Pokeweed in Gardens First of all, most people don’t actually cultivate pokeweed in their gardens. Sure, it very well might be there, growing wild along the fence or in the garden, but the gardener didn’t actually plant it. The birds had a hand in the sowing of the pokeberry. Each pokeberry devoured by a hungry bird has 10 seeds with an outer coating that is so hard the seeds can remain viable for 40 years!...

Tuberose Plant Info Polianthes tuberosa was discovered by explorers in Mexico as early as the 1500’s and was one of the first flowers to be returned to Europe, where it gained popularity in Spain. The showy blooms are commonly found in the United States in the Texas and Florida gulf areas and are grown commercially in San Antonio. Learning how to grow tuberose in the home garden is simple, however, care of tuberose flowers after bloom requires effort, proper timing, and storage of the tuberose bulbs (actually rhizomes), which must be dug up before winter in some areas....

Studies show the addition of pollinator friendly plants to your landscape can increase vegetable and/or fruit yields. Some good pollinator plants for vegetable gardens include echinacea, rudbeckia, monarda, and butterfly bushes. Pollinator-Friendly Companion Plants for Vegetables Crop plants pollinate by insects or wind. If the plant produces separate male and female flowers, a bee carries pollen from the male flower to the receptive female flower. If the male and female structures are located within each flower, visiting insects will help to move or shake the pollen loose....

Reasons a Pomegranate Tree is Losing Leaves Do pomegranate trees lose leaves? Yes. If your pomegranate tree is losing leaves, it could be due to natural, non-damaging causes such as deciduous annual leaf drop. Pomegranate leaves turn a pretty yellow before they drop to the ground in fall and winter. However, pomegranate leaves falling off at other times of the year can signal something else. Another reason for pomegranate leaf drop may be improper care and installation....

Making a Cactus Container Garden The huge variety of cactus that are suited to container growing is astounding. There are big specimens, diminutive types, and even many that cascade over container walls. Cacti are succulents and fit well with other types of succulents such as jade plant or aloe. The fun thing about a cactus garden in containers is that there are no rules as long as all the plants have the same care and lighting needs....

Growing cannas in containers is a good way to guarantee summer blooms. Cannas in Containers Potting a canna lily is best done in a large container, as the plant needs room for the root system to develop. The larger the pot, the more bulbs you can plant, resulting in more blooms from the canna growing in pots. Containers for canna lily plants can be made of ceramic material or clay — either glazed or unglazed....

Preserving Cut Roses It is nice to cut several blooms from the rose bushes and bring them inside to enjoy. They make a great centerpiece for those special dinners or luncheons with family or friends. The fine bouquets of roses are also a wonderful way to enjoy and share their beauty and fragrance with our significant other. That said, keeping them fresh once they have been cut is the battle. While pretty much any rose works well for cutting, some types work better than others....

My Elephant Ears are Taking Over! Fans of foliage plants should be well aware of the elephant ear’s charms. This tropical Arum is an excellent choice for pond edges, lightly shaded areas, and as screens for hiding unsightly items. These massive plants may grow up to 6 feet (2 m.) tall with leaves that span 2 feet (0.5 m.) in diameter. In some areas, elephant ears are considered invasive and some cautions should be taken to keep plants beneath free of debris....

How to Propagate Astilbe with Seed Astilbe grows from rhizomes, which produce the shoots and blooms of this lively shade plant. You may also choose to grow astilbe from seed, but the results are variable, blooms take many seasons to produce, and the plants tend to be short-lived. For faster plants and bigger bloom displays, the best way of propagating astilbe plants is through division. It is an easy process and the results are better parent plants and babies to dot around the shady areas of your landscape....

What is a Kangaroo Apple? Kangaroo apple plants are unrelated to apples, although they do bear fruit. A member of the Solanaceae family, Solanum aviculare is also sometimes referred to as New Zealand nightshade, giving us a clue as to the characteristics of the fruit. Nightshade, another Solanaceae member, is poisonous like many other Solanacea members. Many of them contain potent alkaloids that may be toxic although we eat some of these “toxic” foods– such as potatoes and tomatoes....