Gardenig in Japan. Tips & Guides

Header image credit: China Manned Space Engineering Office

Join Emma the Space Gardener as she explores gardening on Earth… and beyond! In this episode, Emma takes the time machine for a spin to explore the early history of seeds in space. Plus you’ll find out which plants will be best for terraforming Mars, why greenhouses may soon be made from solar panels, what’s included in a Russian space tourist package and more!

Header image: Lettuce cultivated in a sealed bag (Left: before harvesting; Right: before collecting on the ground). Image credit: Takanaka Corporation

Plant RNA Regulation Redux in MVP (MVP-Plant-01) profiles and monitors shoot and root development in plants in microgravity, in order to understand the molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks behind how plants sense and adapt to changes in their environment. This understanding could contribute to the design of plants better able to withstand adverse environmental conditions, including long-duration spaceflight.

Food for the astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) is usually delivered well in advance. They get a few fresh treats whenever a cargo ship arrives (or if they grow their own!), but they’re a bit too far away to order take out.

Header image: Mars’ asteroid-sized satellites Deimos and Phobos. Image credit: ESA

Techniques for living in space continue to evolve, and astronauts can choose their meals from an expanding menu. In February 2021, the International Space Station crew enjoyed chicken-flavoured space ramen and fried noodles developed by the Japanese manufacturer that invented instant cup noodles. This video also shows a 14-year high school project, which successfully developed a canned mackerel meal that flew in space.

There is an all-time rise in breathing issues and the simple solution lies in the power of mother nature. Have a look at the best Indoor Plants that Reduce Respiratory Problems.

How to Grow Ornamental Maiden Grass (Japanese Silver Grass) Miscanthus sinensis

Indulge in new plants for the garden and discover recently launched tools, kit and botanically influenced home accessories.

When it comes to insects, there are many different types that roam our gardens and yards. Two such insects that often cause confusion due to their similar appearances are the June Bug and the Japanese Beetle. While they might look alike at first glance, there are several key differences that set them apart. Let’s have a look at June Bug vs. Japanese Beetle!

We’re visiting with Keith Irvine today, who gardens in chilly Zone 3 in Oxdrift, Ontario. We visited Keith’s garden before (Keith’s Zone 3 Garden).

Alice Fleurkens is welcoming us into her Sweaburg, Ontario, garden today.

We might be in the final weeks of summer, but that doesn’t mean all the perks of your summer vegetable garden are over. In fact, there are a ton of amazing ways you can prolong the use of your veggie patch—and keep enjoying the literal fruits of your labor—well into autumn. That’s why we turned to Ashley Nussman-Berry, founder of the Black Planters, and a few other amazing members of the Facebook Group, to ask for their advice. 

Today we’re visiting Yvette Pearson.

Experience the allure of Trees with Pink Leaves, that can add beauty and grace to landscapes with their captivating colors!

Functional foods are topping the health trend charts these days. And while you may have heard of the term before, perhaps just assuming that they were good for your health, what are they really, and where can you find them? Here's all the information you need in order to add more fortified foods to your diet.

Today, frequent GPOD contributor Cherry Ong is taking us along on a garden tour she was able to go on in June. The tour was part of a four-day plant-study weekend organized by the Vancouver Hardy Plant Group, and the tour visited some beautiful gardens near Vancouver, Canada.

With copper-colored wings and an emerald head, the Japanese beetle is pretty, but devastating.

As Digital Content Editor Christine Alexander explains, pollinators play a vital role in our ecosystem and we should all be doing our part to support their populations:

Flowers are usually the first things that grab our attention when we are selecting plants to add to our landscapes. However, most plants only flower for a short period of time, so it behooves us to consider plants’ other attributes—and there are many! Sometimes the same flowers that seduced us into opening our wallets are replaced with an amazing fruit display. Colorful fruits of all shapes and sizes can add drama to our landscapes throughout the year. In addition to their visual beauty, many fruits are important sources of nutrition for wildlife, particularly birds. Here are a few examples of awesome plants whose fruit shines in the garden in summer, fall, and winter.

Living and working in northwestern Oregon, garden designer Wesley Younie is no stranger to dealing with challenging environments. When presented with this garden’s elevation changes, drainage management, and extreme climate conditions, he devised a plan that addresses it all—along with a specific functional wish list from the homeowners. Want to know which plants he used? Here are the plant IDs for this beautiful, sustainable landscape.

In their original environments, invasive plants are restrained by their natural adversaries, with whom they co-evolved. However, when they are introduced to a new environment without these natural enemies, some plants can flourish and spread uncontrollably, ultimately becoming invasive.

The abundance of beautiful and well-grown houseplants gives a special sense of comfort at home. Apart from being pleasing to the eye, some house plants have the ability to purify the air quality.

Now that October is here, you must be busy with theessential gardening jobs for this autumn month. For most people, this time of the year is especially pleasing because of the cooler nights, warm sunny days, and pretty autumn foliage.

We’re visiting with Lilli Hazard today in southern Indiana.

While flowering trees are what you want, drought tolerant trees are what you need. Fortunately, there are a number of drought resistant flowering trees that will adorn your garden while requiring minimal water. These types of plants can form the bones of a water wise landscape.

Notes

Features to Expect in a Japanese Garden

The Japanese poetic work, ‘Manyoshu’ published in 759 AD but written 300-400 years prior  selected 7 flowers for Autumn. This corresponds to the 7 Herbs of spring reported on an earlier post.

The seed catalogue season is in full swing and I paused to consider their value to gardeners.

This species of plants originate in central China. The closely related species R. molle japonicum come from Japan. Both these deciduous varieties are relatives of the popular Ghent and Knapp Hill hybrids.

Ornamental Japanese Maples are widely available for planting in your garden. The autumn colouring makes these trees spectacular when planted en mass in a woodland or Japanese garden setting.

Picnic in the shade of Cherry Trees

Kiwi fruit known as the Chinese goodeberry grow on the woody vine Actinidia deliciosa and its hybrids. The vines should be grown on sturdy support structures as it crops more than the rather weak vines can support.This plant has a cold greenhouse for protection but they can be grown outdoors in a sheltered spot.

The larger Acer is not Japonica but Davidii. Under it’s branches is a more tender Acer palmatum Japonica var. dissectum ‘Inaba-shidare’ or the purple leaved Japanese maple.