Leaf mold is shredded flakes of partially decomposed leaves and tree litter. It is brownish black and on its way to becoming humus, one of the building blocks of great soil. Leaf mold can be used as a soil conditioner or as mulch in vegetable gardens and other planting beds. Leaf mold enriches and fertilizes […] More
Early blight, late blight, and leaf spot are common fungal diseases of tomato plants. Late blight is the most serious of the three. It spreads rapidly and will likely destroy the infected plant and can quickly spread to other plants—including potatoes, eggplants, and peppers. Here are the basics for identifying these fungal diseases: Conditions for […] More
Raspberries are perhaps the most delicate fruit. This makes them a good choice for home growing and fresh picking. Just harvested raspberries quickly pass from ripe to overripe. It is difficult to find them just right at the market; they should be eaten within a day or two of picking, otherwise, they should be frozen […] More
Cyclamen is a perennial bulb with rounded, silver-marble dark green leaves and blooms that are sometimes fragrant. Flowers can be white to pink and carmine-red. Purple blotches appear at the base of each petal in winter. Cyclamen goes dormant in the summer heat. Cyclamen is a tuberous perennial. Heart-shaped leaves form at the base of […] More
Lily-of-the-Valley, Convallaria, is a delightfully fragrant spring bloomer with bell-shaped snowdrop flowers. Flowers are pendant and appear on one side of arching racemes. Lily-of-valley is quick to naturalize and cover a large area with a rich green carpet of foliage. It is a good choice for a woodland or shaded garden; it will grow under […] More
Potatoes require a cool but frost-free growing season. Grow potatoes through the summer in cool northern regions. Grow potatoes in fall, winter, and spring in hot summer southern regions. Here is your complete guide to growing potatoes. Quick potato growing tips Related articles: Where to plant potatoes Good Products for Growing Your Garden When to […] More
Asparagus is a long-lived perennial vegetable that requires three to four years to become established and productive. Once established, an asparagus plant can produce spears for 15 to 20 years or more. It is best to grow asparagus in dedicated planting beds–often referred to as the “asparagus patch”. Asparagus grows from fleshy roots called crowns. […] More
Primula vulgaris–commonly called English primrose–bears clusters of 3 to 25 often fragrant flowers in spring. Primula vulgaris is native to England and is widely distributed throughout Europe. Primula vulgaris flowers are salverform, meaning they form a narrow tube with petals abruptly bent outwards at right angles. flowers are commonly yellow, but there are many colors. […] More
Hostas are large-leaved plants that add texture and color to the front of shady beds and borders. Spikes of blue, lavender, or white trumpet-shaped flowers rise above mounds of leaves. Leaves may be heart-shaped, lance-shaped, oval, or nearly round. Foliage runs from lime to dark green, greenish-gold, gray, and blue with many variegated forms. Most […] More
Lavandula–commonly called lavender–is an evergreen subshrub with narrow, aromatic silver-gray leaves and dense spikes of fragrant, deep purple flowers held on wiry stems from mid- to late summer. Some varieties have flowers in shades of white, pink, and mauve. Lanvandula is grown for ornament in the garden and for its sweet scent when dried. The […] More
Irises are the standouts of the spring garden. There are more than 300 species of irises. To risk oversimplifying this remarkably diverse group of plants: there are two types of iris flowers—bearded and beardless. Tall bearded irises are widely grown and perhaps the most popular. They have showy flowers on branching stems from 28 to […] More
Achillea–commonly called yarrow–is a colorful addition to the garden. Yarrow has fernlike, fragrant leaves. Species and cultivars range in size from very small, creeping plants to very large—up to 4 feet (1.2m) tall. Achillea is easy to grow and grows well even in poor, dry soil. Achillea is a perennial. It is also known as […] More
Stephen Albert