And some would much prefer the shade. Do you appreciate the rich patina of an antique? Antiques add character to the decor of a home. Why not travel back in time by creating a garden abundant with antique flowers?
While bats are nocturnal animals, Nicotiana have a vespertine fragrance.) Do not cover them, as they need light for germination. Plant them in rich, well-draining soil in a sunny spot.
If you are not familiar with these plants, read-on! They include both annuals and perennials which may be grown in mild to cold regions. As small potted plants in 3- or 4-inch pots.
ClickColorful hosta leaf stems impart a more subtle beauty. There are relatively few hostas in cultivation that have this characteristic. Happy growing!Author's note: I've been watching with interest--and, I admit, with some excitement--the recent development...
Long, broad leaves make the foliage showy as well. Langsdorffi is scentless, and is grown for its color only.Site nicotiana in full sun to light shade. The plant was at first called nicotina, but eventually “nicotine” came to refer only to the alkaloid...
Evaluations are based on number of flowers, the uniformity and habit of the flowers, leaf color, insect and disease resistance, and overall appearance. The other ten winners will be discussed in a future article.
PeoniesPeonies secrete a sweet nectar that is irresistible to ants and other nectar-loving insects. Peonies are seen in Song dynasty (960-1279) artwork, the flower has been a central theme in a great variety of Oriental art and tattoos, and in 1957, the...
I loved the full, ruffled form of them, but the stems were very weak and unable to support the flower heads.The brilliant red and orange colors sported by Gaillardia are very attractive to many winged garden friends, ranging from a wide variety of butterflies,...
Sunflowers are easy to grow; children have fun growing them and wildlife benefits from blooms that go to seed.Rudbeckia,Violas and Iris appear again here in copper-peach color tones.
To reduce moisture loss, trim off all leaves. Most modern homes do not come equipped with root cellars. The hardiest of them, notably Brussels sprouts, kale, and many onions, will survive winter in the garden, while those that turn to mush in frozen ground...
Keep on Top of Them Organic mulches like compost and leaf mold help to suppress weeds, while feeding the soil for the crops you're growing. Lay them around existing crops to give them an advantage over the yet-to-emerge weeds beneath.
Spread over many seasons, the initial purchase becomes very low indeed. I was lucky enough to nab one second-hand a few years ago, and it reduces mountains of branches and twigs to useful mulch every spring and autumn.
Natural stone is often free if you live in a mountainous area, and as long as you stack a low wall so that it tilts slightly backward, into the slope, it should need only minor restacking at the beginning of each season.
I have plenty of compost this time of year, but it likely includes plenty of weed seeds, which doesn't matter when it's sequestered more than 2 inches (5cm) below the soil's surface.
Ripening will always be more effective when the fruits are left on the plant. You can hasten ripening by removing the leaves from immediately around the fruits to minimize the amount of shade cast so that the fruits can remain sun-kissed and work on their...
It's not uncommon on plums and related plants, and in the absence of the distinctive dead, sunken patch it's likely due to other less serious issues, such as stress or a wound. In autumn and winter, spores of Chondrostereum purpureum may infect trees...
Thread the other end of the line through a darning needle then begin threading on your chillies. The warm flow of air will see the fruits dried out within 24 hours or so. If necessary, wipe the fruits with a dry cloth to remove any traces of dirt.
Protecting Seedlings from Drought and Heat Drought can play havoc with seedlings, hampering germination and causing young plants to struggle. It will help you balance and you'll be able to water twice as quickly.
Check the shoots periodically for aphids and plant them before they begin to wither. At this stage cut the foliage off and put it on the compost heap. For many vegetable gardeners the humble potato is the epitome of everything that's good about growing...
The main benefit of thinning to the gardener is to give those fruits that remain the space they need to grow into bigger, healthier fruits. Their smaller fruitlets may be thinned using just your thumb and finger to detach the surplus.
A few pots of choice favourites placed inside will almost certainly seal the deal. Recipes abound for homemade insecticidal soaps. With an initial assault complete, it's now time to apply an organic insecticidal soap, again taking great care to cover...
It probably got tired of the frequent transplanting, the collie lifting his leg over it, and the slugs chomping on it. Silver sage is pretty tough in that it is somewhat drought-tolerant and deer-resistant...but please, don't abuse yours like I did mine.
There are dozens if not hundreds of species of lupines in the west. A tall, straight tree with mottled bark is a. You aren't going to find asters in April or trilliums in August. When we were driving in North Carolina, we saw fields of some mystery crop.
Keep Plants Warm to Extend the Harvest into Fall Later on in the season stragglers can be encouraged to keep producing for a week or two longer by adding the thermal comfort of a floating row cover.
Despite my tongue-in-cheek warfare references, it's important to remember that we're not really in a war against pests. When it comes to dealing with pests, a two-pronged organic approach is the most effective in the long term: protection and making the...
If you have a variety you'd particularly recommend, or perhaps another tip for growing cabbages, please share it in the comments section below. You can use a string line to insure nice, straight rows.
Sowing, planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, deadheading, composting, pest control… and the rest! But as summer moves swiftly along it's absolutely essential to stop, sit down and drink it all in.
