Grow Food

Each spring, as we move our seedlings out into the garden, we have a once-a-year opportunity. But so many gardeners let it pass by. This is your chance to put …

As most of our readers know, when it comes to anecdotal gardening lore, I approach it with a raised eyebrow and a grain of salt. But there is one truly …

Marigolds always hog the spotlight when it comes to tomato companion plants. Unfortunately, most of their tomato-protecting traits are severely over-hyped, yet they continue to be the gold standard when …

One of my biggest pet peeves with kale is the long, hard stem that runs up the center of the leaf. It’s the most bitter part of the leaf, and …

You’ve probably seen this popular hack on social media recently. You save the rice water from rinsing and soaking rice and water plants with it. (You do soak your rice, …

There are some pretty great reasons to grow perennial vegetables. For one, having access to things like fresh asparagus and rhubarb, you’ll always have better quality than what you can …

We live in a day and age where one can procure blueberries at the supermarket any time of the year. That doesn’t mean they will taste great or be picked …

The ideas behind companion planting have been around for millennia. Grow plant X next to Plant Y and receive these benefits. If you’re serious about growing tomatoes, chances are you’ve …

As much as I love the joy of starting seeds indoors, I’m less joyful when it comes time to haul them all out to the garden to plant them. Thankfully, …

I know what rhubarb looks like. My grandmother and my dad both grew it. I grow it in my garden, so I’m familiar with this plant. Yet it never fails, …

I love those first few spicy radishes each spring, and the sweet, tender crunch of a new sugar snap pea, but there is one gardening bite I dream of all …

As I write this, I’m staring out at the snow-covered mounds in my yard that are my raised beds. It’s midwinter, and here in the States, most of us still …

Wait, did you say chipping potatoes? I like potato chips! Oh, chitting potatoes! Yeah, let’s talk about that. The lazy gardeners (my people) are wondering whether we really need to …

Peppers are a popular choice for home gardeners to start from seed. Whether you’re a fan of sweet peppers or you love the heat of a good hot pepper, there …

It’s that weird time of year when gardeners everywhere hear the siren song of seed packets. But it’s a strange call to heed because your particular growing zone dictates which …

Have you ever had a gardening dream that you just couldn’t let go of? No matter what you planted, you wouldn’t feel that you’d “made it” as a gardener unless …

There are no raspberries in our new garden! I repeat, there are no raspberries in our new garden! As someone who has spent the past five years consuming raspberries by …

Wood chips are widely regarded as an excellent landscaping mulch – and for good reason. Spread out over the soil in a thick layer, wood chip mulch suppresses weeds, preserves …

It happens every year. The end of the gardening season rolls around, and there are still green tomatoes hanging out. In some cases, quite a few. Sure, there are plenty …

Growing vegetables in October? Yes, of course. Even if you’ve already had your first frost, there are still vegetables you can grow this time of year. Let’s take a look …

If you grow tomatoes, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t, then you’ve probably been inundated with the message that you have to grow marigolds, too. After all, marigolds are the …

Fall showed up this week. I went away for a few days, leaving behind a green backyard. When I came home, everything was gold, orange and red. And that means …

Soaking garlic cloves before you plant them is a practice that many gardeners swear by, including organic garlic producers. These same gardeners swear that it improves growth, creates robust roots, …

Most of us are still plucking sun-warmed tomatoes off the vine in September, but by now the plants themselves are starting to look a little rough. (Okay, a lot rough.) …