Why are Breadfruits Falling off the Tree? Growing a breadfruit tree can be frustrating if all your fruit is dropping off before you ever get a chance to enjoy it. Why does this happen? Here are the most common reasons: Overbearing: It’s normal for a few breadfruits to drop prematurely. This is a self-thinning process – nature’s way of preventing a heavy fruit load that can prevent depletion of carbohydrates. Young trees tend to overbear before they have developed a system for storing food reserves....

What to Do in a Garden in Winter Most winter gardening tips from experts focus on trees. This makes sense since gardeners often spend the other three seasons cultivating and caring for flowers, vegetables, and shrubs. Let’s look into some winter gardening do’s and don’ts for trees: Early winter is an excellent time to plant new trees but aim for at least six weeks before the ground freezes. To give those newly transplanted saplings the best opportunity for survival, be sure to keep them watered....

What is Chlorosis in Plants? Chlorosis in plants simply means that the plant doesn’t have enough chlorophyll. This can be caused by poor drainage, root problems, pH too high, not enough nutrients from the soil, or a combination of all of these. Too much water causing a gardenia bush with yellow leaves When you have a gardenia bush with yellow leaves, the first thing to do is check your soil for too much water....

What are Poplar Weevils? Poplar weevils are small, black-brown weevils that reach about 3/16 inch (5 mm.) long. Like other weevils, they have long snouts, but because of their small size, you may not notice that or the deep groove in their wing covers. Many people simply identify them as “flying fleas” due to their size and shape. Yellow poplar weevil damage is distinctive, often appearing as holes in leaves or buds the same size and shape as a curved grain of rice....

What Trees Bloom in Zone 3? Here are some popular flowering trees for zone 3 gardens: Prairiflower Flowering Crabapple (Malus ‘Prairifire’) – This small, ornamental tree lights up the landscape with bright red blossoms and maroon leaves that eventually mature to deep green, then puts on a display of bright color in autumn. This flowering crabapple grows in zones 3 through 8. Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) – Small but mighty, this viburnum is a symmetrical, rounded tree with creamy white blossoms in spring and glossy red, yellow, or purplish foliage in autumn....

About Zone 6 Melons Can you grow melons in zone 6? Generally, you’ll have better luck with watermelons and other melon types if you garden in a warmer area with a lengthy growing season. These fruits need lots of sun. But there are zone 6 melons that may work in some areas. If you aren’t sure of your hardiness zone, you should probably find out before starting your garden. U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones are determined by the lowest winter temperatures....

Help, My Zucchini Plants are Falling Over! First of all, don’t panic. Many of us who have grown zucchini have experienced the exact same thing. Sometimes zucchini plants fall over from the outset. For example, if you start your seeds indoors when there isn’t a sufficient light source, the little seedlings tend to stretch to reach the light and will often topple over. In this instance, you can try to mound soil around the base of the seedlings to give them extra support....

Growing Japanese lilac trees near a window allows you to enjoy the flowers and fragrance indoors, but make sure you leave plenty of room for the tree’s 20 foot (6 m.) spread. After the flowers fade, the tree produces seed capsules that attract songbirds to the garden. What is a Japanese Lilac Tree? Japanese lilacs are trees or very large shrubs that grow to a height of up to 30 feet (9 m....

Where to Grow Madagascar Periwinkles Starry flowers, glossy leaves, and persistent fruits characterize the rosy periwinkle plant. It is a perennial in its native region of Madagascar and in tropical to semi-tropical regions. The flowers may be found in white, pink, and rosy-purple. It’s a plant that’s easy to care for, and may grow as a perennial or an annual in cooler zones. The hardiness range is only USDA plant hardiness zones 9b to 11 as a perennial....

Yellow Pear Tomato Information The yellow pear may be new to your garden this year, but it is an old, heirloom tomato. The name is descriptive, as this plant grows bright yellow tomatoes that are small and shaped like pears. They will grow to between one and two inches (2.5-5 cm.) in length when ripe. In addition to being tasty, colorful, and perfect tomatoes for snacking and salads, yellow pear plants are also desirable because they are productive....

