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Soaking seeds prior to planting is something that you should do in 24-hour increments. Find out how you soak seeds prior to planting with help from a certified horticulturist in this free video clip.
in their zeal to get everything planted on time, many gardeners overlook the importance of preparing their seedlings for transplanting into the garden. Even the plants that survive being plunged into the soil and subjected to their new growing environment may be stunted and exhibit slowed growth. Hardening them off before planting them reduces stress for plants and improves your chances of success.
Annual cleome flowers (Cleome spp.), sometimes called spider flowers, produce umbels of multiple blooms during the warm summer months. Each flower on the umbel can produce a seed pod if you let the blossoms fade naturally. Seed pods may contain only a few seeds or they may be filled completely with the small black seeds. Allow the pods to mature and carefully collect the seeds so you can plant new cleomes each spring to keep these old favorites in your garden.
Purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnate) is a perennial vine, native to the United States. In U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6b through 10 it grows to 25 feet in length, climbing or crawling along the garden floor. The fruit of the purple passionflower vine is nicknamed maypop because of the sound it makes when stepped on. Purple passionflower vines are usually vegetatively propagated since the seeds may take up to one year to germinate. Seed collection, preparation and planting all bear on the time it takes the purple passionflower to germinate and doing it properly may help speed things…
Certain types of seeds need to be soaked before planting for the best results. Soak seeds before planting with help from a classically-trained chef with experience in both world class restaurants and private dining companies in this free video clip.
Drying out pepper seeds is something you want to do once the fruit has become mature. Dry pepper seeds with help from the operator of a certified bio-dynamic nursery in this free video clip.
Saving seeds is just one of the many ways in which you can start a great, life-saving garden outside your own home. Save seeds and start a life-saving garden with help from an experienced gardener in this free video clip.
You can only dip cut seed potatoes in certain environments before planting. Find out what to cut dip seed potatoes in before planting with help from the operator of a nursery in this free video clip.
Making Binatog from newly harvested corn is a longstanding summer traditional all over the world. Make Binatog from newly harvested corn with help from a food expert in this free video clip.
"Popular Mechanics" ranks the castor bean as one of the world's top 10 dangerous plants, and also named it the most likely poisonous plant to be in your garden right now because of its frequent appearance in nurseries. Although castor oil has been used as a home remedy for ages, the castor bean contains ricin, which is a poison. Ingesting castor beans can be fatal, so keep them away from pets and small children. Despite its deadly qualities, the castor bean plant is an attractive addition to the garden and grows well in the right conditions.
Peppers are among the vegetables that gardeners find difficult to propagate from seeds. For this reason, many home gardeners select seedlings and transplant them to ensure success. You can achieve nearly 85 percent germination with reliable seeds, provided that you care for them properly. Pepper seeds can take up to eight weeks to germinate, so starting them indoors early is essential to a successful crop.
Although the name may make you think of fragrant blossoms, Thai jasmine is actually a type of rice, not an exotic variety of flowering plant. Unlike some types of rice, Thai jasmine requires more hours of balmy weather than even the warmest climates in the United States can offer. Although this plant’s temperature requirements may limit your ability to produce this grain as a type of field crop, you can still grow Thai jasmine as a potted houseplant.
Gardeners grow sunflowers for their beauty and their sweet-tasting seeds. Instead of devouring the seeds and destroying the flower, turn these ornate reminders of summer into a family heirloom. Shadow boxes, which are enclosed cases that many use to create decorative keepsakes and dioramas, are an ideal choice to immortalize your sunflower blossoms for several years to come. Dry and mount the sunflowers correctly to ensure the project doesn’t fall flat.
Mimosa pudica, or sensitive plant, is a fascinating plant that folds its leaves at stimuli such as touch or shaking. The leaves also fold up and droop downward in the evening, remaining that way until sunrise. The plant, also known as humble plant or shame plant, is often grown as a houseplant. It grows as a perennial in warmer climates. In tropical areas, the plant is often considered a weed. At maturity, Mimosa pudica reaches heights of about 18 inches. To propagate new plants, harvest seeds from the purplish blooms.
Malanga (Xanthosoma spp.) is often grown for its edible tubers that are actually corms. Because of its large green leaves, malanga can be confused with the elephant ear plant. It is also similar to the dasheen plant and is planted in a similar manner. To help malangas grow and thrive, dry or cure the tubers prior to planting them in spring.
