The threat of freezing temperatures in the fall has gardeners scrambling to harvest all green tomatoes that may be a few weeks away from regular harvest. You may opt to prepare fried green tomatoes or to ripen the fruits indoors, still a tastier alternative to store-bought tomatoes. Pick green tomatoes that show a tinge of color at the blossom (bottom) end and feel a […]
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Ripening Tomatoes Off The Vine
Posted by Hugh on October 7th, 2015
Posted in Edible fruits, Fruits & Vegetables, Harvest and Storage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tomato 
Comments Off on Ripening Tomatoes Off The VinePaint and Wrap Newly Set Peach Tree Trunks
Posted by Hugh on October 4th, 2015
The bark of young peach (Prunus persica) or nectarine (P. persica nucipersica) trees are sensitive to winter injury caused by rapid drops in daily temperatures. On a winter’s day, the sun may heat up the sapwood under the thin skinned peach bark. Research in Georgia shows that temperatures on the south side of a peach tree may […]
Posted in Fruits & Vegetables, Peach, Rabbit/deer Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Voles, Winter bark, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Paint and Wrap Newly Set Peach Tree TrunksFoxtail Lilies Are Uniquely Different
Posted by Hugh on October 2nd, 2015
Foxtail lilies or desert candles (Eremurus spp.) are beginning to find an audience with U.S. gardeners. Foxtail lilies are indigenous to the grasslands and semi-arid parts of Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan (USDA hardiness zones 5–8). Tall spires of brightly colored flowers emerge in late spring; small individual flowers are densely packed together. Each showy […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, compost, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Eremurus (desert candles), Flowers, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Voles, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Foxtail Lilies Are Uniquely DifferentShould You Plant In Fall?
Posted by Hugh on September 30th, 2015
Should you plant in the Fall? It depends what region you live in, what month in fall, and what species you’re planting. If you live in the mid-Atlantic, coastal New England, or Southeastern U.S., fall is an excellent time to set most hardy plants. Most (not all) trees, shrubs, perennials, […]
Posted in apple varieties, Azaleas (evergreen), Birch (Betula spp.), Cherry Laurel (Prunus), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Cranesbill (Geranium), Dogwood (Cornus), Fertilizing plants, Hawthorn (Crataegus), Hickory (Carya spp.), Hydrangeas, Ilex (hollies), Landscape ideas, Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia stellata, Magnolia virginiana, Mahonia, Maples (Acer), Mountain laurel (Kalmia), mulching, mulching trees, Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Ornamental cherry (Prunus), Osmanthus 'Goshiki', Perennials, Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra), Purchasing Plants, root injury, Roses, Sage (Salvia), Salvia, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Summer flowering, Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, Tulip tree (Liriodendron), Walnut, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Should You Plant In Fall?Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine For A Different Look
Posted by Hugh on September 27th, 2015
Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii ‘Thunderhead’) is compact form of Japanese black pine. At maturity it may reach 20 to 25 feet high and 15 to 20 feet wide (USDA hardiness zones 5b-8). Expect this slow-growing conifer to grow 5 feet height and 4 feet width in 10 years. By mid-winter its very long […]
Posted in acidic soil, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreens, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Japanese Black Pine, Privacy Screen, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine For A Different Look‘Victory’ Chosen Hosta Plant Of The Year For 2015
Posted by Hugh on September 15th, 2015
The Hosta Growers Association has selected ‘Victory’ the Hosta of the Year for 2015 (USDA Zones 3–9). ‘Victory’ is a large hosta cultivar with gold edged variegated leaves and an upright vase-shaped plant habit. Victory hosta is a sport of H. nigrescens ‘Elatior’, distinctive also for its beautiful, upright form. Plant develops into a broad 3 – […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, compost, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Hosta, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Victory’ Chosen Hosta Plant Of The Year For 2015Fall Landscaping Tips
Posted by Hugh on September 12th, 2015
Cool autumn temperatures and increased rainfall make Autumn an ideal time to plant. Attractive landscaping adds value to your home and property. Selecting select deciduous trees and shrubs may reduce home winter heating bills and provide cooling shade in summer. Gardeners living in condos or townhouses should also consider a winter hardy […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Fertilizing plants, Garden paths, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, mulching, Ornamental fruit, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fall Landscaping TipsDwarf Ginkgoes For Small Spaces
Posted by Hugh on September 10th, 2015
Prehistoric Ginkgo trees (Ginkgo biloba) are easily identified by their triangular shaped leaves (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Trees mature to huge sizes, up to 80 – 90 feet high. Their growth rates are initially slow during the early establishment years. Ginkgo tree are “dioecious”, either male and female. Most (not all) ginkgoes develop into tall pyramidal […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ginkgo biloba, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Dwarf Ginkgoes For Small SpacesItalian Arum Returns Every Autumn
Posted by Hugh on September 7th, 2015
Italian arum (Arum italicum) is a long-lived woodland perennial native to Italy and much of the Mediterranean region. Several members of the arum family (Araceae), including this species, are also known as “Lords and Ladies”. It typically grows 9-18 inches tall (depending on location) and slowly spreads over many years. Shoots first emerge from beneath the woodland leaf […]
Posted in acidic soil, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fruits poisonous, Italian arum, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous plant, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Voles, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Italian Arum Returns Every AutumnMid-Summer Blooming ‘Happy Days’ Sunflower
Posted by Hugh on September 4th, 2015
The cheerful golden yellow flowers of Happy Days sunflower (Helianthus ‘Happy Days’) should brighten your garden during the waning days of summer (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). This perennial sunflower has a long 4 to 6 week blooming period. In its first season new plants grow 24-30 inches tall and almost as wide. In subsequent years, tack on an additional 12-18 inches in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sunflower (Helianthus), Sunflowers, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Mid-Summer Blooming ‘Happy Days’ Sunflower
