Growing Wisdom with Dave Epstein http://www.growingwisdom.com Hosted by well-known New England meteorologist and horticulturist David Epstein, Growing Wisdom is a weekly video podcast presenting hands-on gardening advice and inspiration for home gardeners. The GrowingWisdom.com website contains compelling articles, podcasts and blogs that provide timely, week-by-week instruction on topics such as flower and vegetable gardens, lawn care and garden pests. en-us Growing Wisdom http://www.growingwisdom.com/images/rssLogo.gif http://www.growingwisdom.com 266 146 Growing Fava Beans http://www.growingwisdom.com/index.aspx?pid=9&sid=1&cid=595 Fava beans are one of the oldest crops that have been grown in the world. Dating back some 5000 years, these beans are very high in protein. There are a few steps to do before you can eat the beans. Open the pods by pulling the string along the spine of the bean. Place the beans in boiling water for one minute. Next place the beans in cold ice water for 2 minutes. Finally, take the wax like coating off the beans. You can use the beans in salads, on to...]]> Wed 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST Grafted Plants and Understock http://www.growingwisdom.com/index.aspx?pid=27&sid=1&cid=584 Many plants that we grow in our yards have parents that are actually different from what you see. Sometimes, the understock or parent plant begins to express itself. Cut this part away immediately or it can take over the entire plant.
This can happen with roses, conifers, hosta and almost any plant that has been either grafted or cross bred so much that the parent plants characteristics have been hidden by the new one.

Fava beans are one of the oldest crops that have ...]]> Tue 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST Annuals That Love Sun http://www.growingwisdom.com/index.aspx?pid=3&sid=1&cid=594 Annuals are a great way to add color to the garden. Some annuals love sun and others shade. Check out our list of annuals that love the sun. Be sure to water these plants as needed. Some need more water than others. Also I like to use a time release fertilizer in the container or garden that these plants grow to ensure blooms all summer long.

  • Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum) Blue Flowers
  • Cockscomb (Celosia...]]> Mon 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST Potatoes In Containers http://www.growingwisdom.com/index.aspx?pid=5&sid=1&cid=593 Potatoes can be grown in containers quite easily. Just keep them well watered and choose a medium that will allow them to grow. You can use everything from soil to hay to grow them.

    Annuals are a great way to add color to the garden. Some annuals love sun and others shade. Check out our list of annuals that love the sun. Be sure to water these plants as needed. Some need more water than others. Also I like to use a time release fertilizer in the...]]> Thu 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST How To Grow Red Bud Trees http://www.growingwisdom.com/index.aspx?pid=27&sid=1&cid=583 Red Bud Trees are a great addition to any landscape. There are many cultivars of redbud trees therefore selecting the right one for your yard is important. The most popular varieties are eastern redbud tree (Cercis canadensis), also known as American redbud tree and western redbud tree (Cercis occidentalis). Other cultivars are alba (white flowers), forest pansy (purplish foliage and rosy purple blooms), silver cloud (variegated foliage) and flame (double pink blooms). Another variety remarka...]]> Tue 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST Controlling Cucumber Beetle http://www.growingwisdom.com/index.aspx?pid=9&sid=1&cid=592 Cucumber beetles are a problem for home gardeners and agriculture in general.The beetles feed on a variety of plants, especially damaging to the cucurbit family.The adult beetles transmit bacterial mosaic and wilts. Interestingly, these bacterial diseases actually overwinter in the beetles' intestines. What happens is that as the beetles are actively feeding they transmit the diseases from plant to plant. Symptoms of these diseases a...]]> Thu 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST How To Get Hedges Level http://www.growingwisdom.com/index.aspx?pid=27&sid=1&cid=582 Getting a perfectly level hedge takes a bit more work, but give a great look. Pruning hedges is one of those chores not too many of us like, but is necessary if you want to keep a crisp look and not let your shrubs get too high.
    I like to use a string and a level to create a level line that I can follow when I prune. I use several stakes along the hedge and tie the string between them. Then I place a level on the string. The branches of the shrub are going to get in t...]]>     Tue 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST     How and When To Prune Shrubs http://www.growingwisdom.com/index.aspx?pid=27&sid=1&cid=581 Pruning hedges is one of those chores not too many of us like, but is necessary if you want to keep a crisp look and not let your shrubs get too high.

    For me, the most important aspect of pruning evergreen hedges is when to do it. When to prune depends on the result you want. Pruning at any time encourages growth. Many experts like to prune in late winter or early spring. If you prune in early spring you will cut off the growth for that year, but it will most likely...]]>     Tue 06 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST     How To Grow Oxydendron Trees http://www.growingwisdom.com/index.aspx?pid=27&sid=1&cid=580 If you are looking for a great small tree that blooms in the summer then how about an Oxydendron tree? This is a slow growing tree that adapts to any light condition but grows it's best canopy in full sun. Oxydendrons serve as hosts for butterfly larvae. The tree gets a great pyramidal shape and the flowers come out in late June and July. The fragrant, lily-of the valley like flowers in summer; greenish yellow seed pods that last into fall. This is an excellent native tree t...]]> Wed 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EST Tropicanna Canna In Containers http://www.growingwisdom.com/index.aspx?pid=5&sid=1&cid=587