home sectionhome sectionGrowing heirloom tomatoes seats you at the table with previous generations of gardeners and lets you taste what grew in their gardens. A vegetable described as heirloom has usually passed through the generations for 50 years or longer. Both Black Krim and Cherokee Purple tomatoes meet that criterion. These large-fruited open-pollinated tomatoes share many qualities, including their ability to grow in many settings -- but you are unlikely mistake one for the other.
Growing onion seeds is something you can do in nearly any area so long as you space the seeds properly. Grow onion seeds with help from a classically-trained chef with experience in both World class restaurants and private dining companies in this free video clip.
Sprouting lettuce seeds in hot weather requires you to start by moving your plants indoors. Sprout lettuce seeds in hot weather with help from a classically-trained chef with experience in both World class restaurants and private dining companies in this free video clip.
Garden soil is classified according to the balance of the mineral particles that make up the soil. These are divided into three categories: sand, silt and clay. Most soil contains a combination of all three particles, but the percentage of each particle type changes the texture of the soil. When your soil has the proper balance of soil particles, it is considered loamy soil suitable for gardening.
The genus Rununculus includes among other species a wide range of buttercups, golden-flowered perennials that hail from parts of Europe and Asia. In the garden these cheerful plants provide a profusion of blossoms that can last, depending on the species, into late summer. Though flowering plants come in two forms, monocots and dicots, members of the ranunculus genus are the latter.
“Vulcan” malope (Malope trifida “Vulca”) grows as an annual in all U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones. Reaching 24 to 36 inches tall, it forms a mound of round green leaves. The 3-inch-wide summer-blooming flowers are made up of bright magenta petals surrounding a five-point star-like center. This showy annual blooms heavily for just a couple of months before dying back to the ground. The most common form of propagation for this plant is by seed. Malope "Vulcan" flower seeds germinate easily with the right care.
Although you might admire the colorful pink, purple, red, yellow or white blossoms of a standard perennial hollyhock (Alcea rosea), they grow 6 to 8 feet high, far too large for many urban gardens. However, there are a limited number of miniature or dwarf hollyhock cultivars that you can plant in a flowerbed or flanking a patio or sidewalk. Their seeds are planted the same way as standard cultivars, and they can be grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9.
Harvesting seed from your garden is an excellent means to save money and to test how green your thumb actually is. However, know that unless you collect seeds from native or heirloom plants, the resulting plants will be different from the flowers from which you harvested the seeds. Despite this, you can still try your hand at collecting seeds from most plants in the garden, including ones commonly known as daisies. These include gerbera daisies (Gerbera jamesonii), which are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10; Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum superbum), hardy in USDA zones 4…
Gathering and planting onion seeds is something that you will have to do while taking a number of important things into consideration. Gather and plant onion seeds with help from the owner of Healing Grounds Nursery in this free video clip.
When harvesting onion seeds, you're always going to need to keep a few helpful tips in mind. Harvest onion seeds with help from the owner of Healing Grounds Nursery in this free video clip.
When planting lettuce seeds in trays, you're going to need to poke holes in the trays in very specific locations. Find out how to plant lettuce seeds in trays with help from a classically-trained chef with experience in both world class restaurants and private dining companies in this free video clip.
Planting avocado seeds in water requires you to have access to a medium-sized jar. Plant avocado seeds in water with help from a classically-trained chef with experience in both world class restaurants and private dining companies in this free video clip.
There's probably not a plant that is easier to grow than sunflowers. Start sunflower seeds with help from a landscape designer and horticulture writer in this free video clip.
Potato and mustard seed salad only requires a few key ingredients and a little bit of your time. Make potato and mustard seed salad with help from a chef and caterer in this free video clip.
Enjoying sweet potato sunflower seed salad doesn't require a trip to a fancy restaurant. Make sweet potato sunflower seed salad with help from the owner and operator of a variety of food businesses in this free video clip.
Starting onions from seed is the best way to produce large, tasty and healthy onions for a low price. In comparison to growing onions with started bulbs, known as sets, the variety in species available is much wider with seeds. Onion seedlings thrive in a warm environment, resulting in quick sprouting and sturdy plants to place in the ground. Starting onions from seed with a heat light requires a few supplies from your local gardening store and a bit of work to build the setup but is mostly hands-off.
