What Does “Cut and Come Again” Mean? There are a couple of ways to extend your harvest in the garden. Succession planting is one way and planting a fall vegetable garden is another. “Cut and come again” harvesting also extends the harvest of some vegetables. Vegetables that grow in rosettes such as lettuces are one of the best examples of cut and come again. Instead of allowing the lettuce to reach a large mature size and then harvesting the entirety, only harvest the outer leaves retaining the inner to grow more leaves....

What is Geranium Rust? Geranium rust is a disease caused by the fungus Puccinia Pelargonii-zonalis. It originated in South Africa, but over the course of the 20th century, it spread throughout the world, reaching the continental United States in 1967. It is now a serious problem for geraniums worldwide, particularly in greenhouses where quarters are close and humidity is high. Geranium Leaf Rust Symptoms Rust on a geranium begins as small, pale yellow circles on the underside of the leaves....

Learn About USDA Maryland Planting Map Farmers and gardeners who wish to determine winter plant hardiness for particular crops and plants use the USDA plant hardiness zone map. The map considers average annual extreme winter temperature data over a 30-year period to create growing zones in 10-degree F. increments. The USDA released a new map for 2012, which takes into account changes in winter low temperatures over the last 30 years....

There are hydroponic growing systems on the market in various price ranges, but using inexpensive canning jars is a budget-friendly option. With a little creativity, your hydroponic mason jar garden can be a quintessential part of your kitchen décor. Making a Hydroponic Garden in Glass Jars In addition to mason jars, you will need some specific supplies to grow hydroponic plants in a jar. These supplies are fairly inexpensive and can be purchased online or from hydroponic supply stores....

What are Growing Pot Kits? A quick search online or a trip to your local garden center will turn up these mini gift pots. They come with everything needed to grow a flower or houseplant, a small pot full of soil with seeds, and instructions. Flowerpots as gifts with plants already growing are great, but it’s a fun project to start something indoors, especially in winter. People love these gifts, and they work well for advanced gardeners and beginners....

What is Molybdenum? Molybdenum is important for both plants and animals. In plant growth, it helps in the nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur cycles. Soils are the molybdenum sources for plants. Molybdate is the form that plants can uptake to get the element. Sandy soils and acidic soils contain less available molybdenum for plant growth. The element is crucial to the functions of nitrogenase and nitrate reductase, two enzymes important for nitrogen-fixing and nitrogen reduction....

Signs of Mosaic Virus in Peppers The main signs of pepper plants with mosaic virus are stunted, pale green or leathery leaves, specks or ring spots, and a tell-tale mosaic appearance consisting of dark and light spots or streaks on the foliage – and sometimes the peppers. Other signs of mosaic virus in peppers include curled or wrinkled leaves and stunted plant growth. Peppers with the disease may display blistered or warty areas....

Pests Causing Yellow Leaves on Viburnum Aphids can cause big problems for viburnums, including puckered, yellowing leaves. Spray aphids with insecticidal soap spray every couple of days, but never when temperatures are over 85 F. (29 C.). A few drops of rubbing alcohol added to the soap mixture creates an even greater punch. Secondly, use bait stations to eliminate nearby ants, as they protect aphids so they have unimpeded access to their sweet honeydew excretion....

Naranjilla Water Requirements Naranjilla has moderate water requirements, and it really needs to have well-drained soil. It will not tolerate or grow well with standing water or soggy roots. Before you put it in your garden, consider naranjilla irrigation, how you’ll water it, and be sure that the soil will drain adequately. The naranjilla shrub, or small tree, is a subtropical plant that produces an orange fruit. You can harvest the fruit, if you can get around the terrifying spines, and use it to make juice....

Night Phlox Information This South African native is an heirloom plant, botanically called Zaluzianskya capensis. If you have already grown a moon garden in your home landscape, this annual phlox is easy to include. If you’re thinking of starting an evening fragrance garden, night-blooming phlox can have its own spot or be paired with other fragrant plants. Night phlox bloom in shades of white, purple, and even maroon. Night-blooming phlox offers a honey-almond, vanilla fragrance that combines well with the sweet scents of angel’s trumpets, the rich clove smell of dianthus, and the perfume-like jasmine scent of four o’clock plants....

