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Misty Shell Pea Info ‘Misty’ shell peas are an early producing variety of garden pea. Seldom reaching heights greater than 20 inches (51 cm.), plants produce large yields of 3-inch (7.5 cm.) pods. Reaching maturity in just under 60 days, this variety of garden pea is an excellent candidate for early season succession planting in the garden. How to Grow Misty Shell Peas Growing Misty peas is very similar to growing other varieties of pea....

Mountain Aven Facts Mountain avens consist of low-growing, mat-forming plants with small, leathery leaves. They root at nodes along the creeping stems, which makes these little plants valuable members of the ecosystem for their ability to stabilize loose, gravelly mountain slopes. This charming little plant is distinguished by small, eight-petalled blooms with yellow centers. Mountain aven plants are not at risk, probably because they grow in punishing climates visited primarily by the most intrepid hikers and mountaineers....

Natural Christmas Crafts Making nature crafts for Christmas can be as simple or complicated as you wish. Using items from the garden or landscape may require early preparation, like hanging flowers from summer blooming shrubs to dry. Others can be accomplished immediately with items you’ve just taken. Either way, natural Christmas decorations add a personal touch to holiday decorating. Christmas Crafts from the Garden The following list of decorations includes things you can easily design and make yourself....

What is a Fluted Pumpkin? Nigerian fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) is commonly called Ugu, and is widely cultivated throughout West Africa for both its seeds and young leaves. Ugu is an herbaceous perennial native to Southern parts of Africa. Like pumpkins, Nigerian fluted pumpkins creep along the ground and clamber up structures with the aid of tendrils. More commonly, growing fluted pumpkins occurs with the aid of a wooden structure. Additional Info about Fluted Pumpkins Nigerian fluted pumpkins have broad lobed leaves that are nutrient rich....

Growing Shrubs in Upper Midwest States Shrubs are useful additions to gardens for many reasons. They offer a mid-range height in the landscape, visual interest between the height of trees and lower flower beds. Shrubs make great borders and privacy screens and are nice alternatives to fences and walls. Some produce edible fruit and pretty smelling flowers. Native species attract and support local wildlife. When choosing among northern Midwest shrub varieties, look for those that will match your needs and growing conditions....

Oriental Hellebore Info Word of Caution – As it turns out, there is just one aspect of hellebore, commonly referred to as Lenten rose or Christmas rose, which is not so rosy. It is a toxic plant and is poisonous to humans and pets if any plant parts are ingested. Other than this, there does not seem to be any other significant negative characteristics for growing oriental hellebore plants, but this is something you will definitely want to take into consideration particularly if you have young children....

How to Prune Pampas Grass Pampas grass needs annual pruning to get rid of the old foliage and make room for new growth. The foliage is tough and razor sharp. You’ll need to wear leather gloves, long pants and a long sleeve shirt to avoid getting cut. Pampas grass pruning is much easier when you have proper tools for the job. Hedge pruners and electric shears aren’t up to the task....

When to Pick Pawpaws Pawpaw picking season varies depending upon the cultivar and the location they are being grown. Generally, you would begin harvesting pawpaw fruit in midsummer through the first frost. Don’t rush pawpaw picking season! Leave the fruit on the tree until it softens for maximum flavor. As to how long you will be harvesting pawpaw fruit, again, it depends on the cultivar, location, and weather conditions. Harvest may only last a few days or up to a month....

Peace Lily Plant Problems Peace lilies may be tropical plants but they do not require kid-glove care. On the other hand, the better your cultural care matches the plant’s needs, the fewer peace lily plant problems you are likely to encounter. Peace lilies need indirect light, never direct light. If you position your plant a couple of feet from a window, it should be fine. Another alternative is to put it near fluorescent lights....

A permaculture fruit orchard design contains a variety of fruit trees and other plants that will look and act like natural ecosystems. This type of planting is sometimes called a “fruit tree guild.” Fruit Tree Guild Permaculture Transforming vacant land into an aesthetically pleasing and productive orchard is an appealing concept with many advantages. Planting trees benefits the environment by reducing urban heat, absorbing noise and carbon emissions, limiting water runoff, and creating habitats for wildlife....

