Offrir des fleurs pour la fête des pères : lesquelles choisir ?

Offrir des fleurs pour la fête des pères : lesquelles choisir ?

La journée de la fête des pères approche à grands pas et aura lieu cette année le dimanche 19 juin. Cette journée représente l’occasion idéale pour témoigner à votre père l’amour et le respect que vous lui portez, à travers de délicates attentions. Pourquoi ne pas le lui dire avec des fleurs ? Bien qu’elles soient souvent réservées aux femmes, les fleurs et plantes en tout genre peuvent aussi faire office de très beaux cadeaux pour les papas poules, dévoués et attentionnés. On vous présente tout de suite notre sélection de fleurs idéales pour la fête des pères :

Les roses blanches

Cette année, votre papa pourrait lui aussi avoir le droit à un élégant bouquet de roses ! Les roses sont l’une des fleurs symboliques de la fête des pères, une journée spéciale qui a pour but de mettre les pères à l’honneur depuis 1952 en France. À l’origine, ce sont davantage des roses rouges qui étaient offertes aux pères, bien que nous vous conseillons une alternative tout aussi riche en signification, si ce n’est plus. La rose blanche est le symbole de la fidélité, d’un amour éternel, de la générosité et de la sincérité. Un message fort pour le père que vous aimez !

Les cactus

Optez pour l’originalité, et offrez un cactus pour la fête des pères ! Bien que son esthétique soit radicalement opposée à celle de la rose blanche présentée à l’instant, la signification du cactus pourrait vous étonner. Selon la culture amérindienne, le cactus serait en effet le symbole de l’amour inconditionnel, de la force et de la protection ! De plus, il existe de nombreuses variétés de cactus, sous toutes les formes et sous différentes teintes. Le cactus a l’avantage de nécessiter très peu d’entretien, en faisant le cadeau idéal pour les pères qui n’auraient pas la main verte.

L’olivier

En plus des nombreuses fleurs qu’il est possible d’offrir pour la fête des pères, certaines plantes peuvent aussi vous être conseillées, cela est le cas de l’olivier. Dans les régions du sud, l’olivier pourra être planté en pleine terre, dans un espace ensoleillé, tandis qu’il sera conseillé de le garder en pot dans les régions plus sujettes aux températures négatives (de manière à pouvoir le rentrer à l’intérieur lors de l’arrivée de l’hiver).

L’olivier dispose d’un feuillage vert argenté particulièrement esthétique, et présente de petites fleurs blanches, qui se transformeront en olives vertes ou noires en fonction de la variété de la plante. Concernant sa signification, l’olivier en est chargé. On le retrouve aussi bien dans les récits de la mythologie grecque, que dans ceux de la religion chrétienne. L’olivier serait un symbole de sagesse et de paix, tout en évoquant la force et la longévité.

L’orchidée

Autre option pour la fête des pères : l’orchidée ! On retrouve plus de 20 000 espèces d’orchidées, ce qui en fait l’une des fleurs les plus riches et les plus complexes du monde végétal. Lorsqu’elle dispose des soins adaptés, l’orchidée pourrait même rester en vie jusqu’à 100 ans ! Pour cela cependant, il faudra s’assurer que l’orchidée dispose d’une luminosité suffisante et d’une bonne hydratation, selon des consignes d’arrosage particulières.

L’orchidée est une fleur qui s’adapte parfaitement aux intérieurs modernes, et qui évoque le voyage et l’aventure, ainsi qu’une certaine opulence. Cette plante peut donc être le cadeau idéal pour la fête des pères, qui devrait très vite trouver sa place dans son bureau, dans un salon, ou tout autre pièce de son intérieur. Petit plus : les orchidées se déclinent sous de nombreuses couleurs, à vous de trouver la teinte idéale pour votre père !

