home sectionhome section
If you want to add color and life to your garden, plant vines that attract hummingbirds. The 340 species of hummingbirds, which Oregon State University aptly describes as "flying jewels," not only provide visual interest but also play an important role in plant pollination. Hummingbirds subside on a diet of insects -- consuming up to 2,000 bugs each day -- and flower nectar. Plant vines with tubular or trumpet-shaped blossoms to attract hummingbirds to your landscape.
Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) are shallow-rooted plants that do well in containers, and if the pot is large enough, you can safely grow two or more plants. Growing strawberries in containers offers obvious advantages for gardeners, especially those with limited growing space or those with stiff knees or sore backs. Strawberries are perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. In warmer climates, they are often grown as annuals.
Growing strawberries in Styrofoam is actually a really great way to conserve space. Grow strawberries in Styrofoam with help from the owner of Eden Condensed, a small space garden design in Los Angeles, California, in this free video clip.
Pruning grapevines in a grape arbor requires you to put them on something that they can climb up on. Prune grapevines in a grape arbor with help from the owner of Eden Condensed, a small space garden design in Los Angeles, California, in this free video clip.
Pruning domestic grapevines is super easy, so long as you have a trellis or an arbor to plant them on. Prune domestic grapevines with help from the owner of Eden Condensed, a small space garden design in Los Angeles, California, in this free video clip.
Topsy Turvy is a name brand for a hanging strawberry carrier. Plant strawberries in a Topsy Turvy with help from a garden professional in this free video clip.
Planting with strawberry jars requires you to use jars made out of terracotta. Plant with strawberry jars with help from a garden professional in this free video clip.
A perennial garden makes a perfect home for blueberry bushes and a wide variety of other types of plants. Plant blueberry bushes in a perennial garden with help from a garden professional in this free video clip.
Planting a small blueberry bush is something you can do using terracotta and a few other basic tools. Plant a small blueberry bush with help from a garden professional in this free video clip.
Putting netting over blueberry bushes helps keep those bushes protected throughout the year. Put netting over blueberry bushes with help from a garden professional in this free video clip.
Originally native to tropical regions in Africa, watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) are now widely grown across the United States, especially in the South. Watermelons thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 11, making them well-adapted to areas throughout the state of Arkansas. Like most garden plants, watermelons require specific growing conditions, and planting at the right time is essential to growing a healthy crop.
If a strawberry plant (Fragaria spp.) has an ample supply of fertile soil, moisture and oxygen, it typically spreads within the garden through runners, or daughter plants. Preferring U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10, these prolific crop producers also form multiple crowns for even more growth from one plant. In ideal conditions, your strawberry plant can continue dividing from the mother plant until all surrounding natural resources are spent.
In Tennessee, what most gardeners refer to as a “cantaloupe” is technically a “muskmelon.” True cantaloupe (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis) is a small melon grown mostly in Europe with ribbed, light green skin. Muskmelon (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus) is the variety typically grown in the United States and has brown, webbed skin. This is what most people are referring to when they use the word “cantaloupe.” All cantaloupe varieties are muskmelons, but not all muskmelon varieties are cantaloupes, so make sure you understand what you are getting when you visit the nursery or seed store. Cantaloupes are warm-season crops grown…
The common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is a shrub that grows from 5 to 15 feet in height and produces showy, fragrant flowers. A versatile plant, the lilacs are grown as windbreaks, screening plants and in cutting gardens. The common lilac prefers cool weather, although a few varieties will grow in the South and other warm regions of the country. For best results, grow the common lilac bush in full sun in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 7. The best time to plant a lilac bush is in fall, but you can also plant in spring.
Tangy, juicy, blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) growing in backyard gardens bring flavor and convenience to the dining table, whether fruits are eaten fresh or made into pies, jellies, jams and pastries. Four types of cultivated blueberries, with hundreds of varieties, grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. Blueberry bushes are woody perennials that require acidic, well-draining soil and about six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day.
Lilacs can live for many years once established -- and can grow out of control if you let them. If they are allowed to reach their full heights of over 20 feet, you may experience a dearth of flowers save for some on the highest reaches of the shrub, with many bare lower branches. To keep a handle on the lilac's growth and to promote conditions for vigorous blooming of the its beautifully colored and fragrant flowers, trim the bush just before new growth and next year's blooms begin to develop, and maintain the appropriate sun and water needs.
The watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) has been in the United States almost as long as European settlers have, and in that time it has become one of the most common edible garden plants. While watermelons are not hard to grow, they do need a lot of space for their long vines and huge, slowly ripening fruit.
