What is Onion Basal Plate Rot? Fusarium basal plate rot in onions is caused by several species of Fusarium fungi. These fungi live in the soil and survive there for a long time. The infection occurs in onions when the fungus is able to get in through wounds, insect damage, or root scars on the bottom of the bulb. Warm soil temperatures favor the infection. Temperatures in the soil between 77 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit (25 to 32 degrees Celsius) are optimal....

With fall and winter right around the corner, parents may be looking for off-season gardening ideas. Learning through gardening activities can work as a school project or for any parent who wants to teach their kids how to nurture nature. Off-Season Gardening with Kids COVID gardening with kids can bring them to a closer relationship with nature and they can learn many life skills too. Here are just a few off-season-gardening activities to share with children of all ages....

That said, a good evaluation may be needed for making over your garden to keep up with upgraded lifestyles and overgrown landscapes. Let’s find out how to make over the garden. How to Make Over the Garden Easy makeovers for your home and garden need only require common sense. In evaluating your existing garden, you may find that some plants may not perform as well as they used to due to thicker shrubbery or taller trees....

Are Cheap Garden Supplies Worth It? The old saying: “You get what you pay for” is true when it comes to gardening supplies. The quality of discount and dollar store items is generally not as good as what one might expect from a greenhouse or online gardening supplier. On the other hand, if biodegradable pots from the dollar store last long enough to transplant seedlings into the garden, then they’ve served their purpose....

Fresh or dried, basil leaves are an essential ingredient in many Italian, Greek, and Asian dishes. If you love to make fresh from the garden pesto or caprese salad, you may be growing a type of sweet basil known as Genovese basil. What is Genovese Basil? Genovese basil is a variety of sweet basil that originated in Italy. Its vigorous, large leaves have a sweet, slightly spicy flavor. Genovese basil produces bright green, slightly crinkled leaves that can grow up to 3 inches (8 cm....

Geranium Botrytis Symptoms What is geranium botrytis blight? It is a very troublesome fungal disease that shows up most often in cool, humid conditions. The spores are transmitted to healthy plants via air currents. Symptoms typically begin with brown, water-soaked spots on flowers and leaves, usually attacking wilted blooms first. As the affected areas dry out, they are replaced with masses of fluffy tan, gray, or brown fungal growth. The disease usually spreads to the main stem, weakening the stem and causing flowers to drop from the plant....

Why is My Sweet Corn Not Sweet? “Get the water boiling before you pick the corn.” This is advice of long-time gardeners, and it’s true. The longer the corn sits after picking, the more the sugars convert to starch and sweetness is lost. This is frequently the simple reason for corn that is not sweet. Harvest time is also critical for sweetness. Harvest when corn is at its peak because sweetness fades quickly....

Methods of Graffiti Paint Removal Freedom of speech is an inalienable right, but does it have to occur on your trees? When graffiti taggers hit your trees, the result is not only unsightly but it can convey unsavory messages. Additionally, some paints can cause toxic damage to trees and clog the lenticels which are necessary for tree respiration. Getting graffiti off a tree safely requires some scrubbing and careful monitoring of the plant’s health....

Virgin’s Bower Facts Virgin’s Bower clematis is native to eastern United States and Canada. This perennial, deciduous vine can be found growing in moist lowlands, thickets, and woodlands, especially those bordering streams and ponds. Virgin’s Bower vine readily climbs natural elements like trees and shrubs. It can also spread along the surface of the ground, forming a dense foliage cover. The Virgin’s Bower vine has several common names including Italian clematis, woodbine, and devil’s darning needle....

Growing Edible Taro in the Garden for Food Taro, a member of the family Araceae, is the common name under which a large number of plants reside. Within the family, there are many cultivars of edible taro varieties suited to the garden. Sometimes referred to as ‘elephant ears’ due to the plants large leaves, taro is also called ‘dasheen.’ This perennial tropical to subtropical plant is cultivated for its starchy sweet tuber....

