It can be hard to know which vegetables belong to the different vegetable families just from looking at them, but understanding the major vegetable plant families will make the task a little less daunting. Most home vegetable gardeners grow several plant families in any given year- using a handy vegetable families list will help keep rotations straight. Family Names of Vegetables The following vegetable families list will help get you started with appropriate vegetable family crop rotation: Solanaceae– The nightshade family is perhaps the most commonly represented group in most home gardens....

As an added bonus, these vines make attractive patio plants when planted as a vertical sweet potato garden. How to Plant a Vertical Sweet Potato Garden Purchase or start sweet potato slips. Unlike most garden vegetables, sweet potatoes aren’t grown from seeds, but from seedling plants which have sprouted from the root tuber. You can start your own slips from grocery-store sweet potatoes or purchase specific varieties of sweet potato slips from gardening centers and online catalogs....

Chigger Bugs in the Garden There’s nothing that can ruin a hike, picnic, or day in the garden as fast as the irritating, itchy bite of the chigger. Like hungry, invisible ninjas, these tiny critters climb up socks and pant legs, looking for a place to feed. What are chiggers though and how do you prevent chigger outbreaks? Chiggers are a pest that is surrounded in mystery. These larval mites are so small they’re difficult or impossible to see with the naked eye, but their bites are unmistakable....

Pumpkins for Food Native Americans have long used edible pumpkins for cooking in everything from bread to soups and taught the newly arrived colonists many of their culinary tricks. Pumpkins can be grilled, baked, broiled, steamed or roasted whole in hot embers as the native people once did. Pumpkins used for food differs from those bred for Halloween carving. Those pumpkins are bred to be large, mostly hollow, and flat bottomed....

What are Trees Used For? The answer you get here probably depends on who you ask. A gardener is likely to point to the benefits of trees growing in the backyard, providing shade on warm days and habitats for birds. A carpenter might think of lumber, shingles, or other building materials. In fact, everything made of wood is made from trees. That certainly includes houses, fences, decks, cabinets, and doors that a carpenter may have in mind....

Fruit Trees for Zone 6 Gardens Here are some good fruit trees for zone 6 landscapes: Apples – Perhaps the most popular garden fruit tree, apples come in a wide range of varieties that perform well in different climates. Some of the best matches for zone 6 are: Honeycrisp Gala Red Halareds McIntosh Pears – The best European pears for zone 6 are: Bosc Bartlett Conference Rescue Asian Pears – Not the same as European pears, Asian pear fruit trees have a few varieties that do well in zone 6....

Godetia Plant Info What is a godetia plant? Godetia has a bit of naming confusion surrounding it. The scientific name used to be Godetia amoena, but it has since been changed to Clarkia amoena. To make things more confusing, it is frequently still sold under its old name. It is a species of the Clarkia genus, named after William Clark of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition. This particular species is frequently also called the farewell-to-spring flower....

Planting a pollinator garden is more important than you may realize, and even a small garden can make a huge difference as pollinators have suffered greatly from loss of habitat, misuse of chemicals and spread of invasive plant and animal species. Many pollinators have disappeared and others are endangered. Read on to learn about a few of the many pollinator friendly plants. Plants that Attract Pollinators Native plants are the best plant pollinators, as native plants and pollinators have evolved together to adapt to your local soil, climate and growing season....

Spur Bearing Apple Info On spur bearing apple trees, fruit grows on small thorn-like shoots (called spurs), which grow evenly along the main branches. Most spur bearing apples bear fruit the second or third year. The buds develop in mid-summer to late fall, then the next year it flowers and bears fruit. Most spur bearing apple trees are dense and compact. They are easy to grow as espaliers because of their compact habit and abundance of fruit throughout the plant....

While they may not be as popular, the gardeners who grow them often declare them to be even better than their red counterparts. One such winner is the Yellow Baby watermelon. Keep reading to learn more about Yellow Baby melon care and how to grow Yellow Baby watermelons. Watermelon ‘Yellow Baby’ Info What is a Yellow Baby watermelon? This variety of watermelon has thin skin and bright yellow flesh. It was developed in the middle of the 20th century by the Taiwanese horticulturist Chen Wen-yu....

