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Naranjilla (Solanum quitoense) is member of the nightshade family along with tomato, potato, and tamarillo, and the fruit tends to be flavorless and unpleasant when unripe. However, it can be tangy and delicious if naranjilla harvest occurs at the optimum point of ripeness. So, how to you know when to harvest naranjilla? How do you go about picking naranjilla? Let’s learn more about harvesting this interesting fruit. When to Harvest Naranjilla: Tips on How to Pick Naranjilla Generally, you really don’t need to “pick” naranjilla, as the best time for harvesting naranjilla is when the fruit is so ripe it falls naturally from the tree, usually between October and December....

Needle Palm Information The needle palm, Rhapidophyllum hystrix, is a perennial shrub native to the southeastern U.S. Although it is native to this warmer region, the needle palm plant is actually very cold-hardy and gardeners further north prize it for giving their beds and yards a more tropical look. It puts out multiple stems, with sharp needles that give the plant its name, and slowly grows into a large clump that may be approximately 6 feet (2 m....

Gardening in the Northeast The states in this region are generally considered to be Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. While this area may not warm up as quickly as some states, gardening in the Northeast is at full swing in June. Assuming you have been a good gardener and done the chores in the yard necessary for your region, late spring/early summer is the time to really play....

Symptoms of Oat Leaf Blotch Fungi are probably one of the most common disease causes in cereal grains, such as oat crops. Oat leaf blotch occurs in periods of cool, moist conditions. Oats with leaf blotch develop later phases of the disease, which can damage the culm to the extent that it cannot develop seed heads. It causes symptoms that start as leaf blotch and move to black stem and kernel blight phases....

How to Propagate Vanda Orchids While there may be various orchid propagation methods, the surest way to accomplish Vanda orchid propagation is to take a cutting from the tip of a plant with a healthy system of aerial roots. Look closely at the plant and you can see white Vanda orchid roots growing along a stem. Using a sharp, sterile knife, cut several inches from the top of that stem, making the cut just below the roots....

What Makes a Good Potting Mix for Outdoor Containers? With the rise in popularity of container gardening, many growers find themselves interested in gaining more knowledge regarding outdoor potting soil. These soils are essential for the success of container gardens. Specific components of the soil assist with drainage, water retention, and nutrient uptake. Unlike the soil in the garden, it is essential that potting mix for outdoor containers exhibits exceptional drainage qualities....

Will Trees With Holes Die? The short answer to this is probably not. When a tree develops a hole or if that hole gets larger and creates a hollow tree, most of the time, it is only the heartwood that is affected. The tree only needs the bark and the first few layers beneath the bark to live. These outer layers will often be protected by their own barriers from the rot that creates hollows and holes inside the trees....

What Causes Leaves to Curl on Pepper Plants? Pepper leaf curl can result from many different problems, ranging from pests and viruses to environmental stress. Pests Pests like aphids, thrips, mites, and whiteflies cause leaf curl on pepper plants with their feeding activities. Mature leaves may develop spotted or stippled areas, dry out, or fall off, but leaves fed on during development emerge randomly curled or twisted, depending on the location of the feeding....

Choosing Pink Petunia Flowers A mass of pink bubblegum flowers makes an outstanding and bright statement. Petunias that are pink provide several unique attributes that can enhance such a display. There are compact to mounding forms, tennis ball to dime sized blooms, plus many more variations such as striping and number of petals. If pink is your color, you’re in luck, as most of the available varieties come in this sought after hue....

When Do I Repot a Pitcher Plant? Pitcher plants, like other plants, do best when you repot them early in the spring before they have a chance to produce new growth. When your plant is still dormant, right before the spring arrives, remove it from its pot and gently remove as much planting medium as you can using a chopstick or other small object. Make a new potting mixture of ½ cup (118 ml....