Native U.S. grapes that are indigenous to the South owe their unusual name to early colonial settlers. Colonists dubbed them "muscadines" (Vitis rotundifolia) because of their musky fragrance and taste that reminded them of a familiar French wine, muscatel, which was a product of muscat grapes. Although muscadines share word origins with a French grape, their other characteristics are markedly different.
Compact mounds of ground-trailing stems instead of thorny, sprawling canes earn garden strawberry (Fragraria x nanassa) cultivars high marks as container or small-space ornamentals in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 though 11. Their dainty white or pink flowers open over a long season against lustrous, deep-green leaves before giving way to those irresistible ruby-red berries. All too frequently, tiny aphids lurk beneath strawberries' foliage, draining sap and slowly robbing the plants of their vigor.
Strawberry plants are members of the genus Fragaria, and are prized for their juicy fruit and sweet scent. The fruits' tempting sweetness, however, also attracts unwelcome diners to your garden. This hardy fruit plant grows well throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 3 through 10. Rodents will feed on all parts of strawberry plants, including the roots, and this feeding can reduce fruit yield by affecting plant vigor; in extreme cases, it can lead to the death of your plants.
Raspberries need to be properly protected to help make sure that they always grow as they should. Learn how to protect raspberries with help from a gardening professional in this free video clip.
When planting blueberry bushes, you always need to consider things like trimming frequency and high fruit production. Find out a few tips and tricks regarding blueberry bushes and things like high fruit production and when to trim them with help from a gardening professional in this free video clip.
When planting a hanging strawberry pot, you're always going to want to keep a few key things in mind. Plant a hanging strawberry pot with help from an expert who has been involved in sustainable food production for the past 30 years in this free video clip.
You don't necessarily have to grow strawberries only outdoors if you don't want to. Grow strawberries inside with help from an expert who has been involved in sustainable food production for the past 30 years in this free video clip.
Growing strawberries from bulbs requires you to be cognizant of a few important tips. Grow strawberries from bulbs with help from an expert who has been involved in sustainable food production for the past 30 years in this free video clip.
Planting strawberries in a colander is a great way to give your fruit proper drainage. Find out about planting strawberries in a colander with help from the founder of Gardenerd.com in this free video clip.
There are few treats tastier than a nice organic strawberry. Grow organic strawberry plants on your property with help from the founder of Gardenerd.com in this free video clip.
Growing strawberries above ground is something you can do in a regular raised bed. Find out about growing strawberries above ground with help from the founder of Gardenerd.com in this free video clip.
Planting a blueberry bush is easy, so long as you follow a few key steps in the appropriate order. Get blueberry bush planting instructions with help from a longtime gardener and blogger in this free video clip.
Raspberries will need to be pruned every so often to help make sure that they grow as healthily as possible. Prune raspberries with help from a longtime gardener and blogger in this free video clip.
When growing blueberry seeds, you're going to want to make sure they're planted in just the right way for the best possible results. Grow blueberry seeds with help from a longtime gardener and blogger in this free video clip.
Growing raspberry bushes from a baby root requires a few key steps and just the right technique. Grow raspberry bushes from a baby root with help from a longtime gardener and blogger in this free video clip.
Primocane raspberries can make an absolutely wonderful addition to your garden. Plant Primocane raspberries with help from a longtime gardener and blogger in this free video clip.
When planting blueberries in a garden, remember that you may want to scatter them around your landscape. Plant a blueberry garden with help from a landscape designer and horticulture writer in this free video clip.
Raspberry romaine salad is a lot easier to make than you might be thinking. Prepare raspberry romaine salad with help from the founder and president of Grow Green Industries, Inc in this free video clip.
Jasmine vines need to be cared for in a very particular way to make sure they grow as they should. Learn about Jasmine vine care with help from a professional gardener in this free video clip.
There's nothing like fresh-picked citrus fruit for a juicy, sweet and healthy snack. Clementines are a popular variety of Mandarin oranges introduced to the U.S. in 1909 and originally from Algeria. This type of tangerine grows successfully in the same areas where other citrus trees grow and thrive. Clementine trees are ideal for gardeners who don't have a lot of space and don't want a huge crop. You can successfully grow seedless Clementines with the right location and care.
Catawba grapes grow well throughout the Eastern and Midwestern portion of the United States, so they are commonly cultivated by gardeners across these regions. The fruit works well in cooking and in the production of wine, but the grapes are not typically eaten raw due to their strong, tart flavor. Catawba grapes propagate easily from cuttings taken in early spring, and the vines will rapidly put on new growth. But they take one to two years to reliably bear fruit.
