Growing great collard greens. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Collards are incredibly agreeable plants to grow. And, they work well in hot southern climates as well as chilly northern states. Dark, leafy greens are the mainstay in stuff-that’s-good-for-you lists, and collards are just that. They’re in the same family as other well-established health food powerhouses like broccoli and kale. Collards are …
What Makes Coleus a Unique and Showy Tropical Plant
What makes Coleus a unique and showy tropical plant. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Coleus is a showy, upright or mounded tropical plant grown for its highly ornamental foliage. Most varieties need some shade but they lap up the heat, making them highly useful annuals where summers are long, hot and humid. Their remarkable variety in leaf colors …
How You Can Grow an Avocado Tree from the Pit
How to grow an avocado tree from the pit. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. While it takes a lot of patience to grow an avocado tree, about five years before it starts producing fruit, you’ll have everything you need to get one started the next time you cut open an avocado. Take the pit of the fruit, wash …
Several Miniature Tree Varieties That Thrive Indoors
The small tree varieties that will thrive indoors. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. There are several miniature trees that can thrive in your living room—or just about any room in the house. Ficus Triangularis is a top choice for designing spaces. As its name implies, it has triangular leaves and a beautifully wispy grown pattern. They manage well …
Estimating Crop Yield With Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
A researcher at the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) in Greece is using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to estimate crop yield. “Crop yield is the most important piece of information for crop management in precision agriculture. Early crop yield estimations allow farmers to optimize farm operation scheduling, field management and product marketing decisions,” said AUA associate professor Spyros Fountas. Fountas …
Three Easy Methods for Growing Gourmet Potatoes
How to grow gourmet potatoes. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. There are literally thousands of varieties of potatoes, some the size of a foot and others barely bigger than your pinky finger. They can be purple, blue, yellow, red, or white; inside, out, or inside and out. They can have a fluffy texture or creamy or waxy. Three …
Beating and Treating Common Grape Pests and Diseases
How to beat and treat some common grape pests and diseases. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. There are quite a few pests who like to munch on grapes just as much as we humans do. Some of the common pests you might find, include: Japanese Beetles, Black Vine Weevils, Grape Cane Girdlers, Grape Mealybugs, and Grassy Winged …
Tomato Plant Disease that Can Stick Around for Years
A tomato plant disease that has the capability of sticking around for years. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Early blight is caused by the soil-borne pathogen Alternaria solani, and this fungus can stick around for years because it overwinters in the soil, even in cold climates. Most early blight cases won’t kill your plants, but it causes bulls-eye-shaped …
Most Destructive and Deadly Tomato Diseases Not Very Common
One of the most destructive and deadly tomato diseases gardeners face that is not very common. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Without a doubt, late blight strikes fear in the heart of all gardeners. It’s one of the most destructive and deadly tomato diseases you could face, but it’s not that common, especially for northern gardeners. It …
Common Tomato Plant Disease to Watch for in the Garden
A common Tomato Plant Disease to watch for in your garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Tomato plants are known for being vulnerable to a number of tomato diseases. Fungal, viral, and bacterial issues can wipe out entire crops and gardens in a short period if left unchecked, so you need to know how to spot these …