What is Chet’s Italian Red? Chet’s Italian red garlic was first found growing on an abandoned farm in Washington State. Chet Stevenson selected the garlic for growth in his own garden. Chet’s Italian red garlic plants are prized for their consistent subtle taste when grown in the right conditions, most commonly those experienced by growers in the Pacific Northwest portion of the United States. Though Chet’s Italian red garlic uses are numerous, the mild winter temperatures in this region produces garlic of exceptional quality for fresh eating....

What is Scab Disease? Scab is usually caused by Cladosporium cucumerinum. These fungal spores overwinter in soil and plant debris and become most active and reproductive in spring when temperatures begin to warm and there is plenty of moisture. Scab on vegetables may also be introduced to your crops from infected starts, contaminated machinery, or even from wind-blown spores. Cucurbits, which include cucumbers, gourds, squash, and melons are particularly susceptible. It is also common on potatoes and some other tubers....

Milkweed Cutting Propagation Although it can be started from seed, milkweed cutting propagation is an alternative method for increasing the number of milkweed plants in your butterfly garden. It’s not much more complicated than taking cuttings of milkweed and rooting milkweed cuttings in a suitable medium. Follow these steps to increase your chances of successfully growing milkweed from cuttings: When to take milkweed cuttings: Mid-summer, when the stems are green and herbaceous is the ideal time to take cuttings of milkweed....

Cottage Garden History While cottage gardens are trendy in the modern era, they did provide a solution to those with a lack of garden space in the days of old England. Many of the workers in the villages owned small homes with even smaller gardens. These gardens would have to supply the family with fresh produce. Many families would have gone hungry if they had not had the benefit of home-grown food....

5 Plants from the Caribbean The tropical Caribbean region is home to so many gorgeous plants. Many of them make great houseplants for anyone who wants to bring the tropics into their home. How to Grow Tropical Plants Indoors Tropical houseplant care is all about recreating their natural environmental conditions. You can’t create a tropical rainforest, but you can take steps to ensure these plants thrive inside your home. For instance, many Caribbean indoor plants will need more humidity than a home in winter generally has....

How to Use a Cold Frame? Cold frames have been used for centuries in one incarnation or another to extend the growing season primarily but there are also other ways to use a cold frame. Here are our top 5 cold frame tips on how to use a cold frame. Final Cold Frame Tips A cold frame can be simple and inexpensive or more complex including automatic venting and heating cables....

In Chinese landscape tradition, moon gates for gardens were often featured. These were in very formal, cultivated sites, and often were featured in the yards of noble persons. Chinese artistry features symbols which is reflected in the inclusion of a moon gate. The gate is a symbol of birth and renewal, and also acts as a formal invitation to enter the area. Traditional moon gates were often slightly raised, requiring visitors to step over the threshold and reinforcing the privilege of entering a private space....

What is a Silk Tree? Mimosa trees are a member of the Fabaceae family and are a popular ornamental tree in the home landscape. Also known as silk trees and Albizia silk trees, these beauties have a lovely feathery habit with wispy pink to rose aromatic flowers. Ideal for USDA planting zones 6 through 9, this tree provides light shade and adds a lovely burst of color amongst other deciduous or evergreen trees, or when used as a specimen....

Albuca Information There are many forms of Albuca. These flowering plants all have similar flowers but can grow extremely varied forms of foliage dependent upon the variety. Albuca is also known as Soldier-in-the box and Slime lily. The latter is due to the slimy sap the plant exudes when broken or damaged. Despite the rather disgusting name, Albuca leaves and blooms are covered in downy hairs that emit a pleasant scent when touched and the flowers are simple and elegant....

What is Apple Blotch Fungus? Apples are a beautiful addition to the home orchard and also work wonderfully as standalone plants in the landscape. Growing apples, however, isn’t as easy as growing other hardy perennials. If you want your apples to thrive and produce lots of fruit, you’ll want to pay close attention to their care throughout the year. Apple blotch fungus disease is just one common problem for both apple farmers and homeowners alike....