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Many heirloom tomatoes are susceptible to cracking, wilts, and a host of tomato diseases. The Cherokee Purple stands out for its resistance and a prolific production of fruit. Tomatoes have a slight smoky, sweet flavor and are a little less acidic than other varieties. Learn to grow this unique heirloom and find out how one plant can put large, delicious tomatoes on your table year after year. If you live with curious pets, you’ll want to restrict access to the tomato patch....

The central trunk of the Scots pine is long and straight, with scaly, flaking bark that is dark near the bottom, turning a rusty color toward the top. The needles are 1 to 4 inches long, depending on variety, shedding about every three years. The needles are bunched in pairs that twist together. The seed-bearing cones are pinkish-red when young, maturing to gray-brown; they are 1 to 3 inches long and feature diamond-shaped scales....

Wild ginger plants have a history of being used for food, including boiling the fleshy rhizome/root to make a sweet syrup that does taste slightly of ginger. It was used for a wide range of medicinal purposes by Native Americans and early Euro-American settlers. It also contains antibiotic compounds which make it useful for topical uses, such as poultices to treat wounds. The plant is native to shady woodlands and spreads via rhizome....

As one of the largest species of juniper trees, alligator junipers planted or seeded in the spring or fall can grow to 60 feet tall in their ideal environment, but they are very slow growers so it will take them an extremely long time to reach a mature height. Alligator junipers are fairly self-sustaining and do not require too much attention. However, keep an eye out for browning leaves and tips as alligator junipers are susceptible to a host of common pests and diseases....

Almond trees can survive winter in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 9, while some cold-hardy varieties can even be overwintered in regions as cold as Zone 5. While there are a variety of pruning options to help these plants stay healthy through the winter, many growers opt for maintenance pruning. By leaving the tree’s main branches intact, the inner branches can be pruned to keep the canopy of the tree open to sunlight....

If you are considering a shrub that provides four-season interest, the Amber Jubilee ninebark provides a unique option not seen in many gardens. The best part of this cultivar is how easy the overall care is. It might be the perfect shrub for a property owner who does not want to get too invested time-wise into their garden but still wants the wow factor that comes with great plant selection....

You’ll typically only need to water during dry spells and feed annually. Once your plants mature, you might need to provide them with support, such as garden stakes, to prevent the thin stems from flopping over. You also can proactively install stakes at the time of planting that the baby’s breath can grow around. Light Baby’s breath plants grow best in full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days....

While beautyberry’s medium green foliage (ovate, toothed leaves on arching stems) is unspectacular and its flowers are fairly insignificant, its bright purple berries that grow in plump clusters put on a show. (Some varieties have white berries instead.) The berries appear in the late summer or early fall and can persist into winter, providing visual interest for the landscape and food for wildlife. The berries are edible for both people and animals, and some people even use them to make jelly and other foods....

Black huckleberries are commonly found growing in acidic forests and along the edge of wooded areas. Their sweet berries are enjoyed by many birds and mammals and can be consumed by humans as well. They can be harvested and eaten fresh, frozen, or dried, and are commonly used in pies, jams, and baked goods. Black huckleberries can be easily swapped into nearly any recipe that utilizes blueberries. Black huckleberries are native to areas of North America and are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7....

But blue ash trees are getting harder to find. Sadly, the tree is now declared endangered due to the emerald ash borer (EAB), which plagues all ash trees in North America. Although blue ash is considered somewhat more resistant to EAB (by some estimates, about 60 to 70 percent of infected blue ash trees survive), ash trees, in general, are no longer readily available for sale in many regions. Should you be able to purchase one and are willing to have preventive treatments done regularly, blue ash is usually planted as a potted nursery plant in the fall or spring....

A type of milkweed, butterfly weed is generally planted in late spring after the soil is warm. It is fairly slow to become established and may take as much as three years before it flowers. When it finally does flower, its clusters of bright orange-yellow flowers will display from late spring until late summer. Unlike other milkweeds, butterfly weed does not have caustic milky sap, but it does produce the characteristic seed pods that release silky-tailed seeds to disperse on the wind....

The palm has a moderate growth rate. Outdoors it will mature and reach its full coconut production in around 15 to 20 years, and it can live for decades beyond that. Indoors these palms are generally short-lived, they remain small, and they often don’t produce fruit. They can be planted at any time of year. Native to islands in the Western Pacific, the coconut palm is probably what comes to mind for many when you say the phrase “palm tree....

While some pests, like aphids, flea beetles, and thrips feed on cosmos, they’re easy to control with a strong spray of water or insecticidal soap. Aster yellows, bacterial wilt, and powdery mildew may also affect cosmos. Space plants accordingly to ensure good airflow to avoid diseases. Taller varieties look good in the middle or rear of the border with goat’s beard, coneflowers, and black-eyed Susans. Shorter varieties make very colorful, airy edging plants....

Light Garlic chives prefer full sun but will also grow in part shade. Soil Give this plant average, dry to medium soil that is rich and well-draining and has a neutral pH of about 6.0. Water While the plants are drought-tolerant, they do thrive in moist soil. Water as needed. Fertilizer Feed garlic chives a slow-release fertilizer. Harvesting Harvest young leaves anytime and pick edible flowers shortly after they open. To harvest, cut leaves down to the soil line using scissors or kitchen shears....

Honeywort is easy to grow in garden beds and containers, and it makes for a great cut flower. Plus, its nectar-rich flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. It has a fast growth rate and should be planted in the spring after the threat of frost has passed. Once seedlings are a few inches high and the weather is reliably warm, bring your plants outside for progressively longer stretches....

As autumn approaches, leaves remain green longer than many other trees, continuing to produce lush shade even in the cooler months. Petite round seeds are produced in autumn along with intense gold-green foliage atop this graceful, pyramidal shaped plant. Seeds last through much of winter. It is hardy in USDA Zones 4 to 7. When looking for a tree that will fill out a garden hedge and require absolutely no pruning throughout the seasons, look no further than little leaf linden....

The flowers of the Jane magnolia are fairly large, especially relative to the overall size of the plant. Under ideal conditions, the blooms can reach 8 inches across when fully open. The flower color is displayed in two different time periods. When the flower is still closed, the color is burgundy-purple, and the flowers are shaped like tulips. After the flower has been fully open for a while, the color of the outer side of the petals fades to pink....

Indoors, the plant has a moderate growth rate and can grow in height about 1 to 2 feet a year. Its naturally glossy large heart-shaped leaves have a characteristic split. You’ll also spot intricate aerial roots growing out of the soil which benefit the plant by supporting the stems that hold leaves that can grow to 3 feet long. Plant outdoors in the right zone at any time during the year and it will also produce tannish-cream flowers pollinated by bees and edible juicy fruit with the combined flavor of pineapple and banana....

Native to the Philippines, southern China, and Sri Lanka, among other lush, tropical locales, the pagoda plant thrives in regions with warm temperatures, plenty of sunshine, and abundant moisture. These plants grow quickly and can climb to heights of three to five feet in a single year. They’re not considered invasive, but do spread by means of rhizomes, so watch for spreading suckers. Pruning at the end of the blooming season will help this plant grow to its full potential as a bushy, flowering shrub....

The growth habit is horizontally spreading, though the plant may reach a height of up to 3 feet. The branching is stiff and dense, giving the plant a rather bristly look. Stems shoot off the branches at an angled herringbone pattern. The shiny leaves are small and roundish, with a fine texture that provides a nice contrast to larger-leafed plants. The fall color ranges from reddish-orange to burgundy. The light pink blooms of late spring yield later to equally shiny red berries (or “pomes”)....