What are Cucamelons? Native growing Mexican sour gherkins hail from Mexico (of course) and Central America. The plant is an unbridled vining specimen with pointed, serrated leaves and small (grape sized) fruit that look exactly like miniature watermelons. In flavor, Mexican sour gherkin cucumbers (Melothria scabra) are similar to cucumber with a fresh, tangy, succulent flavor. They can be used sautéed, pickled or fresh in salads with no need to peel the little beauties....

Not all plants are fussy about pruning, though. Most annual and perennial plants are much more laid back when it comes to pruning habits. Forget to deadhead them? They’ll forgive you. Cut it back too short? No worries, it’ll fill back out in no time. One of my favorite forgiving plants to care for are tomato plants. Can I Cut Tomato Leaves? Yes, you can. Many years ago, before I really knew anything at all about plants or gardening, I bought a small starter Sweet 100 tomato plant....

Protecting Yuccas from Frost Damage The best way to help a yucca during cold weather is to make sure that as little damage as possible happens to the yucca plant during a frost or freeze. Cold-sensitive yuccas must be protected to avoid damage from frost and cold weather. Hardy yuccas may need protection if the weather has been warm and an unexpected cold spell happens quickly. The yucca plant has not had time to prepare itself for the freezing weather and may need protection for a little while until it hardens up some....

What are Darwin Tulips? There are hundreds of varieties of tulips, but Darwin hybrids have to be one of the most outstanding. They have large, delightful blooms in a myriad of colors and their sturdy stems stand up to wind and rain. These are one of the longer lived tulip varieties and are coveted as cut flowers. Growing Darwin tulips allows for years of intense color in the garden. These bulbs come in bold colors of red, yellow, pink, and ivory....

When to Transplant Daylilies The most ideal time to transplant daylily roots is after the final bloom in the summer. That said, being the totally easy-to-please perennial that they are, they can be divided up until the end of autumn, which will still give them plenty of time to establish in the ground to create gorgeous blooms next year. But wait, there’s more. Transplanting daylilies can even take place in the spring....

Understanding Terms on Seed Packages The consistent use of terminology is a goal of most industries. It helps customers select products with features they most desire. Due to the limited space on seed packets and in catalog descriptions, seed companies typically rely on one to five letter seed abbreviations to convey important information about their products. These seed packet codes can tell gardeners which varieties are first generation hybrids (F1), whether the seeds are organic (OG), or if the variety is an All-America Selection winner (AAS)....

Deer Damage to Rose Bushes I have heard it said that deer look at roses like many of us do fine chocolates. Deer will eat the buds, blooms, foliage, and even the thorny canes of rose bushes. They are especially fond of the new, tender growth where the thorns are not so sharp and firm yet. Deer usually do their browsing damage at night and occasionally you may see deer eating roses during the day....

Do you think you might want to try symmetrical plant placement in your yard? Read on and learn more about balanced plant placement and creating plant symmetry. Tips on Symmetrical Plant Placement Symmetry in landscaping can be tricky because flower beds, window boxes, hanging baskets, containers, trees, shrubs, or other elements on each side of the centerline must be identical. Maintaining balance requires careful maintenance, including faithful pruning to maintain the mirror image....

Lantana Varieties Lantana nursery species are derived primarily from Lantana camara and Lantana montevidensis, a trailing form. Common lantana (L. camara) is the most cultivated form of the group. Wild lantana (Lantana horrida), found in Texas and other warm, arid regions, has pungently scented leaves. Lantana plants for the garden can flower all year in warmer climates. There are now dwarf forms of the plant as well as the trailing and bushy varieties of lantana....

Discolored Breadfruit Leaves Soft rot is a fungal disease that causes wilting and yellowing of breadfruit leaves. It is especially common after long rainstorms when the soil is starved of oxygen. The water-borne spores are spread by rain splash, often occurring during windy, wet weather. Fungicides containing copper may be effective when breadfruit leaves are yellowing. Otherwise, prune the lowest branches to prevent disease spores from splashing on the tree during heavy rain....

If you’ve ever had to handle pigs in the garden, you know it’s no joke and might be wondering how to keep pigs out of the garden. Pig Garden Problems Pigs are highly intelligent but what really motivates them is food. They spend a good portion of their day eating or looking for things to eat. This is where your garden comes into play. Imagine being pigs in a pen....

Based on my understanding, while double poppy plants are a sub-type of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), they possess a much lower morphine content, making it perfectly legal to grow this particular variant in the garden – provided your intention is to enjoy it strictly for its aesthetics. Read on to learn more about growing double-flowering poppies. What is a Double Poppy? As the name suggests, double poppy plants (USDA Zone 3-8) are annual ornamental plants that resemble peonies with their large, tightly packed double flowers, four to five inches (10-12....

Popular Varieties of Begonia with Dark Leaves

Edgeworthia Information Paperbush is truly an unusual shrub. If you start growing paperbush, you are in for a lovely ride. The shrub is deciduous, losing its leaves in winter. But even as paperbush leaves are yellowing in fall, the plant develops large clusters of tubular buds. According to Edgeworthia information, the outside of the bud clusters are coated in white silky hairs. The buds hang on the bare branches all winter, then, in late winter or early spring, open into canary-colored flowers....

What to Grow with Eggplants Eggplants need to absorb a significant amount of nitrogen, hence the use of additional fertilizer, but planting eggplant companions such as annual legumes (like peas and beans), will help eggplants since these veggies leach additional nitrogen into the surrounding soil. If you grow trellised beans or peas, be sure to situate your eggplant in the forefront so they won’t be shaded and alternate rows of legumes with rows of eggplant....

When is the End of Tomato Season? Everything, to the best of my knowledge, has a life cycle and tomatoes are no exception. Although in their native habitat tomato plants grow as perennials, they are usually grown as annuals for cultivation. Tomatoes are referred to as tender perennials, as they will generally succumb once temperatures drop, especially once frost hits. Other tender perennials include bell peppers and sweet potatoes, which will also die back once frost is in the forecast....

Cotton Grass Info Common cotton grass is widespread across Europe, Siberia and many other wetland and boggy habitats. It is a wild plant that colonizes cranberry bogs, marshes and other moist areas. Considered a weed in some agricultural sites, it is able to reproduce by its prolific airy cotton grass seeds or by roots. Get informed with the facts about cotton grass so you can see if it is right for your gardening needs....

When to Cut Eucalyptus While many people assume fall to early spring is an appropriate time for eucalyptus trimming, this isn’t the case at all. In fact, pruning too near the onset of cold weather or post freezing temperatures can trigger dieback and encourage disease. The best time for pruning eucalyptus is during the heat of summer. Although some bleeding of sap may occur, these trees actually heal quicker in hot weather....

If you’re interested in different cuisines, you may already have encountered the need for different herbs, so now it’s time to grow your own. About Unusual Herbs to Grow at Home Different herbs to try might simply be variations of a standard herb. Take mint, for instance. There are so many varieties of mint, from chocolate to pineapple to grapefruit and ginger, each with that intrinsic mint flavor, but with a twist....

About Amaryllis Flowers Amaryllis bulbs are common around the winter holidays. The bold, nodding flowers on thick, erect stems bring a festive beauty to the home interior when skies are gray, and temperatures are chilly outside. Once the flowers fade, you are still left with a spectacular plant. Caring for amaryllis plants after blooming varies a little from regular bloom care, but it is important to provide a dormancy period for the bulb if you want additional flowers in the future....