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Bring a little life to your surroundings before the last frost of winter by starting seeds indoors. Planting seeds indoors before transplanting seedlings outside gives you a longer growing season and better yields of crops at an earlier date. Seeds are also cheaper than seedlings. Planting seeds gives you the opportunity to grow plants that are not readily available at your local plant nursery and that contribute to a greater variety in your garden.
The line between useful plant and weed is often thin, as in the case of catnip (Nepeta cataria), a variety of catmint (Nepeta spp.) which is vigorously hardy from U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 5 through zone 9. Ask a Midwestern or mid-Atlantic gardener where you can buy a plant, though, and you’re likely to be directed to a compost heap cooking this fast-maturing mint relative.
With their bright white flowers and tall stalks, paperwhites (Narcissus "Paperwhite") make a cheery addition to the home or garden. These plants readily bloom by forcing them and are an excellent choice if you enjoy indoor flowers during the winter. The bulbs can also be grown outdoors. How you grow the plants and where you live will determine if your paperwhites bloom again next year.
Mulching with planted seeds requires you to take guidelines and regulations into consideration. Mulch with planted seeds with help from a classically-trained chef with experience in both World class restaurants and private dining companies in this free video clip.
Sterilizing garden seeds isn't something you generally have to do if you've purchased your seeds from a store. Sterilize garden seeds with help from a classically-trained chef with experience in both World class restaurants and private dining companies in this free video clip.
The germination of lavender seeds is a little tricky and requires all-purpose potting soil. Find out about the germination of lavender seeds with help from a classically-trained chef with experience in both World class restaurants and private dining companies in this free video clip.
When you have a lot of unmarked plants in your garden, after a while you may forget which got planted where, and you can have difficulty identifying them. You don’t want to accidentally overwater a plant that loves dry soil or leave a bad taste in your mouth by harvesting the wrong herb. Plant markers can solve the problem, but unfortunately many plant markers can get lost or fade over time. Plant markers that last will help prevent mix-ups.
Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is a member of the Solanaceae, or nightshade, plant family that also includes peppers and tomatoes. It's strictly a warm-season vegetable, so it can be grown successfully as long as it receives the proper amount of heat during germination as well as overnight while fruit forms and develops on the plants.
Airy cosmos (Cosmos spp.) flowers often grow quite tall, so savvy gardeners like to plant them toward the rear of their garden. Because their foliage is delicate and unobtrusive, you can also move them to the middle of the garden bed. Grown within the garden itself, their moderate-sized, multicolored flowers, held high over their lacy foliage, dance in the slightest breeze and look like a rabble of butterflies flitting over the garden. Cosmos also come in dwarf varieties, some of which grow to less than 12 inches high.
The "Prince of Wales" juniper (Juniperus horizontalis "Prince of Wales"), also called creeping juniper, is a low-growing shrub commonly used as a ground cover and valued for its striking winter foliage. It grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 or 4 through 9. The "Prince of Wales" juniper is a cinch to plant and needs minimal care once established.
Gerbera daisies (Gerbera jamesonii) gained popularity in the United States for their colorful blooms and long-lasting habit. Though originally imported from Transvaal, Africa, Gerbera daisies are now found as seed packets and bedding plants throughout the United States. The long-stemmed flowers add beauty to cut flower arrangements and variety to outdoor gardens.
Potting plants often use sand and topsoil throughout their lifespan. Learn about potting plants using sand and topsoil with help from a gardening professional in this free video clip.
Planting seeds in containers is a great way to grow winter flowers. Plant seeds in containers for winter flowers with help from a gardening professional in this free video clip.
Storing perennial seeds is something you need to do while keeping a few important things in ind. Store perennial seeds with help from a classically-trained chef with experience in both world class restaurants and private dining companies in this free video clip.
Peas grown in the garden need to be stored in a very particular way for maximum longevity. Store peas grown in a garden with help from a classically-trained chef with experience in both world class restaurants and private dining companies in this free video clip.
Harvesting broccoli plants always requires you to keep a few important things in mind. Harvest broccoli plants the right way with help from a classically-trained chef with experience in both world class restaurants and private dining companies in this free video clip.
