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It is entirely possible to avoid the ginkgo smell with a little planning. Eliminating the odor in a stinky ginkgo, however, is more difficult and can prove daunting. Read on for information about which ginkgo stinks and what – if anything! – a homeowner can do about it. Meet the Ginkgo Biloba The ginkgo biloba is the favorite tree of many a tree lover. It is considered a “living fossil” since its fossilized leaves (in an unusual fan shape) were found long before a living ginkgo was identified, making scientists believe the species to be extinct....

Help, My Cherries are Splitting! Many fruit crops have a penchant for splitting under certain conditions. Of course, rain is welcome any time one is growing a crop, but too much of a good thing renders it more of a bane. Such is the case with cracking in cherries. Contrary to what you might surmise, it is not the uptake of water through the root system that causes cracking in cherries....

Lawn Spurweed Information Spurweed plants, also known as lawn burweed, are found in ditches, meadows, turf, roadsides, and damaged plots. The plants are low growing and produce long, rangy stems filled with hairy leaves and sticky stems. The stems have purple mottling and alternate palmate leaves. Spurweed is predominant in the warmer climates of the United States and emerges in winter as an annual plant. In late spring the real nuisance begins when the plant sets fruit....

Growing Squash on Trellises One of the easiest ways to grow squash and other cucurbits is on a form or trellis. Most squashes are too heavy for the average trellis without extra support, but some, like the summer squashes and smaller gourds, are perfect for vertical growth. Squash trellising can be as simple as crossing a couple of boards and threading some twine across to support the burgeoning vines. I looked in the pile of wood left by previous homeowners and found old fence slats to make my squash form....

Staking an Amaryllis You’ll have to start staking an amaryllis when the stems threaten to topple under the weight of the flowers. This is especially likely if you are growing a cultivar that offers large, double blossoms, like ‘Double Dragon.’ The idea behind staking amaryllis plants is to provide them with amaryllis support stakes that are stronger and sturdier than the stems themselves. On the other hand, you don’t want to use anything so big that the amaryllis plant support detracts from the beauty of the long-legged flower....

What is Gummy Stem Blight Disease? Gummy stem blight fungus is most active during periods of warm, wet weather. The spores of the fungus can spread in soil or by air. The fungus will overwinter in milder climates in soil and plant debris. The leaves will get necrotic areas of dead tissue that turn brown and have a darker halo. The stems and fruit will show black, soft spots or large brown lesions that are bordered by black....

Stevia Winter Plant Care Growing stevia or stevia planting in winter isn’t an option for gardeners in cool climates. However, if you live in USDA plant hardiness zone 8, stevia usually survives the winter with a thick layer of mulch to protect the roots. If you live in a warm climate (zone 9 or above), growing stevia plants in winter is not a problem and the plants require no protection....

Sugar Maple Tree Facts Sugar maple tree facts provide lots of interesting information about this remarkable tree. Well before colonists began sugar maple tree growing in this country, Native Americans tapped the trees for their sweet syrup and used the sugar made from it for bartering. But sugar maples are lovely trees in and of themselves. The dense crown grows in an oval shape and offers ample shade in the summer....

Water Garden Supplies If you don’t have much space, or if you don’t have any soil, an actual pond may be out of your reach. Don’t worry — any container that holds water can be turned into a small water garden and kept on a patio or balcony. If you’re looking to actually dig a pond, get a sense ahead of time of how big you want it to be, as well as how big your local laws will allow....

Sweet Potato Soil Rot Info Sweet potatoes are a high source of Vitamins A and C, and are one of the largest crops in the southern United States. China produces half of all the sweet potatoes for global consumption. The root has become popular as an alternative to traditional potatoes because of the high nutrient and fiber content. Diseases of sweet potatoes, such as pox, cause millions of dollars in economic losses....

