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How to Use a Greenhouse Building a greenhouse does not need to be difficult or even particularly expensive. The premise of how to use a greenhouse is also quite straightforward. A greenhouse’s purpose is to grow or start plants during seasons or in climates that are otherwise inhospitable for germination and growth. The focus of this article is on greenhouse gardening made easy. A greenhouse is a structure, either permanent or temporary, that is covered by a translucent material which allows sunlight to enter and heat the greenhouse....

There is a variety of fruit cake in almost every European tradition. Italian panforte, German stolen, and others all have their twist on the candied fruited cake. The resulting concoction is quite heavy and dense, deeply sweet, and often kissed with some alcohol and citrus. Fruitcake fruit runs the gamut from common apples to persimmon seeds. During the cake’s heyday, many of the fruits were dried imported delicacies such as dates....

What is a Bean House? A bean house or bean trellis house simply refers to a structure that creates a house – or tunnel-like shape – for growing beans. The vines grow up the structure and cover the sides and top so that you get what looks like a small house made of bean vines. The main difference between this and a trellis is that the house allows the vines to spread farther in a vertical direction, and even over the top....

How to Grow Cauliflower in Pots When it comes to growing cauliflower in containers, the first consideration, obviously, is the container. A large pot with a width of 12 to 18 inches (31-46 cm.) and minimum depth of 8 to 12 inches (8-31 cm.) is adequate for one plant. If you have a larger pot, such as a half-whiskey barrel, you can grow up to three plants. Any type of container will work, but be sure it has at least one good drainage hole in the bottom, as your cauliflower plants will rot quickly in soggy soil....

Corn salad greens look like small rosettes with six to eight, spoon-shaped velveteen leaves branching out from its thin delicate stem. Corn salad greens are found extremely low to the ground. Combined with their extreme delicacy, harvesting is an exacting and tedious task resulting in a higher priced gourmet green when found in the market. Native to France, mache (Valerianella locusta) or corn salad greens as they are also known, has been cultivated under the name doucette since the 17th century....

Dwarf Mulberry Tree Facts Mulberries are suited to USDA zones 5-10. In the ground, mulberries grow into a large bush, but a container grown mulberry tree’s size can be kept smaller (2-6 feet (0.5 to 2 m.) tall) by pruning just after fruiting. Pruning a mulberry also encourages the plant to produce berries again, resulting in several crops throughout the growing season. Mulberries may be female, male, or bisexual. If you are growing from seed, you are more likely to get either a male or female....

Planting Tangerine a Tree Unless you live in a tropical or sub-tropical region, you’ll be growing tangerines in a pot. While they withstand cold temperatures better than most citrus, they still can’t survive a hard freeze. Even in warmer climates, it’s best to choose a sheltered place for planting. Tangerine tree growth is dependent on lots of sun, so choose a sunny spot as well. You might be tempted to try growing tangerines from seed, but in all likelihood, the tangerine trees that result from your efforts won’t bear the fruit you’re expecting....

Types of Tomatoes Some of the most common types of tomatoes include: CherryMain Crop/Mid-SeasonRomaBeefsteakLong Keepers Cherry tomatoes are easy to grow and mature quite early. These small, bite-sized snacks are a big hit with children and can be easily grown in containers. Oftentimes the most widely grown in home gardens, the Main Crop varieties produce an exceptional harvest during mid-season. Roma tomatoes, sometimes referred to as Plum tomatoes, are generally small and elongated....

Pruning a Yew Shrub The first question when you are pruning yew bushes is when to pick up the pruners. Clipping at the wrong time can have unpleasant consequences. It is safest to start cutting back yews when they are dormant. Late winter is perhaps the ideal time to start pruning a yew shrub. The types of pruning cuts to use depend on the outcome you desire. To make a yew tree bushier and fuller, just clip off the outer growth....

Zone 6 Nut Trees The following nut tree varieties are all hardy to zone 6 regions: Walnut Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), zones 4-9 Carpathian Walnut, also known as English or Persian walnut, (Juglans regia), zones 5-9 Butternut (Juglans cinerea), zones 3-7 Heartnuts, also known as Japanese walnuts (Juglans sieboldiana), zones 4-9 Buartnuts (Juglans cinerea x juglans spp.), zones 3-7 Pecan Apache (Carya illinoensis ‘Apache’), zones 5-9 Kiowa (Carya illinoensis ‘Kiowa’), zones 6-9 Wichita (Carya illinoensis ‘Wichita’), zones 5-9 Pawnee (Carya illinoensis ‘Pawnee’), zones 6-9...

