An annual plant is a plant that completes its life cycle, from germination to the production of seeds, within one growing season, and then dies. The length of growing seasons and period in which they take place vary according to geographical location. However, this may not correspond to the four traditional seasonal divisions of the…

In botany, an evergreen is a plant that has leaves throughout the year that are always green. This is true even if the plant retains its foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season. There are many different kinds of evergreen plants,…

Flowering shrubs provide colour and structure and can be used as ground-covers, hedge plants or eye-catching focal points. You can fill your garden with ornamental shrubs that bloom from early spring through late fall and even into winter. Many flowering shrubs also perfume the air with their own signature fragrance. In botany and ecology, a…

Featured in cuisines across the globe, basil is an indispensable flavoring. Plant seeds or transplants after all danger of frost has passed and soil is warm, and it will yield an abundant harvest within weeks. TYPES OF BASIL The type of basil you’re most likely to find in garden supply stores and mail order catalogs…

A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. Some sources cite perennial plants being plants that live more than three years. The term (per- + -ennial, “through the years”) is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widely used to…

More and more gardeners are looking for ways to reduce household costs and grow more of their own food. Fruit trees are prolific, bearing for years. With dwarf varieties, you don’t have to own acres of land to grow them. Also, with new disease-resistant varieties, controlling pests is a little easier. Don’t make the mistake…

Planning on Paper The gardening season catches some people by surprise every spring, but you can get ahead of the game by planning your garden on paper — it’s a nice way to spend a winter evening or two. Root crops will be among the first seeds you plant, so take the time to choose…

A flowerpot, flower pot, planter, or plant pot is a container in which flowers and other plants are cultivated and displayed. Historically, and still to a significant extent today, they are made from terracotta. Flowerpots are now often also made from plastic, metal, wood, stone, or sometimes biodegradable material. An example of biodegradable pots are…

All you really need to get started is some decent soil and a few plants. But to be a really successful vegetable gardener — and to do it organically — you’ll need to understand what it takes to keep your plants healthy and vigorous. Imagine harvesting nearly half a ton of tasty, beautiful vegetables from…