Stephanie Suesan Smith 
Banana plants are tropical plants from Asia. They are now grown in tropical areas all over the world. In colder areas, bananas can be grown indoors. Important Banana Facts Scientific Name Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana Type of plant Perennial Part Eaten fruit Days to Harvest 10-20 months Season Grown All seasons Cooked or raw both Optimal … Read more
Mulch has a number of benefits for the garden. However, you need the right mulch to get the most benefits from it. Here is a guide to when and how to use hardwood mulch. What Is Hardwood Mulch? Hardwood mulch is the ground-up bark and wood of hardwood trees. It is often a by-product of … Read more
Thyme is a popular culinary herb that is easy to grow. Here are the best and worst companion plants for thyme. Why Does Thyme Need Companion Plants? Here are the ways companion plants work with thyme. Repel Insects Thyme repels many common insect pests. Plants like the Alliums, chamomile, lavender, marjoram, oregano, sage, and rosemary … Read more
Cantaloupes suffer from a lot of insect pests. The right companion plants can help that problem as well as others when planted around cantaloupe. Why Does Cantaloupe Need Companion Plants? Here are the ways companion plants help cantaloupe. Repel Insects Plants such as the Alliums and aromatic herbs repel insect pests with their scent. They … Read more
Tomatoes are the most popular home-grown crop in the world. However, they are only able to grow in a narrow temperature range. Growing tomatoes indoors solves that problem. Why Use A Grow Light For Tomatoes? Light from windows is seldom sufficient to grow good tomatoes, whether you are starting seeds or growing the whole plant … Read more
Tomatoes grow great in containers if they have the proper soil to grow in. What do you use? Here are my thoughts on potting soil for tomatoes in containers. Why Use Potting Soil For Tomatoes In Containers? The temptation is to just scoop some topsoil into a pot and plant your tomato in that. However, … Read more
Tomatoes are grown in more home gardens than any other plant. What if you don’t have room to grow tomatoes? Consider using grow bags. Are Grow Bags A Good Way To Grow Tomato Plants? Grow bags are a great way to grow tomato plants if the grow bag is large enough. Tomato plants have extensive … Read more
Lemon grass is used a lot in Asian food. In addition, lemon grass is used in many home remedies. It has a nice scent, as well. There are companion plants that benefit from growing near it and others that help lemon grass grow better. Why Does Lemon Grass Need Companion Plants? Here are the ways … Read more
Bok choy is a popular type of Chinese cabbage. It is a member of the Brassica family, along with cabbage, broccoli, and others. Why Does Bok Choy Need Companion Plants? The idea of companion plants is that certain plants help or harm other plants. Helpful ones should be planted together, while harmful ones should be … Read more
Every Extension service recommends using mulch around trees, shrubs, and in landscape beds. However, there are so many mulches you may not know which one to choose. This guide discusses pine straw mulch and how and when to use it. What Is Pine Straw Mulch? Pine straw mulch is made from the needles of Long … Read more
Research has shown that mulching helps plant health. Each type of mulch has different uses. This guide tells you all about pine bark mulch. What is Pine Bark Mulch? When pine trees are cut for lumber, the branches and bark are removed before the tree is cut into boards. Pine bark mulch is the bark … Read more
Research shows that mulch stabilizes soil temperatures and moisture and helps protect from weeds. There are lots of different kinds of mulch, though, so what do you use where? Here is a guide to cypress mulch. What Is Cypress Mulch? Cypress mulch is the chipped-up trunk and bark of the bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) or pond … Read more
Every plant expert tells you to mulch your plants. There are so many mulches out there; how do you choose? This guide will tell you all about choosing and using mulch. What Is Mulch? Mulches are used to cover the exposed soil in landscape beds and vegetable gardens and around trees and shrubs. Advantages and … Read more
Growing your own cucumbers is very satisfying. Unfortunately, I get lots of cucumbers and can’t eat them all fresh. Canning the cucumbers into pickles is a good way to preserve them for later use. Here is a guide to the best cucumber varieties to grow for making pickles. Some of them also make good eating when … Read more
Cucumber vines can be trained to grow up trellises, down from balconies, and in hanging baskets to save space and keep the fruit clean. They can also be allowed to sprawl on the ground if you have lots of room. In any case, you may wonder what the best vining cucumbers are to grow. Vine … Read more
Cucumbers are a popular fruit to grow in the home garden. However, they take up a lot of space in the garden or have to be trellised to keep them healthy. If you do not have a lot of space or don’t want to mess with a trellis, a bush cucumber might be for you. … Read more
Cucumbers are grown by a lot of people. Unfortunately, cucumbers are plagued with a variety of problems. This guide will give you the most common reasons for your plants to wilt and die. When Will Wilting and Dying Happen? Cucumbers are most vulnerable to wilting and dying when they are seedlings. They do not have … Read more