Le ficus

Le ficus est une plante tropicale, que l’on retrouve depuis de nombreuses années dans nos intérieurs. Du fait de cette origine tropicale, cette plante a besoin de beaucoup de luminosité, et elle préfère une atmosphère humide – elle peut donc être idéalement placée à proximité des pièces d’eau. Le ficus est aussi surnommé “figuier des pharaons”, et il serait même associé à la fondation de Rome. Dans le langage des fleurs, le ficus fait donc référence au pouvoir et à la force, il serait également associé au respect des valeurs et au raffinement.

海の中の「命のゆりかご」-神秘的な海の植物の秘密を覗いてみよう

海の中の「命のゆりかご」-神秘的な海の植物の秘密を覗いてみよう

    まず日本の食卓では、ノリやワカメ、ヒジキなどの海藻はお馴染みです。食物繊維が豊富で低カロリーなため健康食として人気の海藻類ですが、これらがどのような姿で海中に生えているか、考えたことがある人は少ないかもしれません。

    海藻は、私たちが普段目にする陸上の植物とは構造が大きく異なり、「根」や「茎」を持ちません。「根」を張っているように見える部分は、海水に流さてしまわないよう固定しているだけで、根ではありません。海水中では浮力が働くため、自分の体を支え、体内で水や養分を運ぶための根や茎は持たず、かわりに自分の周囲を満たしている海水から直接栄養を吸収します。

    海藻の色は、緑、紅、褐色などと様々です。これは、それぞれの生息する深さによって異なり、効率よく太陽光を吸収するために進化した結果です。光がよく届く浅い海には緑色が多く、深い場所には海深くまで届く緑色の光を効率的に吸収できる赤い海藻が分布しています。

    では、そんな海藻について、その歴史を遡ってみましょう。地球が誕生したおよそ46億年前には、現在のような陸地も海も存在しませんでした。惑星全体に広がるマグマの海に、地球が冷えるにつれ降り続いた雨水が注ぎ込み、原始の海が生まれました。そこにやがて命が誕生し、海藻類が登場します。そう、海藻は私たち大先輩とも言えるのです。

    この海藻たちは、ある働きにより、地球に大きな変化をもたらしました。二酸化炭素を吸収し酸素を放出する「光合成」です。これにより大気中に酸素が増え、紫外線と反応してオゾン層が形成されました。このおかげで、地上に降り注ぐ紫外線が弱められ、生き物は陸上でも暮らせるようになったのです。

    このように、地球の進化の過程で重要な役割を果たしてきた海の植物ですが、現在もそれは変わりません。海草類は、魚たちの産卵や稚魚が育つ場となるため「海のゆりかご」とも呼ばれます。一部の沿岸地域ではジャイアントケルプと呼ばれる、高さ30mにまで達する大型の海藻が見られます。これらは「海中林」とも呼ばれ、多くの海の生き物の隠れ家にもなり、海の豊かな生態系を守るのに役立っているのです。

    また海藻は、窒素やリンなどを栄養分として吸収するため、海水をきれいにしてくれる役割もあります。生活排水として海に流入した栄養分を吸収し、環境問題の一つでもある海の「富栄養化」を防いでくれるのです。

    ちなみに、よく海藻と混同される「海草」は、進化の過程で一度陸上に上がり、再び海に戻ってきた陸の植物の仲間です。このため海草は海藻とは異なり、陸上生活で得た「根」や「茎」を持ち、花を咲かせて子孫を増やします。

    地球上の生命は全て、海の植物なしには成り立たなかったものです。それは私たち人間も同じです。水の中で揺らめく海の植物の姿をいつまでも眺めていても飽きないも、そのせいかもしれません。最近では、海中の生態系を水槽内に再現するマリンアクアリウムも人気です。皆さんも、海の植物の魅力に心を動かされたら、PictureThisでいろいろな海藻の種類を調べてみましょう!

14 of the Best Pet-Safe Houseplants

14 of the Best Pet-Safe Houseplants

Pets and plants are two of the things that bring the most joy to our homes, but they aren’t always compatible with one another. Because so many dogs and cats love to claw, chew, and eat plants, it is critically important to only keep houseplants that are non-toxic to your furry friends. Here is a list of the XX best houseplants for you and your pets. 

