How to Plant Sago Palm Seeds

Marigolds are super easy to grow and the perfect care-free bedding plant for containers, borders and mass plantings. If you need a lot of plants, you can save seed from spent flowers and grow them yourself next year to save money. Since marigolds reseed in the garden easily all by themselves, leave a few dried flowers to drop seed. Keep in mind t

And though most leaves are green—why are some not green at all, or at certain times of year?The new book, “How Plants Work: The Science Behind the Amazing Things Plants Do” answers those questions and more. (Enter to win a copy at the bottom of the page.)Its author, Linda Chalker Scott, joined me on the public radio show and podcast to explain. Linda is an Extension Urban Horticulturist with Washington State University, a

That’s the sort of “advanced” question I’m wondering about now, after a little episode with a packet of leftover collard seeds that I was feeling so smug about—a feeling that quickly changed to dismay a couple of weeks into their sorry time outdoors.When taking inventory, first I refer to the general guidelines for how long seeds last, summarized generally in the chart above, and detailed in this article on estimating seed viability. I always suggest a germination test of an

My Episcia hybrid has flowers more the color of ‘Ember Lace,’ though its foliage is different, but I was startled and excited to see its close cousin, the hybrid with redder-orangey blossoms called ‘Pink Brocade,’ on the cover of the new Logee’s catalog that arrived the day after I brought my flame violet home. Serendipity. [Update August 27, 2012: A reader says mine is ‘Pink Smoke’.]Logee’s suggests an east or west window, with good indirect light, and to grow the plant with good humidity and warmth—not exposing it to temperatures below 65 degrees. Episcia hybrids are good hanging-basket plants, because of their inclination to trail, but can be pinched to maintain a better shape in a regular pot.  I’m told to let the soil go visibly dry between waterings, and feed monthly with a balanced dilute fertilizer labeled for houseplan

Thanks also to Carol Gracie, whose spring wildflower lecture down the road at the local church was a big hit.I can’t really capture the in-person experience of touring my hilly, 2.3-acre place for you here, so instead I try to show what people asked about, in the slideshow below. Things like the ultra-fragrant and chaming flowers of the American fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus, below) that they found along the way on their walkabouts.open day slideshowHOW THE SLIDESHOW WORKS: Simply hover your cursor over the right side of the first image, and an arrow for navigation will display; use it to move from slide to slide. Note: A few are vertical images (you can tell which by the shape of the thumbnail), so even better with those is to click on the photo, and it will pop up full size on your screen, with its caption beneath. You can also watch the whole slideshow by clicking on the first

I also thought the hardy fuchsias in the front garden had gone, unlike their cousins in the back. I naturally assumed this was down to the front garden facing north not quite giving them the conditions they need to thrive. I even bought a replacement 'Hawkshead' at Malvern show recently as I'm particularly fond of its more delicate, pure white blooms.And then, I saw last week the stems I'd cut down to the ground in the spring have sprouted lots of lush, new growth as shown in the top photo, so my latest 'Hawkshead' has a new spot in the back garden instead. I shall bear in mind the top tip I was given in Malvern an

Jasmine is enchanting. The white flowers cloak the vines like a blanket of stars, but it’s the scent that holds us in its thrall.Infusing perfumes, candles, and soaps,

Contrary to their name, sago palms aren’t palms at all. They are hardy cycads with feathery fronds that make them a hit at urban gardens. Tolerant to extremes of temperature, the sagos are big guys with prickly plant parts, making them quite a challenge to grow in pots. However, with the right combination of soil, drainage, and growing conditions, sago palm care is easy.

Researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University are partnering with us in our technology addiction project that stands alongside our 'Chained to Tech' garden design. At RHS Tatton Flower Show, researchers will be surveying guests to gauge their attitudes and perceptions towards our garden.

I love citrus fruit, but living in the Vermont mountains, I don’t often have access to freshly grown lemons, limes, or oranges.Fortunately, while perhaps not quite

Just before Christmas, Clare Matterson, director general of the RHS, wrote to ask if I would be RHS Hampton Court’s Iconic Horticultural Hero for 2023, which was both shocking and flattering in equal measure! Because of that, I was able to design a garden for the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

These Rose Color Houseplants represent the famous hue of rose in the magnificent shade of red-pink. Grow them in your rooms for the awesome colors!