Cucumbers can cause people to burp, which is embarrassing. However, breeders have created cucumbers that cause fewer burps, called burpless cucumbers. Here is everything you need to know to grow burpless cucumbers. Quick Growing Guide for the Burpless Cucumber Plant Type Annual Resistant to Varies by variety USDA Hardiness Zone 2a-11b Maintenance Moderate Season Late … Read more
Next to tomatoes, cucumbers are the most common vegetable grown in home gardens. There are many varieties of cucumbers. ‘Kirby cucumber’ is a general term for pickling cucumbers. Quick Growing Guide for the Kirby Cucumber Plant Type Annual Resistant to Varies by variety USDA Hardiness Zone 2a-11b Maintenance Moderate Season Late spring through frost Soil … Read more
Cucumbers are one of the most popular things to grow in the home garden. They are very good for you when harvested and stored properly. Why Should We Harvest Cucumbers Properly? Cucumbers are harvested when immature. It can be a bit tricky to determine when to harvest them. However, you need to learn for three … Read more
Zoysia grass is a warm-season grass that is considered a high-maintenance grass. It requires quite a bit of fertilization and care to thrive. Does Zoysia Grass Need Fertilizer? Zoysia needs more nitrogen and potassium than any soil contains. It also needs more phosphorus than most soils contain. Without proper fertilization, zoysia grass will not grow … Read more
Centipede grass is a warm-season grass with an apple-green color. It is slow growing and requires less fertilizer and mowing than other grasses. It is more tolerant of shade than Bermuda grass but less than St. Augustine. This article will cover everything you need to know about centipede grass fertilizer, let’s get started! Does Centipede … Read more
Almost everyone with a lawn worries about the best time to fertilize. Fall is an important time to fertilize your lawn. This guide will tell you what to use and how to use it in the fall to set your lawn up for winter and early spring, regardless of your grass type. Do I Need … Read more
Lemon trees are fun to grow. Even if you live in a climate that is too cold to grow lemon trees outdoors, you can grow one indoors. This guide will tell you about the best fertilizers for your lemon trees. Why Fertilize Lemon Trees? Lemon trees are heavy feeders in the landscape and in pots. … Read more
Many plants benefit from an application of a high-nitrogen fertilizer. However, there are so many fertilizers to choose from you may have trouble knowing which one is best. This guide will help. What is a High-Nitrogen Fertilizer? A high nitrogen fertilizer is a fertilizer where the amount of nitrogen in the fertilizer is higher than … Read more
There are hundreds of fertilizers for sale. This guide will tell you what 3-1-2 fertilizer is used for and how to buy the best 3-1-2 fertilizer. What Is 3-1-2 Fertilizer? A 3-1-2 has three percent nitrogen, one percent phosphorus, and two percent potassium. You can buy 3-1-2 fertilizer, but you can also buy fertilizer with … Read more
Lawns need fertilizer to grow and stay thick and lush. However, the many varieties of fertilizer can be confusing. Here are the best lawn fertilizers and how to use them. Types of Lawn Fertilizers Fertilizers come in many forms. Here are the most common forms of fertilizer that are used on lawns. Liquid Liquid fertilizers … Read more
Most people grow pumpkins to eat and enjoy. Unfortunately, while not all ants are bad, some sting like fire ants. So you may be wondering, “How do I keep ants off my pumpkin plants?” Fire ants hurt when they sting you as you work in your pumpkin patch. Other ants may protect pests that damage … Read more
Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) is more closely related to leeks than garlic. Elephant garlic produces huge bulbs and is very tasty. But, you may wonder, “When do I harvest elephant garlic?” Elephant garlic is more like hard-necked garlic than soft-necked garlic. This is because the stalks are cut off after curing instead of being used to … Read more
Most people have some indoor plants. They help clean the air and brighten up a room. You may be wondering which of the hundreds of fertilizers on the market are right for your plants. The right fertilizer depends on the plant. Here is a general guide to picking the best fertilizer for each plant you … Read more
Companion planting is growing more popular as a means to reduce the use of pesticides and attract pollinators. This is particularly true for small home gardeners. What Is Companion Planting? Companion planting (also called intercropping) is growing plants close together because of their ability to enhance each other. Planting the three sisters (corn, beans, and … Read more
Roses are a very popular flowering shrub. They do require a lot of care, but that is part of their charm. Here is all you need to know about fertilizing your roses to have them look their best. Why Fertilize Roses? Roses need a lot of nutrients to produce bloom after bloom. No soil can … Read more
More and more people are growing their own vegetables. However, vegetables need to be fertilized, and the many fertilizers available can be confusing. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about fertilizing your vegetable garden. Why Fertilize Vegetable Gardens? Vegetables are heavy feeders because it takes a lot to make the vegetables … Read more
You can grow cucumbers even if you do not have a lot of land. Cucumbers can be grown in containers with a little care. This guide tells you how to do that. Types of Cucumbers to Grow in a Pot Cucumbers can be either pickling cucumbers or slicing cucumbers. Pickling cucumbers have bumpy skin. They produce … Read more
