Flower Planting Guide

The author's hillside garden in late summer Steel panels are trendy now, and they can last forever, as can some types of plastic lumber. Very steep slopes that require steps to navigate need beds that sit atop one another and must be maintained from the...

The legumes germinate best while the soil is still warm, so they are usually planted in September. A sharp manual lawn edger will take down most cool-season cover crops in a matter of minutes.

Delicate fruits such as peaches or nectarines need very careful handing to avoid bruising. Plants Related to this Article Nectarine (Dwarf) Grow Guide Nectarine (Large) Grow Guide Pepper Grow Guide Bugs, Beneficial Insects and Plant Diseases Squash Bug...

The first thing to do is identify and remove the 3Ds – dead, diseased and dying wood. Plum trees may produce generous harvests of some of the most mouth-wateringly juicy fruits, but they're not without their problems.

Again, a pair of gloves will come in handy for this. To speed drying, and ensure a thorough job, start by splitting the just-picked chili peppers in two lengthways. These ones won't hang around for long – I've a cheek-flushing chili bean recipe I've...

Success with Germination In hot, dry conditions getting seeds to germinate can be tricky, particularly those of cool-season crops such as lettuce. Mulching can keep soil cooler and reduce evaporation How to Apply a Mulch Thoroughly soak the ground before...

First, the warmth of late summer means that second-crop seed potatoes do not need to be pre-sprouted – they're primed to get growing without delay. Apply an occasional feed of liquid fertilizer ( home-made fertilizers are great for this purpose).

The fruits left to grow on will enjoy more airflow, sunlight and energy from the tree for even ripening. Nectarines should be thinned once to six inches (15cm) apart. This usually includes the odd-shaped ‘king' fruit at the center of the cluster.

Blast all areas of the leaf, especially the undersides where they mostly congregate. Severely affected plants can eventually turn yellow and wilt, producing lacklustre growth at best.

There are many ways to enjoy the “little ginseng” of the vegetable world. The leaves are thin, smooth and hairless compared to other radishes, with attractive red stems. They will keep for months.

The cooking process then needs to be stopped in its tracks by plunging the blanched vegetables into ice-cold water (I use a clean bucket of water stuffed with fistfuls of ice). Cover them with paper bags to stop them getting covered in dust.

Rutabaga seeds sprout quickly, with shade-grown seedlings ready to transplant in only three weeks. Plants Related to this Article Rutabaga Grow Guide Bugs, Beneficial Insects and Plant Diseases Flea Beetle Guide Aphids (General) Guide Aphid, Cabbage Guide...

Save only the best clean seeds. This isn't difficult but there is a specific process to do this correctly. When you come to think about it, saving seed is the ultimate in self-sufficiency.

Feeding Not normally required. Alternatively, plant first thing in spring, or grow from seed and set out seedlings in early spring. Frost tolerant Yes. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Populations quickly build, and the beetles further damage plants by feeding on flower and transmitting a disease called bacterial wilt, which causes plants to wilt and die. Use yellow sticky traps to monitor populations.

Notes Borage seedlings are only edible when very young. Large plants produce edible, starry blue flowers that attract bees in droves. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Onion root maggots Onion root maggots Onion root maggots in garlic Onion root maggots in garlic Onion fly larvae burrow into plant roots Onion fly larvae burrow into plant roots Onion flies lay eggs at the base on onion plants Onion flies lay eggs at...

Plants die back to the ground in winter and re-emerge in spring. Store in airtight container. Companions Echinacea, Catnip, Agastache and Dill. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Companions Squash, Tomato and Beans. Lemon balm grows into a rounded mound. Feeding Not generally required. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Frost tolerant Excellent. Allow 4in (10cm) between bulbs of miniature tulips, and 6in (15cm) between taller varieties. In less than full sun, tulip blossoms will twist toward the strongest directional light.

Ageratum cannot tolerate cold temperatures. Some varieties produce white or pink blossoms. In midsummer, drench plants with a liquid plant food to stimulate new growth. Most gardeners buy ageratum seedlings, but only dwarf varieties are widely available...

Companions Marigold, Broccoli, Chives, Mint, Borage, Parsley, Basil, Pepper, Asparagus, Monarda, Lettuce, Garlic, Dill and Calendula. Crop Rotation Group Solanaceae (Potato and tomato family) ● Soil Rich soil with plenty of compost mixed in before planting.

Feeding Not required. Crop Rotation Group Umbelliferae (Carrot and root family) ● Soil Deeply worked soil that has not had compost or manure added withing 6 months. Notes Thin seedlings to proper spacing when they are 4 inches tall.

Notes Self-fertile but pollination is improved by growing in groups with two or more cultivars present. Begins to bear after five years. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Position Full sun. Grow short-day varieties in southern latitudes. Spacing Single Plants: 5" (15cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 3" (10cm) with 7" (20cm)...

Frost tolerant No. Feeding After plants set fruit, feed twice, at two week intervals, with a water soluble plant food. Wipe harvested melons clean and store indoors in a cool place, or in the refrigerator.

Small, rice-like maggots may be present, especially in apples that have dropped to the ground. Apple maggot trap Apple maggot trap Apple maggot fly [Credit: Elena Dadale Jones ] Apple maggot fly [Credit: Elena Dadale Jones ] Host Plants: In the garden:...