How to Keep Garlic Longer

No matter whether it is grown from seeds in your own garden or purchased at the grocery store, garlic can remain edible for months in ideal conditions. But once it has been cut open into cloves, its shelf life drastically diminishes. To ensure maximum freshness of garlic bulbs, store it somewhere cool, dark, and dry …

Read more

How to Fix Clay Soil

Heavy clay soils can be difficult and time-consuming to work, with numerous clods that clog tillers. Furthermore, they hold onto water and nutrients too tightly. Amending soil requires time and patience; however, there are ways to make the task much simpler and faster. To start off the process quickly and easily, loosen the soil by …

Read more

How to Grow Meyer Lemon Tree

Improved Meyer lemon trees can be quite hardy, yet it is best to bring them indoors during winter in all USDA zones except 8b and 9a. Once inside, hand pollination of flowers to promote fruit production as well as regular fertilization are more easily managed indoors. Pruning can help to promote more compact growth, while …

Read more

How to Kill Cucumber Beetles

Cucumber beetles can cause major disruptions in flowering and fruit development by feeding on seedlings and mature plants alike, interfering with flowering and fruit formation as well as spreading bacteria that infect numerous vegetables and fruits. Prevention is key when it comes to gardening success, and plants that attract ladybugs and green lacewings that feed …

Read more

Where Does Natural Vanilla Flavoring Come From?

Vanilla is one of the world’s most widely used flavoring agents, yet its history remains mysterious. Vanilla does not come from beaver anal glands alone (although these do exist). Instead, its true source lies in a delicate orchid species which cannot survive outside of an narrow belt around the equator. The Vanilla Orchid Vanilla is …

Read more

What is the Best Fertilizer For Meyer Lemon Trees?

Meyer lemon trees are voracious feeders and require ample nutrients. A slow-releasing fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and sulfur/magnesium could be ideal if your soil’s PH levels are of concern. Jack’s Classic Citrus Feed is one such product which won’t lead to soil burning and should be applied every 2-3 months for maximum benefit. Ammonium …

Read more

How Do I Get Rid of Little White Bugs on My Plants?

If your plant appears to be infested by pests, first isolate it before washing its leaves (including undersides) using room temperature water in a sink or tub according to Planet Natural’s advice. Spray the plant with insecticidal soapy water or try an alcohol-based solution such as isopropyl rubbing alcohol diluted to the recommended concentration (1 …

Read more

How to Start an Aloe Vera Plant

Aloe vera plants produce smaller offshoots called pups which grow from the base of mature plants and can be easily propagated as new plants. Plant your aloe in soil designed specifically for succulents and cacti, such as one composed of sand, rock powder and broken expanded clay particles. A potting mix such as this works …

Read more

How to Preserve Seed

Seeds are porous structures, capable of absorbing moisture to balance with their surrounding air environment and absorb excess food stored within their kernels to produce heat through chemical reactions with oxygen molecules. Moisture, temperature and light are three key elements that reduce seed’s shelf life in storage. But provided they’re stored optimally they should still …

Read more

How to Kill Thrips Safely and Easily

Thrips is one of the most tenacious plant pests, and due to their miniscule size can be difficult to detect due to being hidden under leaves or fruit. They appear as tiny lobster-like structures. Adult thrips insects range in color from pale to brown or black with fringed wings and are generally slender and thin …

Read more