Growing Sunflowers as Food If you have decided to try growing sunflowers as food, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. Choose the right kind when growing sunflowers for food First, you need to choose the right kind of sunflower to grow. While there are now dozens of varieties of sunflowers to choose from, you should find one that is a confectionery sunflower seed or a non-oil seed....

How Long Does Compost Take? This depends on the size of the scraps you put in and the purpose of the compost. Larger scraps naturally take more time to break down. For a top dressing or to mulch a bed, you don’t need uniform compost. For a container or raised bed, it should be uniform and thoroughly composted. With these varying factors in mind, it can take between a month and a year before your compost pile is ready for harvesting....

Is Lantana a Good Ground Cover? Trailing lantana plants, native to Southern Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia, work exceptionally well as a ground cover in warm climates. They grow fast, reaching heights of only 12 to 15 inches (30.5 to 38 cm.). Trailing lantana plants are extremely heat- and drought-tolerant. Even if the plants look a little worse for wear during hot, dry weather, a good watering will bring them back very quickly....

Transpiration of Houseplants When the air is relatively dry, a plant acts almost like a straw. Dry air creates a “pull” that brings water from the soil into the roots, through the stems, and up to the leaves. From the leaves, the water evaporates into the air through pores called stomata. This process is called transpiration. Growing plants use transpiration to maintain a constant movement of water through the plant. Transpiration delivers water and associated nutrients up to the leaves, and it helps the plant cool down too....

Diseases of Quince Trees Quince tree illness is usually not too serious, but most warrant some type of treatment. Pathogens can ruin harvests and weaken plants, so knowing how to treat quince tree diseases can be a valuable skill for the long-term health of your plant. These are some of the most common problems you’re likely to encounter: Fire blight. Pear growers will be familiar with fire blight. This bacterial nuisance is also a problem for quince....

The most widespread disease of irises is the mosaic virus, both mild and severe types, mostly affecting bulbous irises such as Dutch, Spanish, and Morocco types. Spread by aphids, the best deterrent is controlling aphids in the yard and the weeds that may harbor them. Iris Mosaic Symptoms Iris Mild Mosaic Virus exhibits symptoms such as light-green mosaic-like streaks on new leaves which become more apparent as the plant matures....

Reasons for Trumpet Vine, No Blooms Lack of sunlight is a common reason why gardeners have trumpet vines that do not bloom. If the vine is planted in a shady area, stems may appear leggy from reaching for sunlight. Learning how to force a trumpet vine to flower will include eight to ten hours of sunlight daily. Immaturity can also be the reason there are no flowers on trumpet vines. This plant takes several years to reach maturity and be ready to bloom....

About Tulip Trees Look upward in April to June in parts of the east and southeast parts of the United States. During these months in the spring, the tulip poplar tree will be in full bloom with yellowish green to orange cupped fragrant flowers, 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.) in diameter covering the plant. The plant is attractive to numerous pollinating insects and birds. The leaves are also tulip shaped and can get up to 8 inches (20 cm....

Information about garden snakes says this type is especially likely to be in your yard, or near your pond or stream. Often, several huddle together, under leaves or broken branches. Sometimes, you may see them sunning on rocks. Garden snakes are said to be the most primitive type. Keep reading to learn more about garden snakes. Garden Snake Identification It is important to be familiar with the appearance of a garden snake so that it doesn’t frighten you....

How Do Flowers Affect Honey? Honey has terroir, a term used more often by wine makers. It comes from the French term that means “taste of place.” Just like wine grapes take on certain flavors from the soil and climate in which they grow, honey can have a variety of flavors and even colors or aromas based on where it was made, the types of flowers used, the soil, and the climate....

Skunk Cabbage Thermogenesis Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) is one plant that can stay toasty warm. Named for the smell emitted from bruised leaves, the skunk cabbage is one of the first plants to emerge in early spring. As it pushes its way up through the snow, this plant’s ability to generate heat is a survival tactic. For nearly two weeks, the spadix (spike of flowers) is able to maintain an internal temperature which is considerably warmer than the outside environment....

What is a Backyard Farm? Would you like to take control of what you put on your plate? Sick of processed foods, high veggie and fruit costs, or chemicals and dyes in your food? Urban backyard farming may be your answer. What is a backyard farm? It encompasses sustainable ideas, combines a variety of your favorite foods, and enhances the space. Your farm can provide you with organic meals and enough produce to share with family and friends....

When to Plant Zone 5 Vegetable Gardens USDA zone 5 is divided into zone 5a and zone 5b and each will vary somewhat regarding planting dates (often by a couple of weeks). Generally, planting is dictated by the first frost free date and the last frost free date, which in the case of USDA zone 5, is May 30 and October 1, respectively. The earliest vegetables for zone 5, those that should be planted in March through April, are:...

Vermicompost Worms Dying Usually, worms dying in vermicompost systems can be traced back to one of a few problems: incorrect moisture levels, problematic temperatures, lack of air circulation, and too much or too little food. Keeping a worm farm means constantly checking it for these key items. Regular check-ups will also help you stave off pests if they begin to make trouble. Moisture – Moisture must be present for worms to thrive, but too much is as bad as too little....

Lawn Watering Guidelines Here are the basic guidelines for when and how to water your lawn more effectively. When to Water Lawns The best time to water lawns is when the grass begins to show signs of stress. A stressed lawn will look slightly wilted with a bluish-green tint instead of its usual emerald green. If footprints or lawnmower tracks remain on the grass 30 minutes after you mow or walk across it, the lawn is stressed....

Citrus Rinds as a Starter Pot Growing seeds in citrus peels is about as eco-friendly as you can get. You start with a natural product, grow a beneficial plant in it, and then repurpose it in the earth to act as a nutritious composting agent. It’s a win/win. While you may use any variety of citrus rinds for use as a starter pot, from a user-friendly standpoint, the bigger the better....

What are Deer Mushrooms? Deer mushrooms are a type of mushroom commonly found in North America. This specific type of mushroom is typically found on dead or decaying hardwood. This can include decaying logs, downed trees, and even some types of mulches. However, deer mushrooms in the lawn or on conifer trees have also been noted. These prolific mushrooms are likely to be found growing at any time throughout the year, as long as temperatures are not too cold....

What are Golden Beets? Golden beets are simply a beet variety lacking that vibrant red pigment. They are bred to be golden in color, which is a wonderful thing for this beet lover who doesn’t like the mess. Golden beets and white beets are said to be sweeter and milder than their red counterparts. Intriguing, yes? So how do you grow golden beets? How to Grow Golden Beets There’s really no difference when growing gold beets than red beets....

What are June-Bearing Strawberries? June-bearing strawberry plants usually only produce one vigorous crop of large, sweet juicy strawberries in spring to early summer. That being said, the plants usually produce little to no fruit in their first growing season. Because of this, gardeners usually pinch back any flowers and runners, allowing the plant to put all its energy into healthy root development in the first season. June-bearing strawberries form flower buds in late summer to early fall when day length is less than 10 hours per day....

What is a Bush Lemon? You may think that the term “bush lemons” simply refers to any shrub that produces the citrus fruit, lemon. You would be wrong though. What is a bush lemon? It is a large shrub or a small tree that produces dense evergreen foliage. The leaves are a glossy green. If you are thinking of growing bush lemon shrubs, you’ll find out that the white flowers have a lovely fragrance....