1. African Violets

Lush-leaved and bedecked with showy flowers, African Violets are unfussy and easy to grow, even in low light situations. For best results, you may want to invest in special pots that keep the roots moist at all times. In addition to being easy on the eyes and almost effortless to grow, pets can eat all parts of African violets without suffering any ill effects whatsoever.

2. Areca Palm

The feathery fronds and delicate arcs of the Areca, or butterfly palm, evoke the beauty of the tropics with none of the toxic traits of other such houseplants. These showy plants enjoy bright rooms and intermittent waterings—letting the soil dry out before watering will keep the Areca palm happy.

3. Banana Trees

Bananas are slightly unusual houseplants, but offer the drama and beauty of a large, statement plant without posing any threat to pets at all. They prefer bright light and moist soil, and may even produce fruit under the right conditions.

4. Bromeliads

Another stunning family of pet-safe tropical plants are bromeliads. With tough, leathery leaves and flowers that last many months, these colorful plants are both pet-safe and low maintenance. Soil-free specimens can be found mounted onto logs, which means no dirt for curious cats to make a mess with.

5. Christmas Cactus

Many cacti and succulent-type plants are dangerous for pets, but Christmas cacti are relatively safe. Profuse winter bloomers, these fast-growing cacti generally prefer bright, indirect light and regular watering. They might give pets a bit of a stomach ache if eaten, but will do no serious harm.

6. Haworthia

This amazing family of plants offers a visual range that includes everything from aloe-lookalikes to exotic-leaved succulents with translucent tips. Found in many different shapes, sizes, and colors, haworthia is one of the best pet-safe succulents around. Aloe can actually be rather toxic to pets that munch on its leaves, but haworthia offers a gorgeous, safe alternative.

7. Ferns

The vast majority of true ferns are completely pet-safe. Bird’s nest ferns, Boston ferns, maidenhair ferns, staghorn ferns, and many others are easy to maintain, beautiful, and won’t harm your pets if they get munched on. Tropical-looking and attractive year-round, ferns generally prefer bright lights and ample humidity.

8. Friendship Plant

Also known by the name Pilea involucrata ‘Moon Valley,’ the pet-friendly friendship plant has unique textured leaves with a quilted, crinkly quality. A color gradient makes this fast-growing tropical appear to glow from the outside. Place on a window sill that receives bright indirect light and let the soil dry out between waterings.

9. Hoya

One of the easiest of all houseplants, hoyas make a fantastic substitute for pothos, which are highly toxic to cats and dogs. With thick, waxy leaves and seasonal clusters of fragrant, star-shaped flowers, these exotic vines love to be root bound and can be kept in the same pot for many years. In addition to being easy to care for, they also make a safe, stunning sight for all members of the family.

10. Lipstick Plant

Featuring bright red buds in a tubular shape, lipstick plants (Aeschynanthus humilis) are unmistakable, striking, and pose no threat to pets. They form long, trailing tendrils that can reach more than three feet long, making them excellent ornamentals for hanging planters or high shelves. Give them room to stretch out and you will not be disappointed.

11. Peperomia

Available in a dizzying array of shapes, sizes, and colors, all the plants in the peperomia species are non-toxic to pets. Perfect in terrariums and hanging baskets alike, plants in this family offer much beauty in exchange for extremely little care and maintenance.

12. Ponytail Palm

Playful and easy to love, the ponytail palm might attract some unwanted play from pet cats, but it is entirely nontoxic. Best in bright, indirect light, this low-maintenance stunner will thrive with less water than the average houseplant.

13. Purple Passion

Few houseplants match the exotic look of purple passion, formally known as Gynura aurantiaca. Perfectly happy in moderate to bright light, this unusual plant appears dark purple thanks to the deeply colored hairs covering its leaves. The velvety foliage is a favorite of plant lovers, and four legged roommates can take a bite out of it without suffering any harm.

