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Potato Storage Tips Generally speaking, storing potatoes in the ground is not the most recommended method, especially for any long term storage. Leaving the tubers in the ground under a heavy layer of dirt that may eventually become wet will most certainly create conditions that will either rot the potato or encourage sprouting. Cool humid conditions of 38 to 45 degrees F. (3-7 C.) found in cellars or basements are ideal for most potato storage....

There are quite a few Pieris japonica varieties to choose among, so it’s best to get an overview before you head out to the plant store. Read on for more information. Varieties of Pieris Japonica If you are seeking a shrub with year-round interest, you can’t do better than to select a variety of Pieris japonica, also called Lily-of-the-Valley bush or Japanese Andromeda, The shrubs typically grow to 9-12 feet (3-4 m....

About Cabbage Looper Pests Cabbage loopers have up to seven instars. The larvae mature to thick green caterpillars with a white stripe running along either side. They have five pairs of prologs and a cigar shaped body, which is thinner at the head end. By the time the larvae reaches maturity, it may be as much as 2 inches (5 cm.) long. Once the looper pupates, it becomes a grayish brown moth....

Passionflower Vine Problems All passion flowers are frost tender. They must be protected in the winter. They are also susceptible to soil-borne diseases, fungi, viruses, bacteria, and nematodes. One of the issues affecting passionflower vines is that the sweet-tasting, purple fruited subspecies are highly susceptible to the root-knot nematode. Root-knot nematode causes a severe thickening of the roots and even death. Fortunately, the more acidic, yellow fruited subspecies are resistant to nematodes and can be used for rootstock and disease-resistant hybridization....

Reasons for Pruning Perennials Should I prune my perennials? Absolutely. There are so many reasons for pruning perennials that the practice must be considered an important part of your gardening duties. Restricting Growth – Gardeners often think about perennial plant pruning when their shrubs and trees get too big. Pruning can reduce the plant’s height and spread. Perennials often grow taller or wider than you think they are going to, and can, over time, interfere with power lines or shade out nearby plants....

Orange Snowball Plant Care When growing orange snowball, you’ll find it offsets readily at two or three years. Growers suggest leaving the offsets attached for an ultimate large mound of them. It will produce more flowers and the orange blooms are even more abundant. Orange snowball plant care includes repotting annually, in late winter or spring when possible. Replant it into a fast-draining cactus mix that is at least 50 percent pumice or coarse sand, according to the experts....

What are Reflecting Pools? Reflecting pools are water features that generally do not have fish, plants, waterfalls, or fountains. Their main purpose is to create a scenic reflection and they can be designed to fit into formal or natural garden styles. Formal reflecting pools are usually rectangular or round and created with bricks or perfectly cut stone. Natural reflecting pools are created to look like naturally occurring ponds and can be irregularly shaped....

Almost anyone with a feline friend is familiar with the signs of a cat damaged plant. Often they are just scratching on it, but be careful about a plant eaten by cats. Some plants are toxic to kitties and should be removed from temptation. Cat-chewed leaves will not heal themselves but you can take steps to repair the appearance of your houseplant. Can Chewed On Plants Be Fixed? A cat damaged plant will likely have torn or shredded leaves....

What is Rockrose? Native to the Mediterranean, rockrose plants have soft green foliage that varies in shape depending on the species. Large, fragrant flowers bloom for about a month in late spring and early summer. Each blossom lasts only a day and may be pink, rose, yellow, or white, depending on the species. Use rockrose shrubs in dry areas as a xeriscaping plant or in coastal areas where they tolerate sandy soil, salt spray, and strong winds....

Propagating with Rose Cuttings To me there are some steps that one must take to have the best chance of being successful at getting a rose cutting to take root, especially in a potato. We want to take our cutting from a mature rose cane, one that has flowered/produced a bloom or blooms. I like to take cuttings that are 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm.) long. Place the cuttings immediately in a jar or can of water to keep them moist....