Planting pea seeds in the fall always requires you to keep a few very important things in mind. Find out how to planet pea seeds in the fall with help from an experienced gardener in this free video clip.
Germinating morning glory seeds requires a very specific technique to make sure the vine grows as it should. Germinate morning glory seeds with help from an award-winning designer in this free video clip.
Datura seeds can really make a great addition to your garden, as long as you know how to use them properly. Find out how to use Datura seeds the right way with help from an award-winning designer in this free video clip.
Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) greet the spring with showy, trumpet-shaped blooms on graceful stalks. Usually grown from a bulb, this South African native is often forced by nurseries to create indoor winter blooms. The California method offers a clean, straightforward technique for germinating amaryllis seeds. It can take three to four years for an amaryllis to mature from seed and produce its first flowers.
The process of seed germination takes place when the tiny embryo plant within the seed coat is exposed to the necessary conditions that help it break through the seed coat or shell. A seed needs proper temperatures, oxygen and water in order to germinate. These conditions cause the tiny plant inside to enlarge and slowly break through the softening shell. Detergent serves as a wetting agent to help soften the seed and get water through the tough outer shell to the plant inside. You may use a little detergent effectively to help the germination process before you plant seeds.
Chestnuts are an important food for animals, and the wood is suited both for construction and furniture. The trees flourished over a 200 million acre area of the eastern United States until blight hit during the 20th century. The American Chestnut Cooperator's Foundation and others encourage the planting of chestnut trees to restore them to the environment. Chestnut trees are difficult to propagate from cuttings, but even children can grow them from seed.
Korean licorice mint is also known by its scientific name, Agastache rugosa, and other common names such as purple giant hyssop. In traditional Chinese medicine, Korean licorice mint is known as one of the most important medicinal herbs, and it has been used for centuries to treat a variety of medical conditions including bloating, congestion, headaches and diarrhea. Although it can be germinated from the seed directly in your garden, it's best to start Korean licorice mint indoors, according to the Seeds of Change Nursery website.
Primula is a charming, early spring bloomer that grows naturally in shady, woodland areas. The plant is adaptable to the home garden, where it provides bright color until late spring. Also known as primrose, primula is available in several species and a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Some varieties grow in a low, rosette form while others grow from stems up to 15 inches tall. Propagate primula by planting seeds between January and late March.
Tropical plants, such as most banana plants, require a long, warm growing season to thrive. Banana plants typically die at the first sign of frost. The Musa basjoo plant, also called hardy banana, survives through the winter in some of the coldest parts of the United States. Growers typically propagate Musa basjoo by division, seed or tissue culture.
Night-scented stock is the common name for Matthiola longipetala, a vascular plant of the mustard family. This summer-blooming plant is an annual in some areas, but is biennial in warm locations. It may also self-seed, appearing to be perennial, or may survive several years in a container garden. This bushy plant has fragrant flowers in colors from white to shades of blue and pink and the foliage is silvery green.
A sustainable garden requires a lot of plants, and organization can be a major component of success. One of the biggest mistakes novice gardeners make is putting large batches of different seeds in containers and then getting them confused. If you forget what you planted in each starter container, the seeds may not get the care they need. You run the risk of losing far too many plants. Make your job easier and boost your chances of success by being organized from day one.
Laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia) goes by many other names, including Swamp laurel oak, diamond-leaf oak, laurel-leaf oak, Darlington oak, water oak and obtuse oak. This shade tree often retains its leaves until the following spring. Allow plenty of room when planting the tree. Both the canopy and the roots extend 30 to 40 feet. Laurel oak acorns need a period of cold treatment, called stratification, to germinate.
Senecio is a vast genus of plants with 2,000 to 3,000 species that grow naturally all around the world. The range of species includes cactuslike succulents, climbing and creeping vines, fuzzy-leaved shrubs and wispy wildflowers. They grow in arid climates as well as tropics. You can start senecio plants outdoors directly in the garden, but to avoid exposing your seedlings to inclement weather and pests, start them indoors or in a greenhouse. You can easily grow most senecios from seed, and many are even easier to start from plant cuttings. Whichever method you choose, use sterile planting medium to get…
Jicama, also known as the yam bean, Mexican turnip or Mexican yam, is a vine plant with bulbous, edible roots. The slightly sweet root tastes and looks like a combination of apples and potatoes. When juiced, jicama yields a creamy, thick liquid to which you can add sweeteners or spices to create a refreshing drink.
