Gardenig in city Columbia. Tips & Guides

These citrus leaves are showing symptoms of cold injury. This tree is part of a study at the Sandhill REC in Columbia looking at 9 varieties of citrus that are believed to have improved cold tolerance.

STS-78 was the fifth Life and Microgravity Spacelab Mission (LMS) and involved space shuttle Columbia, five NASA astronauts and two international astronauts – Jean-Jacques Favier (CNES) and Robert Thirsk (CSA). 

Every gardener wishes they had 25 acres to garden on, right? Well maybe not, but most of us do dream of a healthy amount of ground to build beds and borders to our hearts’ desire. The reality of homeowners today, however, is that land is expensive and typical suburban lots have decreased in size steadily since the 1970s. And smaller lots mean smaller gardens. That isn’t an issue though, if you select plants that are polite and “stay in their lane” as the kids say. On this episode Danielle and Carol talk about compact plants that are prefect for tighter spaces. We’ve got several perennials, one annual, and even a few well-behaved shrubs that made the list. Filling your tiny plot with these beauties will enable you to have a wide variety of colors and textures without sacrificing an enormous amount of precious square footage.

From our vantage point in a motorboat on the reservoir known as Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake in eastern Washington, we scan the rocky canyon walls of the Colville Confederated Tribes’ Hellgate game reserve for bighorn sheep. Before it was a reservoir, manufactured by the United States government’s Grand Coulee Dam, this was once a mighty, salmon-rich stretch of the Columbia River that formed the basis of an entire ecosystem—and that supported the 12 tribes of the Colville Confederated Tribes since time immemorial.

The Robert Mills House in Historic Columbia was built in 1823 for Anisley and Sarah Hall. It was designed by the first American-trained architect, Robert Mills.

An elegant wool coat for chilly winter walks, a show-stopping candelabra for the New Year tablescape, a brand new trowel or a cosy pair of cotton pyjamas: Christmas is the perfect opportunity to treat the gardener in your life to the tools, accessories and treats they’ll cherish for years to come. 

Do you ever need inspiration? I find that I do. So, occasionally, I seek opportunities to surround myself with “plant people” while learning about plants and how to use them in ways I had not thought of or had forgotten about.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of the rich and diverse culture and history of the Hispanic and Latino countries and communities. It runs from September 15th to October 15th and holds a special significance as many Central and South American countries celebrate their independence days within this timeframe, adding to the pride each country has for its unique history. In this celebration of culture, we cannot overlook the significance of traditional Hispanic foods. These dishes, with their unique blend of influences, reflect the heart and soul of Hispanic and Latino heritage. From mole in Mexico to arepas in Colombia, these culinary traditions tell a story of diversity and flavor.

In the summer of 1863, a world-famous English botanist was pondering why the shoots of climbing plants twirl around as they grow. In this episode, join Emma the Space Gardener as she explores the fascinating world of plant movement, and what that has to do with the first plants that ever flew on NASA’s space shuttle.

Chris Rauch was strolling past booths at the annual ag show in Spokane last summer when he spotted a large jar full of basalt powder. A nearby sign urged him to spread it on his croplands to help improve soil pH. 

If you want to add plants that have unusual foliage, then you must try growing these Unique Indoor Plants that Look Like Hair Strands!

Today marks the 45th anniversary of the Apollo Moon landing, which seems like a good time to take the next step on our space adventure. You choose the topic of bees in space, so here we go!

Header image: Nematodes play an important role in all biological systems. Shutterstock

Worms were the only survivors when space shuttle Columbia broke up on re-entry in 2003. Caenorhabditis elegans, nematodes, had been sent into space to test a synthetic nutrient solution. Their naturally short life-span meant that the survivors were several generations removed from the worms that were blasted into space at the beginning of the mission. Nematodes experiments have also been conducted on the International Space Station (ISS), looking at the effect of microgravity – it turns out that these worms can suffer muscle mass loss in the same way as humans do. Nematodes weren’t the only worms included on that fateful mission; among the student experiments (which included space bees) was one that aimed to investigate mealworms (Tenebrio molitor). Sadly they didn’t survive.

Header image: Astronaut Cady Coleman harvests one of our plants on Space Shuttle Columbia. NASA, CC BY

This week, Gardeners Off World is blasting off to celebrate an off-world Thanksgiving. Let’s rehydrate some turkey!

At 2:16 am yesterday morning (BST, 9:16 pm Friday EDT), Northrop Grumman launched a Cygnus resupply spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). It’s scheduled to dock with the ISS around 10:20 am tomorrow. The company’s tradition is to name each Cygnus after an individual who has played a pivotal role in human spaceflight. The NG-14 capsule is named the S.S. Kalpana Chawla, in memory of the NASA mission specialist who died in the Columbia tragedy in 2003. Kalpana Chawla was the first woman born in India to go to space.