Dog Waste in Compost Composting is a natural process to reduce organic waste to a useable nutrient source for plants. As you responsibly pick up your pet’s waste, it might occur to you to wonder, “Can dog feces go in compost?”. After all, the waste is an organic derivative that should be able to be converted back into a garden amendment much like steer or pig manure. Unfortunately, our pet wastes contain parasites that may not be killed in household compost piles....

Iris Seed Propagation Can iris be grown from seed? Anyone accustomed to planting iris rhizomes may be surprised to hear that iris can be propagated from seed just as easily. It takes a little longer to get blooms, however, and they don’t necessarily look like the mother plant. When you grow an iris (or any other plant) from its root structure, you are cloning the parent plant. This type of non-sexual propagation will produce an exact duplicate of the iris from which you cut a piece of rhizome....

Dombeya Plant Information Tropical hydrangea plant, also known as pink wild pear flower, is a native of Africa. Reaching heights of 15 feet (5 m.), this medium sized shrub produces large clusters of pink blooms. Though technically not a member of the hydrangea family, wild pear tropical hydrangea receives its namesake for reminiscent mop-like flowerheads. These fast-growing plants are ideal for adding privacy or color to yard spaces. Growing Pink Wild Pear Tropical Hydrangea Though some have attempted to grow pink wild pear Dombeya in containers, the plants are best suited for growth outdoors in tropical regions....

Pests of Pitcher Plants Common pitcher plant problems include pests; and if you’re dealing with pitcher plant pests, you have a challenge on your hands. For example, beneficial insects that help control pests on most plants aren’t always very helpful. Why you ask, because the pitcher plant may dine on the helpful bugs! If that’s not bad enough, pitcher plants are sensitive to chemicals. Even non-toxic insecticidal soap spray may damage (or kill) pitcher plants....

Common Plane Tree Bugs The London plane tree is fast growing with deeply lobed, attractive leaves. They are very tolerant of many types of soil and pH, although they prefer deep loam. Yet, even these adjustable plants can be prey to insect problems. Plane tree pest problems vary depending upon which region the tree is growing. For instance, in the west coast sycamore lacebug is most prevalent. Preventing extensive insect damage to plane trees starts with identification of the most common villains....

What is a Cocktail Garden? It is simply a way to make the freshest, most personal drinks for yourself or a crowd. For a garden-to-glass drink, plant the fruits, vegetables, or herbs you would like to add to your drinks or cocktails for the freshest experience possible. Experiment to find the unique flavors you enjoy. Ramp up the taste with fresh juices, purees, infusions, syrups, or garnishes. How do you plant a cocktail garden?...

What is Perennial Ryegrass Used For? There are a number of benefits to planting perennial ryegrass. Perennial ryegrass uses extend from using it as a pasture grass or as sod for the home lawn. It is considered the best cool season perennial pasture grass in many areas. Planting perennial ryegrass for pasture has many benefits. It establishes rapidly, is high yielding with a long growing season, is highly nutritious, recovers well from grazing, and tolerates traffic....

National Red Wine Day You don’t need an excuse for lifting a glass of red wine with friends. However, there’s one day when it’s particularly appropriate: National Red Wine Day. It’s truly a thing, a national day to celebrate this delightful drink. When is National Red Wine Day? It’s right at the end of summer, on August 28th. There’s no better way to fete this holiday than drinking a little wine made from your own grapes....

Tips for Planting Tomato Plants When planting tomato plants for family consumption, here’s a helpful tip. If you only want fresh fruit, purchase about three plants per person in your household. If you’re looking for fruit to process, you’ll need from five to ten seedlings per person. Before we talk about how to plant a tomato, let’s talk about what to look for before planting. Tomato plants should be straight and sturdy and six to eight inches (15 to 20....

What shrubs to plant in spring? Which trees do better with spring planting? Read on for information on what to plant in spring as well as some tree planting tips. Planting Trees in Spring Can you plant trees in spring? Almost any tree would do well if planted in spring, and some trees need spring planting. For example, trees with fleshy roots do best if you put them in the ground in spring....