Asparagus, the reigning edible perennial of the backyard vegetable garden, has both male and female plants. But how does this affect the way you grow and harvest these delicious spring veggies? Keep reading to learn more about the difference between male and female asparagus plants – and why it matters.
Agaves range in size, shape, and color, from stunning emerald and white to blue-green, and they’re sure to catch the eye. They can hold their own as a focal feature, a gorgeous addition to a succulent garden, or mixed with other drought tolerant plants. Learn how to grow and care for agaves in this guide. Read more now.
Affectionately known as the elephant-foot plant, evergreen ponytail palm has a fountain of backward curving, strap-like foliage. The trunk has a large base called a caudex that stores water. This showy specimen is an elegant, easy-care houseplant. Learn all you need to know to cultivate a ponytail palm in your home.
Grape hyacinths are beloved for their easy, bright splash of purple in the early spring garden. These reliable bulbs are delightful in showy shades of blue, pink, and white as well. And they multiply freely too, with more pretty blooms every year. Get all the details you need on how to plant grape hyacinth right here.
Finding the right flowering plants for your shade garden can be problematic, and early blooming and fragrant varieties can be few and far between. Luckily, there’s lily of the valley, a happy-to-spread and pleasantly scented addition that fits in those neglected corners of your flowerbeds. Read more on Gardener’s Path.
Darkly distinctive, mondo grass is a handsomely unique, sod-forming perennial with graceful, arching foliage. Commonly used in borders and containers, as ground cover, and for underplanting. Highly versatile and low maintenance, it’s useful in both sunny and shade gardens. Learn how to grow mondo grass in this guide.
Wondering why your asparagus plants consistently produce weak, thin spears? A number of factors such as lack of water, nutrient deficiency, and overharvesting can result in skinny spears. Fortunately these problems aren’t too hard to fix. Read on to learn about the causes and solutions for thin asparagus.
Ferning out is a natural, healthy part of growing asparagus spears that happens each year. But sometimes your asparagus spears will fern out earlier than you would like, disrupting your harvest. That’s why it helps to understand when and how to deal with the problem, and when to just let your plants do their thing.
Fragrant lily of the valley is a charming spring flower with bell-shaped blossoms. Despite its demure appearance, this ground-covering perennial is a vigorous grower that can become invasive. Read on and learn to divide lily of the valley to keep it in check and enjoy it in beds, borders, and drifts for years to come.
Asparagus is one of few truly perennial vegetables. An established patch can produce bountiful harvests of crisp and flavorful green spears each season. By following a few key tips, you are certain to have a healthy asparagus crop that continues for many years. Learn how and when to harvest asparagus in this guide.
Many types of fungi, a water mold, and several viruses can infect asparagus plants, with varying degrees of severity. This guide will help you to diagnose what is ailing your crop and provide tips on what to do about it. Read on to learn about the dizzying array of pathogens that can infect asparagus.
The fungal disease purple spot produces purple lesions on asparagus spears as they emerge from the ground. It spreads from infected asparagus residue that remains in your garden. This disease can be severe in wet weather and shorten the lifespan of your plants. Read on to learn how to manage this disease.
The organisms that cause crown and root rot can live in the soil for very long periods. There are no good chemical controls for Fusarium, but there are some for Phytophthora. You can minimize the stress to your asparagus to prevent these diseases and make them more likely to survive. Read on to learn these steps.
Asparagus rust is a highly complicated fungal disease with four different stages that can invade your plants without showing symptoms until it is too late. Cultivars bred to be resistant to this pathogen often lose effectiveness over time. Read on to learn what symptoms to look for and how to treat your infected plants.
Grape hyacinth bulbs add bright splashes of color to the early spring garden, and a sweet fragrance. Easy and dependable, they’re striking in beds, containers, and naturalized settings and multiply readily so you can quickly expand your collection. Learn all about grape hyacinth propagation for bulbs and seeds now.
Growing asparagus at home is worth some extra effort. One way to increase productivity and improve plant health is to cut back dead foliage in the fall. Before the freezing temperatures of winter take hold, you can prepare your asparagus plants to survive and thrive, ready to grow in spring. Learn more now.
For an easy pop of bright color and sweet perfume, muscari bulbs are a great plant-and-forget solution. Wonderfully low-maintenance and reliable, they send up stands of rich blue, purple, and white flowers in the early spring garden. Read all about the 9 best grape hyacinth varieties for the garden right here.
Mmm, what’s that lovely smell? With their heady perfume and rich colors, hyacinths make a wonderful addition to the spring garden, or a very welcome indoor feature during the dreary winter months. Join us for a look at the best care and growing tips for this flowering favorite – read more now on Gardener’s Path.