Moonflowers and evening primrose belong to a group of plants known as vespertines; i.e., plants that "relate to or occur in" the evening. Indeed, Ipomea alba (moonflower) and Oenothera biennis L. (common evening primrose) are plants that bloom only in the late afternoon and evening. The moonflower has long, heart-shaped leaves and large, fragrant white blooms. The flower of the evening primrose has a sweet citrus scent.
Germinating seeds of an Acacia tortilis, a native East African savanna tree, can be a very delicate and somewhat difficult task, depending on the site and weather conditions. Typically, the tree’s seeds germinate best when covered in manure and buried underneath soil in a temperature range from 69.8 to 75.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Acacia tortilis does well in shallow soil, usually fewer than 9.8 inches. It has a rapidly expanding and long lateral root system, which causes problems if the tree is planted in marshlands or along roadways and its roots are not affected when entire branches are cut. Acacia tortilis…
Gardeners, birdwatchers, cooks and homemakers value sunflowers for their nutritious seeds and large, cheerful blossoms. The flowers grow easily in sunny locations with well-drained soil, and are ready for harvest when their heads dry out, turn brown and lose all their flowers. You can facilitate sunflower harvesting with a corn-head tool modified with a special sunflower-cutting attachment.
Melaleuca thymifolia, known commonly as thyme-leaf melaleuca or thyme-leaf honey-myrtle, is a low-growing evergreen shrub native to Australia. This shrub is enjoyed for its attractive pink flowers, aromatic leaves, site adaptability and relatively few maintenance requirements. Thyme-leaf melaleuca is considered fairly easy to propagate, as it can be grown readily from cuttings and seeds do not require pretreatment. Harvest the small seeds correctly and place them in a suitable environment to encourage germination.
Drosophyllum lusitanicum is known in circles of carnivorous plant fanciers as dewy pine for its growing habit resembling pine needles and the dew it produces to capture insects. These plants have a reputation for being difficult to germinate and grow. Many of the propagation problems experienced with these plants, however, are due to their unusual cultural requirements.
Dill may be best known for its use in pickling, but it also has many other culinary uses. A member of the carrot family, dill is also relatively easy to grow in the right soil and climate conditions. Dill is difficult to transplant, so planting from seed is the best way to obtain healthy plants.
Germinating red twig dogwood seeds can be a bit hit and miss. The plant's seeds can sit in the ground for more than a year before they start to grow, if they germinate at all. Once they have germinated, they’re very hardy plants that look good in a garden throughout the year. There are a few steps you can take to make successful germination more likely.
Cestrum nocturnum, also known as night jasmine, night blooming jasmine or night blooming jessamine, is a tropical, blooming shrub appropriate for growing in the warm climates of U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 10 and 11. The tubular, greenish-white flowers appear in spring and continue throughout most of the summer. In spite of the name, Cestrum nocturnum often blooms during the day. However, the sweet fragrance isn't released until evening. Harvesting seeds from the plant is a simple project.
Soaking seeds makes them much more palatable to birds as well as humans. They swell up, becoming soft and juicy rather than hard and dry. If the seeds germinate, they may become more rich in nutrients. Therefore, taking the time to soak seeds before feeding them to your parrot is well worthwhile. The potential danger is of microorganisms multiplying among the damp seeds, producing a health risk. You can avoid this by taking care with the soaking procedure.
Jicama is native to Central and South America, growing in warm climates with extended growing seasons. It is tricky to grow in the United States because most growing seasons aren't long enough, but it has been grown with some success in Texas, Florida and California. Jicama, which resembles a turnip with white roots and long, green stems, thrives in rich, well-draining soil in full sun. Plant jicama as early as you can to get large vegetables and to avoid losing produce with the autumn frosts.
Azaleas that one finds in garden centers are normally propagated using cuttings because nurseries value consistency. However, some nurseries are offering azalea seeds for the more adventurous gardener who doesn’t mind a little variation on the expected. Seedlings may express any combination of characteristics from the seed parent or the pollen parent. A seed may be a combination of a white-flowered and purple-flowered species, for example, so the seedling may come up purple, white, lilac, lavender and, in some rare cases, striped.
The evergreen plant known as American or Christmas holly appeals to wild birds and animals that eat the leaves and berries. Insects also find the leaves make a tasty treat. The shrub often grows to the size of a small tree, ranging in size from 25 to 60 feet high in warmer regions. While the plant features stiff leaves with sharp points, the foliage causes few problems for the wildlife and birds that flock to its branches for a taste.
