Learning to grow, harvest and store your own crop of potatoes is one of the easiest ways to produce lasting food from your garden. Unlike tomatoes, cucumbers and many other garden vegetables, potatoes don't require canning or freezing for long term storage. In fact, once harvested and cured, all they really need to keep for …
Coneflowers are a wonderful perennial addition to the landscape, and grow easily with little need for long term maintenance. Even better, this nearly trouble-free plant is both deer and drought resistant as well! A member of the Daisy family, Coneflowers produce flowers with colorful petals that surround a rounded center seed cone. And that seed …
When it comes to spraying weedkiller around trees and throughout your landscape, it may be more dangerous to existing plants than you might think. Beyond weedkillers harmful effects to bees and important pollinators, and their possible contamination to wells and nearby water supplies - they can also be quite harmful to the long-term health of …
If you are looking for a drought and deer resistant perennial with late season blooming power, growing Black Eyed Susan is the perfect solution. Not only will it add lasting color and beauty to your landscape, it's also extremely low-maintenance. In fact, Black-Eyed Susan is one the easiest perennials around to grow and maintain! And …
Today's This Is My Garden article takes a look a close look at 3 tree varieties, that although still quite popular among homeowners, should avoid being planted for the long-term damage, headaches, and issues they cause. Nothing adds lasting beauty, protective shade and life to a landscape like trees do. But one thing is for …
As summer arrives and your garden plants begins to grow, it's time to start thinking about tomato hornworms, and more importantly, stopping them before they cause serious damage to your crops. Tomato and tobacco hornworms are notorious for devouring foliage, stems and even the fruit of tomato plants. But they also attack and destroy pepper, …
Saving seeds from lettuce, kale, radishes, peas and other spring crops isn't just easy, it's also a great way to save big money. Let's face it, buying seed to grow your own food can be expensive. Heirloom seeds often run $2 to $3 or more for just a small quantity of seed. But by saving …
If you are looking to attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies to your landscape, growing bee balm is the perfect plant for you! Native to North America, the hardy perennial is well-known for it's gorgeous, spiking blooms - and those showy flowers just happen to be wonderful for attracting some of natures best pollinators too. It's …
If you are looking for an incredible low-maintenance shrub to add to your landscape, consider growing weigela! Not only does this flowering shrub add beautiful color and texture, it also happens to be resistant to deer too! Weigela has become increasingly popular in recent years. Available in a variety of colors in leaves and blooms, …
Watering vegetable plants may seem like such a simple task, but believe it or not, how and when it is done makes a huge difference between success and failure in the garden! Hydrating needs certainly vary based on location and local weather. Those who live in or near desert-like conditions will always need to water …
When it comes to insects that help tomato plants, wasps are near the top of the list. But the truth is, they actually benefit your entire garden more than you might ever imagine! Not only do wasps play an important role in helping to pollinate some garden crops, they are critical in controlling unwanted pests. …
Growing perennials in pots and containers is an excellent way to add instant color and foliage to patios, porches and decks. And even better, it can be done for free using plants already in your landscape! Although annual flowers create a stunning display of color, their lifespan is short. And unfortunately, very costly. But that …
When it comes to making delicious treats from from fresh-picked garden vegetables, turning fresh-picked cucumbers into homemade dill pickles is certainly high on the list of favorites. Cucumbers are the second most-planted home garden crop behind tomatoes. And quite certainly, making pickles is part of the reason they are so popular. Every growing season, we …
So just how do you stop the annoying, large-bodied, party crashing, flying insects known as June bugs? Each and every year, during the early spring and summer, the onslaught of the beetle bug begins. Depending on where you live, June bugs can emerge in early May (called May Bugs in these locations), June, or even …
When it comes to powering plants naturally, organic fertilizers are the perfect choice for boosting vegetable plants and flowers. But in the process, they also provide an incredible secondary benefit - they build better soil! Natural fertilizers, unlike synthetic counterparts, add humus, structure and important elements and minerals to the soil. All of which work …
When it comes to successfully planting asparagus, the methods are certainly a bit different than for planting traditional vegetable plants. For starters, although asparagus can be grown from seed, it is best planted from root stock called crowns. Planting asparagus crowns not only leads to a faster harvest, but are far easier to establish than …
When it comes to planting the garden, how and when you plant can have a huge impact on how your plant's perform all season. If plants struggle early, it often leads to long-term health and productivity issues. Issues such as stunted growth, poor blooming habits, and increased susceptibility to pests and disease. And unfortunately, all …
Looking to grow your first vegetable garden this year? Whether you are brand new to vegetable gardening or a seasoned veteran, there are a few tried and true tips that go a long way in keeping gardening both fun and productive. Contrary to popular belief, growing a productive vegetable garden doesn't mean having to buy …
Growing vegetables and flowers together in your garden adds more than just color and beauty. It's also a secret weapon in controlling pests and disease. And, even more, it can lead to a bigger and better harvest! Many annual flowers have long been known to have beneficial qualities for vegetable plants. For starters, some are …
Nothing can add a touch of beauty to a garden setting like a classic garden bench. Especially when it can easily be created with simple, inexpensive 2 x 4's! A garden bench is the perfect addition to the landscape for so many reasons. By its very nature, it beckons all who walk among the plants …
One of the biggest secrets to growing big, healthy, and productive tomatoes is knowing how and when to fertilize your plants. Tomato plants are heavy feeders from the soil. And unfortunately, no matter how rich and fertile your soil might be, they can quickly deplete it's nutrients. That is why fertilizing plays a vital role …
