There are so many peppers to choose from that it can be overwhelming to pick one. What are the differences? Sweet peppers have a nice earthy flavor but no heat. Traditionally called green peppers or bell peppers, they usually mature to a totally different color. Green pepper is basically an unripe bell pepper. If you … Read more
Tis the season—to plant tomatoes Tomatoes are native to the Americas, like peppers, and were grown by the Aztecs who called the fruits “tomatl”—meaning “plump thing with navel.” Tomatoes are botanically berries, believe it or not! So which one is the best? Well, I can only tell you my favorites because there are tiny nuances … Read more
I have a raised bed at the front of my yard, just in front of a large maple tree. I used to grow impatiens there. They did great in the shade; however, they are thirsty little plants. By mid-summer I was having to water every single solitary day—and if it was a little on the … Read more
What vegetable is low in calories, high in fiber, a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants—and tastes delicious? Asparagus, of course. And, since yesterday was April Fools Day—no fooling! Here are a few interesting facts about asparagus: Thomas Jefferson had asparagus beds at Monticello and often ate it marinated in oil, red wine vinegar, … Read more
My granddad always planted his garden peas between the middle and end of March. That means that right now is a perfect time. The first thing you need to do is decide which kind of pea you want to plant. Do you want to plant English or “shelling” peas? These are the traditional green pea—sweet … Read more
What is tastier than asparagus straight from the garden—or strawberries still warm from the sun; spring onions so fresh that soil is still clinging to them? There are a number of edibles that are grown from packaged roots. They are easy, inexpensive, and fun to grow. Some are even perennial and will provide delicious vegetables … Read more
Last week I wrote my blog about starting seeds indoors. This week I’ll mention some of the most common questions I get about starting seeds indoors. Why are my seedlings so long and floppy? This is a condition called etiolation. This is caused by inadequate light. The only way to fix this is to give … Read more
Right now is a good time to start thinking about starting seeds for outdoor planting. Seed packets will tell you to start a certain number of weeks before our average last frost date. Some people will tell you mid-April is our last frost date. I’ll remind you that last spring we had SNOW after mid-April … Read more
Every winter I hear customers complaining about long gray winter days and bored kids. There are some fun indoor gardening activities you can use to occupy your kids, as well as teaching them a little something about gardening—and maybe even getting them to “know” their vegetables a little more. And, even better, they’re fun for … Read more
Orchids are one of the most popular blooming plants given for Valentine’s Day. With Valentine’s Day coming soon, here are a few interesting facts about orchids. Orchids are the largest family of blooming plants with over 27,000 naturally occurring species. Orchids are native to every continent in the world with the exception of Antarctica, leading … Read more