Back in 2014, I bought some seeds that had been into space. They are cinnamon basil (Ocimum basilicum Cinnamon), still sealed into their space packet. 

The long weekend has given me the chance to have a little play with video today, and this is the result.

A private 10-day mission to the International Space Station is due to launch in March 2022. SpaceX Axiom Space-1 (AX-1) will carry four private astronauts, including Eytan Stibbe, who will become the second Israeli in space. (The first Israeli in space, Ilan Ramon, sadly died in the Columbia disaster).

Anne McCaffrey’s sci-fi novel Pegasus in Space is the third part of a trilogy set on Earth in the latter stages of the 21st century.

How to Grow and Care for Braeburn Apple Trees Malus x domestica ‘Braeburn’

The tropical rain forests of South America hold a treasure when it comes to plants that are beautiful, exotic, and can make for great houseplants. Have a look at the most amazing South American Indoor Plants you can grow!

What’s blooming in the Crooked Trail Farm Garden this week!

Rob Last reports, “Strawberry crops continue to develop well with minimal pest and disease pressure so far. Fall vegetables are progressing towards the market. We continue to see pest pressure from caterpillars, and a few isolated aphids have been spotted during scouting. As we progress towards the holiday season, scouting of crops remains of vital importance to catch insect infestation and disease progression early for treatments to be effective.”

Rob Last reports, “Crops in the area continue to develop well, and I expect this to continue after some welcome rainfall over the weekend. Following the rain over the weekend and returning to warm temperatures, keep scouting for diseases in crops and ensure fungicide applications are made promptly. Spider mites show activity in a range of crops from strawberries to peppers, tomatoes, and blackberries. Cucumber beetles are beginning to be found in sticky traps. Currently, no damage is being seen to crops.”

Rob Last reports, “Pest and disease issues in the area remain very low; however, as temperatures rise, we expect activity to increase.  Although it is quiet, it is still essential to continue to scout. Assessment of crops indicates that we have escaped the worst of any chill injury or loss of plants. Pruning of fruit crops continues while dormancy holds and labor begins to return to the area.”

Common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris ) is an annual winter weed in the aster family. Luckily, it rarely becomes a problem in the lawn since it does not survive mowing. It can, however, quickly become a problem in vegetable gardens and landscape beds if ignored. Common groundsel can produce flowers within 45 days of germination and up to 25,000 seeds per plant. The seeds are easily spread by the wind due to their feathery bristles, called pappus, that function as a parachute. The seeds do not survive for long in the soil; therefore, diligent removal before flowering can help get infestations under control in a couple of seasons. After pulling, plants need to be disposed of, as open flowers can continue to produce seeds if left in the landscape.

The Weekly Field Updates are back for 2023! We hope everyone had a great holiday season and is off to a good start this year. We have lots of fruit and vegetable meetings over the next couple of months, so check out the Upcoming Events tab for the complete lineup. This week there will be a Cut Flower Grower Meetup in Columbia on 1/18.

Congaree National Park is a 26,692.6 acre park near Columbia and is the only national park in South Carolina. It preserves the largest tract old growth bottom hardwood forest left in the United States. Part 1

Deservedly one of the most popular houseplants in the UK, the peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) is relatively easy to grow and, in good condition, always looks elegant. Above a mass of large, glossy evergreen leaves that stand tall and proud, the plant intermittently sends up white arrow-shaped spathes. These petal-like bracts, which can be 15-centimetres long and resemble the sails of a ship, are not flowers, but encase the flowers proper, which are held on a spike known as a spadix. In bloom, the peace lily is reminiscent of the arum lily and our native lords-and-ladies (sometimes known as lily grass or jack-in-the-pulpit), which also belong to the arum family (Araceae); none are true lilies (Lilium).

With bold colors, large leaves, and unmistakable patterns, anthuriums have a certain charm about them that never goes unnoticed. Here are the most Fanciest Anthuriums Types you can grow for that tropical jungle look!

Where can you find the most spectacular bunch of tulips, cheerful dahlia stems, or jaw dropping array of fragrant roses? The city offers an unparalleled selection of flower markets to get your floral fix. From the historic Columbia Road, where horticultural gems line the much-loved East London street, to the vibrant and colourful Sunday flower fare on offer at West London favourite Chiswick Flower Market, we’ve curated the best spots in the city to flock to for your next dazzling bouquet.

As a gardener, you must have seen elephant ears plants, known for their mammoth leaves. You will be surprised to know tha there are specimens that look almost the same! This article will take you through various Plants that Look like Elephant Ears But are Not.

You must already be aware that air plants are epiphytes, which means they don’t require soil to grow. If that isn’t enough, the absence of visible roots makes these plants even more interesting! But hang on, before you buy some of them, learn about some of the best Types of Air Plants in this list.

As a kid, I spent a few summers camping along the Columbia River in Maryhill, Washington – Yakama Nation land – where some of the best stone fruits in the world are grown.When I think of summers there, I picture the wide br