Garden greens are always a welcome change in our garden after the summer heat. Here’s some info to get you started growing your own greens at home. The best garden greens to grow and how to prepare and eat them Mustard greens became a favorite in my house as soon as we harvested our first […]
Complete garlic growing guide
Do you know how many varieties of garlic are available? Before I started gardening, I thought there was just one, since that’s all that is available at my local grocery store. Now that I grow my own garlic, I know there are hundreds of varieties. There are hardneck and softneck varieties that range from mild […]
Garden Watering – When and How Often to Water
Watering your garden can feel like a mystery at first and takes a bit of trial and error to determine what’s best for your specific microclimate. These tips are sure to start you off on the right foot and give your plants a strong start, too. When Should I Water My Garden? The best time […]
Organic Gardening Pest Control: Natural Methods for Managing Pests
Once you have gardened for a few years, you are bound to have a pest situation or two. Trust me, I’ve put in my time trying to keep the garden pests to a minimum. However, my approach is never total elimination. Let me explain why. Beneficial Insects: Your First Defense Against Garden Pests Let’s face […]
Gardening Terms and Words – Vocabulary For All Skill Levels
There are all sorts of words and phrases you will hear as you learn more about gardening, and the jargon can be overwhelming. To help you soak up as much information as possible when reading about growing your own food or chatting with a more experienced gardener, here is your gardening vocabulary lesson. It’s another […]
10 gardening tips for the best tomatoes
The tips listed in this article are the ones that made the most impact for me in my garden with indeterminate tomatoes. I gathered them from reading articles, volunteering at a local farm and chatting with farmers at my local farmers’ market. 1. Start your tomato seeds indoors. Tomatoes prefer temperatures between 50 degrees F and […]
Gardening for Beginners
Are you a total newbie to gardening? Congrats! You are going to LOVE it! I became hooked as soon as my first seeds sprouted. To get yourself off to the best start possible, start with this guide that will help you think through everything. Now, let’s ensure you have all the other tools you need. […]
Do’s and Don’t’s with Edible Plants After a Freeze
Even if you prepared your garden for a freeze, there may be plants that don’t survive or that get damaged. So, what should you do (and not do) with your garden plants after the temperatures drop below freezing? What To Do With Your Plants After a Freeze Take a walk the next morning to observe […]
Which Crops are Sweeter after a Frost and Why
Crops that are sweeter after a freeze Brassicas Brussel sprouts kale collard greens turnips cabbage Alliums leeks Umbells carrots celeriac parsnip Chenopodiaceae beets swiss chard What makes crops sweeter after a freeze? The response these plants have to cold temperatures improves their sweetness. By increasing the amount of sugar in their cells or by converting […]
How to Prepare Your Garden for a Freeze
With first average freeze dates being just that – averages – it’s important to be prepared ahead of time, in case your freeze comes earlier this year. So how should you prepare your garden for a freeze? How Mulch Can Help You Prepare for a Freeze The beginning of fall is a good time to […]