Reasons for Lychee Not Flowering One of the most delightful aspects of a lychee tree is its long clusters of small flowers in early spring. In warmer zones, the flowers appear in February and March. In cooler parts of the range, look for them in April. If you see no flowers on lychee trees in your yard, there is definitely a problem. Temperature – Climate is the first thing to consider when lychee trees won’t flower, or you notice lychee flower drop....

Comprehensive Book for Designing Organic Gardens For the backyard organic gardener, there is no better book than The Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening, published by Rodale Press. This gem of a book has been constantly reprinted since 1959. With well over a thousand pages of information, this organic gardening book is considered the bible by most organic growers. A word of caution though: The Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening went through a major revision in the early 1990’s, and while it now has more illustrations, much of the better information was cut....

Got a brown thumb or not as attentive to your plants as you should be? If so, then this resilient plant is for you. Cast iron makes a great easy-to-care for houseplant, but will cast iron plants grow outside? Read on to learn more. Will Cast Iron Plants Grow Outside? Yes! You can grow cast iron plants in gardens – in the right setting. If you’re looking to grow cast iron plant as a perennial, keep in mind that while a cast iron plant can withstand a lot of adverse conditions lobbied at it, winter could be the kryptonite to this superhero plant....

Pachysandra is an invasive perennial ground cover that spreads throughout the garden by means of underground stems and roots. Once it gets a foothold in the garden, it is very difficult to control. Pachysandra plants can overrun your garden and escape into wild areas where it displaces native plants. How to Get Rid of Pachysandra in the Garden If you find your garden overrun with this ground cover, then you’ll need to know how to control pachysandra plant....

Harvesting Edible Flowers Flowers have been used for centuries from China to Morocco to Ecuador for making teas, tinctures, and aromatics but they have also been used in cuisine from soups to pies and even stir-fries. That doesn’t mean that every flower you encounter is edible. Many of us already utilize the blossoms from our herb gardens but there are many other edible flowers. Before picking flowers to eat, however, be sure to identify the flower first....

How to Grow Alfalfa Plant Easily grown and propagated, alfalfa adapts well to nearly any garden, tolerating a wide range of growing conditions. It makes a good drought-resistant plant too, as it doesn’t like wet feet. In fact, too much moisture can lead to mold growth. When growing alfalfa, choose an area with plenty of full sun. Also look for a well-draining area with a soil pH level between 6.8 and 7....

About Planting Bulbs Most bulbs are either spring flowering or summer flowering. You can plant spring bulbs in autumn, then summer bulbs in spring. The preliminary steps for planting bulbs are very much the same as for garden plants. You need to cultivate the soil down to a depth of 12 to 14 inches (31-35 cm.) and be sure that the soil drains well. Organic compost can be added to clay soil to increase drainage....

Gardening in Washington State Gardening in Washington State is all over the map. There are arid, coastal, mountainous, rural and urban regions. Knowing what to plant in May will depend upon your last average frost. An Eastern planting calendar for May will vary greatly from one for the West side of the state. Western Washington Planting Guide Again a planting calendar for May will vary depending upon your location. In general for the western side of the state, the frost free growing season begins March 24 and ends Nov....

Planting Coconut Trees To start to grow a coconut plant, begin with a fresh coconut that still has the husk on it. When you shake it, it still should sound like it has water in it. Soak it in water for two to three days. After the coconut has soaked, place it in a container filled with well-draining potting soil. It is best to mix in a little sand or vermiculite to make sure the soil you will be growing coconut trees in drains well....

Can You Plant Dracaena Outdoors? Dracaena varieties are among the most popular houseplants because they have gorgeous foliage, come in a lot of different sizes and colors, and because they are difficult to kill. One sure way to kill your dracaena is to plant it outdoors in a climate that is too cold. Dracaena is a tropical plant that won’t tolerate frost. If you live in zones 9, 10, or 11 though, go for it....