What is Broccoli Rabe? What is broccoli rabe (pronounced rob)? It’s a garden vegetable with a rap sheet as long as your arm. This bad boy is also known as broccoli raab, rapa, rapini, taitcat, and Italian turnip and in some parts of the world, it’s known as rape. Even in Latin, this villain plant can’t catch a break. Some botanists label it Brassica rapa and others Brassica ruvo. What is broccoli rabe?...

Growing Bulbs in Shade Shade gardens in the yard generally fall into two categories: gardens next to buildings and gardens underneath trees. Each has its own particular set of issues to deal with. Bulbs planted next to buildings may suffer from lack of moisture due to overhanging roofs and patio awnings. These gardens may need extra watering, as nature isn’t as likely to provide all the moisture they need. Gardens underneath trees pose their own challenges....

Growing Conditions for Vegetables When it comes to vegetable gardening, the most important elements to focus on are soil, sunlight, plant types, and maintenance. Soil for Vegetables The soil in the vegetable garden should be loose and include organic matter. Organic matter improves soil by releasing nitrogen, minerals, and other nutrients needed for healthy plant growth. Composting is a great way to add fertility to poor soil areas. Nearly any plant material can be composted and used in the garden....

About Caulanthus Desert Candles Finding unique plants for hot, dry locations is often a challenge. Enter the Desert Candle flower. Caulanthus Desert Candles grow wild in southern California and Nevada. It is part of the wild flora of the hot Mojave Desert. It can be difficult to find plants for sale, but seed is available. This is a heat and drought tolerant plant with an interesting form and very pretty flowers....

Globe Amaranth Info Globe amaranth plants (Gomphrena globosa) grow from 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.) high. They have fine white hairs covering young growth, which matures to thick green stems. The leaves are oval and arranged alternately along the stem. The blooms of globe amaranth start in June and may last until October. The flower heads are clusters of florets that resemble large clover flowers. They range in color from pink, yellow, white, and lavender....

Which Herbs Like Full Sun? Like most plants, herbs generally want more sun. These herbs will thrive in full sun, but if you can only provide partial sun, between three and six hours per day, they’ll be fine: Chives. This onion relative can grow in only partial sun, but you’ll get more chive blossoms in full sun. Chervil. Grow chervil to use fresh in salads. It will reseed itself readily, even in a spot with a little shade....

Finding heat-tolerant herbs that will grow in Texas climates is the key to success. So let’s take a look at some herbs for Texas gardens which will survive this brutal summer weather. Texas Summer Herbs Basil – This family of heat-tolerant herbs includes varieties such as the common sweet basil as well as Genovese, purple, Thai, African blue, and ruffles. One of the best Texas summer herbs, varieties of basil offer a potpourri of flavors, textures, and leaf shapes....

How Often Should I Water a Hanging Basket? Hanging baskets are eye-popping beauties that draw the eye upward and create decorative spaces where normally plants don’t grow. They are also useful in bringing the garden closer to the patio, lanai or deck. Hanging basket water requirements are more defined than in-ground plants, because soil doesn’t harbor moisture and much of the water will void through drainage holes and from the container exterior....

Hardwood and Softwood Trees The first thing to learn about hardwood and softwood trees is that the trees’ wood is not necessarily hard or soft. But “softwood vs. hardwood trees” became a thing in the 18th and 19th centuries and, at that time, it did refer to the heft and weight of the trees. Farmers clearing their land on the east coast in those early days used saws and axes and muscles when they logged....

Palm Trees that Grow in Zone 7 Needle Palm – This is the most cold hardy palm around, and a great choice for any new cold weather palm grower. Needle palm has been reported to be hardy down to -10 degrees F. (-23 C.). It does best with full sun and protection from wind, though. Windmill Palm – This is the hardiest of the trunked palm varieties. Windmill palm has a very good survival rate in zone 7, withstanding temperatures down to -5 degrees F....