14. Spider Plant

A retro classic, spider plants have been hanging around homes since at least the 1970s, when they hit peak popularity. Not only are they completely non toxic to pets and children, but they are naturally good at purifying the air. They send off baby plant shoots regularly, so you can easily propagate an army of these plants or share them with your friends.

Why Do You Need to Learn Python?

Why Do You Need to Learn Python?

Python is a programming language that has been around since the 1980s. That’s when the Dutch programmer created it and named it after the famous British comedy group. Python is an open-source language intended for general purposes. But that’s not the only reason why you should use it. This article covers the main benefits of learning Python. Here’s why adding this programming language to your skill set can be valuable!

1. It's a Great Choice for Beginners

Learning a language used for programming isn’t much different from learning one used for writing or reading. The common problem for developers is that programming languages don’t look like anything they’ve seen before. But that’s not the case with Python because it relies on the English syntax. As a result, it’s easy to understand and become comfortable with, which is why beginners love this language.

First-time developers will also appreciate the interpreted nature of Python. It allows running code lines as soon as you complete them. Thanks to that, you can see the code in action and see if it requires any adjustments. That’s a great way to learn on the go and a time-saver during the learning process.

2. Data Science Is Its Main Use, but It's Highly Versatile

Although its history goes decades back, Python has become most popular in the last several years. It’s the data science that contributed to this popularity since this programming language is a perfect fit for it.

The main benefit is scalability and easy maintenance. Python doesn’t require expert knowledge in math fields or statistics to apply this language to data science. That’s important for developers handling large data quantities. The industries that use Python range from academic and government institutions to manufacturing, finance, and tech companies. The ability to handle huge data sets efficiently and perform repetitive tasks makes Python a tempting option for data scientists.

But that’s far from the only use of Python. Here’s a quick overview of other ways to use this programming language.

Web Development

Python offers vast flexibility and versatility. It makes this language a great fit for web development. PHP might have been the most dominant option, but Python provides the same potential while saving time on writing the code.

Programmers have many web frameworks available, such as Django and Flask. These are an excellent choice for an all-around web development that will impress users with fantastic functionality and presentations. Another indicator that Python is excellent for web development is that Google uses it on YouTube and other platforms. Dropbox’s core was also built with this programming language.

AI and Machine Learning

These two fields are imperative for data science, as well as software engineering. It’s impressive how these fields are developing, and Python generously contributes to this. MATLAB has been the most popular choice for scientific research among scientists and scholars.

However, Python has some impressive computational packages available. Thanks to those, it can achieve fantastic results while using the code more efficiently. The fact Python is an interpreted language indicates users can execute the code without compiling data. You can use data visualization utilities to design graphs and present the information you gather in a simple and attractive way.

Gaming and App Development

Python offers real-time testing, making it crucial to speed up the development process of gaming and other apps. It saves effort and time for programmers, and it’s an excellent choice for prototyping. If you are working on an app or game, Python’s testing options allow you to identify bugs efficiently. It helps you recognize and fix potential issues early in the development. That increases the odds of optimizing the final product version and ensuring it comes with minimum or no issues.

3. A Huge Number of Libraries and Excellent Compatibility with Other Languages

As an open-source language, Python is available to all developers worldwide for free. Furthermore, many programmers develop a code and upload it to their library collections. The estimation is that over 120,000 libraries of pre-written code are available online. That makes the job easier for first-time and experienced developers. Newbies can rely on existing codes working flawlessly, while advanced programmers can save time by using these libraries.

Python has excellent compatibility with other programming languages. Examples of crossovers include CPython (integration with C) and Jython (integration with Java). Another benefit is that Python works flawlessly on different platforms. It doesn’t matter if you work with macOS, Linux, or Windows. You can rest assured that your code will function well across all platforms.

4. Python Is the Most Popular Programming Language in 2022

There are different methods to determine the popularity of programming languages. But regardless of your approach, it’s impossible to imagine a list of the most popular options without Python. According to the TIOBE Programming Community index, this language has the highest rating in the industry. In May 2022, its rating was 12.74%. It was enough to overturn C from the throne and become the most popular programming language.