What is Passive Composting? What is passive composting? It is add as you go composting, and the process is as it sounds. A passive compost pile will break down slower in cooler temperatures but the little bacteria and microbes will still do their work. The result takes longer than traditional methods but is a good way to reuse yard and kitchen scraps in the winter or cooler seasons. A passive compost pile allows you to use up yard and kitchen scraps as they occur....

Snout weevil control is essential in southwestern areas, especially where agave is grown to make tequila. A population of agave snout weevils can decimate the agave crop and then what will we put in margaritas? What is the Agave Snout Weevil? The weevil is a form of beetle and grows approximately an inch (2.5 cm.) long. It is a black insect with the scientific name Scyphophorus acupuntatus. The insects usually choose unhealthy or old agaves to deposit their eggs....

How are Coffee Grounds Good for Lawns? It isn’t the caffeine that stimulates healthy grass growth, but rather the nitrogen, phosphorus, and trace minerals that coffee grounds contain. These nutrients are released slowly, which is a big benefit over quick release synthetic fertilizers. The nutrients in coffee grounds are slowly broken down, allowing the turf to have a longer period of time to absorb them ensuring stronger turf for longer. Using coffee grounds as lawn fertilizer is also good for the worms....

Are Pansies Annuals or Perennials? How long do pansies live? Pansies are actually quite hardy, but they bloom in cooler weather and hot temperatures can reduce flowering and make them leggy and unsightly. In their natural state, plants start out as biennials. By the time you purchase them blooming, they are in their second year. Most commercially sold plants are hybrids and do not have cold hardiness or longevity. That being said, you can get pansies to survive into future years in temperate climates....

Can Tomato Plants Poison You? Whether or not the rumors are true, the idea that tomatoes might make you sick is understandable. Tomatoes are member of the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and, as such, are related to eggplants, potatoes, and of course, deadly belladonna or nightshade. These cousins all produce a toxin called solanine. This toxic alkaloid is part of the plants’ defense mechanism, making them unappealing to animals tempted to munch on them....

What is Avocado Phytophthora Blight? A specific species of fungus causes blight in avocado seedlings: Phytophthora palmivora. It favors humid and moist, warm conditions, especially after big rains. This infection is most common in subtropical areas, like southern Florida. In fact, the first infection discovered in the U.S. was in Florida in the 1940’s. Signs you may have this kind of blight in your avocado seedlings are reddish or brownish patches on the mature leaves that are irregular in shape....

The question stands, “How to tell if an avocado is ripe?” First off, picking avocados right off the tree will definitely not be a good barometer of maturity as avocados do not ripen on the tree. The problem is in knowing when do you harvest avocados. It isn’t always easy to discern the peak avocado harvest time. Are there some peak avocado harvesting time tips on how to pick an avocado that is ripe?...

Protecting Cucumbers from Cold Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) are tender annuals that thrive in warm temperatures of between 65 and 75 degrees F. (18-23 C.). Even prolonged exposure to temperatures below 55 degrees F. (13 C.) can cause decay, pitting, and water-soaked areas on fruit. Sudden cold snaps can cause cucumber plant damage on leaves, stems, and fruit or even kill the plants. Frost damage is seen as shriveled, dark brown to black foliage....

Symptoms of Phytophthora Root Rot Phytophthora root rot is a disease that affects azaleas. For an azalea owner, seeing signs of this disease can be devastating as the disease is difficult to control and cure. Symptoms of a phytophthora fungus infection normally begin with reduced growth in the azalea plant. Overall growth will be less and what growth there is will be smaller. The new branches will not grow as thick as they once had and the leaves will be smaller....

Identifying Azalea Lace Bug Damage Lace bug damage to azaleas normally occurs on the leaves and will look like silvery, white, or yellow spots. This is caused by these azalea insects, literally sucking small sections of the leaf dry and killing that section of the leaf. As these azalea leaf pests move on across the leaf, more and more spots will appear. You will also know if you have these azalea insect problems by looking at the underside of the leaves, where the azalea lace bug tends to be found....