Organic Gardening News

Posted by cookinwithherbs
On a recent visit to Madison, Wisconsin, a group of herbal enthusiasts went to visit the medicinal herb gardens of HSA speaker, Jane Hawley Stevens, proprietress of Four Elements Organic Herbals. Here are some photos of her prolific gardens located near the Baraboo Bluffs in Wisconsin and her apothecary shop, which is in New Freedom.

Native to the warm climates of South America, naranjilla, “little oranges,” are thorny shrubs that produce exotic blooms and rather odd-looking, golf-ball sized fruit with a very distinctive flavor. Can you grow naranjilla from cuttings? Yes, you sure can, and it’s not all that difficult. Let’s learn about naranjilla cutting propagation and growing naranjilla from cuttings. How to Root Naranjilla Cuttings Taking cuttings of a naranjilla is easy. Late spring and early summer are the best times for growing naranjilla from cuttings. Fill a 1-gallon (3.5 l.) pot with a well-drained potting mixture such as half peat and half perlite, vermiculite or coarse sand. Be sure the pot has a drainage hole. Water the mixture thoroughly and set the pot aside to drain until the potting mix is evenly moist but not sopping wet. Take several 4- to 6-inch cuttings (10-15 cm.) from a healthy naranjilla tree. Use a sharp,

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The spinach we are familiar with is in the Amaranthaceae family. New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides), on the other hand, is in the Aizoaceae family. While New Zealand spinach may be used in the same way, it has very different growing conditions from its look-a-like, cool-season cousin. Keep reading for tips on how to grow New Zealand spinach, a plant you can enjoy all summer long. What is New Zealand Spinach? Spinach has a host of uses, whether fresh or cooked. Its high concentration of Vitamins A and C and low calories make it a perfect stand alone or complement to recipes. In many regions, growing New Zealand spinach is a warm-season alternative. What is New Zealand spinach? This plant is also packed with nutrients and a perfect stand-in for regular spinach. Like regular spinach, New Zealand is a leafy green; however, its leaves are much thicker and succulent, lending

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Zinnias in pots can look just as lovely, if not more so, than those planted in beds. Especially if you have limited space, why not put these vibrant, cheerful flowers in containers? Zinnias are colorful additions to any flower garden, they’re great for cutting, they are easy to grow and start from seed, so they make a great choice for container gardening. Why Grow Potted Zinnia Plants? There are many reasons to grow zinnias. These pretty flowers come in a range of colors and sizes, they are great cutting flowers and look nice in arrangements, they are easy to grow, and they keep producing blooms all summer, even when it’s very hot. There are also great reasons to consider growing potted zinnia plants. If your garden space is limited, for instance, containers on a patio can add color and greenery. If you have limited sun in your yard, a container

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Common shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia) is a cool season perennial wildflower found in prairie and woodland areas of North America. A member of the Primrose family, the propagation and cultivation of shooting star can be used in the home garden, and to restore native grasslands. Propagating shooting star plants by seed takes a little extra effort while shooting star division is the simplest method of propagation. Shooting Star Plant Propagation via Seed Shooting stars may be propagated either by sowing seeds or by division. While propagating shooting star plants via seed is possible, keep in mind that the seeds need to go through a period of cold stratification before they are ready to plant and they grow very slowly. After flowering, shooting star produces small hard, green capsules. These capsules are the fruit of the plant and contain seeds. Allow the pods to remain on the plants until the fall

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How much water do strawberries need? How can you learn about watering strawberries? The key is to provide enough moisture, but never too much. Soggy soil is always worse than slightly dry conditions. Read on to learn more specific information about strawberry irrigation. Strawberry Water Needs Strawberries tend to dry out fairly quickly because they are shallow-rooted plants with roots that exist mostly in the top 3 inches (7.5 cm.) of soil. Generally, there is no need to water strawberries if your climate receives around 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm.) of rainfall per week. In drier climates, you’ll have to provide supplemental moisture, especially during hot, dry weather. As a general rule, figure about an inch (2.5 cm.) of water per week, although you may need to increase that amount to as much as 2.5 inches (6 cm.) during hot, dry summer weather. How do you know

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Loose smut of oats is a fungal disease that damages various types of small grain cereal crops. Different fungi affect different crops and are usually host-specific. If you grow cereal crops, it’s good to understand the basics about loose smut of oats in order to prevent it. Read on for information about what causes oat loose smut, as well as tips on oats loose smut control. Oats Loose Smut Info Loose smut of oats is caused by the fungus Ustilago avenae. You are likely to find this disease almost everywhere oats are grown. Related species of Ustilago attack barley, wheat, corn, and other cereal grasses. The term “smut” is a descriptive one, referencing the appearance of the black spores typical of oats with loose smut. According to oats loose smut information, the fungal spores enter and infect the oat seed kernels. They are visible on the seed heads that look