Python has been in the top three options for years. Short and long-term forecasts are equally encouraging. Due to its versatility and ease of use, Python is likely to remain a favorite option among companies and developers in years to come.

5. You Can Earn a Lot of Money with Python

If you are thinking about making programming your career, Python is an excellent choice. It’s versatile, challenging, and interesting to use this language. On top of that, it opens many doors and ensures high salaries.

According to the information available on Indeed, the current average salary for a Python developer in the US is $114K yearly. Even beginner developers can look forward to at least $78K annually. Once you become an expert, your salary can increase to $150K or more. The best Python developers earn above $245K annually, making this a tempting job option.

Final Thoughts

Python has become a prominent choice for beginners and advanced programmers. You can see it across many industries, and it’s popular in data science, web and app development, etc. This programming language is incredibly versatile and user-friendly. In addition, it’s open-source and has numerous libraries available.

Python allows the development of simple scripts and advanced applications efficiently. If you stumble across any issues while coding, you can count on a helpful internet community to assist in resolving the issue. Overall, Python is a smart choice if you want to learn a programming language. It’s fun and powerful, with the only limit of writing the code being your imagination. Don’t hesitate to give Python a shot and see why it’s the most popular programming language out there!

Preparing Your Garden for Next Year

Preparing Your Garden for Next Year

After harvesting your garden in the fall, it’s easy to think your work is done for the season. This isn’t the case, though. A great garden starts the fall before. Putting in some prep work before winter sets in can help get everything off to a great start come spring.
Essential End-of-the-eason Tasks
Ways to Recharge Your Soil for Spring
Autumn is the perfect time to add raw organic material to the garden soil. Over the winter, these items start the decomposition process, so nutrients become available in the ground. When you plant your new crops in the spring, their new roots can quickly absorb them.
Common raw organic materials include fallen leaves or pine needles from your landscape trees and grass clippings from the final mowing of the season. You can also plant a cover crop after harvest to add “green manure” to the garden bed.
What is Green Manure?
Cover crops are planted solely to help the soil instead of being harvested. They typically help control soil erosion while improving moisture retention and preventing weed seed germination.
When these cover crops are tilled into the soil in late fall, they add organic matter and nutrients, improving the soil fertility and quality. Common green manures include legumes such as clover, beans, and peas, and grasses like oats, annual ryegrass, rapeseed, and winter wheat.

Saving Seeds for Next Year

Saving Seeds for Next Year

Gardeners have been saving seeds from one season to plant the next as long as people have been growing their food. While it may sound challenging and extra work for you at the end of the season, the results are rewarding.
Advantages of Saving Vegetable Seeds for Future Plantings
Selecting Which Seeds to Save
When choosing which plants to save seeds from, you want to avoid biennial crops, F1 hybrid varieties, and plants with separate female and male flowers.
Always look for the most vigorous plants that have produced the best vegetables. Avoid weak plants or those with unusual-shaped fruit. The goal is to encourage traits you want to see in your crops.
Harvesting Seeds at the Right Time
One of the critical aspects of saving seeds is knowing when to harvest them from plants. You need the seeds to be fully mature, which isn’t always the case when you usually harvest the vegetable for eating.
Proper Seed Storage
The length of a seed’s viability depends on the plant type and the storage environment. For instance, tomato seeds may be viable longer than five years, but squash seeds are usually only viable for less time.
After collecting your seeds, remove any pulp from around them, and ensure they are correctly dried. Once ready, you should store each type in individual envelopes that are well labeled.
Then put these envelopes in an airtight container and place the container in a dry place, up off the ground.
Putting your seeds in the freezer can extend their viability and help some plants germinate better. Just ensure the seeds are properly dried, and the freezer temperature doesn’t fluctuate wildly. Put the container in the back of the freezer instead of in the door.

