Tomato bottom rot is a problem that many vegetable gardeners face. What causes that ugly black rot on tomatoes? There is nothing like biting into a lush, ripe garden tomato that you have spent months growing. Discovering those prize tomatoes with large rotten areas on them is no fun, though. What what causes those ugly …

Do you have a problem with radishes not growing bulbs? This is a common issue in a vegetable garden. What causes this to happen? Radishes – raphanus sativus – have edible greens which can be used in salads, but the main reason they are grown is for their crunchy and spicy round root. Expecting to …

Yellow leaves on tomato plants can be caused by several reasons. Nutritional deficiencies, plant diseases, and even the way you water tomatoes can play a part. Getting the right answer for why there are yellow leaves on tomato plants in your garden requires lots of research and a bit of trial and error. Tomatoes are …

The tobacco hornworm is a voracious eater that can do a great deal of damage in a flower or vegetable garden. It is a pest in the family Solanaceae. The tobacco hornworm is quite commonly seen in the southern United States, especially the Gulf Coast States. Its range extends northward as far as New York. Caterpillars …

This list of cold hardy succulents includes plants that can take cold temperatures that would kill their more tender cousins. There are three main varieties of succulents that can thrive in freezing temperatures – sempervivums, sedum stonecrop, and delosperma. Most types of these varieties will tolerate temperatures as low as -20° Fahrenheit (some even to …

The Veracruzana cocktail is my featured drink of the day. If you are looking for a cocktail with a tropical feel to it, try this one! This tequila pineapple cocktail has a wonderful flavor. Hello summer time and its long and warm evenings!  These days are perfect for refreshing and fruity cocktail recipes like this …

Are you on the hunt for unique succulent arrangement ideas? This DIY succulent arrangement comes together in just minutes and looks wonderful as a table centerpiece. One of the best things about succulents is their size. It makes them ideal for a succulent dish garden because you can include plenty of mixed varieties.  Succulent plants …

Fan flower (Scaevola aemula) is an excellent warm weather plant that is often grown as a summer annual. It is useful to grow in window boxes, hanging baskets, containers, or as a border plant. Even if you are a seasoned gardener, you may not of heard of scaevola. It is a relative new-comer to the …

There is one thing that you can be sure to find in flower shops and nurseries early in spring each year. The trumpet-shaped flower of the Easter Lily – (lilium longiflorum) – is a well known Easter plant decoration. These beautiful perennials are forced to bloom around the time of the religious holiday, but this …

If you are searching for a versatile and drought tolerant ground cover, look no further than liriope. It is tough, easy to care for and can be used to cover a garden area quickly. It is also called monkey grass or creeping lilyturf, looks great in planters and makes a great border plant.  Liriope plant …

Dinner plate dahlias are not plants that one would call shrinking violets. They are impressive in a garden and make wonderful cut flowers for arrangements. These majestic plants command attention in a garden bed and also need plenty of room to grow and flower. Keep reading for tips for how to grow these magnificent dahlias …

Growing a forsythia hedge allows you to add privacy and beauty to the borders of your yard. While not a quick project, it is one that brings beautiful dividends over time. With its abundance of bright yellow flowers and early bloom time, forsythia adds a burst of color to your lovely garden each spring. This …

“Why won’t my echeveria bloom?” is a common question that I get from readers. Keep reading to learn about some things that you can do to make echeveria flower. Gardeners who love to grow succulents, such as echeveria, know that they are easy to care for and trouble-free. To me, one of the best things …

This recipe for Mediterranean lemon chicken piccata combines lemon and capers for a tangy topping.  The recipe is quick and easy and perfect for a weeknight meal. You’d never think it when you see them in a jar, but capers come from a prickly bush called capparis spinosa. It grows wild across parts of Asia …

These frog garden decor ideas add a touch of the whimsical to any garden setting. Everyone seems to love frogs. That is a given. They are showing up in all sorts of garden and patio design plans.  Whether your frogs are the DIY kind, a one of a kind creation that you have made,  or …

Are you in search of a plant that will add lots of color to your home for Easter? The Easter cactus plant is the perfect choice. This pretty holiday cactus plant has blooms in lots of pretty colors that last a long time. The plant is easy-to-grow and popular with all types of gardeners.  The …

These meditation garden ideas show how easy it is to provide a soothing and peaceful setting in your backyard, to include a lovely place to unwind after the stresses of daily life. Many botanic gardens, such as the Los Angeles Botanical Garden and Memphis Botanic Garden, have Japanese themed gardens that incorporate areas for meditation …

Schefflera gold capella is a dwarf, variegated variety of the umbrella tree – schefflera. All schefflera plants are outstanding and easy to grow indoor plants. In temperate locations, they are large and graceful tropical plants. In colder climates, they are often used in interior decorating for homes and offices. They are a superb and long-lasting …

Gardeners and lovers of flowers alike love columbines.  This wild version called eastern red columbine – the name is derived from the Latin word for eagle. Wild columbines grow across North America from Canada to Florida and from Texas to the Dakotas. Red columbine grows easily from seeds.  Columbine grown from seed will not bloom in …

Chain link fences are great for security and for keeping critters out, but not so pretty to look at. The answer is easy – landscaping along a chain link fence hides it beautifully. These chain link fence covering ideas use plants and shrubs to hide an ugly fence quickly! Our neighborhood is made up of …

These varieties of coneflower will have your garden blooming in style all summer long! Echinacea, also known as coneflowers, are native to eastern and central North America, where they originally were found on prairies and open woodlands. They are a popular cottage garden plant that is robust and very hardy. The plant can easily be …

Today we’ll be discussing gazania plant – a lovely and bright perennial which is native to South Africa. If you like a low maintenance flower that gives a lot of bang for its buck, try growing gazania rigens. Lovers of English cottage gardens will find gazania a nice choice to add to their cottage garden …

These romantic rose quotes and sayings with gorgeous photos of roses will make you think fondly of your special person. The rose has long been the symbol of love and is often given as a gift to show how much you care. Quotations on roses are a favorite with the readers of The Gardening Cook, …

A few months back, I starting seeing a Florida avocado – a  larger green skin avocado in my local supermarket called a “Slimcado.” It was marketed as having 35% fewer calories and 50% less fat than a Hass avocado. For those people who count calories or are concerned with fat intake, this Florida light green …

Arrowhead plant care is easy even for beginners. The plant doesn’t mind lower light conditions and has minimal care tips to keep it growing in tip top shape. As a houseplant, it is typically grown for its attractive foliage which changes shape as the leaves get larger. Syngonium plants have been popular indoor plants in …

These tips for kalanchoe blossfeldiana care will show you how to care for and get this plant to keep blooming all winter long. Flowering kalanchoes are plants that are often seen around the holidays and in the winter months. The holiday plant is also known as Florist Kalanchoe, Christmas Kalanchoe, Flaming Katy and Widow’s Thrill.  …