You might have seen heirloom vegetables in the produce section of a supermarket. When you lifted a deep red heirloom tomato to your nose, it smelled of fresh-cut grass and maybe a little of your grandfather’s old greenhouse. Those gardeners who seek out heirloom seeds, however, are driven by more than either an appearance, a name or nostalgia. Each heirloom vegetable has its own history, which may extend over a period of many decades, a century or longer.
Ah, spring in the northwestern United States. The Northwest is blessed with a relatively moderate climate and decent soil conditions, but gardeners must live with unpredictable weather. The area's extended winters are great for skiers, but they can delay planting, and the possibility of late killing frosts requires special vigilance. Windstorms and “bad summers” -- too little sun, too much rain, or sometimes drought -- plus slugs, wildlife and birds also can frustrate even the most gung-ho gardener. None of those threats keep gardening fever at bay when spring arrives. Winter-weary residents run to the nearest nursery for anything with…
There are challenges to gardening in the Northeast. But if you know when — and what — to plant, you can have a harvest worthy of a Thanksgiving dinner. To reap this success, though, you must make sure the soil is suitable and that there's no chance of frost. And, quite simply, you have to plant the right crops and flowers for your zone (can anyone say blueberries, tomatoes, tulips and corn?).
The Midwest has some of the richest soil in the country, if not the world, but that doesn't mean that gardeners have it easy. There are extremes in temperatures, freak climate occurrences, bugs and overdeveloped land. For all of those problems, there is a reason it's still known as "America's breadbasket." Tim Kenny, director of education for the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, believes gardening in the Midwest is a celebration of nature. “There are cycles and hardships, but in the end comes all this wonderful food," Kenny said. "And it’s joyous.”
The Southwest is a region of geographical extremes -- deserts, mountains, flatlands and coastal lands -- as well as weather extremes marked by varying temperatures. Microclimates within the borders of Southern California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico can alter gardening conditions within a few miles of each other. “The Southwest has wonderful weather, but we have water issues that require irrigation,” said Jackie Brooks, master gardener program coordinator for the University of California Cooperative Extension Office for San Bernadino County, California. “I don’t think it’s harder to put a plant in the ground in the Southwest than it is elsewhere,…
Spring in the southeastern United States is a tricky time for gardeners. Some years, January and February have beautiful balmy days that make you want to run out to the yard, dig a hole and plant something. But horticultural experts counsel patience. That, and a look at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s newly updated interactive 2012 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Using this map as a guide can help make you a more successful gardener. Plug in your zip code or click on your location on the map, and your zone pops up on the screen. This information helps determine which…
Contorted filbert (Corylus Avellana "Contorta") has many common names, including contorted European filbert, corkscrew hazel, and Harry (or Henry) Lauder's walking stick. The plant's twisted, curling and spiraling branches are especially interesting after the leaves fall off. Corylus avellana contorta "Red Majestic" has purple foliage. The plant produces edible nuts, but most gardeners plant Harry Lauder's walking stick as a specimen. Contorted filbert reaches about 10 feet in height and grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8.
Blueberries are inherently American, native to this country and originally cultivated by Native Americans. Cultivating techniques used by Native Americans were quite advanced, too, burning the fields to stimulate growth. Researchers have proven this practice to be sound, according to Tom DeGomez, Extension Blueberry Specialist, at the University of Maine. While the home grower doesn’t need to worry about setting the garden alight, blueberries do require pruning to realize a good harvest. Easy to grow, even in containers, the best blueberry to start from seed is a lowbush variety and peat moss is the ideal growing medium. Start the blueberry…
The cape daisy is a sun-loving annual flower that is also known as the African daisy. It produces dark green foliage and stems and fragrant flowers in shades ranging from yellows and pinks to blues and violets. This sun-loving daisy grows best in full sunlight and loamy, nutrient-rich soil. Still, the cape daisy is an adaptable flower that tolerates short periods of drought and a lack of nutrients when raised in a well-drained location.