Creeping wire vine (Muehlenbeckia axillari) is a vigorous ground cover with wiry stems that spread to create a dense mat of tiny, glossy green leaves. Creeping wire vine provides interest year-round as small green blooms that appear in late spring turn to colorful berries by early autumn. During the fall and winter, the foliage turns an attractive greenish-bronze color. Creeping wire vine is a good choice for filling in empty spots in the landscape or stabilizing difficult slopes but also works well as a container plant. This ground cover is extremely hardy, tolerating temperatures of at least minus 10 degrees…
Left to ramble, grapevines become unruly and invasive. Wild grapevines in a woodland setting can smother low-growing plants and shrubs, and they will climb even the tallest canopied trees in their quest for sunlight. A wild grapevine that reaches the crown of a tree will eventually kill the tree. Garden variety grapevines also spread aggressively, clinging to anything in their path. Grapevine roots can be 10 feet or more deep, so you won’t be able to dig the entire plant to remove it. Instead, remove as much as you can and then keep regrowth in check. Wear gloves to protect…
As pet owners become increasingly conscious of how healthy the ingredients in their pets' food and treats are, natural ingredients such as blueberries are becoming more popular in both store-bought and homemade treats. If you are looking to find a healthy treat for your dog, blueberries can be a good option if provided in moderation.
Watermelons are a tasty summertime fruit that are popular in salads and desserts. Recently, square watermelons, which are flat on all six sides, have increased in popularity. Unfortunately, these melons are quite expensive, and in some cases may sell for as much as $82.00 each. With a little hard work, experienced gardeners can grow square watermelons in the comfort of their own home.
If you want to grow fruit but have limited yard space or simply want to keep most of the yard clear, consider growing fruit along a fence. Twining, vining fruits do well on chain-link and other wire mesh fencing, but you can also grow fruit on latticework fences, privacy fences and brick, stucco or cement block fences as long as you provide a support system.
Growing your own fruit, like a large and juicy watermelon, saves money and gives you access to organic produce. Watermelon, also known as Citrullus lanatus, requires plenty of space, or it will have its rambling growth pattern disturbed by nearby plants. Planning your garden carefully will ensure a healthy crop of fully grown watermelon.
Grapes require full sun or part shade conditions to produce fruit. They need at least six hours of sunlight for fruit production. Grape plants will grow in mostly shady conditions, however the likelihood that they will produce mature fruit is small. However, you can still enjoy the plant's lush green foliage and train the vines to grow along a lattice or trellis. If you consciously choose to grow grape vines in shade, be aware that they will be more susceptible to fungal diseases such as powdery mildew.
Growing grapes for wine production has become a multibillion-dollar annual business. U.S. wine drinkers consumed an estimated $30 billion in wine in 2010, according to California Wine Institute. With that much money at stake, grapevine root diseases cause commercial winegrowers serious concern. These diseases also attack backyard grapevines. In most cases, preventing grapevine root diseases is far more effective than treating them.
Grapevines wilt because of pests, infection or insufficient water. Sometimes plants can recover from wilted states and continue to grow; sometimes they cannot regain their lost vigor. Fruit production declines and, in some cases, ceases entirely. Where water is the consideration, the permanent wilting point for grapevines is a point of no return.
For 8,000 years, people have succeeded in growing grapes. You can replicate a particular favorite by taking a small start off an existing plant -- even if you don't have a good-sized garden for a rambling vine. The cut grapevine can be planted in a container and placed on a sunny porch or windowsill. Grapes require pollination to produce fruit, though, so indoor grapevine containers likely will have only tangles of bushy green leaves.
Fruit trees grow in a range of shapes, sizes and varieties, but always produce sweet, juicy harvests. All fruit trees require some of the same basic growing conditions for growth and harvest, including sun, warmth, nutrition and water. This leads to easy companion planting among trees, up to a point. If you want a multi-fruit orchard, choose a large space and trees suitable to your area.
Aquaponics is a soil-less method of gardening that relies upon recycled fish waste that flows over the roots of the plants. The aquaponic method of gardening allows the gardener to control the nutrients, heat, light and even pests in the growing environment. Cantaloupe are excellent candidates for aquaponic growing and grow well in perlite, a soil-less medium that holds moisture well. The vines receive the nutrients they need from the fish waste; cantaloupe are then trained to grow up trellises or lines. Aquaponics can be done in most hydroponic systems with a small stock of fish and pumps that transfer…