Growing Galia melons isn’t difficult, even in humid or rainy climates. However, Galia melon plants need two to three months of consistently warm weather. Let’s learn how to grow Galia melon plants. Care of Galia Melons Plant Galia melon seeds directly in the garden when soil temperatures are at least 60 degrees F. (16 C.). If you live in a climate with short summers, start seeds indoors about a month earlier....

Planting Holly Bushes The best time for planting holly bushes is either in the spring or fall. The relatively low temperatures combined with higher rainfall will make settling into the new location much less stressful for the holly bush. The best location for planting holly bushes is in well-drained but not dry, slightly acidic soil in full sun. That being said, most hollies are very tolerant of less than ideal locations and will grow well in part shade or dry or swampy soil....

What is Horehound? Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) is a woody stemmed herb that can grow 2 to 2 ½ feet (61-71 cm.) tall. It is a wild herb commonly found in disturbed soils, roadsides, and dry scrublands. The slightly serrated leaves are arranged alternately on the stem and small clustered white, purple, or pink flowers form at the axils in summer. The horehound herb plant is packed with nutritional benefits including high amounts of Vitamins A, B, C, and E....

Growing Kiwi in Zone 8 What kiwis grow in zone 8? Actually, most kiwis can. There are two main types of zone 8 kiwi vines: fuzzy kiwis and hardy kiwis. Fuzzy kiwi (Actindia chinensis and Actinidia deliciosa) are the kiwi fruits that you would find in a grocery store produce department. They have egg size fruit with brown fuzzy skin, green tart pulp, and black seeds. Fuzzy kiwi vines are hardy in zones 7 to 9, though they may need winter protection in zone 7 and 8a....

How to Grow Purple Passion Plants The purple passion plant, also known as velvet plant or gynura, appears to have purple leaves from the thick hairs. As the plant ages, the hairs spread further apart and the color is not as intense. Most purple passion houseplants remain attractive for two to three years. Plant the purple passion plant in a houseplant soil that offers good drainage, as the plant is susceptible to root rot from too much water....

Sunn Hemp Plant Information: Sunn Hemp Uses Sunn hemp is a tropical or subtropical plant that requires warm weather for at least 8 to 12 weeks. It is a perennial in Hawaii, southern Florida, and southern Texas but can be grown as a summer crop in most areas of North America. When planted as a cover crop (sometimes known as “green manure”) it provides nitrogen, builds organic matter, improves soil health, reduces erosion, and conserves water....

Selecting Orchids for Zone 8 Cold-hardy orchids are terrestrial, which means they grow on the ground. They are generally much tougher and less finicky than epiphytic orchids, which grow in trees. Here are a few examples of zone 8 orchids: Lady Slipper orchids (Cypripedium spp.) are among the most commonly planted terrestrial orchids, probably because they are easy to grow and many can survive extremely frigid temperatures as low as USDA plant hardiness zone 2....

Why Make a Ball of Succulents? DIY crafters are consistently challenging the rest of us with distinctive projects both in and outside the home. A succulent sphere is just one of the new endeavors involving this group of plants. We’ve seen succulents as part of roof and wall gardens, growing in old shoes, included in floral arrangements, and more. The plant’s amazing adaptability makes them perfect for many interesting endeavors. Who came up with the idea of a DIY succulent ball?...

How and When to Harvest Borage Before we get into borage harvesting, a little more info about the plant is useful. An ancient herb, borage also goes by the names “bee plant,” “bee bread,” talewort, starflower, and cool-tankard. The reference to bees is particularly apt, as the plant is an excellent bee attractor with its also aptly named star-shaped flowers. Borage flowers are usually bright blue, but the cultivar ‘Alba’ has white flowers....

This is just as important – if not more important – for gardeners in regions with hot, arid summers. If this is you, you may be wondering what plants are heat tolerant and, specifically, which are perennials that like the heat. We’ve made this easy by pulling together a shortlist of heat loving perennials you can rely on in hot-summer climates. Perennials for Hot Climates Some very ornamental flowers are perfect perennials for hot climates....