Poppies are bright, colorful flowers and are available in annual, perennial and biennial varieties. These flowers, which boast one bloom per long stem, thrive throughout the country during the summer season. Many varieties won't tolerate cold winters, though, and suffer in outdoor gardens with too much shade or weed growth. Gardeners with inadequate outdoor conditions may move their poppies into contained situations like pots or hydroponic gardens. Aquaponics takes hydroponics one step further and incorporates a fish tank into the hydroponic situation for green, sustainable plant nutrition. If you have an aquaponic garden already running, plant poppy seeds there for…
As the globe becomes more populated, it makes sense that the world would become more polluted. It is important to teach students environmental responsibility so they are able to value their planet and contribute to the health of the entire globe. Plants are an enormously valuable resource that helps flush pollution and environmental toxins out of the air. You can use plants to help teach your students about keeping the planet clean and the value that flora has in accomplishing that goal. A few science experiments that illustrate this concept will engage the students and get them excited about doing…
Agave havardiana, also known as a century plant or Harvard agave, is a cold hardy plant, tolerant of temperatures as cold as 15 degrees Fahrenheit. It grows about 3 feet high with an equal spread. An Agave havardiana also puts forth spectacular flower stalks that reach up to 15 feet tall. However, it only blooms once during its life and then dies, a milestone that typically occurs 20 to 50 years after planting. A common way to propagate this plant is by seed, which is often available at nurseries and online.
Hedychium coronarium, known commonly as ginger lily, white butterfly ginger lily and garland flower, is a tropical plant native to Asia that is prized for its fragrant white flowers. Hedychium coronarium, which can reach a height up to 6 feet and spreads using thick rhizomes, can be propagated vegetatively through division or sexually using seeds. Although Hedychium coronarium may grow somewhat readily from seeds in certain natural environments, germinating the seeds indoors may prove somewhat challenging. Handle the seeds properly and provide them with a suitable environment to encourage germination.
If you're a home gardener with a small plot of land, you may have always thought of potatoes as a plant that takes up too much room in your garden. This may be true with traditional planting methods. However, if you plant your potatoes vertically, they take up no more room than a caged tomato. Growing big yields in a small amount of space is what vertical gardening is about, and the potato fits the bill ideally.
Here in the United States, we use the terms sweet peppers and bell peppers interchangeably, but in reality, not all sweet peppers have the classic bell shape. Many heirloom varieties, such as the Italian Corno di Toro Rosso pepper, are long and thin. These uncommon peppers are delicious fresh, grilled or stuffed. Corno di Toro Giallo is an identical pepper that matures yellow instead of deep red. Corno di Toro peppers are easy to start from seed.
Asafoetida is widely used in India as a medicinal herb and as a spice in cooking. The spice is derived from the gum collected from the roots of a giant fennel plant (Ferula assa-foetida L.). The plant frequently is referred to as the devil's dung because of its pungent odor. Asafoetida is hardy to United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 8 and, in general, is not a common herb to grow in the home garden. Start asafoetida from seed indoors in the fall and transplant the young plants outdoors in the spring.
In Disney's "ToonTown Online" multiplayer game, you play as a toon and fight against Cog enemies using funny gags as your weapons. Defeating the Sellbot Vice President, a Cog leader located inside the Sellbot Headquarters, grants you an SOS card that lets you call on a non-player toon for help, and experience for all your gags and other rewards, depending on your tasks.
Petty spurge is a vigorously growing, broadleaf plant that requires little effort to grow. It produces rich green, alternating foliage on short stalks that reach mature heights of about 20 inches. Categorized as a weed, petty spurge favors cool, moist locations and quickly spreads once established. An invasive plant, petty surge is much harder to control than to grow.
Harley-Davidson no longer produces any models with carburetors. While innovation is seldom met with universal approval -- chain- to belt-drive being a prime example -- those who were skeptical of the phasing in of electronic fuel injection, or EFI, had at least one sound reason for disapproval: Faulty carburetors can often be diagnosed and repaired on the side of the road, while narrow-band O2 sensors and a sealed “black box” brain cannot.
Loroco (Fernaldia pandurata) is an herbaceous perennial plant that produces edible flowers widely used in Central American dishes, such as El Salvadorean pupusas. If your local climate is conducive to growing loroco, you can plant your own and experiment with its flowers in your own cooking.