Clover's botanical name, Trifolium, means "three leaves," but with a little luck and a sharp eye you can occasionally spot a four-leaved specimen. No matter the number of leaves, clover has many uses in the landscape. The sturdy rhizomes help hold soil in place, while the flowers and seeds attract wildlife of all kinds, including insects, mammals and songbirds. The seeds left behind fall to the ground and germinate the following spring, creating a dense cover of plants. Clover also spreads by means of its underground rhizomes. This sturdy plant stands up to moderate foot traffic and browsing wildlife.
Mango seeds can be removed in just a couple of minutes using the right tools. Remove mango seeds with help from a raw and living foods enthusiast in this free video clip.
Blue potatoes are not new cultivars. Rather, they are heirloom plants now making a comeback, both commercially and in the home garden. Blue potatoes have a bluish skin color. The flesh inside may also have a bluish tone, or it may be white or purple. To grow blue potatoes in your garden, you must know not only when to harvest the potatoes to use as seed potatoes but also how to store and plant them. Blue potatoes are planted in a manner similar to other types of potatoes.
Acorn people crafts provide children with a great way to express their creativity and enjoy some time outdoors. Acorns can be dressed up as a variety of people utilizing different professions and characteristics. Children can create different hair styles and create several acorn people that they can play with to develop creativity and personal expression.
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) can be a difficult vegetable to start from seed when germinating conditions aren't optimum. Because lettuce has such small, perishable seeds, damage and germination problems are likely. Many lettuce germination issues begin at sowing since a lot of confusion surrounds the issue of whether or not to cover lettuce seeds. While lettuce requires light to germinate, it also needs help with moisture retention. Lettuce germinates best with a light covering of growing medium.
Saving sunflower seeds is an ideal way to cultivate new sunflowers from year to year. If they are stored in a sealed container in a dark, dry and cool location, sunflower seeds should stay viable for two to three years, according to Washington State University. After storage, check if a sunflower seed is viable before planting with a simple germination test. If the seeds sprout during the germination test, this indicates healthy and usable seeds.
The state of Texas has not one, but five state flowers -- five different species of Lupinus, also known as Texas bluebonnets. These annual plants develop through every growth stage over the course of one year. Once you understand the bluebonnet growth stages, you can propagate new bluebonnet plants year after year.
Majorette hollyhock, a variety of Alcea rosea, comes in various pastel colors, typically with a darker shade of the same color in the center. The flower produces a double bloom, giving it a soft, puffy look. This flower is easy to grow from seed and in many climates will reseed itself if given the chance. The Majorette is a dwarf variety that grows to about 30 inches tall. Hollyhocks are hardy and are very drought-resistant.
Yuccas are noted for their spectacular flowers that bloom for several weeks in the late spring or early summer. They are also noted for their spiky and sharp foliage. Trimming or pruning the different yucca varieties is generally the same and, when trimming all yuccas, be sure to wear thick garden gloves as well as a thick clothing and goggles. Also, throw out any pruned foliage in a thick garbage bag rather than in the compost or directly in the trash can where someone may later get hurt by the spikes.
Star fruit is one common name for Averrhoa carambola, a tropical species of fruit-bearing tree native to southern Asia. It is widely grown for its sweet, slightly tart fruit that has a starry shape when sliced widthwise. Each fruit contains a small quantity of seeds that provide the primary means of propagating new star fruit trees. However, they will only germinate if provided with the right moisture, light and temperature conditions after sowing.
Starting tomato seeds requires a pot, some seeds and obviously potting soil. Get going on seeds with tips from an organic gardener in this free video on starting tomato seeds.
The Alphonso mango is an India native known for its high quality and long storage life. Similar to other mangos, the Alphonso mango is a large evergreen that keeps its rich-green foliage throughout the year. It flowers pinkish-white blooms throughout the dormancy period and into early spring. The Alphonso mango bears its orange-red fruit toward the middle of the growing season and is easily grown from the seeds found in its fruit.
