A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W
E
Earthing Up: Drawing soil up around the stems of a plant, eg potatoes, to blanch them or encourage root or tuber growth.
Emasculation: The removal of anthers to stop self pollination.
Epiphyte: A plant that grows on another plant but is not a parasite although it has its roots above ground because it receives nutrients and moisture from the atmosphere. Also, see aerial roots.
Ericaeous: Either refers to members of the Erica family or to acid loving plants or compost especially produced for growing them in pots.
Espalier: A system for growing plants, usually fruit trees, where a plant has one single central stem or trunk with tiers of branches on either side trained to present a flattened aspect. Often used for growing trees against a wall.
Evergreen: The opposite of deciduous, a plant that does not shed leaves in winter or another period of dormancy.
Eye: Either the center of a flower or a dormant or latent bud, eg the eye of a potato.
F
F1 Hybrid: A first generation offspring obtained from two selected purebred plants.
Family: A plant classification containing related genera.
Fertilize: Adding nutrients to the soil to promote growth and healthy plants – fertilizer, either artificial or natural substance that adds nutrients to the soil. Also the act of introducing pollen to produce seed.
Fibrous: A fine and sometimes dense root system.
Flat: In the USA, a shallow seed tray.
Floret: A small flower, usually, that forms part of a larger flower head.
Flower: The part of the plant with reproductive parts usually with petals. A double flower with one or more rows of petals.
Force: Controlling the environment, eg heat, to produce early flowers or fruit, eg rhubarb.
Friable: Easily worked good, crumbly soil.
Frond: Refers to the leaf structure of a fern, sometimes to a palm too.
Frost Pocket: A small area, often with lower ground than its surroundings, that is subject to lower temperatures making it particularly likely to get frosts.
Fungicide: A chemical for killing fungi, particularly those that cause disease.
G
Genus: (plural genera) Part of the plant classification system, this is a category of related species. See family.
Germination: The springing into life of a seed.
Girdling: The removal of bark by animals or by using a tie that is too tight so preventing the flow of water and nutrients so causing death of growth above the constriction.
Glaucous: A plant with a blue-green, grey or white bloom on the surface.
Graft: A method of joining plants together, for example, fruit trees are often grafted on to a more vigorous rootstock.
Green Manure: A crop like mustard or rye grass that is grown for digging back into the soil to enrich it.
Greenwood Cutting: A cutting taken of young tips, after the first flush of growth in the spring has finished. They are somewhat hardier than softwood cuttings.
Ground Cover: Plants, usually low growing, that quickly cover the soil and so suppress weeds.