Make this the year you grow purple green beans in your garden to jazz up your garden and taste buds with a little flair. Purple green beans are definitely a conversation piece in the garden! Maturing in just a little over 50 days, plants quickly produce a delicious bush bean with a deep purple color. …
It's not often you can grow a nutritious and tasty vegetable and a great household sponge all at the same time, but that is exactly what you can do when you grow Luffa gourds! The luffa plant is a member of the gourd family. The same family that includes squash, zucchini, melons and cucumbers as …
You might be surprised just how easy and inexpensive it is to start and grow vegetable and flower plants from seed - all by using simple fluorescent shop lights! Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't require fancy or expensive equipment to start seeds indoors. Especially when it comes to needing ultra expensive grow lights. They …
With a few simple growing secrets, you can create an overflowing harvest of fresh, delicious and nutritious zucchini! A zucchini plant is one of the most productive vegetables around. Under ideal growing conditions, a single plant can produce 5 to 10 pounds of produce. And, you will be hard pressed to find a more healthy …
Nothing will spice up your flowerbeds more than growing a few new unique annual flowers this year. Flowers with blooms and foliage that stand out from the usual, all-too-common bedding plants grown year after year in the same space and place. After all, if variety is the spice of life, growing a few new flowers …
When it comes to adding super nutritious fruit to your landscape, it's hard to beat the benefits of growing a few elderberry bushes. For many years, elderberries were more considered more "wild" than domesticated. They were most often found growing along ditches and fence rows. And for those that loved them, it was an annual …
Looking to grow brussels sprouts in the garden this year? You might be surprised at just how easy this unique and nutritious vegetable is to grow! Brussels sprouts are absolutely brimming with nutrients. Not only are they high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Potassium, they are also a great source for protein and fiber. …
Growing grapes is an excellent way to add perennial fruit to your landscape. But even better, it can let you enjoy everything from jams, jellies and juice, to to trying your hand at making homemade wine as well! Grapevines, depending on their size at planting, can take a few years to establish themselves. But when …
Growing gooseberries is a great way to add a little unique flavor to your home landscape, and a lot more Vitamin C to your diet in the process! Although perhaps not as well known as other home-grown fruits, gooseberries are actually quite nutritious, and tasty too. Not only are they high in vitamin C, they …
If you want to make some incredible homemade salsa verde, then make this the year you plant and grow delicious tomatillos in your garden! Salsa verde has exploded in popularity. Along with it, so has interest in growing tomatillo plants in the garden or even in containers. And growing them is easier than you might …
Does using companion planting really help create a healthier, more productive vegetable garden? You bet it can! At it’s very core, companion planting is about relationships. As in the relationships that exist between different types of vegetables, herbs and flowers grown in close proximity to one another. And when you employ some of the basic …
If you are looking to grow your own delicious tomatoes this year, you are going to love these 3 great all-purpose tomato plant varieties! For many gardeners limited on space or time, growing an endless amount of tomato varieties is impossible. It can be challenging to find space for tomato plants that are good for …
So what is the best mulch to use in your flowerbeds and garden? The answer all depends on exactly what you are mulching, and where it will be going. Mulch really is a gardener’s best friend. There is no better way to keep weeds from becoming established than keeping bare soil covered. Mulch also creates …
Starting your own vegetable and flowers from seeds is a great way to save money, especially when you can make free seed starting containers with easy to find recycled materials! Plastic seed starting cells and trays can be expensive, not to mention difficult to re-use. And unfortunately, the biodegradable options available are even more costly. …
So just what are the secrets to growing a big healthy crop of delicious cucumbers? Cucumbers are one of the most versatile crops a home gardener can grow. They are perfect for slicing & dicing, and turning into delicious homemade pickles too! (See : Grandma's Homemade Icebox Pickle Recipe) But to end up with all …
Growing your own hanging baskets from seed is a great way to create stunning flowering baskets and save big on the budget - all at the same time! Lets face it, hanging baskets are expensive. And every year, the prices only seem to rise. But by growing your own plants directly from seed, you can …
One of the hardest tasks for a gardener during the winter is finding a way to keep their compost pile going. For those who live in colder climates, it is hard enough to reach their compost pile. And even if they can, it is usually frozen solid. Although there may not be a lot of …
When it comes to starting seeds inside, success is all about being prepared, and keeping it simple! Contrary to what many think, growing flowers and vegetables from seed is not difficult. Nor does it require special lights or fancy equipment. In fact, the biggest key of all is to be prepared, And that means getting …
So what is the real scoop when it comes to using Epsom Salt on plants? Does it truly help plants grow bigger? And will it really help keep pests away? What about it's power as the ultimate fertilizer? The myth of the incredible power of Epsom Salt has grown furiously in the last few years. …
When it comes to selecting the best cut Christmas tree for the home, there are a few varieties that are peak performers. And that includes everything from great shape, color and size, to how well they hold up indoors. One thing is for sure, real Christmas trees are a hot commodity again. After many years …
Growing plants indoors doesn't have to be difficult, especially when you select easy care house plants that even the "brownest" of green thumbs can keep alive and thriving. Indoor plants are far more than just something pretty to look at. For starters, they help to clean and purify the air. Just like outdoor plants, plants …