Nemesia is a low-growing flowering plant that works well as a colorful filler for containers and garden beds. Join farmer Briana Yablonski to learn how to plant and care for this unique flower. If you’re looking for a new flowering plant for window boxes, raised beds, and ornamental gardens, check out nemesia. This plant is less common than petunias, impatiens, and other summer annuals, so it will add a new layer of interest to your garden. Nemesia plants only grow a few feet tall and become covered with flowers shortly after the weather warms. That makes them an excellent plant for adding a pop of color to late spring and early summer gardens. The plants can continue blooming throughout the summer if you choose a heat-tolerant variety and plant them in a location that’s protected from harsh afternoon sun. I’ll cover how to grow nemesia so it provides you with beautiful and long-lasting flowers. You’ll learn how to select the right growing location, choose a variety that suits your needs, and address common problems. What Is Nemesia? Nemesia is a genus of flowering plants that consists of around 70 different species. You can find various species available for sale at garden centers, but Nemesia strumosa and Nemesia caerulea are the most commonly available species. Numerous hybrids also exist and make up some of the newest cultivars. Nemesia plants are also known as cape jewels or pouch nemesia. Characteristics Some nemesia species are tender perennials, and others are annuals. Regardless, most growers treat all types of nemesia as annuals and replant them each year. The varieties commonly grown in stores typically grow between one and two feet tall. They produce multiple stems from the base of the plant, leading to a short yet bushy appearance. Each stem is covered with slender, lance-shaped leaves that appear in pairs. The top of the stems eventually becomes covered with two-lipped flowers that slightly resemble snapdragon blooms. When the plants are in full bloom, the base of the plant is almost hidden by the flowers. The flowers vary in color depending on the variety and come in colors including purple, yellow, pink, and orange. Sometimes, the upper and lower lips are the same color, and other times, they’re two different hues. Native Area All types of nemesia are native to South Africa. They often grow in well-drained soils or in sandy and rocky coastal areas. Planting You can grow nemesia from seed or transplants. Some hybrid varieties are only available as seedlings, so transplanting is your only option for these types of nemesia.

‘Anaheim’ peppers are slightly spicy, flavorful, and perfect for the backyard garden. You’ll have fruit all summer when you plant one in the ground, a raised bed, or a container. In this guide, learn how to grow productive ‘Anaheim’ peppers alongside gardener Jerad Bryant. When planting a vegetable garden, growers often opt for peppers. They are prolific, compact, and easy to manage, and their beloved fruits have many uses in the kitchen. Grow chiles alongside tomatoes, onions, and garlic, and you’ll have all the ingredients for homemade salsa. ‘Anaheim’ peppers are a special choice as they offer versatility in flavor. Milder than jalapeños, this variety ranges in Scoville units from 500 to 5,000, although most will be between 500 and 2,500 units. For context, jalapeños range from 2,500 to 8,000. As ‘Anaheim’ fruits ripen, they produce more capsaicin and gain spiciness. Whether you love heat or prefer mild varieties, this type is the right one for you. Grow it alongside bell and sweet peppers for a full range of chile flavors. Learn how to grow ‘Anaheim’ pepper plants and how to preserve their fruits with this comprehensive guide. What Is It? ‘Anaheim’ peppers are of the species Capsicum annuum and have close relations to bell peppers, jalapeños, and serranos. Their fruits are green at first and ripen with deep red patches. Over time, they become bright red all over. At each stage, ‘Anaheim’ chiles gain considerable flavor, Chile Colorado, a popular Mexican dish, uses dried red ‘Anaheim’ peppers in a stew. The immature green chiles are available at most grocery stores. Use them as a seasoning base in salsas or roasts. Their mild heat and complex flavor add a delicate touch to any dish that needs spiciness. ‘Anaheim’ peppers also have the name Hatch chiles, after the Hatch region in New Mexico, where farmers cultivate them. Nowadays, the original ‘Anaheim’ variety has tons of cultivars. ‘NuMex Joe E. Parker’ is a fine one, with six to eight-inch-long fruits! Native Area Species of Capsicum anuum are native to large swaths of Central and South America. The ‘Anaheim’ cultivars originated in New Mexico and spread to Anaheim, California, by growers. ‘Anaheim’ peppers are now available at nurseries, seed retailers, and online. The story goes that Emilio Ortega, the founder of the Ortega Chile Packaging Company, brought these chiles to Anaheim. From there, he packaged the peppers and sold them, making them a global hit. Characteristics Like most other peppers, ‘Anaheim’ plants grow in full sun, warm temperatures, and with regular water. They sprout long green leaves on thin stems. They sprout white flowers that morph into skinny green chiles. The fruits sometimes grow wrinkles on top, and each differs in taste and size. ‘Anaheim’ chiles grow as annuals where the weather dips below freezing in the winter. They function as perennials where winter weather is mild and warm and survive year to year with ease. This variety also works well in a container, and you can bring it inside when fall frost arrives. Green ‘Anaheim’ chiles enjoy a wide range of uses, like canned and preserved salsas, sauces, and chile mixes. They have a mild, sweet flavor, although they can get pretty spicy as they ripen red. Smoke and dry red ‘Anaheim’ peppers for a Chile Colorado dish, or for fermented sauces. Propagation Multiply pepper plants with seeds or stem cuttings. Seeds are the most reliable method, and