Storing Sweet Potatoes for Winter Sweet potatoes are delicious eaten right after harvest, but their true flavors deepen as they cure. During the curing process, the starches in the tuber turn into sugar, intensifying the buttery sweet flavor and texture of the potato. Once the curing process has been finished, the sweet potatoes are ready to be packed for long-term storage. Traditional methods recommend storing sweet potatoes in some sand, but you can also use a box or perforated plastic bag in the right temperatures and conditions....

Can You Eat Radish Greens? Yes indeed, you can eat radish greens. In fact, they are super nutritious and delicious, tasting much like their relatives, the turnip greens or mustard. So how come many of us have never tasted this culinary delight? Many varieties of radish have foliage peppered with slight hairs. When eaten, these hairs assault the tongue with an unpleasant prickly sensation. This is no doubt a defense of the plant which, after all, does not want to be eaten; it wants to continue to mature into seed pods....

When to Harvest Vegetables Timing for harvesting vegetables is primarily dictated by the length of time they have been growing. This information is found on seed packets, but there are other indications of when to harvest vegetables as well. Veggies continue to improve or degrade after they are picked. When they are mature at harvest, their life process needs to be slowed by chilling, while immature produce like green tomatoes need to have that process sped up by storing at room temperature....

Are Nandina Berries Poisonous? Nandina shrubs have many traits that make them appealing to gardeners. These plants have year-round interest with spring flowers, ornamental fruits, and sometimes autumn color. They tolerate drought, shade, and salt and are quite resistant to damage by deer. In addition, they are free of serious pest issues. However, before planting nandina shrubs, you need to read up on heavenly bamboo berries and birds. One of the most ornamental features of this bush is its shiny red berries, quite similar to holly berries....

Henna Tree Information Where does henna come from? Henna, the staining paste that has been used for centuries, comes from the henna tree (Lasonia intermis). So what is a henna tree? It was used by the Ancient Egyptians in the mummification process, it has been used as a skin dye in India since antiquity, and it is mentioned by name in the Bible. Since its ties with human history are so ancient, it’s unclear where exactly it comes from originally....

What’s Wrong with My Horse Chestnut Tree? As with all trees, there is always a chance of pest infestation and disease infection. These trees are popular but have recently experienced serious health problems from the horse chestnut leaf miner and bacterial bleeding canker. How can we avoid horse chestnut problems like this in our trees? Here are some tips for identification of horse chestnut issues and how to avoid the problems....

Research by a team of NASA scientists indicates that these helpful houseplant air purifiers clean the air during the natural process of photosynthesis. The pollutants, absorbed by the leaves, are eventually broken down by microbes in the soil. Although all plants are believed to be beneficial, researchers discovered that some plants are especially effective at removing dangerous pollutants. Best Houseplants to Purify Air Air purifying houseplants include several familiar, inexpensive, easy-to-grow houseplants....

Some say they’ve planted trailing succulents around the edges of the container so they can spill over the sides. Others have created a mound of soil in the middle of the top to add height. Some have planted to continue attracting birds. Give thought to your purpose before you work out a design. Consider it the same as any shallow dish for succulents. How to Make a Succulent Birdbath Container Bore extra drainage holes if needed, being careful not to crack the part you’re planting....

What is a Brown Turkey Fig? Brown Turkey figs (Ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey”) are sweet, delicious fruits that have rusty red to purplish skin and richly toned pink flesh. The trees are suited for a Mediterranean climate and produce prolifically, which in some areas makes them invasive. Brown turkey fig trees are quite commonly available, as they have a zone tolerance of USDA 7 to 11. Even gardeners with relatively short growing seasons should be able to harvest some of the candy-like fruits....

How to Grow Chamomile from Seed There are two different species of plants commonly known as chamomile. Chamaemelum mobile, also commonly known as English, Russian, or Roman chamomile, is a low-growing perennial. It is considered to be the true chamomile and is used in landscapes as a flowering groundcover or lawn substitute. English chamomile is hardy in zones 4-11 and is cultivated all over the world for its herbal properties. German chamomile, or Matricaria recutita, is also cultivated as the herb chamomile, but it is considered the false chamomile....