Kettle River Garlic Info Kettle River Giant garlic is an artichoke type garlic which is capable of producing large garlic bulbs. Though the size of the bulbs will vary depending upon growing conditions in the garden, it is not uncommon for it to reach sizes of 4 inches (10 cm.) across. Developed in the Pacific Northwest, this giant Kettle River garlic also demonstrates an impressive tolerance for both cold and hot temperatures....

Kiwi Plant Identification To determine kiwi plant gender, one must only wait for the plant to bloom. Ascertaining the sex of male and female kiwi vines lies in the differences between the flowers. Understanding the difference between male and female kiwi vines will determine whether the plant will set fruit. Female kiwi plant identification will appear as flowers with long sticky stigmas radiating out from the center of the bloom. Additionally, the female flowers do not produce pollen....

Growing Lacebark Pines Lacebark pine is a slow-growing tree that, in the garden, reaches heights of 40 to 50 feet (12-15 m.). The width of this picturesque tree is usually at least 30 feet (9 m.), so allow plenty of space for growing lacebark pines. If you’re short on space, dwarf lacebark pine trees are available. For example, ‘Diamant’ is a miniature variety that tops out at 2 feet (61 cm....

What is Top Dressing? What is top dressing? Top dressing is an application of a thin layer of soil over a turfgrass area and is used to smooth and level the surface or to modify the soil condition, usually no more than ¼ to ½ inch (6 mm. to 1 cm.). Top dressing is also used to control thatch, protect from extreme temperatures, and amend the soil medium around the roots....

Since often it is stressed trees that are infested, the best defense is to provide adequate irrigation and use good cultural practices. Read on for more information about the causes of eucalyptus tree oozing. Why is My Eucalyptus Tree Leaking Sap? The first time you see a eucalyptus tree dripping sap, you may think it looks like it is weeping or bleeding. In fact, the fluid you see coming from holes in the weeping eucalyptus is the attempt of the eucalyptus to kill and wash out boring insects....

What is Big Vein Virus of Lettuce? Big vein lettuce virus is a viral disease. Both Mirafiori Lettuce Big Vein Virus (MLBVV) and Lettuce Big Vein Associate Virus (LBVaV) are associated with big vein infected lettuce plants, but only MLBVV has been identified as a causal agent. It is certain, however, that this viral disease is transmitted by an oomycete, Olpidium virulentus, previously known as O. brassicae – also known as water mold....

Bean Tips for Insect Pests Several insect pests attack beans. However, most of them can be easily removed by hand or with soapy water. If you’re having problems growing beans, you may want to check the garden for evidence of insect damage. Frequent inspection and prompt removal are important steps in order to control or alleviate the development of heavy infestations, which usually require more drastic measures, such as the use of pesticides....

Zucchini Pests and Insects One of the most common zucchini problems is insect pests. The zucchini plant basically looks like a buffet table to a great many insects. Some common zucchini pests include: cutworms cucumber beetles squash bugs vine borers spider mites aphids whiteflies Most zucchini pests can be controlled with regular applications of insecticidal soap or pesticides. Since these different pests can affect the zucchini plant at different times in the growing cycle, it’s best to start a pest control regimen as soon as the zucchini plant is in the ground to avoid these pest problems on growing zucchini....

Growing Red Peppers Takes Time Time is the biggest factor in growing red bell peppers. Believe it or not, virtually all pepper plants are a red pepper plant. Much like a tomato plant, pepper plants have green immature fruit and red mature fruit. Also, just like a tomato, the mature fruit can be yellow or orange. A red pepper plant just needs time. How much time? It depends on the variety....

How to Grow Carrots When you grow carrots, soil surfaces should be cleared of trash, rocks, and large pieces of bark. Finer pieces of plant material can be mixed down into the soil for enrichment. Start out with soil that will help your carrots grow healthy. When you grow carrots, soil should be a sandy, well-drained loam. Heavy soils cause the carrots to mature slowly and the roots will end up unattractive and rough....