Plant a Row for the Hungry In 1995, the Garden Writers Association, now known as GardenComm, launched a nationwide program called Plant-A-Row. Gardening individuals were asked to plant an extra row of veggies and donate this produce to local food banks. The program has been hugely successful, yet hunger is still rampant throughout the United States. Let’s consider some reasons why Americans don’t plant more gardens to help fight hunger:...

We’ll go over some plant gift considerations so you don’t accidently make a blunder you’ll regret. Are All Plants Good Presents? Plants are a classic gift and appropriate for many occasions. Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or even in sympathy, plants are an appreciated gift. There are things to consider when gifting plants though, such as size, ease of care, etc. You don’t want to give someone a burden or a plant that could make someone sick....

There is a huge variety of unique flora in our parks, forests, and waters. Gardeners whose landscape mimics the natural landscape may find themselves enticed by the plants in public spaces, but in most states, plant harvesting from wild sources is illegal. There are also other reasons not to remove plants from their natural state. What is Wild Harvesting? You may think wild harvesting is simply gathering blackberries in the forest or mushroom hunting....

What is a Mother’s Day Garden? A Mother’s Day garden is whatever you want it to be. There are no rules or strict traditions. This is simply a good idea for celebrating an important day and a very important person. You could create a garden together with your mom or do it for her as a surprise. And if you are a mom, plan a garden with your kids. Regardless, it will give you something everyone can enjoy working on for years to come....

Cucurbit Cross Pollination The cucurbit family includes: Watermelons Muskmelons Pumpkins Cucumbers Winter/summer squash Gourds Since they reside in the same family, many folks believe that there will be cross pollination between the members. Although they all have similar flowering habits, bloom around the same time and, of course, are family members, it is not true that all cucurbits will cross pollinate. The female flower of each can only be fertilized by pollen from the male flowers of the same species....

Marigolds have been a garden staple for decades. If you need a shorter variety, French marigolds (Tagetes patula) are not as upright as the African types (Tagetes erecta) and are very aromatic. They will brighten up any garden with their bright yellow, orange, and red shades. Read on to learn more about the planting and care of French marigolds. How to Plant French Marigolds French marigolds can be easily grown from seed or purchased as bedding plants....

Companions for Blackberries Blackberries are not picky plants. They grow well in a fairly wide range of climates and tolerate different soil conditions as long as their planting site drains well, and the soil contains sufficient nitrogen. This tolerance gives gardeners flexibility in picking companion plants for blackberry bushes. Some gardeners use blackberries as understory plants. Although blackberries produce best in full sun, they also grow in shade. If you are thinking of tree planting near blackberries, consider white oak (Quercus alba) or Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii)....

What to Plant with Lemongrass Lemongrass contains citronella, a plant oil with pest repelling properties, especially mosquitoes. Using lemongrass among your patio plantings is an excellent way to enjoy your outdoors in summer without worrying about those disease transmitting insects. Planting next to lemongrass provides a rich contrast for the golden leaves while the pungent oil helps prevent other pests. You can readily snap off the leaves and cover your skin with the natural oil to protect you and your family from dangerous mosquitoes and your plants from pests, like whiteflies....

Wisteria has become a popular climbing vine for trellises, patio overhangs, fences, and buildings thriving best in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9, depending on the variety. Graceful, drooping wisteria blossoms create a heady environment for courtyards, patios, and areas where summer shade is welcome. Growing Wisteria from Seed Although wisteria plants are fairly fast growing, if you’re looking to propagate one from seed pods, you should know that when started from seed, they can take fifteen or more years to bloom, and the resulting plants don’t always hold true to the parent plant....

How to Identify Potato Blight Both types of blight are common in American gardens and pose some risk to other closely related plants like tomatoes and eggplants. Symptoms of potato blight are distinct when the timing of their appearance is taken into account, making blight easy to diagnose. Potato Early Blight Potato early blight is caused by the fungus Alternaria solani and attacks older leaves first. Fungal spores overwinter in plant debris and tubers that were left behind after harvest, but it waits to activate until the humidity is high and daytime temperatures first reach 75 degrees F....