Hibiscus mutabilis is a small multi-trunked tree or a large shrub that is commonly called Confederate rose and cotton rose. These plants come in numerous varieties featuring various blossom colors and can grow to more than 9 feet in both height and width. Native to eastern Asia, hibiscus mutabilis grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 7 to 11. Grow Confederate rose from seeds started indoors at the end of winter or early spring.
Like the other trees potted in containers on your patio or planted in your garden, the pomelo tree will take time to grow and flourish – at least six years and maybe longer, depending on your climate. But it may be worth the wait: your pomelo tree could grow from 15 to 50 feet tall and bear 50 fruits a year – fruits that will taste like a sweet, mild grapefruit, but without the bitterness. And that could be a very sweet tradeoff.
Foxtail palm (Wodyetia bifurcata) entered the horticultural world in the early 1980s. Author D.L. Hull details the discovery of this palm in the Proceedings of the Florida State Horticulture Society. He writes that in 1975 a hunter named B. Hyland found unusual looking palm seeds in the coastal region of northern Australia. Unlike other Australian palms, these seeds were distinct, with wavy fibrous lines. Shortly after, botanists shared these new seeds and observed their growth. Today the seeds of foxtail palm are in high demand for southern landscapes.
Crunchy and delicious pine nuts come from the pinon tree, or Pinus pinea, which is one of 115 species in the genus Pinus. The pinon tree grows successfully in many diverse climate zones, from USDA zone 1, where winter low temperatures can drop to 50 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, to zone 10, which is subtropical. They also grow in a wide range of soils, thriving in wet clay as well as sandy loam. If you have a large property and want to attempt growing this tree from seed, expect to wait about 10 years before your tree will provide edible…
With one swell swoop of her paring knife, Daisy Martinez saves your salsas from runny tomatoes and too many seeds.
Princess tree is one common name for Paulownia tomentosa, a deciduous species of flowering tree cultivated for its showy, pale-purple flowers and heart-shaped leaves. Mature princess trees produce a summer crop of small, egg-shaped fruit containing an abundance of small seeds. Growing princess trees from seed takes little effort since they are naturally viable, but the seeds need bright light to germinate reliably.
There is no botanical difference between the plants we call garden or vegetable carrots and the wildflower called Queen Anne's lace. Both are the species Daucus carota. This biennial plant grows a tender, orange taproot in its first year of growth. It dies back over the winter and sprouts in spring from the root and displays larger, frilly foliage and flat, clustered white flowers that attract butterflies and bees. The root of a carrot that is at least one-year-old is very woody and fibrous. It's still edible but not as tasty or easy to chew and digest compared to the…
Candy lily is the common name for Pardancanda norrisii, a hybrid species of flowering plant grown for its multicolored, lily-like flowers and slender foliage. It is the result of crossbreeding between vesper iris (Pardanthopsis dichotoma) and blackberry lily (Belamcanda chinensis) and it resembles both species in the shape of its flowers and foliage. However, it expresses a wide range of color variations in its flowers, particularly when the plants are grown from seed. Growing candy lily from seed takes little effort or attention apart from regular watering. However, it is best to alternate the temperature of the soil to prompt…
Sunflowers are one of the most common blossoms along roadways and fields. Although these plants grow naturally in their native environments, they require certain conditions for proper growth as landscape and flowerbed plants. Like other varieties of flowering plants, sunflowers require a specific temperature range to promote germination and sprouting. Other factors also play an important role in causing sunflower seeds to begin growing.
Fifty-six species of evergreen yucca plants grow across North America. Yuccas offer blade-shaped foliage in colors ranging from pale blue to deep green, and cultivars with variegated foliage are also available. Generally yucca plants can reach 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. While they make good specimen, accent and container plants, yucca species vary in their cold hardiness, so you should choose from among those adapted to your local conditions if selecting one for your yard.
Sunflowers are a member of the composite family. The outer flowers, called "rays" are bright yellow, while the darker middle center of the sunflower is made up of many more tiny flowers. The seeds are produced by the inner flowers after they have been pollinated. Plan to germinate the seeds in the home or greenhouse a few weeks before planting outdoors. To germinate sunflowers, the temperature needs to be at least 46 to 50 degrees F, though 70 to 78 degrees F is best.
