Have you ever seen a pumpkin that looked like a watermelon? Maybe you’ve wondered if there is an official pumpkin/watermelon cross. Are these strange plants a real variety or just a happy accident? There is no officially recognized pumpkin/watermelon hybrid. In fact, it’s highly unusual for pumpkins to cross-pollinate, but it’s not impossible. Pumpkins are…
If you’re new to growing broccoli in your garden, it might be shocking to learn that broccoli leaves can sometimes turn yellow. What does it mean when your broccoli leaves are yellow, and what can you do to get that beautiful green color back? There are three main reasons that broccoli leaves turn yellow: a…
Blue Lake pole beans are one of the most commonly-grown bean varieties—they’ve been around a long time, they mature quickly, and they consistently produce a lot of beans. However, like all plants, Blue Lake pole beans suffer from diseases and pest infestation. What are some of the most common problems with Blue Lake pole beans?…
Have you ever seen thorny plants resembling watermelons growing wild on roadsides or in your garden and wondered what they could be? Do watermelon plants have thorns? Watermelon plants do not have thorns. However, the weed Solanum rostratum (or buffalo bur, as it is commonly called) has leaves similar to those of watermelon plants. Buffalo…
Sunshine Ligustrums grow quickly to create a beautiful and functional hedge. Planting these vibrant evergreens can provide you with valuable privacy—but if your Ligustrum is thinning or wilting, that privacy can disappear. So, what causes Ligustrums to thin, and how can you fix it? Incorrect watering is usually to blame for thinning sunshine Ligustrum plants….
If you’ve ever grown lettuce, you might have seen ants crawling along the leaves. This can obviously cause concern, as the last thing you want is for insects to feast on the plants you worked so hard to grow! But are the ants eating your lettuce, as so many other pests do? Or are they…
Passion flower and clematis are both vibrant, quick-growing flowering vines. Because they are so beautiful, it’s understandable to want to plant them together at the base of a trellis or post. But is that a good idea? Can you grow passion flower and clematis together, or will they struggle to thrive? While you technically can…
Desert roses are incredibly durable. They can thrive in a variety of conditions. But even this hardy plant can struggle when it doesn’t experience the right conditions. What does it mean when your desert rose’s leaves have started to curl? And how can you fix it? If the leaves on your desert rose are curling…
Dracaena (or corn plants as they are more commonly known) are a beautiful addition to your home or office. They are typically hardy and resilient, but occasionally they can become stressed and lose their leaves. What does it mean when your corn plant stalk has no leaves? Is there any hope for reviving it? If…
Growing your own food is incredibly satisfying. Fueling your body with nutritious, home-grown fruits and vegetables is hard to beat. Part of growing healthy food is making sure you aren’t inadvertently adding toxic chemicals to your soil. Many gardeners recommend using rebar for tomatoes or climbing vegetable stakes, but is rebar safe for vegetable gardens?…
