Lycoris for Perennial Fall Color Lycoris are strong perennials that send up lush foliage in the spring, which then dies down, and they bloom in late summer without foliage—hence the nicknames Surprise Lilies, Magic Lilies, or Naked Ladies. Because they bloom late summer/early fall at the beginning of hurricane season, they are sometimes called Hurricane … Read more
Growing citrus trees indoors is fun and easy, if you have the right conditions. I have a Meyer lemon, a key lime, and two kumquats on my back deck. Nothing like drinking iced tea with your OWN lemon or lime floating in it! Grow Your Own Citrus Pick a window with six or more hours … Read more
Besides getting rid of summer debris, one thing we can do to really improve next spring’s garden is to consider planting a cover crop. Cover crops are sometimes called green manure. They do important things—like help to replenish the soil, keep weeds down over the winter, prevent erosion and many varieties even bloom in early … Read more
One of the phrases we hear a lot is “sustainable” gardening. So what is sustainable gardening exactly? My definition is to leave my environment in the same or in better shape than it already was—and to try to use as few products as possible to keep it that way. How to Apply to Your Yard … Read more
Last week I wrote about one of my favorite veggies—broccoli. This week I’ll talk about the other fall veggies—and chores we need to think of now. What are you going to do when the tomatoes, squash, and green beans finally give their last? Do you let your garden lie fallow over the winter or do … Read more
Seeds for cool season veggies are in and I’ve already picked out my favorites. I always plant spinach and kale—they even make it over the winter here. I always plant Little Finger carrots—in a window box, no less. They’re a crunchy sweet mini-carrot that does particularly well in containers. I always do either lettuces or … Read more
Did you know that in July of 2003, the U.S. Department of Agriculture proclaimed July National Blueberry Month? So here are a few interesting tidbits about one of my favorite things. Blueberries belong to the family Vaccinium—this makes them related to cranberries. As a matter of fact, Blueberries and cranberries are one of only a … Read more
Nothing Says Summer Like Zucchini Zucchini—is anything more quintessentially summer? But here are some tidbits you might not know: The ancestors of zucchini, like all squash, are native to the Americas. They were brought to Europe in the 1600s, but the Italians are credited with actually breeding zucchini. The word comes from the Italian word for squash–“zucca”. The … Read more
Our garden vegetables are prone to certain diseases. Our best defense is knowledge and good cultural practices. Learn About Vegetable Garden Diseases Diseases are opportunistic—tending to attack stressed plants. Starting with healthy organic-rich soil is the first line of defense. Make sure plants are in the correct amount of sunlight and water when needed—but do not … Read more
Today is the first day of Summer—depending on who you ask. Meteorologists consider June 1st as the first day of summer. Astronomers consider June 20th (or 21st/22nd depending on the year) as the first day of summer based on the position of the earth to the sun. It’s the longest day of the year. Every … Read more
