What is Citronella Grass? True citronella plants, Cymbopogon nardus or Cymbopogon winterianus, are grasses. If you are purchasing a “citronella plant” that has lacy foliage instead of grass blades, it is probably a citronella scented geranium, which is often sold as mosquito repelling plants but are actually ineffective at repelling these insects. Citronella grass is a clump-forming, perennial grass in zones 10-12, but many gardeners in northern climates grow it as an annual....

Seckel Pear Information The vast majority of pear trees available in commerce are cultivars imported from Europe. But one type of pear tree, Pyrus ‘Seckel’ trees, started from a wild seedling in Pennsylvania. This type of pear, pronounced SEK-el, is a variety of fruit tree that grows tiny, bell-shaped pears that are very sweet. According to Seckel pear information, the harvest period starts in September and lasts until February. The pears can last up to five months in storage....

History of Skullcap Herb Uses Chinese skullcap is found in China and into parts of Russia. Chinese skullcap herb uses have been employed for centuries to treat allergies, cancer, infections, inflammation, and headaches. Most laboratory studies have been done on the Chinese skullcap variety and may even suggest some antifungal and antiviral benefits. American skullcap is native to North America, specifically throughout the prairie states where there are eight varieties to be found....

When to Start Tomato Seeds The best time to start tomato plants from seeds is about six to eight weeks before you plan on planting them out into your garden. For areas that get frost, plan on planting out your tomato seedlings two to three weeks after your last frost, so you will start growing tomatoes from seed at four to six weeks before your last frost date. How to Start Tomato Plants from Seed Tomato seeds can be started in small pots of damp seed starting soil, damp potting soil, or in moistened peat pellets....

Growing Wildflower Bulbs Wildflower gardens are most commonly established through the planting of seed. This is an easy and cost-effective way to plant large flower beds or smaller spaces within the lawn. However, many gardeners may also include wildflowers that come from bulbs. The creation of a wildflower garden can be done under a wide range of conditions. Whether planting tall flowers or a casual planting within the lawn, flowering bulbs can help homeowners achieve the desired look....

What to Do With Bark from Guava Herbal remedies are making a comeback as the pharmaceutical industry increases prices and side effects from approved drugs become known. Many natural remedies have the ability to replace harsh pharmaceutical drugs, often without excessive dependency and alternate effects. However, it is always best to talk to a knowledgeable professional prior to self-dosing with any product. Guava bark remedies may contain such side effects as constipation and other adverse reactions in combination with diabetes and antidiarrheal medicines....

Pollination of Peppers Some veggie plants, like tomatoes and peppers, are self-pollinating, but others such as zucchini, pumpkins, and other vine crops produce both male and female flowers on the same plant. During times of stress, these blossoms (regardless of whether they are self-pollinating or not) need some assistance in order to produce fruit. Stress may be due to a lack of pollinators or overly high temperatures. During these stressful times, you may need to hand pollinate your pepper plants....

Growing Kiwi in Zone 6 Kiwi are outstanding vines for the landscape. They produce beautiful leaves on reddish-brown stems that add ornamental appeal to an old fence, wall, or trellis. Most hardy kiwis require a male and female vine to produce fruit, but there are is one cultivar that is self-fruiting. Zone 6 kiwi plants take up to 3 years to begin producing fruit, but during this time you can train them and enjoy their elegant, yet vigorous vines....

Can You Eat Broccoli Leaves? Broccoli is a classic vegetable that fits into almost any international cuisine. What can broccoli leaves be used for? The large, attractive leaves are quite thick and translate well when lightly cooked as a side dish or added to soups and stews. Eating broccoli leaves gives you another source of the plant’s high content of fiber, vitamins C and K, iron, and potassium. The dense flower heads are the classic way we know broccoli but harvesting broccoli leaves gives another way to use the plant....

Harvesting for Beginners As a new gardener, it’s advisable to learn how to harvest vegetables to avoid damaging both the produce and the plants. Before heading out to the garden, review some of these basic harvesting guide protocols: Pick gently – When harvesting, grasp the veggie gently, but firmly. Ripe produce can easily bruise, which can lead to premature spoilage. Snap cleanly – Some vegetable stems have a natural breaking point while others may rip or tear when the fruit is removed....