Nutmeg is a spice derived from the fruit of a species of evergreen tree called Myristica fragrans. The seed inside the fruit of the tree has two parts; an outer lacy covering called a "red aril" that is ground and sold as mace, and an inner hard core that is dried to produce nutmeg. Harvesting nutmeg involves several key processes and can be carried out from trees that will produce fruit after five to eight years growth.
A carrot plant contains the orange root, which is the edible vegetable found in grocery stores, and above-ground stems. Carrots produce flowers at the end of stems in their second growing season if they're not picked for their edible root in the first harvestable season. The seeds are small and brownish in color, making them an ideal scrubbing element in carrot soap.
Swan River daisies are low-growing annuals, 8 to 12 inches tall, native to southern and western Australia. The flowers are purple fading to white, though varieties are now available with solid purple or white flowers. Gardeners consider them easy to grow, thriving in both sandy and clay soils. The seeds should be sown outside after all danger of frost is past or started indoors in small pots.
Bush Goliath tomato plants are dwarf plants suitable for container growing, but they still produce large, juicy slicing tomatoes. They also work well indoors and in gardens where space is at a premium. They reliably produce quality fruit until frost. They are known as a hybrid variety, and are resistant to certain wilts, such as fusarium, that often plague tomatoes and diminish crops. Other than bush Goliath plants being a different size, seed germination is the same as it is for any other variety of tomato plant.
The thick, bushy fronds of foxtail palm strongly resemble the tail of a fox, earning the tree its common name. Although the species has become rare within its native Australian range, the tree is widely grown as an ornamental for its attractive appearance and its ability to withstand light frost and temperatures below 30 degrees Fahrenheit for short periods of time. Like most palms, foxtail palms grow well from seeds, as long as the seeds are sown fresh and kept warm during germination. However, it is best to start several seeds at once, since they have a naturally low rate…
Potatoes are a root vegetable that produce new plants from the potato itself. They require minimal maintenance and produce "new potatoes" in about eight weeks after the first blooms appear. Seed potatoes are best when unblemished and healthy in order to produce a bountiful, disease-free crop. Potatoes should be planted in a sandy loam soil with a pH between 5.5 to 6.0. Well-drained soil with a consistent moisture supply produce a quality tuber.
You don't need a sunny window or fancy grow light setup to successfully germinate tomato seeds indoors. The plants don't require any light to sprout. Tomatoes, like most vegetables, need light only after they send up their first set of leaves. Temperature and moisture are the most important concerns until the seeds sprout. Once the seeds germinate, the plants will require consistent lighting, either natural or artificial, if they are to grow on to maturity.
The Hibiscus Syriacus, known as the Rose-of-Sharon, grows to a height of 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide. It produces abundant trumpet-shaped flowers that measure 3 inches in width. Cultivars exist that produce pink, purple, crimson, blue and white flowers. Following flowering, the shrub produces seed pods. Left on the shrub, the pods turn brown and split open. The Hibiscus Syriacus readily spreads by self-seeding. The gardener can also collect seeds and germinate them. The seeds germinate best when planted in the spring, inside a greenhouse.
Lupine is a brightly colored flower that stands erect, forming conelike clusters in the spring. It thrives mostly in the Western U.S., but grows elsewhere in less concentrated numbers. While they are a common sight in many flower beds and the wild, the plants are highly toxic to both pets and livestock. For this reason, killing lupine is required in any area where animals reside. Killing lupine requires chemical herbicides, which often require multiple treatments for complete eradication.
African daisies (Osteospermum ecklonis) provide a colorful display in the garden including apricot, yellow, orange and white. The flowers open on sunny days and close at night or on cloudy days. Germinate its seeds directly in the ground or in pots indoors.
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) is an evergreen species of tree cultivated for its large, edible fruit, which are valued for their mildly tart, sweetish flavor. The species grows best in tropical and subtropical areas, where it will reach a mature height of 40 to 60 feet with a shrubby growth habit comprised of feathery, pinnate leaves. Although tamarind seeds are slow to germinate, they possess a high rate of viability and will sprout reliably if kept under warm, moist conditions. However, the seedlings are very sensitive to cold temperatures and must be kept in a sheltered spot for the first year…
