Most gardeners give up when summer temperatures soar past 90°F. But here’s the secret most plant experts won’t tell you: some vegetables actually perform better in blazing heat than they do in mild weather. These heat-loving champions don’t just survive the summer furnace. They absolutely thrive in it. I was surprised to learn that nearly … Read more
April marks a critical turning point in the gardening calendar. If you’re worried you’ve missed the boat on seed starting, take heart! While some early crops may be behind schedule, many vegetables and herbs prefer an April start. This guide highlights 25 crops that thrive when planted in April, organized by plant families and growing … Read more
Ever moved a plant only to watch it wilt, yellow, or, worst case, die in its new home? That’s transplant shock, and it can take all the joy out of gardening. The truth is, plants weren’t designed to be mobile. They establish roots in one spot and plan to stay there forever. When we move … Read more
Planned spring planting plus knowing how to store crops at harvest time add up to fresh vegetables out of your garden in summer, fall, winter, and spring. Of course, to have a greater variety and more interesting menus the year around, you’ll want to freeze or can some. But, you know, there’s nothing like fresh, … Read more
The practice of protecting plants is not new. Over the years, many reliable methods have been devised. New materials are lending the gardener still other weapons in his fight against Old Man Winter. Factors of Winter Injury Many factors cause winter injury. First in importance is the loss of moisture from any part of the … Read more
Gardening is one exciting adventure with many side trips along the way. One of my favorite trips was made with a cardoon plant. The 18-month sojourn began when I saw dried cardoon flowers used in an interesting arrangement. Discovering The Cardoon Vegetable Checking with an encyclopedia, I discovered that the cardoon is a vegetable. I … Read more
Mrs. David Holmes’ garden work in Williamsburg, Virginia, requires a green thumb, a working knowledge of botany, birds, history, and architecture – and a comfortable pair of shoes. A lecturer and hostess with Colonial Williamsburg, the non-profit organization restoring Williamsburg to its 18th-century splendor as the capital of the Virginia colony, her specialty is a … Read more
Many gardeners think that herbs are something that only the elect should grow. They find old herbals and new books on planning knot gardens equally delightful reading, and they dream of having a real herb garden sometime when they have both the necessary knowledge and the proper location. Still, they never progress beyond this dream … Read more
There are three good reasons for sowing herb seeds in the late fall. First and foremost, strictly fresh seed can be obtained from special sources since, by then, the “Seed harvest has been completed. The advantage of obtaining fresh seed cannot be overemphasized because it gives such a high percentage of germination that success is … Read more
When I was a child, one of the regular rituals of spring was the search for asparagus. Balmy days in May would find us peering among the weeds along the fence rows at the edge of the garden, pasture, or road, looking for those elusive little green spears. A thick patch of house lilies grew … Read more