Johnny Appleseed, aka Johnathan Chapman, was a horticultural hero responsible for planting thousands of apple trees throughout the Midwest in the early 1800s. Some of the descendents of these trees are still growing. Johnny traveled on foot over 100,000 square miles, and started … [Read more...]
When and How to Prune an Apple Tree
Apple trees are among the most beautiful orchard trees with their large, spreading habit and warm, smooth bark. But, they need annual pruning to keep them productive. Pruning serves several purposes: Pruning opens the canopy so light can reach all the leaves, ensuring more … [Read more...]
Protecting Strawberries and Raspberries in Winter
Strawberries and raspberries are among the easiest fruits to grow in the home garden. Strawberries are productive for three to five years, while a well-tended raspberry patch may produce fruit for 15 to 20 years. Depending on the variety, strawberries and raspberries are cold … [Read more...]
Heirloom Apples: An Overview
Many home gardeners and growers with small orchards choose heirlooms over standard hybrids for a variety of reasons. While the mythology might say that heirlooms are more prone to disease or pests, the opposite is almost always true. Why Grow Heirloom Apples? There are a lot of … [Read more...]
Growing Specialty Fruits
Sometimes, it's just fun to try something new and different. Depending on your climate and zone, there are several fun varieties of exotic fruits you can try. These can add some pizazz to your garden and dinner plate. Why not give some of these unusual fruits a shot this … [Read more...]
Health Benefits of Goji Berry
The goji berry is also known as the wolf berry. The scientific name for this berry is Lycium Barbarum. The goji berry is native to the Tibetan Himalayas. Goji berry bushes grow well where there are hot dry summers and fairly cold winters. They grow well in USDA hardiness … [Read more...]
How to Grow a Mango Plant Indoors
Wondering if you can grow a mango plant indoors? Yes, you can. It may never bear fruit, but it makes an attractive house plant and can be a fun project. Mangoes are native to southern Asia, but were carried by monks and explorers to other subtropical regions throughout the … [Read more...]
Watermelon: Fruit or Vegetable?
Whether watermelon is a fruit or vegetable is a much debated topic. It tastes sweet like a fruit, but grows in vegetable gardens. Botanists have an emphatic opinion on the subject, but so do gardeners and watermelon connoisseurs. Watermelon is thought to have originated in … [Read more...]
How to Build a Strawberry Planter: Tips and Plans
Strawberry planters are available at nurseries and by mailorder, but by building your own, you’ll save money and have a high-quality container that's custom-made for your garden space. Planting strawberries in planters tames their slightly invasive nature and simplifies … [Read more...]
Common Diseases of Apple Trees
Apples are subject to a variety of diseases that can cause minor cosmetic damage or more significant damage, such as reduced yields and even tree death. Fortunately, home growers can avoid most diseases by planting disease resistant varieties. Below are a few of the most common … [Read more...]
Growing Strawberries: The Ultimate Guide
If the allure of glistening, jewel-like berries lying in a bed of dark green leaves isn’t enough to convince you to grow strawberries, the homegrown taste will. Garden strawberries are soft, fragrant and full of strawberry flavor, and frankly, taste nothing like commercially … [Read more...]
Pruning Peach Trees
Peaches are very delicate with easily bruised thin skin. While the trees are considerably sturdier than the fruit, there are a few tips and tricks you should know about pruning your peach trees to ensure healthy trees and a good crop: Purchase healthy peach trees from a … [Read more...]
Cherry: Berry or Fruit?
If the question of whether a cherry is a fruit or a berry is keeping you up at night, you’ve come to the right place. History of the Cherry But first, a little history. Cherries have been cultivated for thousands of years and probably originated in the area around the Black … [Read more...]
Winterizing Potted Strawberry Plants
Of all the fruits, strawberries are among the easiest to grow and winterizing your potted strawberry plants will keep them happy year after year. Pots used to grow strawberries are usually made of terra cotta; the reddish-orange pots we all know so well. Both ‘regular’ terra … [Read more...]
Health Benefits of Grapefruit
Grapefruit are tropical plants that only thrive in warm days and nights. California, Texas and Florida are world renown for their groves, but it originally came from Barbados where grapefruits were dubbed "the forbidden fruit". Some grapefruit have been growing in the USA for 150 … [Read more...]
Health Benefits of Nectarine
Nectarines which are a close relative of the peach originated in China over 2,000 years ago. The Spanish most likely introduced the United States to the nectarine. 95% of the nectarines grown in the United States are grown in California. There are over 150 different varieties of … [Read more...]
Health Benefits of Cranberry
Cranberries are a native North American fruit. They were first cultivated in 1815 in Massachusetts. There are several varieties of cranberries including: American, European, Mountain, and Highbush. Growing Cranberries Cranberries are mostly grown as a commercial crop. They grow … [Read more...]
Health Benefits of Peaches
Growing Peaches Peaches originate from the China mainland. Alexander the Great brought them back to Greece. They survive well in temperate climates across the Mediterranean and the Spaniards introduced them to the Americas. Grown on trees, peaches have three growth stages. The … [Read more...]
Health Benefits of Oranges
Oranges are round citrus fruits that grow best in tropical climates and are harvested in late fall or early winter. There are a variety of oranges. Most common are the sweet oranges or Citrus sinensis. These are the Navel, Mandarin, Valencia and Jaffa varieties. A new hybrid, … [Read more...]
Health Benefits of Grapes
Grapes are of the genus Vitas. Grapes come in many varieties and colors such as crimson, black, dark blue, yellow, green and pink. Grapes grow on perennial woody vines which must be trained and pruned properly in order to maximize the yield. Growing Grapes There … [Read more...]