Mahonia Information Leatherleaf mahonia (Mahonia bealei) won’t resemble any other plants in your garden. They are small shrubs with sprays of dusty green leaves in curiously horizontal layers. The leaves look like holly plant leaves and are a bit spiny, like those of their relations, barberry shrubs. In fact, like barberries, they can make an effective defensive hedge if planted correctly. According to mahonia information, these plants bloom in winter or early spring, filling the branches with shoots of fragrant, butter-yellow blossom clusters....

What is Leatherleaf? Thick, leathery leaves are often an adaptation of nature that allows plants to survive searing sun and drought. So it may surprise you to learn that this type of leatherleaf is a bog plant, growing in wetlands in the northeastern part of the country, and up through Canada to Alaska. According to leatherleaf plant information, this shrub has narrow, somewhat leathery leaves and huge underground rhizomes. These look like thick roots and, in leatherleaf, they extend up to 12 inches (31 cm....

While it’s all very well to tidy up the garden in winter, moderation is the key. As you work your way through fall garden chores, such as clearing out garden beds and raking up leaves, here are some fall cleanup tips to keep in mind. Lawn and Garden Cleanup As autumn brings cooler temperatures and brisk breezes, many gardeners start on their regular lawn and garden cleanup. The list of fall garden chores usually includes clearing out annual beds, cutting back perennials and raking up autumn leaves....

About Blushed Butter Oaks Lettuce Plants The lettuce varietal ‘Blushed Butter Oaks’ is a newer lettuce developed by Morton and introduced by Fedco in 1997. It is one of the more cold hardy lettuces, and it stays crisp into hot weather longer than many other lettuces. It has pale green, pink blushed leaves that will add a nice touch of color to green salads. The crisp dense heart, reminiscent of oakleaf lettuce, combines nicely with a silky texture and buttery flavor associated with butter types of lettuce....

What is Hyper Red Rumple Lettuce? Red lettuces really brighten up a sandwich or salad. The Hyper Red Rumple plant has an intense, maroon red color with ruffled leaves. Hyper Red Rumple lettuce info states that gardeners in United States Department of Agriculture zones 3 to 9 can grow this plant successfully. Lettuces prefer cool weather and can bolt in hot temperatures, so start this variety in spring or in a cool location for transplant in late summer....

Money Plant Growing Info Also known as Honesty, of the genus Lunaria, silver dollar plants are named for their fruit, with pods dry to flat silverish discs about the size of — you guessed it — silver dollars. They hail from Europe and were one of the first flowers grown in the dooryard gardens of the New World for their pods and edible roots. They are members of the family Brassicaceae or mustard family, which is evident in their foliage: fast-growing, single stems that can reach about 2 feet (61 cm....

Downy Mildew of Cucurbit Crops Cucurbits, which include the previously mentioned crops as well as melons and zucchini, are a group of plants that together make up a big portion of many people’s gardens. If you grow anything from the cucurbit family, your harvest could be limited or destroyed by the onset of downy mildew. A pathogen that is similar to fungus, called Pseudoperonospora cubensis, causes cucurbit downy mildew. The symptoms of an infection are seen in the leaves....

Types of Acer Maple Trees Maple trees are members of the genus Acer, which includes a lot of variety in size, shape, color, and growth habit. With all of the variations, it’s hard to pinpoint a few obvious features that make a tree a maple. To make maple tree identification a little easier, let’s begin by dividing them into two main groups: hard and soft maples. One distinction between the two maple tree types is the rate of growth....

Never be afraid to pinch a few sprigs of mint when you need them, but if you need a large quantity of mint, wait until pruning time. If you want a low-growing bed of mint, you can keep it as short as 4 inches (10 cm.). This is a good height for mint grown in small containers. Otherwise, let it grow 8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm.) tall before you prune it....

Can you dig up an established plant’s roots? You can, but it’s important to do the work carefully to allow the roots to remain intact. Read on for tips on dealing with transplanting old roots. Digging Up Mature Roots In most cases, you never see the mature roots of a plant. You install the young plant in your garden bed, water, fertilize, and enjoy it. However, you may see those old plant roots when you are dividing mature plants or moving plants to another location of the garden....