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If you are a rolling stone that lets no moss grow under your feet, you need some ideas on a mobile garden. Keeping a garden while traveling can be challenging, but it also helps ground you and brings in wonders like fresh herbs and produce, or simply beautifies and detoxifies a closed space like an RV. Continue reading for tips on RV gardening. Can You Garden While Traveling? While keeping a garden in a moving vehicle may sound unwieldy and even impossible, many rovers do it with style and success. Start small and then work your way up to edibles. Even a cache of succulents can brighten the interior of a motor home and are low maintenance. Choose what your goal is and get cracking on some of these traveling garden ideas. If you once had a garden and find yourself missing it as you wander the world, there is

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Milkweed is among the primary plants to draw the Monarch butterfly to our yards. We all love to see them flitting through the summer flowers in our beds, so we want plants to attract them and encourage them to return. Since milkweed is sometimes considered an unwanted specimen in the landscape, and can be invasive, we might consider growing milkweed in a pot. Container Grown Milkweed Plants There are more than 100 species of milkweeds that grow in North America, and not all of them are hosts for the Monarch. Some draw Monarchs for nectar, but butterfly lovers are likely looking for those plants that encourage the dropping of tiny eggs on them. Let’s take a look at some that are native or naturalized plants and that can grow successfully in a container. These include: Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) – This has naturalized in warmer areas of the U.S. and

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Persimmon trees, both native and non-native, are common in the warm climate of the southern United States. Although persimmon trees are generally durable and easy to grow, persimmon leaf curl is an indication that something isn’t quite right. If you’ve noticed curled persimmon leaves, careful troubleshooting is in order. Let’s investigate the possible reasons for curling leaves on persimmon trees. Leaves Curling on Persimmon from Pests Persimmon psyllid – Persimmon psyllid is a tiny, aphid-like pest that feeds on leaves, causing rolled and curled persimmon leaves. The damage is generally cosmetic and damage isn’t severe, although new growth may be deformed and stunted. Application of dormant oil in late winter or early spring, applied just before new leaves appear, will help keep persimmon psyllids in check. The pests are found anywhere persimmons are grown, but they’re most common in the southeastern United States. Scale – Scale is another pest that

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If you have ever fed wild birds, you know they love sunflower seeds. Squirrels, too, compete with birds at feeders and generally make a nuisance of themselves. Wild animals don’t draw a line when it comes to food, and your ripening sunflower heads are also a target. Preventing bird and squirrel sunflower damage may seem like a round the clock defense strategy, but take heart. We have some simple tricks on how to deter birds and squirrels and save your sunflower seeds. How to Deter Birds and Squirrels from Sunflowers Admittedly, it’s kind of cute when squirrels shimmy their way up towering sunflowers to feast on the seeds, but what if you want to save that seed? Protecting sunflowers from birds and squirrels will help you keep the harvest all to yourself. You can get creative to deter birds eating sunflowers and squirrels taking your hard won harvest. Using netting

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Physoderma brown spot of corn is a fungal disease that may cause your plant’s leaves to develop yellow to brown lesions. It is favored by warm, wet conditions and, in the Midwest where most corn is grown, it is only a minor issue. Be aware of this disease, especially if you live somewhere warmer and with more humidity, like the southeast states of the U.S. What is Corn Brown Spot? This is a fungal infection caused by Physoderma maydis. It is an interesting disease, although it can be destructive, because it is one of few that produce zoospores. These are fungal spores that have flagella, or tails, and can swim around in the water that pools in corn whorls. The conditions that favor the infection are warm and wet, especially when water collects in whorls. This is what allows the zoospores to spread to healthy tissue and cause infection and

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Relatively unknown to most people, the naranjilla is indigenous to higher elevations in the South American countries of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. If visiting these countries, it is highly recommended that you try eating naranjilla. Each culture has a different way of using naranjilla fruit; all are delicious. How do the locals use naranjilla? Read on to find out about naranjilla fruit uses. Information About Using Naranjilla If you are fluent in Spanish, then you recognize that ‘naranjilla’ means little orange. This nomenclature is somewhat flawed, however, in that naranjilla is not related in any way to citrus. Instead, naranjilla (Solanum quitoense) is related to the eggplant and tomato; in fact, the fruit looks very similar to a tomatillo on the inside. The outside of the fruit is covered with sticky hairs. As the fruit ripens, it turns from a bright green to orange. Once the fruit is orange,

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Posted by cookinwithherbs
It is that time of year again already! Today we celebrate the true arrival of summer with the solstice--the longest day and shortest night of the entire year. Not that summer weather hasn't already been here for some time--it is hot here in Maryland!