The Harvesting of Coconut Trees Coconut is the most economically important of the palm family, and is grown as both a food crop as well as an ornamental. Coconuts are cultivated for their meat, or copra, which is pressed to release oil. The residual cake is then used to feed livestock. Coconut oil was the leading vegetable oil in use until 1962 when it was bypassed in popularity by soybean oil....

Harvesting Rosemary Tips on how to dry rosemary must include a talk on timing. Most herbs are best just before flowering when the oils are at their peak. Cut the stems in the morning just after the dew dries and before the heat of the day is at its height. Use pruners when harvesting rosemary from mature plants with woody stems. Wash the stems before you begin drying rosemary. How to Dry Fresh Rosemary Fresh rosemary is easiest to use because the leaves are soft and pliable....

When to Use Rue Herbs Rue (Ruta graveolens) has acclimatized to the United States and can be grown in USDA zones 4 to 9. A fascinating herb, the shrub bears small yellow flowers that, along with its foliage, emit a strong, some say obnoxious, fragrance. Interesting in that the genus, Ruta, belongs to the family Rutaceae, whose members include aromatic citrus trees. More interestingly, ‘graveolens’ is Latin for “having a strong or offensive smell....

When Do Hens and Chicks Plants Bloom? A rambunctious clump of hens and chicks has a special allure to children and adults alike. The small plants are adaptable and resilient, producing flower-like clusters of varying-sized rosettes. Gardeners new to the plants may say, “My hens and chicks are flowering,” and wonder if this is a natural occurrence. Blooms on hens and chicks plants are not only natural but an additional wonder with this fun, diminutive Sempervivum....

Learning to identify poison ivy, as well as understanding more about how to alleviate its symptoms, can help reduce its spread and the discomfort that it can cause. Treating a Poison Ivy Rash For many, exposure to poison ivy plants goes unnoticed until you begin to exhibit symptoms, usually about 12 to 72 hours later. Most frequently, contact points begin to itch and are soon covered in red bumps, irritating rashes, or painful blisters....

Hosta Cold Tolerance Prized for their color and texture, hostas can be grown in USDA zones 4 through 9. In these zones, the hosta growing season ends when temperatures dip below 50 degrees F. (10 C.) at night. Hostas in winter go into a kind of stasis and this temperature dip is a signal to the plant to become dormant until temperatures warm in the spring. All hostas thrive when subjected to freezing or near freezing temperatures during their dormant phase....

There are over 50 species of the Kris plant and Alocasia hybrids around, making it difficult to identify the exact genetic history of the plants typically sold in catalogs and stores. Grown for its striking foliage, the African mask plant is not an easy-care houseplant. About Alocasia Indoor Planting Alocasia indoor planting requires conditions that closely replicate its natural outdoor environment, which is warm and very humid. It is particular about its soil and light conditions and needs to be planted in a specific way....

Houseplant Spring Care: Repotting If your plants need a little more space, spring is a good time for repotting them into slightly larger containers. Don’t repot if it isn’t necessary, and keep in mind that some plants are happier if their roots are a little crowded. Avoid too-large pots, as the excess moisture can cause root rot. How to tell if a plant needs to be repotted? Look for signs like roots growing through the drainage hole, circling the inside of the pot, or growing mat-like over the surface of the potting mix....

How Do Cranberry Plants Reproduce? Cranberries do, of course, have seeds, but sowing seeds isn’t the usual method for cranberry propagation. Usually, cuttings or seedlings are used for reproducing cranberries. That isn’t to be said that propagating via seed can’t be done. Sowing cranberries from seed just requires patience and perseverance, as they can take anywhere from three weeks to several months to germinate. How to Propagate Cranberries If you want to propagate cranberries using cuttings or seedlings, remember that the plant will not start to fruit until it’s about three years old....

If there are pet feces in the garden, is disinfecting contaminated soil even necessary? After all, many gardeners add manure to the soil, so what is different about dog poop in soil? Cat or Dog Poop in Soil Yes, many gardeners amend their soil with nutrient-rich manure, but the difference between putting pet feces in the garden and spreading some steer manure is huge. Manures used in gardens are either treated so they are pathogen-free (sterile) or have been composted and heated to kill off any pathogens....