Creating attractive outdoor decor calls for the use of unique materials and display methods. You can use dried floral materials in a variety of ways to enhance your outdoor living spaces and entrances. Many dried plants have attractive foliage and flowers that you can use together or apart in your arrangements. Dried plants will typically last an entire season, while you will need to replace fresh plants and flowers every one to two weeks.
Birdseed provides food for not only coveted backyard birds but also unwanted feathered visitors and insects. Starlings, crows, grackles, blue jays and house sparrows can become pests and gluttons at the backyard bird feeder. In addition, insects can infest the birdseed at the processing plant, the warehouse, on the delivery vehicle, retail store or home.
Orange trees are large, sensitive citrus trees and grow best in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Clementine oranges, a variety of mandarin orange, fall into the tangerine category and demonstrate smaller tree size and slightly better cold hardiness than their larger cousins. Their fruits are small, sweet and loose-skinned. Like all citrus fruits, tangerines carry plant matter for new trees in their seeds. Plant the seeds to grow fruit-producing trees, but don't expect a quick harvest.
Enjoy sweet and creamy Delicata Winter Squash every autumn and winter by saving and drying seeds. One of the most rewarding things about gardening is growing fruits and vegetables to eat. Delicata Winter Squash is an oblong yellow and green striped squash which tastes similar to sweet potato, according to the University of Illinois Extension. These vines can grow in most climates and beginning gardeners can easily grow them as long as they have a large area for the plant to spread.
Known as the Bhodi tree, or the sacred fig, Ficus religiosa trees are often grown as ornamentals. Ficus religiosa is a type of banyan tree native to India, China and Southeast Asia. Ficus religiosa trees are sacred to Buddhists, as Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment while sitting under one. The trees feature oversized, intertwined root systems that are partially visible above ground. These distinctive trees are grown as potted bonsai miniatures or raised to full outdoor size in warm-climate areas such as Florida. The trees may be bought as seedlings or saplings, or grown from seed. Ficus seeds…
Growing a bean seed in a bag is a simple yet enjoyable way to introduce children to gardening and the concept of plant growth. Green bean seeds can be seen sprouted along window ledges in preschool and kindergarten classrooms, year after year. Whether you're doing this activity at home or in the classroom, you don't have to break the bank for activity supplies. You can grow a seed in a bag along with your child or students to reinforce concepts learned from reading about gardening and science, and children can use important fine motor muscles while participating.
Basswood is a deciduous tree that grows rapidly in deep, moist and finely textured soil conditions. Flowering abundantly in late spring and early summer, the flowers give way to seeds that mature in the fall around September or October. Producing seedlings can be troublesome because the seeds tend to germinate poorly. However, there are a number of ways you can help improve results in the long term.
As a Mediterranean member of the mint family, Thymus camphoratus is a popular ground cover for its fragrant leaves and small blossoms. Gardeners may use Thymus camphoratus for rock gardens, herb areas and as filler between other ornamental plants. It is important to properly care for Thymus camphoratus to prevent diseases. This herb must be grown in areas with well-draining soil and sunlight. Furthermore, this perennial must have enough space to accommodate its mature height and width of 1 1/2 feet.
Saving seeds is a practice that farmers of previous times relied upon for future crops. When you collect, save and later plant seeds of heirloom or open-pollinated fruits and vegetables such as onions, you will be helping to keep these plants from disappearing from the gene pool. Check the variety of the red onion whose seeds you want to harvest because only a nonhybrid variety -- the red burgundy, for example -- will yield exactly the same onion as its parent plant.
Moss verbena, Verbena tenuisecta, is a favorite ground cover in gardens across the United States. This South American native is naturalized into warm-winter areas of the American South. Low, dense, dark green foliage gives a somewhat mossy aspect, hence the common name. Lavender clumps of flowers are held well above the foliage on stems. If the plant is cut back after blooming in the South, bloom can last almost all year. Moss verbena is an annual in cold winter areas. It seeds itself easily, but you can collect seed for trade or growing in new areas.
The lignum vitae tree, is a tropical tree or large bush that produces a lot of seed and can easily live for hundreds of years once established. Unfortunately, lignum vitae seed is very slow to germinate and only germinates you get under the proper conditions, so certain measures must be taken to ensure you get a seed that will produce a plant.
All those dried beans in your pantry are seeds, and many of them sprout readily when provided with water. Beans don’t need much to get them going; just water and, a little later, nutrients. Although a cup isn’t big enough for a mature bean plant, it is just the right size and shape to get one started. For certain results, use beans sold as seed from garden suppliers. Using beans from the pantry is less certain, but cheaper and has potential as a simple science experiment.
Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale), sometimes also called puffballs, blowballs, lion’s teeth and monk’s head, are perennials found around the world. Widely considered a weed, dandelions are marked by their saw-tooth leaves and their bright yellow flowers that turn into a puff of white seeds. Whether you wish to eradicate them from the landscape or encourage their growth for eating or medicinal purposes, understanding their growing requirements is helpful.
English lupins (Lupinus hybrids), also known as Russell lupins (or lupines to those on the American side of the pond), are the classic flowers of the English cottage garden. The tall spires contain hundreds of rounded blossoms from late spring to midsummer, and multiple spires rise from the mounded, lacy foliage. At the turn of the 19th century, a Yorkshire gardener named George Russell developed this hybrid from a variety of lupin species, and, unfortunately for gardeners in warm climates, these lupins prefer the cool weather of their English home.
Beets are biennials so they do not usually set seed until the second year although sometimes, they flower in their first year. If you grow a favorite variety of beet, save the seeds and plant them again. This saves you the money spent on buying new seed, and you can be sure that the variety you grow will taste just like the parent crop.
Cranberry hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella) is not only striking, but it's edible. Its deep burgundy, maple-shaped leaves and dainty pink fall flowers make it a standout plant in any garden. Easy to grow from seed, cranberry hibiscus is a perennial in warmer climates. It is also simple to overwinter indoors in colder climates or is grown as an annual. Its tart-flavored leaves are tasty in salads and its flowers are used to make a drink. To make it even more desirable, this plant is insect and nematode resistant. Its only undesirable characteristic is that it can become a pest if seeds…
Hydrangea is a genus of woody, flowering perennials containing varieties suitable for growing in sun or partial shade. Although they prefer moist, rich soil, they will grow well in other types of soil, as long as they receive adequate moisture. Protect them from high winds; water evaporates easily from their large leaves. The seed capsules resemble little vessels or containers, and it is the source of part of its botanical name, “angeon,” which is a Greek word meaning “vessel.” The first half of its name, “hydra,” means “water.” Hydrangeas easily grow from seed. It’s so easy that seeds scattered on…
A broadleaf evergreen, the Pacific madrone grows from British Columbia southward to Baja, California. The tree reaches a height of 130 feet, lives for 500 years and produces white flowers, followed by brilliant red berry clusters. The U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests the tree as an ideal specimen to help control soil erosion because of the Pacific madrone's wide-spreading root system. Once established, the Pacific madrone can thrive without much care.
The Tahitian gardenia (Gardenia taitensis) is native to French Polynesia where is grows along the highland shores of the South Pacific. The extremely fragrant creamy white flowers with petals arranged like a pinwheel sit atop dark green glossy leaves. Although seeds from the gardenia are rare, some do develop. However, this happens less under cultivated conditions.
Russian olives are native to Asia and grow as either large shrubs or as tree reaching up to 40 feet tall. They look similar to other olive trees, but they contain sharp thorns along the branches and the trunk. The plant produces yellow berries in the fall that transition to red once mature and are sweet. Although Russian olives will grow from seed, the proper preparation is required. Specifically, the seeds require scarifying and stratification which break through the seed hull and trigger the germination process.
Dusty miller (Senecio cineraria) is best known for its lacy, silver foliage, but the plant also grows simple yellow or creamy-colored flowers. Gardeners may either allow Dusty Miller to self seed by leaving the blooms and seed pods on the plant through the winter, or they may harvest the seeds in the autumn and sow them indoors or outdoors in the spring. The plant may then be grown as a perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture planting zones 8 through 10, or as an annual elsewhere.
Stiff sunflowers, also known as Helianthus pauciflorus, are native to North America and grow from Maine to Arizona. If you’re growing the stiff sunflower in your home garden, you can harvest it like you would any other variety of sunflower. The seeds inside the sunflower can be picked and roasted for your family or the birds in your yard, depending on your preferences. The stiff sunflower’s head needs to be totally dry before the seeds are ready for harvest.
Bitter melon is a type of gourd, in the same family as cucumbers and pumpkins, which originates from South Asia. As the name implies, the flesh of this melon is extremely bitter, and many would describe it as an acquired taste. However, bitter melon, of which there are several varieties, has many well-known health benefits; it has a rich amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, phosphorus, and carbohydrates. The ideal conditions for growing bitter melon are temperatures that range around 75 to 80 degrees Farenheit, and a soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.7, rich in organic matter.
