Larkspur is a serious problem for cattle ranchers in the western United States; if eaten, the animals die within a few hours from cardiotoxic and neuromuscular blocking effects.On the other side of the coin, Larkspur has been used in the past as an herbal...
Planting these two annuals might very well fill that spot without the work it typically takes to plant other annual flower beds.What makes these two plants perfect for the forgotten areas in the landscape is their ability to survive and thrive without...
A solid mass of bright yellow blossoms brightened the red brick planter and wall behind it. Several cultivars have been introduced, mostly in smaller sizes than the species. Competition was keen for this pleasant task.Finally summer vacation arrived and...
We hope this spotlight on some of our members' favorites is a nice change of pace for your Saturday morning. It stands to reason if they can be attractive in these commercial environments, they will thrive in a home environment, cared for by a gardener.These...
They produce vast amounts of seeds and the babies will sprout in unusual spots each spring. If you are the type of gardener that can't abide surprises, these plants may not be for you.
Just be attentive to their water needs. Just snip a stem with a couple of leaf nodes, strip the leaves from the lower ones and place in a glass of water. Remember to anticipate a fairly large plant.
Caladiums are enexpensive and easy to obtain. Gardeners in frost-free zones can leave their caladium tubers in the ground all year if they are planted in a well-drained area and gardeners in cold weather zones either lift their tubers in the fall to store...
I didn't amend my soil and it is planted directly in the yard in a clay-based loam. I take out a few of the oldest canes around the first week of February, but that's all the maintenance I do, other than remove any broken canes if we have an ice storm.
New gardeners can plant them with confidence that they will grow and bloom reliably and fast. If you have your heart set on giant red flowers or the neon combination of purple and chartreuse, chances are, it is available.Zinnias are surprisingly drought-hardy...
They may wither a bit, but if given a drink, they'll bounce right back with no ill effects. Without a little guidance from seasoned veterans, they often choose seeds and plants that are more challenging than their budding skills can handle.
If your cross is successful, a pod will start to grow when the flower falls off. Japanese Beetles are sometimes troublesome, thrips can cause mal-formed blossoms (but generally leave on their own when conditions dry up) and there are a couple of fungal...
The new growth will develop into flower spikes later in the season and they'll need the nourishment that the leaves provide. Cut a spent flower's stem completely back to the nearest pair of leaves or set of branching stems.
In USDA zones 9 and below, the safe bet is to pot your rubber plant in a container in a light, well-draining potting mix. If you're planting in a container, choose one with at least one drainage hole.Avoid western exposures for a rubber tree plant --...
With these regional variations aside, most of Missouri has an average of 180 frost-free days in which to grow tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes and smaller varieties, such as "Supersweet 100s" take around 65 days.
Plumeria flowers, also known as plumeria rubra and frangipani, are tropical flowers planted to scent gardens and are used in the making of leis because they are less prone to bruising.
Homemade mousetraps can cut down on costs, while leaving the gory scenes to a minimum.Rats menace your house, destroying everything in their paths.Glue a piece of barbwire over the top opening of the bottle.
Once you have plucked a bunch of sour grapes, you are stuck with them. Wine grapes come in over 5,000 varieties each ranging in different colors, flavors and sweetness. Unlike other fruits, grapes stop ripening once they are plucked from the vine.
Their collective flavor is too pungent to have on their own, but they give couscous and tabbouleh a nice punch. Keep them in the refrigerator until then or dry them in a dehydrator.Ginger leaves make a wonderful garnish.
If the bucket is covered with a bag, mist under the bag. Continue adding media and mixing in spawn until you have used all the spawn and the mixture is about 1-inch from the top of the bucket.Cover the entire bucket loosely with a clear plastic bag.
You will either need to have someone hold it for you while you are filling or you can lay it on its side and roll and fill as much as you can before you hang it. Determinate patio type tomatoes are stocky and won't grow very tall (long).
Secure the bottom of the stems together with a rubber band.Hang the roses upside down from a hook in a dark, dry, well-ventilated room. Cut the long end of the wire to the desired length, then wrap the wire with florist's tape.Gather a small bunch of...
Urea levels in a human's urine can determine kidney issues or even dehydration. It is best used during the cold weather for sod and winter wheat, and best if applied before it rains.
This resulted in slight deviations from the rows, causing them to miss some of the mature potatoes. In 1953, the Ore-Ida Company came up with one of the greatest waste reduction procedures of all time.
Dry black-eyed peas are a cream-colored bean-like legume with distinctive dark-colored markings. Turn the heat down to medium, or lower if necessary, to keep the liquid at a lightly bubbling simmer.
Instead, try ripening the butternut squash in your home.Cut the unripened butternut squash from the vine. The green lines on unripened butternut squash will fade and the squash will have a pale or light orange color when the vegetable is ripe.
Carbon dioxide gas -- CO2 -- can be used for enriching the growing conditions for plants. You can make your own CO2 generator with yeast and a sugar solution. If you use 1/4-inch tubing, drill the hole with a 3/16-inch drill bit.Feed enough tubing through...