Fungus Causing Leaves Falling Off a Rose Bush An attack of black spot fungus can cause the leaves to fall off of our rose bushes. First, you will notice tiny black spots on some of the leaves, which look a lot like fly specks or fly poo, but they certainly are not. If left untreated, the black spot fungus will quickly spread over the foliage of the infected rose bush. The black spots will get bigger, leaves turn yellow with sometimes brownish edges and fall off....

Rose mosaic virus can wreak havoc on the leaves of a rose bush. This mysterious disease typically attacks grafted roses but, in rare cases, can affect ungrafted roses. Keep reading to learn more about rose mosaic disease. Identifying Rose Mosaic Virus Rose mosaic, also known as prunus necrotic ringspot virus or apple mosaic virus, is a virus and not a fungal attack. It shows itself as mosaic patterns or jagged edged markings upon the leaves of yellow and green....

Safeguarding Plants from Cats Cats commonly chew on houseplants and wreck their foliage, use them as litter boxes, or play with them until their leaves fall off. This makes it tough to successfully grow houseplants and enjoy your feline friends. While many cat owners just give up on growing indoor plants, there’s no reason to do so. Fortunately, there are ways of safeguarding plants from cats so that you don’t have to forgo your greenery, or your cats....

How to Get Rid of Salt in the Soil Unfortunately, there are no soil amendments that one can add to our gardens to get rid of high concentrations of soil salts (aka: soil salinity) and few chemical additives. The surefire way for soil salt reduction in the garden is through good drainage that will allow salts to be washed out of the soil. While adding certain amendments to the soil will not by itself reduce or clear up soil salinity problems, amendments can help with the soil’s drainage and in turn, leads to helping in reversing soil salinity....

What Is a Sandbox Tree? A member of the spurge family, the sandbox tree (Hura crepitans) grows 90 to 130 feet (28-40 m.) tall in its native environment. You can easily recognize the tree by its gray bark covered with cone-shaped spikes. The tree has distinctly different male and female flowers. Once fertilized, the female flowers produce the pods containing the sandbox tree’s exploding seeds. Sandbox tree fruit looks like little pumpkins, but once they dry into seed capsules, they become ticking time bombs....

Bred by Soulange-Bodin in the 1820s, by 1840 the saucer magnolia was coveted by gardeners around the world and sold for about $8 per seedling, which was a very expensive price for a tree in those days. Today, the saucer magnolia is still one of the most popular trees in the U.S. and Europe. Continue reading for more saucer magnolia information. Saucer Magnolia Growing Conditions Hardy in zones 4-9, saucer magnolia prefers well-draining, slightly acidic soil in full sun to part shade....

While scaredy-cat coleus does have a distinctive skunk smell, which is worse when someone brushes up against the plant or bruises it, there’s no proof that this alone will keep any animals away from the garden. Coleus canina plant repellent is probably another old gardener’s tale that grew up from some anecdotal evidence, and now is a great advertising tool for nurseries that want to sell more of these plants....

Sea rocket information indicates that the plant is, indeed, edible and actually quite healthy and packed with nutrition. Sea rocket information is included in many foraging posts and guides online. Is Sea Rocket Edible? As a member of the crucifer or mustard family, the sea rocket plant is related to broccoli, cabbage, and Brussel sprouts. Sea rocket provides potassium, calcium, and a range of B vitamins, as well as beta-carotene and fiber....

Variegated senecio may surprise you with pale yellow, daisy-like flowers, and, in bright sunlight, the stems and leaf edges take on a pink or purplish tint. You can plant in a hanging basket where the plump stems can cascade over the rim of the container. Senecio wax ivy is a sturdy, low-maintenance plant suitable for growing outdoors in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and above. It isn’t cold-hardy and is most often grown as an indoor plant....

September Gardening Tasks Here are a few suggestions for your autumn gardening to-do list: September is an ideal time to plant new trees and shrubs. The soil is still warm and roots have time to establish before freezing weather arrives. However, it’s wise to wait a couple of weeks if the weather is still hot in your region. September in the Northwest is a great time to add new perennials or to fill empty spots in your garden beds....