Squash with Powdery Mildew Powdery mildew spreads rapidly and can travel a long distance. In addition to squash plants, it may afflict any number of veggies, including: Artichokes Cucumbers Eggplant Lettuce Melons Parsnips Peas Radishes Tomatoes Turnips However, there is a different species of powdery mildew that attacks each different veggie. In the case of cucurbits, there are three different fungal species responsible for causing powdery mildew: Podosphaera xanthii, Golovinomyces cucurbitacearum, and Golovinomyces orontii....

Staghorn Fern Plant Problems Staghorn ferns can be interesting and exotic additions to your home or landscape. Their large, antler-like leaves are showy and dramatic, making them a favorite of fern enthusiasts. Like any plant, diseases of staghorn fern can develop, but they’re extremely few and far between. In fact, sick staghorn ferns are much more likely to be troubled by incorrect growing conditions than they are actual disease, so if your plant is looking unwell, take heart....

Anise vs. Star Anise The pungent flavor of anise adds interest and regional significance to many dishes. Are star anise and anise the same? Not only are they from completely different regions and growing climates, but the plants are very distinct. One stems from an herbaceous plant related to parsley while the other is a 65 foot (20 m.) tall tree. The herb anise (Pimpinella anisum) is from the Mediterranean region....

Sundew Plant Information There are over 90 species of sundew. The majority are found in Australia and South Africa, but they also grow in hot, humid areas of Georgia, Florida, and other similar climates. The plants prefer acidic soils and are usually where there is a bog or marsh and often grow on top of sphagnum moss. Sundews are in the genera Drosera and common varieties are often seen in houseplant stores....

Can You Eat a Whole Sunflower? Can you eat a whole sunflower? This food trend is a little out there but definitely worth trying. Cooking a whole sunflower sounds like a wacky idea, but think about it. We often snack on the nutritious seeds and the squirrels sure seem to like them. The trick to perfect grilled sunflower heads is timing of your harvest. Learn how to cook a sunflower head and get a surprising culinary experience....

Gravel in the Landscape Too much gravel in the landscape may not be wise. There are many reasons why large amounts of gravel are not an ideal addition to a xeriscaped yard. The first is that gravel tends to reflect rather than absorb the heat in these areas. The reflected heat will add stress to the plants that are planted in the graveled area. The second reason is that gravel may harm your xeriscape by working its way into the soil....

How to Grow Tiara Cabbages Reaching sizes up to 3 lbs. (1 kg.), these early maturing hybrid cabbages are ideal for use in salads, stir fry, slaw, and sauerkraut. Since plants remain small, tight spacing allows growers to use the area more efficiently. In addition to their growth habit, these cabbages hold well in the garden. This allows for a larger harvest window throughout the growing season. Growing Tiara cabbage variety is similar to growing other cultivars....

Garlic Varieties Gardeners in warmer climates, USDA zones 7 through 9, will have a difficult time growing garlic in the garden from just any garlic varieties. Most likely you will want to look for some of the gourmet or heirloom cultivars that grow well in warmer weather. These cultivars include: Creoles Asiatic Hardnecks Marbled Purple Stripe These cultivars may not be available at your local garden center but can be found online at many reputable online garlic dealers....

Red Oak Tree Characteristics and Info Red oak is a hardy tree suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. This moderately fast-growing oak tree reaches mature heights of 60 to 75 feet (19-23 m.), with a spread of 45 to 50 feet (14-15 m.). The tree is valued for its deep root system, which makes it useful for planting near urban streets and sidewalks. How to Grow a Red Oak Tree Planting a red oak tree is best done in spring or fall so the roots have time to settle in before the arrival of hot, dry weather....

Can You Plant Forced Flowering Bulb Container Plants Outside? Many people enjoy forcing flowering bulb container plants in the winter. Container plants that have been previously forced into bloom cannot be forced again; however, you can plant bulbs in the garden. If you plan to replant these forced bulbs outdoors, sprinkle a small amount of bulb boosting fertilizer on top of the soil, as most will not flower well again without some help....

Reasons for an Empty Husk on Tomatillos Empty tomatillo husks are usually due to environmental factors, such as extreme heat and humidity or lack of insect pollinators. You may also find empty husks on tomatillos when you have only planted one plant. Besides the environmental factors that cause empty husks, tomatillos are also susceptible to diseases that prevent the fruit from forming and growing properly. Fixes for No Tomatillo Fruit in Husk Tomatillos are pollinated by bees and other insects that move from flower to flower....

What is Tomato Blight? What is tomato blight? It’s actually three different fungi that attack tomatoes in three different ways at three different times. Septoria blight, also called leaf spot, is the most common blight on tomatoes. It usually appears at the end of July with small black or brown marks on the lower leaves. While fruits may remain uninfected, the leaf loss can affect yield as well as exposing the fruit to sunscald....

Trap Crop Info Interest in trap crop info has increased in recent years, along with the growth of interest in organic gardening and a growing concern over pesticide use, not only for its potential to harm animal life, including humans, but because spraying can destroy beneficial insects. Trap cropping is generally most useful in larger plantings, but can be scaled down depending on the crop and trap used. In order to learn how to use trap cops successfully, think in terms of a specific pest and learn its preferences for food sources....

Common Strelitzia Diseases As a rule, bird of paradise diseases are few and far between. That doesn’t mean the plant is disease free, of course. The most common disease is root rot. This tends to crop up when the roots of the plant are allowed to sit in water or soggy soil for too long, and it can usually be avoided by letting the soil dry out between waterings. Really, though, root rot is a fungus that is carried on seeds....

Help, My Garlic Fell Over! First things first. I’m stating the obvious for most garlic growers, but here goes. When garlic is reaching maturation, the leaves begin to sag and brown. You end up with garlic plants drooping. If you do a quick math calculation to figure out how many months it has been since you planted the garlic, you may just realize that it’s nearing harvest time. If you’re still in doubt and your memory is like mine (that is like a sieve), simply pull up one of droopy plants....

Annuals and Perennials That Bloom Late Summer

What is Subterranean Composting? Like it sounds, subterranean composting is a method of decomposing organic materials by burying them in the ground. Not only do these methods allow gardeners to keep their compost out of sight, but there are additional advantages to composting in the ground: Less work – No need to make compost in one place, then transport it to where you’ll need it. With an in-ground compost system, the decomposed organic materials are right where you want them....

Mulching with Corn Cobs Although corn cob mulch isn’t as common as bark chips, chopped leaves, or pine needles, mulching with corn cobs provides many benefits and a couple of drawbacks. Read on for information about using corn cobs as mulch. Benefits of Using Corn Cobs as Mulch Ground corn cobs are highly resistant to compaction, so the mulch remains loose even if your garden gets plenty of foot traffic. Corn cob mulch is fire-resistant, unlike bark mulch that is highly combustible and should never be placed near structures....

What Does Lime Do for Soil? The two types of lime that gardeners should become familiar with are agricultural lime and dolomite lime. Both types of lime contain calcium, and dolomite lime also contains magnesium. Lime adds these two essential elements to the soil, but it is more commonly used to correct the soil pH. Most plants prefer a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. If the pH is too high (alkaline) or too low (acidic), plants can’t absorb the nutrients that are available in the soil....

Plant pigments are responsible for the coloring in these plants. Cells of chlorophyll are the primary pigment responsible for the green hue in plants. Variegation in different amounts of this chlorophyll is the cause of variegated plants. Variegated Succulent Plants Several species contain variegated plants, some of the most interesting and unique ones like those that are featured below. If you wish to add a variegated plant to your collection, take a look at these beauties....