Have you ever wondered, “What is crop rotation?” Well, you are not alone. Many of my readers ask me this very question. Today we’ll be having a look at crop rotation in a vegetable garden and will learn why it is so important. This time-honored technique employed by farmers worldwide maximizes the yield in a …
Gardening Tips
There is one thing that you can be sure to find in flower shops and nurseries early in spring each year. The trumpet-shaped flower of the Easter Lily – (lilium longiflorum) – is a well known Easter plant decoration. These beautiful perennials are forced to bloom around the time of the religious holiday, but this …
Get a head start on spring gardening by starting seeds indoors with Jiffy Peat Pellets. These handy peat pots have the perfect soil for seedlings and they can be transplanted right into the ground as soon as the weather is warm enough. Some plants need a long time to mature. Others, like bell peppers, need …
Growing a forsythia hedge allows you to add privacy and beauty to the borders of your yard. While not a quick project, it is one that brings beautiful dividends over time. With its abundance of bright yellow flowers and early bloom time, forsythia adds a burst of color to your lovely garden each spring. This …
Growing ginger from root is a fun kids’ project. Ginger is a tropical plant that is easy to grow indoors. All you need is a piece of fresh ginger, some water, and some soil to get a plant growing. It seems that I am on a growing from scraps kick lately. There are many vegetables …
Do you have plants that close their leaves at night and reopen them when daylight returns? This fascinating behavior, known as nyctinasty, occurs in a wide range of garden plants, houseplants, trees, shrubs, and legumes. Some flowers also close at night and reopen when daylight returns. If you’ve noticed a plant folding its leaves after …
Growing spring onions is a garden project that starts early in the year. You’ll end up with small bulbous onions that have a much milder flavor than a normal yellow onion but can be used in the same way. I use onions all the time in my recipes, and fortunately for gardeners, they are very …
For unbeatable spring color, try growing forsythia bushes. These easy care bushes require very little care. Nothing screams spring in your garden quite like Forsythia. With their vibrant yellow color, these perennials are one of the first bushes to flower in the spring. The shrub is very hardy, and relatively easy to grow. These tips …
It’s wonderful to watch wild birds in your backyard any time of the year, but if your goal is attracting birds to your yard in winter, there are a few things you’ll need to do to make sure this happens. Thankfully, it’s easy to attract birds to your garden when it’s cold outside! All you …
This guide for taking care of houseplants in winter will make sure that your indoor plants survive (and thrive!) during the winter months. Indoor plants are easy to grow during the spring and summer when sunlight is abundant. However, when the days are short and cold, they need extra care to do well indoors. Whether …
Winter flowering plants bring a blast of color to your yard and garden when you need it most – when the temperatures are really cold and not much is growing. It’s cold outside for most of us in the USA, but that does not mean that we have to sit idly by and wait for spring …
The sight of a Christmas cactus blooming is one of the joys of the season, for me. This plant is one of the traditional Christmas plants that are often seen for sale this time of the year. This holiday cactus plant is sold with buds on it each year, but how do you get this …
Direct composting, also known as trench composting, on-the-spot composting, or in-situ composting, is an effective way to recycle organic waste by using it directly in your garden. Traditional composting requires you to collect organic material in a compost bin or pile and then wait for it to decompose before using it in your garden. On …
Growing butternut pumpkins in a home vegetable garden is easy to do. This versatile vegetable is delicious and packed with nutrients. Butternut pumpkin is a type of winter squash, which means that the skin is hard and the fruit can be stored for several months after harvest. It is planted in spring and harvested in …
Hydrangeas are the rockstars of summer gardens, but with uncontrolled growth, these perennials can become unruly. Knowing when to prune hydrangeas is important if you wish to maximize your blooms each season. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer for when to prune this summer shrub. However, if you know what type of hydrangea you are …
This DIY seed starting mix is a cost-effective way to provide your spring garden seeds with the ideal environment for germination and early growth, and ensure they develop into healthy, thriving plants. Starting seeds indoors is a rewarding way to get a head start with plants that will be ready to transplant later this spring …
Mulching leaves is a great way to prevent cold-tolerant weed seeds from sprouting over the winter, and will help your soil hold moisture next year. Best of all – as long as you have trees in your yard – it’s free! Don’t let autumn’s natural treasure go to waste; it’s time to recycle those fallen …
It is coming to the end of the herb growing season for many of us. Did you know that you can freeze herbs to make them last longer? When summer turns to fall, the thought of losing those fresh herb flavors in your recipes because of the cold can be disheartening. Fortunately for us, there …
Creative gardening ideas really appeal to the whimsical side of me. I love to recycle existing items from around the house for my garden decor ideas. Not only will you save money, but you’ll help to save the earth, too. I must admit that I am not a normal gardener. I don’t enjoy conventional landscape …
Growing tomatoes is a popular summertime experience, but things don’t always go as expected! It’s time to troubleshoot some tomato plant problems. Millions of people in the US have a vegetable garden each year, and a large percentage of them grow tomatoes. It’s not hard to imagine their dismay if their tomato plants don’t grow …
Are you ready to try growing broccoli in your own garden? Contrary to what you may have read, it’s not a difficult vegetable to grow. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this article will provide you with valuable insights and practical tips for broccoli gardening. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll give you …
Growing eggplant (also known as aubergine) can be a fun and rewarding experience for any gardener. Eggplant is a versatile and tasty vegetable that can be used in a variety of dishes, making it a popular choice for home gardeners. If you’ve decided to grow eggplant in your vegetable garden this year, you’ll be pleased …
For many gardeners, the promise of lush, red tomatoes is one of the highlights of summer. However, a common question that I get from readers is “why are my tomatoes splitting?” Cracked tomatoes can show up at any stage of the plants growth, either when green or ripe and red. No matter what time this …
A commonly asked question from readers of my blog is “how to keep squirrels from digging up bulbs in my garden?” Since fall is bulb-planting time for daffodils, crocuses, and tulips, the question is posed even more often right now. If you spend much time in the garden, you will likely have had a run-in …
Are your tomatoes not turning red? Don’t worry, below are 12 tips for how to ripen tomatoes on the vine. Most tomatoes will start turning red about 6-8 weeks after their flowers have been pollinated. If your tomatoes won’t ripen, it could be due to a variety of factors. Green tomatoes can be the result of …
Trying to control squash bugs can seem like an insurmountable task when you find them in your vegetable garden. These easy tips will help you take charge and learn how to kill squash bugs and keep them from returning. A squash bug (Anasa tristis) is a destructive garden pest that feeds on squash, zucchini, pumpkins, …