How To Grow Ranunculus

Most of the wild flowers were medicinal herbs, such as chamomile or mint, which I knew were to be dried and saved for tea; but others were "food" - the so-called greens - because we ate their leaves in salads or soups, especially in spring, when we needed...

A spot in a bright, south- or west-facing window is ideal.This plant requires regular moisture but also needs good drainage. Use a balanced, 20-20-20 water-soluble formula, diluted at a rate of 1/2 teaspoon per gallon at planting and then at half-strength...

Gardeners love books, as the number of titles devoted to the subject attest. We hope this spotlight on some of our members' favorites is a nice change of pace for your Saturday morning.

These plant profiles will feature time-tested seeds and plants that are easy to grow, but produce a great show. Cockscomb seeds are inexpensive and are often found on the bargain racks at the local big box store.

The flowers are insignificant and the main impact is from the gorgeous leaves that come in a huge selection of colors and patterns. Coleus do like their water and will wilt if the soil becomes too dry.

(including myself) They will make your containers and gardens shine! The containers on my porch are large and I usually plant between 10 and 15 #1 size tubers in each pot. They see fantastic combinations in magazines or on the web and feel that the exotic...

Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus' is probably one of the most recognized, however a number of other notable works show roses with the same characteristics as albas. It is also easy to propagate via cuttings or dividing side shoots, making it a perfect pass-along...

Ranunculus are happiest with about six to eight weeks of cool sprouting temperatures. Remove blooms as they become spent, and pull off the occasional yellowing leaf to safeguard against mold growth in the plant's thick foliage.Remove the foliage from...

Many new gardeners are starting to plan their first adventure into our crazy, wonderful world. The large, flat-topped varieties are the most attractive to butterflies, giving them the perfect 'landing pad' to sip nectar.Gardeners with reasonably long...

This little succulent is native to the dry slopes of southern European mountain ranges like the Alps and has been a familiar house-hold plant for over a thousand years. Without a little guidance from seasoned veterans, they often choose seeds and plants...

Then mound it up to create a 4- to 5-inch-high planting bed.Soak the ranunculus tubers for about 15 to 20 minutes in a bowl that contains about 2 inches of water. For other sizes, space each hole between 4 to 6 inches apart.Plant one ranunculus tuber...

Daylilies are some of the easiest perennials that a gardener can grow. Vendors will ship bare-root plants wrapped in newspaper during the spring. Tiny little plants for the front of the border are available to towering giants with flowers the size of...

If you use this technique you will never have a fallen tulip again.

Banyans grow in USDA zones 10 through 12.A rubber tree plant can survive some chilly weather -- it is one of the hardiest figs -- but if your area has winter snow or cold snaps when the outdoor temperature stays below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, keep your...

Keep the soil lightly moist at all times, but not consistently soaking wet. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again.Deadhead the blooms as they fade by cutting the stem off at the crown of the plant amongst the foliage, and discarding...

Rather than put them out directly, try acclimating them over a period of a few days by putting them outside for a few hours and bringing them back in.If you'd rather purchase seedlings from a garden center than wait for seeds, don't be tricked by size.

Blot them gently with paper towels. After being picked, delicate plumeria flowers can be preserved for up to 24 hours by soaking them in water, or for up 48 hours by refrigerating them.Pick the plumeria flowers close to the bottom of the stem where they...

The plan usually involves an expensive mousetrap that you may not be able to afford, or involves a messy mousetrap that causes a horrifying scene at cleanup. The barbwire should replicate a swinging door.Glue a toothpick across the opening of the bottle.

Working in batches of five or 10, drop the grapes in the egg mixture, blot them dry to remove the excess egg, then roll them in the sugar.Arrange the sugared grapes on decorative trays and serve them immediately.

The best way to add them to any recipe is to cut them down to size. Or, add them to stir fry dishes to take the flavor up a notch. Use a sharp, herb-chopping knife to dice the ginger leaves into the smallest pieces possible.

You can grow your own edible mushrooms in a portable 5-gallon bucket. The mushrooms will grow out of these holes. You are not trying to wet the growing media, you are just trying to raise the humidity around the bucket.Increase misting to three times...

Most plant tags will give this information about variety characteristics.Buy a tomato plant to grow in it. Some mixes are also available that are specifically prepared for tomatoes and vegetables.

Luckily, with a bit of time and knowhow, your roses can be preserved. Touch a rose petal gently. Silica gel is a drying agent that will extract the moisture from the blooms while leaving their shapes and colors intact.Gather roses that are similar in...

This is how urea is the most useful and used mostly as a fertilizer, in some medications and industrial-made compounds.Urea was first discovered in 1773 by Hillaire Rouelle of France.

They were introduced to Europe by Spanish explorers in the 16th century but it took more than 200 years for them to become a staple of European diets,According to Agriculture Canada, the top five potato-producing countries are China, India, Russian Federation,...

Cook the peas for two hours or until they are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.Pour the cooked peas into a colander and run cold water over them for three to four minutes to start the cooling process.

When this happens, many people just toss the unripened squash. Use the vine instead of the squash when handling the vegetable.Mix 6 parts water with 1 part household bleach, wipe the squash with the solution and allow to air dry.