growing them is a fun process. Sprout peppers indoors two months before your last frost and you’ll have an indoor garden while it’s winter outside! After your seeds sprout, take cuttings of overgrown plants and root them to further multiply your crop. Read on and discover easy ways to grow your peppers. Planting Now that you’ve sprouted seeds and cuttings, you’re ready to transplant. A bit of preparation of the soil and site will help ‘Anaheim’ chiles thrive throughout the growing season. Give them the care they need, and they’ll reward you with basketfuls of fruit! How to Grow Peppers thrive during the summertime as they bask in the warmth the sun brings. Plant two or three, and you’ll have tons of fruit with little maintenance. Give them good soil, water, and nutrients, and they’ll perform endlessly until cold weather arrives. Maintenance Maintain this variety by removing diseased or dead parts of the plant. If leaves crowd out peppers on the interior, snip a few to let sunlight pass through. The fruits need warmth and sunshine to change color and develop flavor. ‘Anaheim’ chiles reach heights of 24-30” and benefit from small stakes or cages. Although not that tall, their stems bend down under the weight of heavy fruits. Adding support gives your chiles an extra boost. In autumn, as the first frost arrives, hard prune the plants so they divert their energy towards ripening. Remove stems without fruits, and cut off a third of the leaves. Cut off any new blossoms that are open or developing. This process may seem harsh, but it helps your plants focus their efforts on finishing the fruits they’ve already formed.

Have you ever wanted to grow tender white asparagus in your garden? Growing these albino spears is easy with just a few simple steps. In this article, plant expert Matt Dursum shows you how to plant, grow, and care for white asparagus. If you’ve ever tasted white asparagus spears, you probably know why they’ve become a culinary craze. They have a delicate, nutty flavor and refreshing texture. Like green asparagus, they’re also packed with nutrients. What you may not know is that these unique looking vegetables are from the same plant as their green lookalikes. In fact, you can grow white asparagus in your garden by changing one simple process. Read on below to learn how to plant, grow, and care for this novelty type of asparagus. Soon, you’ll harvest bountiful white spears at home without paying extra at the market. What Is It? White asparagus is essentially the same plant as the regular green varieties. To get its appearance, farmers cover its spears with soil to prevent photosynthesis, a process called etiolation. As the spears grow, they cannot produce chlorophyll, which is the pigment in plants that makes them green. All asparagus are dioecious plants. This means that each plant has either male and female flowers. The white varieties you find at the grocery store and market are most likely the male spears due to their productivity. Characteristics In the garden, white asparagus will eventually turn green once exposed to sunlight. Male spears will grow to be larger than the female spears. When they mature, they produce beautiful bell-shaped flowers ranging from yellow to white. There are tons of varieties and hybrids to choose from. You can produce delicious and tender white spears from any type of asparagus. Some are more disease resistant and flavorful than others. Below are some common varieties to choose from. Native Area These perennial vegetables evolved in Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, and the Middle East. Asparagus developed a deep taproot system to survive various climates. It was first cultivated around 2,000 years ago in ancient Greece, Egypt, and the Mediterranean basin. The ancient Greeks thought it was an aphrodisiac while the Romans used it as a main course for their legions. In its native habitat, it flourished in sandy soils and mountainous terrain. In places such as the Middle East, it evolved in arid soils and developed a tolerance to drought conditions. White asparagus was first cultivated in Europe in the 17th century. It was a popular dish in French aristocratic households. Today, it usually costs more than green asparagus. Chefs and foodies tend to agree that its sweeter and richer taste and delicate texture are worth the hype. Planting Asparagus is a perennial that grows best in well-drained soil and full sun. It should go in the ground in early spring. Once it establishes itself in the soil, it will give you a bountiful harvest for 20 years or more. The location you plant your seedlings or crowns is very important. You want well-drained soil with plenty of nutrients and direct sunlight. It should be deep and porous, with no barriers for the taproots. Personally, I’ve always grown my plants in tall raised beds like this one. They bring the plants closer to eye level. When you’re producing white spears, it makes it easier to keep an eye on the spear as they grow. How to Grow White asparagus is relatively easy to grow, as long as you have the right location, lots of light, and enough soil to keep the spears covered. As the spears get larger, the trick is to keep covering them with soil so they never see the sun. Harvest them just before the heads of the spears appear to open up. Alternatively, you can cover your plants with black plastic or cloth while their spears grow. This will also block the sunlight and keep the spears white and tender. Maintenance Use disinfected pruners to harvest the spears in late spring or early summer, two years after planting your crowns. Let a few grow into mature flowering stalks. When your plants turn brown, they’re storing energy in their roots for their winter dormancy period. During this time, use your clean clippers to remove the brown stalks and compost them. Add another layer of mulch and fertilizer. After winter, just make sure your garden bed is weed free and you should have another bountiful harvest the following year.