Shelling Pea Information – What are Shelling Peas? The term ‘shelling peas’ refers to varieties of pea that require the pea to be removed from the pod or shell prior to use. Though shelling peas are one of the most popular types of pea plant in which to grow, they are often referred to by many other names. These common names include English peas, garden peas, and even sweet peas. The name sweet peas is especially problematic as true sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are a toxic ornamental flower and are not edible....

What is Armored Scale? Of all the garden pests you’ll meet as you cultivate and love your garden, armored scale insects may be the most interesting and frustrating. If your plant has suddenly developed a lot of unusual bumps, lumps, or things that look almost like they might be new growths in the wrong spots, armored scale is probably responsible. Scale insects are tiny sap-sucking pests, about the same size as an aphid....

Decorating with plants can help to transform small dwellings and add much needed appeal to otherwise boring spaces. How Plants Can Transform a Space The manner in which plants can transform a space can vary greatly depending on resources and the needs of the gardener. You can transform a space with plants both indoors and outdoors. However, the same general requirements of small space decorating will apply. If you’re considering transforming an area using plants you’ll need to account for the plants’ specific needs related to sunlight and water....

The world is facing a honey bee crisis. Bees are one of the top pollinators, but by no means the only ones. Moths, wasps, birds, and even bats are also part of the pollinating chain. Building a pollinator garden in the southwest can encourage these important creatures to make their home in your landscape. Native Southwest Plants for Pollinators Native plants can be just as beautiful as imported and cultivated varieties....

How to Get Rid of Sow Bugs Sow bug control begins with cleaning up debris in the garden. Rake up and remove dead plant matter, bricks, wooden planks and anything that gives sow bugs in the garden a protected place to hide. Pay particular attention to debris near or against the foundation, as this is often a spot that holds moisture. Eliminate sow bugs near the foundation to stop them from entering your home through cracks and crevices....

Herbs for Spanish Inspired Dishes If you love the rich drama of Spanish dishes, it’s certainly worth your while to add Spanish herb plants to your garden. Some are classic herbs you can use in many cuisines, although a few are signature Spanish herbs and spices. To grow a Spanish herb garden, you need to plant the ones that you love the best. A few herbs for Spanish inspired dishes include classic favorites like:...

How to Get Rid of Speedwell Let’s take a look at how to get rid of speedwell in both the garden and lawn. Speedwell Control in Gardens To achieve annual speedwell control in the vegetable garden, till the garden to a depth of at least 6 inches (15 cm.) in fall and late winter when several species of speedwell are most likely to germinate. Studies have shown that tilling after dark is most effective....

Although spring titi makes a lovely plant for home landscapes, you may be concerned about spring titi nectar and bees. There is no reason for worry; spring titi and bees get along just fine. Read on for more spring titi information and learn more about spring titi and bees. Spring Titi Information Spring titi is native to the warm, tropical climates of the southeastern United States, as well as parts of Mexico and South America....

Winter Storage of Tender Bulbs in South Tender bulbs, which include most of the summer-flowering varieties (dahlia, caladium, gladiolus, tuberose, elephant ear, etc.) normally require lifting each fall to be over wintered indoors. In the south, winters are typically mild, so most bulbs can be overwintered in the ground. With adequate winter protection, the vast majority of these bulbs will continue to thrive and multiply year after year. This winter protection often involves generous applications of mulch, such as straw, shredded bark, or leaf mold....

You can grow trees from sucker plants, which are just baby trees that grow from horizontal roots of the parent plant. They will grow to maturity if given the right conditions. If you have other places in your landscape where you would like a tree or perhaps a friend would like one, consider preserving your suckers. How to Grow Trees from Suckers The first step in sucker tree growing is to remove the sucker plant as carefully as possible from the ground....

Not All Thrips on Flowers Are Bad If you are wondering how to kill thrips, insecticides work. The problem with killing them is that you will accidentally kill things that are beneficial to your plants. This includes some species of thrips. Therefore, you want to form a plan of thrip control because controlling thrips is much better for your plants than getting rid of thrips altogether. There are other pests that can cause damage similar to that of thrips....

Designing a Patio Garden in the City The main concern when designing a small urban patio is, of course, space. One of the easiest ways to keep from feeling restricted by space is by allowing for mobility. Set out folding chairs and tables that can be moved or taken away easily to accommodate guests. Also, choose furniture made of glass or thin metal: your eye can see through them and won’t perceive them as taking up much space....

How to Grow Summer Squash Vertically Unlike other types of cucurbits, many summer squash varieties have a bushy growth habit. Some produce short vines which can be trained to a trellis. It’s best to begin when the plants are very young. As the plants grow, tie the stalks to the trellis every few days. When growing summer squash vertically, it’s advisable to choose varieties that are better adapted to trellis training:...

Sugarcane Water Needs Sugarcane, or Saccharum, is a perennial grass that requires a long growing season and regular sugarcane irrigation. The plant also requires the heat and humidity of the tropics to produce the sweet sap that sugar is derived from. Providing enough, but not too much, water is oftentimes a struggle for sugarcane growers. If sugarcane water needs are not properly met, it can result in stunted plants, improper seed germination and natural propagation, decreased amount of sap in plants, and loss of yield to sugarcane crops....

When to Water Watermelons Watermelons need water throughout the season, but a particularly important time to water watermelons is while they are setting and growing fruit. The reason for this is that watermelon fruit is made up of 92 percent water. This means that the plant must take up an enormous amount of water while the fruit is developing. If enough water is not available to the plant during this time, the fruit will not be able to grow to its full potential and may become stunted or fall off the vine....

Can You Start Plants from Tomato Slices? Tomato slice propagation is a new one to me, but really, there are seeds in there, so why not? Of course, there is one thing to keep in mind: your tomatoes might be sterile. So you might get plants by planting tomato slices, but they may never beget fruit. Still, if you have a couple of tomatoes that are going south, instead of throwing them out, a little experiment in tomato slice propagation should be order....

Easy Herbs for Beginners These easy-to-grow herbs require minimal maintenance and aren’t too picky about soil. They just want sunlight and regular water to thrive. How to Grow Easy-Care Herbs Check the requirements for each herb you plant. Some cannot tolerate any frost, while others are hardier. Some are annuals, and others reseed and come back year after year. Most have similar water requirements and tolerate poor soil. You can get transplants from a garden store or nursery, but growing easy herbs from seed is also doable....

Totem Pole Cactus Information Gardeners lucky enough to live in USDA zones 9 to 11 can grow totem pole cacti to their impressive 10 to 12 foot (3-4 m.) tall potential. This would take years, but the plants are not prey to any insect pests, and the only real disease issue is root rot. Northern and temperate region gardeners will have to place the plant indoors or in a greenhouse for successful results....

What is Watermelon Cercospora Leaf Spot? Cercospora leaf spot is a disease caused by the fungus Cercospora citrullina. It can affect all cucurbit crops (like cucumber and squash) but it is especially common on watermelons. The fungus usually only affects the leaves of the plant, though it can occasionally spread to the petioles and stems. Symptoms of cercospora on watermelon leaves begin as small, dark brown spots near the crown of the plant....

Uses for Tricolor Sage in Gardens Tricolor sage (Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’) is mainly distinguished from its cousins by its leaves. Though the main color is green, the edges are bordered with uneven splotches of white and the interiors splashed with shades of pink and purple. The overall effect is a very pleasant, somewhat subdued mottling of color. Is tricolor sage edible? Absolutely! Its flavor is the same as that of any common sage, and its leaves can be used interchangeably in any recipe that calls for sage....