Harvesting Techniques

Harvesting Techniques

Harvesting is the exciting, rewarding part of gardening, so you want to ensure you’re doing it correctly and at the right time! After investing a season of time and effort, it would be disappointing to have lackluster vegetables or damage them when you’re trying to pick them.
Best Tools for Harvesting Vegetables
There isn’t a need to purchase special tools for harvest. You can pull many vegetables right off the plant using your hands. In some cases where the stems are thick (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage) or are starting to get woody (vining crops like pumpkins, squash, and melons), use pruning shears or a sharp knife to cut what you want off the plant.
Deciding on the Best Time to Harvest
Picking your vegetables at the perfect time rewards you with the freshest, most flavorful produce. But that ideal harvesting time varies a little depending on what you’re growing.
If you harvest too early, the vegetables may not acquire their full flavor. Some veggies — those technically classified as fruits like tomatoes, peppers, peas, and beans — will continue to ripen after being picked, but they aren’t as flavorful.
You may have missed the peak taste if you wait and harvest too late. The vegetables may become woody and tough, and the produce will spoil quickly after harvesting.
As vegetables start to look ripe, pick a sample to check the flavor.
Best Harvesting Techniques
One of the biggest mistakes gardeners make is neglecting to check their vegetables regularly when they are ripening. Peas and beans only take a day or two to go from tender to tough. Zucchini and cucumbers take only a few days to grow, from a couple of inches long to over a foot.
It’s also best to harvest early in the day, just after the dew dries off your plants. They are the sweetest and juiciest early in the morning. Plants picked during the hottest part of the day can wilt immediately after harvesting, especially leafy vegetables.
Harvesting Tips

Pollination

Pollination

Pollination is one of the most critical components of a successful garden harvest. Without pollination, you won’t have vegetables to eat. The trouble, though, is pollination isn’t always guaranteed. Sometimes it’s poor, but there are ways to improve it to help ensure a bountiful yield.
What Is Pollination, and Why Is it Important?
Vegetable plants reproduce through pollination, creating seeds surrounded by the fruit we eat. This fertile offspring helps carry genetic information to the next generation of plants.
For pollination to occur, pollen must be moved from the male to the female flowers. When done correctly, it triggers fruit production. When a female flower doesn’t get completely pollinated, the plant aborts the fruit that the flower was destined to produce and channels energy into making others.
Signs of poor pollination
For most plants, poor pollination results in a reduced number of fruits or no fruit. But sometimes, it results in incomplete pollination where not all ovules are pollinated, so the resulting fruit is deformed or drops off the plant early.
What Leads to Poor Pollination?
There are numerous causes of poor or incomplete pollination:
Ways to Improve Pollination
There are many ways to encourage pollination in your garden and, in turn, improve yields:
 
  • Add clumps of brightly colored, successively blooming flowers to the garden and your lawn to draw in pollinators.
  • Make sure you plant tomatoes where they can get a gentle breeze.
  • Give plants a helping hand, moving pollen from flower to flower.
  • Do not over-fertilize your plants. An abundance of nitrogen encourages vegetative growth instead of flower development.
  • Use lawn and garden chemicals that aren’t harmful to bees, and spray during the day when bees aren’t active.
  • Be mindful of your watering schedule. Bees are more active early in the morning and just before dusk. Water when they are less busy, so they don’t come across flowers filled with water.
How to Manually Pollinate Flowers
Hand pollinating flowers is as simple as moving pollen from male to female parts. The challenge is determining which parts are which.
On dioecious plants with separate male and female flowers, you’ll need to work with one of each.
Monoecious plants have male and female anatomy within one flower and typically don’t need manual pollination. To improve pollination, shake the plant gently to dislodge pollen from the stamens, so it settles onto the stigma.

