The chayote, or vegetable pear, from the gourd family, (Cucurbitaceae) is a perennial climbing vine that requires four to five months of frost-free days to arrive at the harvest stage. Its nutritional contents include potassium, vitamin C, manganese, calcium, etc. It may grow up to fifty feet. The chayote produces both male and female blossoms, which…
Cacti and succulents are easy to grow, and add a strikingly beautiful accent to your home and garden. If you wish for ornamental plants with medicinal and culinary values, think cacti and succulents. Cacti or Succulents? It is a common statement – all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. If you are…
Chicken manure as garden fertilizer is a natural soil additive that is high in nitrogen content. Learn how to compost your chicken manure. You will have healthier plants, and at the same time prevent the problems caused by accumulated droppings. Chicken Manure Not a Mulch Chicken manure abounds in NPK (N = nitrogen, P =…
Shopping for poinsettias is best during the Thanksgiving season, when selection is ample. To ensure that the plants are fresh, check the flower clusters in the middle of the bracts. If you see some yellow pollen, you do not want that plant. Have it properly wrapped so that it does not get exposed to low…
With proper clematis care, you can have beautiful, vigorous climbing vines with exquisite flowers. There are several hybrids that produce large colorful flowers. When purchasing clematis, choose healthy vines that are at least one foot tall with multiple vigorous stems. To enjoy continuous blooms from late spring through autumn, plant a combination of early, mid-season,…
This information on poisonous plants is from a leaflet published by the Utah Poison Control Center (UPCC). The UPCC is a 24-hour resource for poison information, clinical toxicology consultation, and poison prevention education. The UPCC is a program of the University of Utah, College of Pharmacy. It is staffed 24 hours a day with registered…
Container vegetable gardening is quite possible whether you have all the ground at your disposal or you have limited space. Most plants do well in containers, just pay attention to the dwarf and bush varieties. Think carrots, chives, lettuce, parsley, peppers, radishes, or tomatoes, to name just a few – they are simply perfect for container vegetable gardening. What…
When planting strawberries, you can cultivate them not just for food. They also make good groundcover and as ornamental plants. Types of Strawberry Plants There are three choices: June Bearing, Everbearing, and Day Neutral. The selection for each category of strawberries is growing. Ask your local nursery for recommendation which variety is best for your…
Planting tulips in containers allow you to grow them all year round. You may also find it easier than sowing them the regular way. So go ahead and choose a decorative flowerpot to complement your personality, get some dormant bulbs and potting soil, and start planting! Procedure for Planting Tulips in Containers When selecting your tulip bulbs…
When planting garlic, know your climate unless you are willing to wait several years until your chosen variety adapts to your location. Each clove you plant functions as a seed, and will produce one plant with one bulb. This bulb may produce up to twenty cloves. Garlic is of the allium family. From this family…