Cold Hardy Tropicals for the Landscape Winter hardy palm trees and tropical plants add interest and color to the landscape and require very little maintenance once they are planted. Some good choices for winter hardy palm trees and tropicals include: Needle Palm – The needle palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) is an attractive understory palm that is native to the Southeast. Needle palms have a clumping habit and deep green, fan-shaped leaves. Needle palms can withstand temperatures down to – 5 F....

Planting asparagus from seed allows one to grow any variety of the vegetable, but growing from one year old crowns allows for harvesting asparagus more quickly– three years after planting crowns. Learning how to pick asparagus ensures the lifespan of your asparagus bed. Male or Female Asparagus Asparagus plants are either males or female. The female plant will develop many spears, but when harvesting asparagus one will have the most productive harvest from male plants....

Beet Harvesting Info Picking the leaves for use in various culinary endeavors is also a part of harvesting beets. The attractive leaves are packed with nutrition and may be eaten raw, cooked, or used as a garnish. Making juice may be a part of your plan when harvesting beets. Picking beets is easy once you know what to look for. Shoulders of the beets will protrude from the soil. When to harvest beets depends on the size of beet you desire....

Selecting the Best Drought Tolerant Groundcovers The best drought tolerant groundcovers share several common characteristics. For example, drought-tolerant plants often have small or narrow leaves with a smaller surface area and reduced moisture loss. Similarly, plants with leaves that are waxy, curled, or deeply veined retain moisture. Many drought tolerant plants are covered with fine grey or white hairs, which help the plant reflect heat. Drought Tolerant Groundcovers for Shade Keep in mind that even shade-loving plants need some sun....

Hibiscus Transplant Info There are two tasks you want to complete before moving hibiscus plants: Start digging the planting hole in the new location. Getting the shrub quickly planted in the new location reduces moisture loss and the chance of transplant shock. You will probably have to adjust the size of the hole when you are ready to plant, but getting it started gives you a head start. The planting hole should be as deep as the root mass and about twice as wide....

Homemade Fertilizers for Lawns There are some key ingredients you probably already have in your house that can promote your lawn’s health. These include: Beer: Beer is actually full of nutrients that feed both the grass and the microbes and bacteria that promote its health. Soda: Soda (NOT diet) contains plenty of sugar that feeds those same microbes with carbohydrates. Soap or Shampoo: This makes the ground more absorptive and receptive to your homemade lawn fertilizers....

No shade but still love hostas? With a little searching, you can find hostas that like the sun. Just remember these plants like a lot of water and planting in the sun means frequent irrigation. Are There Sun Tolerant Hostas? Using hostas plants for sun means setting the stage for successful growth. While they like consistent moisture, the soil must be well-draining. Additionally, incorporate compost or leaf litter to enhance soil nutrient levels....

When Can Annuals Be Planted Outside? If you started annuals from seeds, they’re ready for transplanting once you see the first true set of leaves. The two little leaves that appear first on a seedling are not true leaves. They are called cotyledons. Of course, you also need to consider the weather. The seedlings might be ready, but the weather must cooperate, or they will die outside in the cold. Check with your local extension office to find out your area’s average last frost date....

When to Prune After Winter Damage The ideal time for pruning cold damaged plants, including trees and shrubs, is in early spring. This will give you a chance to observe whether the tree/shrub is in recovery and what, if any, limbs need to be removed. Cold weather damage to trees and shrubs occurs at many levels. If there are loose branches, remove them at the time of the injury to avoid hurting passers-by....

Can you Compost Biodegradable Plastic? Biodegradable plastic has been touted as the solution to the problem of plastic pollution. Sounds great in theory, but the problem is that many “compostable” plastic bags, cup lids, and utensils do not break down during composting. On top of that they then contaminate recyclable plastic resulting in a real mess for recyclers. The truth is that most compostable plastics are made from polyester called polylactic acid (PLA) that ends up in landfills along with the plastics made in the 1950’s....