Amaryllis Bulbs Propagation Through Seeds While you can propagate amaryllis by seed, it will take them at least three to five years to mature, or flower. You should look for seedpods within four weeks of flowering. Once the pods are ready to harvest, they will turn yellow and begin splitting open. Gently shake out the black seeds into pots or flats. Seeds should be sown in shallow, well-draining soil and lightly covered....

Anaheim Pepper Information Anaheim pepper grows as a perennial and can produce peppers over three years or more. It is an erect plant that grows to 1.5 feet (46 cm.) tall. It is mild rather than mouth-scorching and excellent for cooking and stuffing. For those interested in Anaheim pepper growing, note that the plant is easy to grow. All you need is a basic knowledge of Anaheim pepper care. How to Grow Anaheim Peppers Getting informed about the basic growth requirements of the Anaheim will help you produce a healthy, low-maintenance plant....

What is Annatto? Before you start growing achiote trees, you’ll want to learn a little bit about the fascinating annatto plant. So exactly what is annatto? The tree is native to South America. The scientific name of this small tree is Bixa orellana, while the common name is lipstick plant. Both annatto and achiote are terms used in the Caribbean to refer to the tree’s unusual seeds or the plant itself....

Northeast Garden Guide While some April garden tasks are quick and easy, others may require more time and dedication. April Gardening To-Do List Clean garden tools – Cleaning and preparing garden tools for the growing season is essential to beginning April garden tasks. Making sure that tools are clean and in proper working order makes it easier to care for plants and prevents the spread of disease in the garden. So, if you haven’t already done so, get those tools in tip-top shape....

How are Bird Droppings Beneficial to Plants? In short, bird droppings make great fertilizer. Many gardeners depend on bird droppings for plants in the form of rotted chicken manure, which increases the nutrient level and water-holding capacity of soil. You can’t, however, just toss a lot of bird poop on the soil and expect it to work miracles. In fact, large amounts of bird droppings in the garden may carry harmful pathogens....

Shrews in the Garden Although they are frequently mistaken for mice, shrews are insectivores. They dine on a variety of garden pests including slugs, snails, beetles, caterpillars, centipedes and millipedes, among others. Shrews also eat small mice and snakes and occasionally a small bird. They have huge appetites and can eat three times their body weight in a single day. Shrew live primarily in thick vegetation and moist plant debris. They generally don’t burrow, but they may take advantage of tunnels created by voles and moles....

Cross Pollination in Avocados Pollinating in avocado trees is, indeed, the result of cross pollination in avocados. The flowers of the avocado tree are referred to as perfect, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs. The blooms are yellow green, ½ inch (1 cm.) across and born in clusters or panicles of 200 to 300 near the end of the branches. Of these hundreds of blooms, about five percent are sterile....

Choosing the Right Azalea While azaleas can be enjoyed in many different regions, it is best to select a shrub that is hardy for your growing zone. The next step is to choose a shrub that fits the needs of your landscape. Are you looking for an evergreen azalea that will retain its leaves all year long, or a deciduous type typically with a larger bloom size but with the compromise of loss of leaves in the fall?...

Planning for How You Use Your Backyard Since the backyard is going to accommodate your individual needs as well as those of your family, planning your landscaping design beforehand is crucial. You want a backyard to be functional; therefore, you should first determine how it will be used. Ask yourself questions. No one knows your family and needs better than you. Will you be doing a lot of entertaining? Do you have children?...

What is a Bear Paw Succulent? With dark red edges, the fuzzy foliage of the bear paw (Cotyledon tomentosa) is squat and chubby with upper tips that resemble an animal’s foot or paw. The dark red appears when the plant is mildly stressed and makes the shape stand out, drawing attention to the attractive shrub-like plant. It is small and fragile, with leaves becoming chubbier with the amount of water they hold....

Beets are a favorite garden vegetable of gardeners in the United States. Also known as blood turnips or red beets, table beets provide a nutritious source of vitamins C and A. Beet tops or greens can be cooked or served fresh, while the roots may be pickled or cooked whole. Beets are also popular ingredients in many vegetable smoothie and juice recipes. What happens when you have deformed beets or your beets are too small though?...

Uses for Stinging Nettle Root If you have ever been hiking in North America near streams, lakes, and other areas with rich soil you might have encountered stinging nettle and it isn’t a meeting you are likely to forget. However, this plant is one of the most tasty forage plants available, in spite of its sting. Young shoots and leaves are delicious edibles, and tea from the dried foliage is a traditional medicinal as well as plant fertilizer....

What is a Black Diamond Watermelon? Black Diamond is an heirloom, open-pollinated variety of watermelon. For generations, Black Diamond watermelons have been a popular choice for both commercial and home growers for many reasons. Black Diamond watermelon plants produce vigorous vines, which often yield fruits weighing in excess of 50 lbs. (23 kg.). Due to the large size of fruits, gardeners can expect this plant to require a long growing season in order to harvest fully ripe melons....

About Zone 4 Blackberries There is nothing like a sun-kissed, plump, ripe blackberry plucked from a cane and popped directly into the mouth. Sure, you might be risking a few (or a lot) of scrapes and scratches, but it’s all worth it in the end. There are numerous newer cultivars out there meant to tame the rampant ramblings of these thorny canes, making the fruit more accessible. With hundreds of species worldwide, including dozens native to North America, there’s bound to be a blackberry for you....

Bonanza Peach Tree Information Bonanza miniature peach trees are dwarf fruit trees that only grow to about 5 or 6 feet (1.5 to 2 m.) tall. And the tree will grow well in zones 6 through 9, so it is an option for many home gardeners. The fruits are large and sweet, with a delicious flavor and juicy, yellow flesh. These are freestone peaches, so they are easy to free from the pit....

Even if you can’t be convinced to bring it into the kitchen, borage is a favorite of bees to such an extent that it’s often called Bee Bread. No matter who’s eating it, borage is great to have around, and so easy to grow. Keep reading to learn about borage seed propagation and growing borage from seeds. Borage Seed Growing Borage is a hardy annual, which means that the plant will die in a frost, but the seeds can survive in the frozen ground....

Some plants, like African violets, get discolored and covered in spots if you drop water on the leaves. If your plant is becoming root bound, moisture might not soak into the soil and may run down the sides of the planter instead. Watering potted plants from the bottom eliminates these problems and adds moisture to the soil in a more efficient way. You’ll save time and effort as well as give your plants a healthier environment once you learn how to water plants from the bottom....

Braeburn Information Braeburn apple trees grow about 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 m.) tall and wide. With the proper pollinator, Braeburn apples will produce a plethora of white, sweetly scented apple blossoms in spring. These blossoms are an important nectar source for many pollinators. When the blooms fade, the trees produce large orange to red streaked apples which are usually harvested in October. Many apple lovers rate the flavor of Braeburn higher than other classic favorites such as Granny Smith....

Insect Pests of Watermelon Although there are many, many insects that would love to take a bite out of your melons, some are more common visitors to the garden than others. Effectively controlling watermelon pests requires that you understand exactly what is eating your plants so you can nab the culprit and not hurt the beneficial insects that are trying to aid your cause. Keep an eye out for these offenders next time you’re in the garden:...

What are Calotropis Plants? With some basic calotropis plant information, you can make a good choice of variety and location for this pretty flowering shrub. Calotropis is a genus of plants that are also known as milkweeds. Different types of calotropis have various common names, but they are all related and similar. Milkweeds are often considered weeds, and although native to Asia and Africa, have become naturalized in Hawaii and California....