Swiss Chard Harvest Swiss chard, a member of the beet family, is known by a host of other names including silverbeet, perpetual spinach, spinach beet, sekale beet, crab beet, and mangold. Swiss chard is an attractive, leafy vegetable with a red stalk that produces an abundance of fresh greens all summer long, though many other varieties offer other colors as well. Chard reaches a mature height of 1 to 2 feet (31-61 cm....

Known to withstand cold winter weather, many of its growers have begun to explore other decorative uses for boxwood shrubs. In recent years, boxwood Christmas décor has gained popularity among those who celebrate the holiday. Making a boxwood tabletop tree can also become a fun indoor craft project for your next celebration. How to Make a Tabletop Boxwood for Christmas For many, Christmas season is a time in which homes are decorated....

Greenhouse Growing Issues The number one problem with greenhouse maintenance is lack of cleanliness. Growers are likely to have mechanical issues fixed immediately but less likely to tackle cleaning projects, preferring to postpone them until later. Procrastinating about the greenhouse problem of cleanliness is a recipe for disaster. Not only are you surrounded by dirt, but moisture allows that dirt to cling to everything. Standing water encourages fungal growth and attracts pests....

How to Plant Bee Balm Bee balm plants prefer moist, rich soil, and a sunny location. Bee balm will tolerate shade, particularly in hot-summer areas. Plant it in any protected spot that would benefit from a bright shot of color. Most varieties of the bee balm plant are between 2-1/2 feet to 4 feet (76 cm. – 1 m.) tall, but there are also dwarf varieties less than 10 inches (25....

Bidens Tickseed Wildflowers Tickseed sunflower plants (Bidens aristosa) are in the Aster family and from the genus Bidens. As such, they are composite flowers made up of bright yellow ray flowers (what most people think of as “petals” on an aster) and small darker yellow or brown disc flowers clustered at the center. They are also typically called Bur Marigolds or Bearded Beggarticks. This fast-growing annual grows 4-5 feet (1-1.5 m....

Planting Lettuce in Container Growing lettuce in containers requires the right type of pot and planting medium. Lettuce needs ample room for roots but you can grow several varieties in 6 to 12 inch (15-30.5 cm.) pots. The greens need a consistent supply of moisture as they are almost 95 percent water but cannot tolerate wet roots. A clay pot provides a permeable surface that can evaporate any excess water and prevent soggy roots....

How to Care for Ming Aralia Houseplants Like most houseplants, Ming Aralia is a tropical plant, meaning it cannot survive temps below 50 degrees F. (10 C.). In warmer climates, Ming Aralia makes an excellent outdoor shrub. One important thing to keep in mind when growing Ming Aralia indoors is that it must be kept constantly moist. Even in the winter, when most houseplants need a reduction in the amount of water they receive, this plant’s soil should still be kept consistently moist (but not wet)....

What is a Roma Tomato? A roma tomato is a paste tomato. Paste tomatoes, like roma tomatoes, generally have a thicker fruit wall, fewer seeds, and a denser but more grainy flesh. Roma tomatoes tend to be oblong in shape and heavy for their size. They also tend to be more firm than a non-roma or paste tomato. Roma tomatoes are determinate, which means that the fruit ripens at one time, rather than continually through the season....

When to Harvest Pumpkin Depending upon the variety, pumpkins typically take between 90 and 120 days to reach maturity. Hot, humid days can cause pumpkins to ripen early, as can any condition which causes the vines to die prematurely. Likewise, a warm fall allows pumpkins vines to continue growing, which can delay ripening. Aside from wanting pumpkins to display in the fall or for carving at Halloween, the ideal time to pick pumpkins is when they are fully ripe....

Can I Prune Baptisia? Nobody goes out in nature and prunes plants, so it would stand to reason that native species are built to grow just fine without pruning. This is the case regarding false indigo pruning. Cutting back Baptisia is not necessary, but if you like to maintain a perfectly manicured landscape, there are three instances where it might be suitable to prune the plant. Baptisia will die back to the ground in most regions, so clean-up pruning in fall is not necessary....