One of the most important aspects of amaryllis plants is the bloom. Depending upon the size of the flower bulb, amaryllis plants are known to produce magnificent clusters of large flowers. Amaryllis red blotch is one of the most common causes of failure of the plant to bloom. Find out what to do about it here. What is Amaryllis Red Blotch? Most commonly known for their potted plant culture during the holiday season, amaryllis is a beautiful tropical plant that thrives in warm climate flower beds. While the process of forcing these bulbs indoors in pots is extremely popular, growers living in USDA growing zones 9-11 can enjoy these plants outdoors with little care or maintenance. These flowers are relatively easy to grow; however, there are some issues that cause less than desirable outcomes, like red blotch of amaryllis. Amaryllis red blotch, also known as amaryllis leaf scorch, is a

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When a plant’s common name is “leatherleaf,” you expect thick, impressive leaves. But those growing leatherleaf shrubs say that is not the case. The leaves of the leatherleaf are only a few inches long and only somewhat leathery. What is leatherleaf? To learn more about leatherleaf, otherwise known as Chamaedaphne calyculata, read on. We’ll provide lots of leatherleaf plant info, plus tips on how to grow leatherleaf shrubs. What is Leatherleaf? Thick, leathery leaves are often an adaptation of nature that allows plants to survive searing sun and drought. So it may surprise you to learn that this type of leatherleaf is a bog plant, growing in wetlands in the northeastern part of the country, and up through Canada to Alaska. According to leatherleaf plant information, this shrub has narrow, somewhat leathery leaves and huge underground rhizomes. These look like thick roots and, in leatherleaf, they extend up to 12

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Spring isn’t the only time you can expect hay fever. Summer plants are also busily releasing pollen which can aggravate allergies. Not only summer pollen but contact allergies are common among sensitive gardeners. Learn about the common allergy causing plants that grow in the hot season and how to minimize their effects. Typical Summer Allergy Plants You know the symptoms. A stuffy head, runny nose, headache, weepy eyes and itching. Summer plant allergies don’t have to ruin your vacation. Know the plants that cause summer allergies so you can avoid them and concentrate on sunny fun. Many of the allergy causing plants in summer are found wild in ditches, fields and abandoned spaces. That means a casual hike for those that are sensitive can become a real drag. Fields are excellent hosts to such plants as: Ragweed Ryegrass Pigweed Lambsquarter Timothy grass Cocklebur Dock Plantain Sorrel Larger trees are flowering

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Do you sometimes buy colorful vegetables for autumn harvest displays? These are always available in the store around that time. Sometimes, you don’t know if you’re buying a squash or a pumpkin cultivar, but they look great in your display. Most likely, you were buying winter squash, and you may have included a turban squash in your purchase. About Turban Squash Plants Exactly what is a turban squash? It’s a variety of winter squash that, with time, becomes a hollow gourd. Attractive, with an acorn shape, the thick skin is often colorfully mottled or striped. The bottom is most often orange, with colorful stripes and spots, and the top half has a light background for the unique splotches. A beautiful specimen, this of the Curcurbita family and related to pumpkins, squash and gourds. It’s heavy, with a normal size weighing in at about five pounds. It’s most easily peeled after

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Victoria blight in oats, which occurs only in Victoria-type oats, is a fungal disease that at one time caused significant crop damage. The history of Victoria blight of oats began in the early 1940s when a cultivar known as Victoria was introduced from Argentina to the United States. The plants, used for breeding purposes as a source of crown rust resistance, were initially released in Iowa. The plants grew so well that, within five years, nearly all of oats planted in Iowa and half planted in North America were the Victoria strain. Although the plants were rust resistant, they were highly susceptible to Victoria blight in oats. The disease soon reached epidemic proportions. As a result, many oat cultivars that have proven to be resistant to crown rust are susceptible to Victoria blight of oats. Let’s learn about the signs and symptoms of oats with Victoria blight. About Victoria Blight

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Fungicides are a very useful item in the gardener’s arsenal, and when used correctly, they can be extremely effective in the fight against disease. But they can also be a little mystifying, and if used incorrectly can yield some pretty disappointing results. Before you start spraying, one important distinction to understand is the difference between protectant and eradicant fungicides. Keep reading to learn more. What is a Protectant Fungicide? Protectant fungicides are sometimes also called preventative fungicides. Like the name suggests, these are meant to be applied before a fungus takes hold, as they create a protective barrier that stops infection before it starts. These can be effective before a fungus is present, or when a fungus is present but has not yet entered the plant. Once your plant is already showing symptoms of infection, it’s too late for protectant fungicides to have an effect. What is an Eradicant Fungicide?

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