Strawberries are easy to grow and nutritious. They have lots of vitamin C. Strawberries do require supplemental fertilizer, however. This guide will tell you all about fertilizing your strawberries. Why Fertilize Strawberries? While strawberry plants will grow without fertilizer, they have very small berries, and they do not produce many of them. If you want … Read more
Blueberries are a delicious and nutritious food. Taking care of your blueberry bush requires fertilizing it. Here is the best way to keep your blueberry bush healthy and productive. Why Fertilize Blueberries? Blueberries are heavy feeders year after year. Soil becomes depleted of nutrients faster than they are replaced. If you do not fertilize your … Read more
St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a spreading grass with a coarse texture. It is grown primarily in the southern United States. It is the least cold hardy of the warm season grasses, so it doesn’t grow in the northern United States. St. Augustine grass is a heavy feeder and requires a yearly fertilization program … Read more
Fertilizers can be confusing. This guide will explain what 16-16-16 is and how to use it. What Is 16-16-16 Fertilizer? Triple 16 contains sixteen percent nitrogen, sixteen percent phosphorus, and sixteen percent potassium. It is a balanced fertilizer because all the numbers are the same. Briefly, nitrogen is used everywhere in the plant to grow. … Read more
Fertilizers can be confusing as you look at shelves of the stuff at a store. Which one do you need? This guide discusses 10-10-10 and when to use it. What Is 10-10-10 Fertilizer? Triple 10 fertilizer is ten percent nitrogen, ten percent phosphorus, and ten percent potassium. The other seventy percent is made up of … Read more
Corn is grown by a lot of home gardeners. There are many pests and diseases that attack corn. Planting corn with good companion plants can improve yields and reduce problems. The famous three sisters (corn, beans, and squash) have been planted together for hundreds of years. Here are the best companion plants for corn and … Read more
Turnips are grown both for their green leaves and for the starchy swelling above the roots. Both the greens and roots are vulnerable to pests. Here are some good companion plants that turnips will grow well with, and some that you should not plant them nearby. Why Do Turnips Need Companion Plants? Here are some … Read more
Leeks are an allium, in the same family as onions and garlic. Like other alliums, leeks have a strong odor. Many plants benefit from being planted near leeks. Other plants benefit from leeks when planted near them. Here are the best companion plants for leeks and the ones not to plant near leeks. Why Do … Read more
Borage (Borago officinalis) is used as an attractive plant in flower beds, in salads, and in traditional herbal medicine. Borage is often used as a companion plant in the landscape or the vegetable garden. This guide tells you which plants to use near the borage and which to plants to avoid. Note: Borage should not … Read more
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is an aromatic herb that is used in cooking and in medicine. The lemon scent is very fragrant. There are many plants that are good companions for lemon balm in the garden. Why Does Lemon Balm Need Companion Plants? Here are the ways companion plants help lemon balm. Increase Nutrients Peas … Read more
Artichokes (Cynara cardunculus var. Scolymus) are a long-lived perennials. Since artichokes live so long, you should make certain that you only plant things near them that are good companions. This guide discusses what you should plant around your artichoke to help it grow and what plants to avoid. Note: This article deals with artichokes. Jerusalem … Read more
Rhubarb is grown for its fleshy stalk. The leaves are poisonous and should be removed when the stalk is harvested. This cool season crop has both pest and disease problems. Consider companion planting to prevent problems and make the rhubarb grow better. Here are the best plants to use and the few you should not … Read more
Brussel sprouts are a delicious and nutritious vegetable in the Cruciferae family. They are a cool-season crop that can be vulnerable to many insect pests. They also need a number of nutrients while growing. Using companion planting can help with some of these problems and needs. Why Do Brussel Sprouts Need Companion Plants? If you are new … Read more
Tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetables to grow. Nothing tastes better than a tomato fresh off the vine. Growing beefsteak tomatoes for fresh eating is not hard. Quick Growing Guide for the Beefsteak Tomato Plant Type Mostly indeterminate Resistant to varies USDA Hardiness Zone 3-9 Maintenance Moderate to High Season Summer, early … Read more
Tomatoes are delicious when they are homegrown. Roma-type tomatoes are ideal for canning and making sauce. If you want to grow your own cooking ingredients, this is a good tomato to grow. Quick Growing Guide for the Roma-Type Tomato Plant Type Mostly Determinate Resistant to varies USDA Hardiness Zone 3-9 Maintenance Moderate to High Season … Read more
San Marzano tomatoes are famous among cooks for their flavor. You may be interested in trying to grow them for yourself. This guide tells you how. Quick Growing Guide for the San Marzano Tomato Plant Type Indeterminate Resistant to Fusarium Wilt, Root Knot Nematode, Tomato Mosaic Virus, Verticillium Wilt USDA Hardiness Zone 3-9 Maintenance Moderate … Read more
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