Monitoring for Pests and Disease

Monitoring for Pests and Disease

Pest and disease problems can be challenging in a vegetable garden, and they can quickly damage plants and reduce yields, making it essential you regularly monitor for issues. To minimize the effects, you need to treat problems rapidly.
Signs of Distress
Many different symptoms appear when plants have insect or disease problems, making it hard to figure out what problem you’re facing or even what symptoms to scout for. However, plants most commonly show us distress as stunted growth, or the leaves appear distorted, wilted, or yellowed.
When you see these symptoms in your plant, it’s critical to examine them more closely to determine the exact cause of the problem. You’ll often see specific differences that help pinpoint the issue.
Common Garden Pests and How to Treat Them
Insect pests in your plants are one of the most frustrating aspects of vegetable gardening. You need to constantly be scouting for infestations and treat them quickly once they are found. When left untreated, insect pests can quickly destroy an entire plant or even a large section of your garden.
Some of the most common problems with vegetables include:
 
  • Aphids
  • Spider Mites
  • Scale
  • Japanese beetles
  • Cutworms
  • Leafminers
  • Whiteflies
  • Earwigs
  • Mealybugs
  • Colorado potato beetle
If you spot problems in your garden, the first thing to do is to try to physically remove pests by hand. This is helpful with larger species like cutworms but might be inefficient for smaller bugs. Once you’ve removed what you can, spray your plants with a stream of water to knock as many off as possible. Then apply an insecticidal soap or neem oil, covering the plant
As a last resort, treat your plants with a chemical pesticide and follow label directions, especially if it’s close to harvest.
Common Garden Diseases and How to Treat Them
A long list of fungal, viral, and bacterial diseases affect plants. Some of these diseases are specific to certain plant varieties, and others infect hosts regardless of the plant type.
Some of the most common diseases that wreak havoc on garden plants, and show no preference for species, are:
 
  • Powdery mildew
  • Early blight
  • Late blight
  • Leaf spots
  • Canker
  • Bacterial wilt
  • Fusarium wilt
  • Anthracnose
  • Grey mold/botrytis
  • Viral diseases
  • Root rot
Unfortunately, when it comes to many diseases, there are limited treatment options. Once your plant is infected, the best action is to pull it from the ground and discard it. Some fungal diseases are treated using sulfur- or copper-based fungicides.
Why Is Prevention Better Than Treatment?
Since many diseases are untreatable, and insect infestations can quickly reduce plant yields, it’s essential to try to prevent problems. It’s easier to put preventative measures in place than to scramble to control a situation. Any infestation, even a small one, can significantly impact the plant, even if you don’t see physical symptoms.

Supporting Young Plants

Supporting Young Plants

As your garden vegetables grow from tiny seedlings into larger, mature plants, some will need support while others won’t. Knowing which plants need extra help is essential so you can address it early instead of waiting until it’s too late.
Why Do Plants Often Need Support?
There are a couple of different reasons vegetable plants often need support. It is usually done as plants get heavy with fruit to keep the stems from snapping or the fruit off the ground. Keeping the fruit up minimizes mold and fungal problems and results in fewer pest problems. Fruit is easy to feed on when it’s near the soil.
Plants can also be staked, or supported in other ways, to improve air circulation through the foliage. Having them grow upwards instead of sprawling all over the soil allows you to walk between the plants and makes harvesting easier.
Garden Vegetables That Need Support
Some varieties of squash, melons, cucumbers, and miniature pumpkins produce better-shaped fruit if trained to grow up a trellis. But their fruits may need extra support if they get heavy to keep them from snapping off the vines.
Different Ways to Support Young Plants
When it comes to supporting your plants, sturdier structures are always better. It may be difficult to imagine how heavy a fully-laden mature plant will be, so it’s best to over-prepare.
The most common ways to support plants include trellises, cages, and stakes.
When Should You Put a Support Structure in Place?
The best time to install the supports is when you plant. As your vegetables grow, you can attach them to the structure if necessary using stretchy ties or specially designed plant clips. Some plants like peas and cucumbers grow tiny tendrils that wrap around the support naturally.
Once a plant gets larger, it’s much more cumbersome to attach it to a trellis or set a cage around it. You also increase the chances of snapping stems or branches.