I don’t grow a garden without mulch. Period. Putting down a protective layer over the bare soil in my garden provides a multitude of benefits. Unfortunately, after three successive seasons …
The world’s plastic problem can sometimes seem too big to tackle. In order to do so, it will require governments, big business and individuals to all do their parts. The …
Watermelon – the official fruit of summer picnics and barbecues everywhere. It’s hard to imagine a picnic table piled high with hotdogs, hamburgers, sweet corn, macaroni and potato salads without …
There are plenty of reasons to love growing determinate tomatoes. As bush-type tomatoes, they are biologically limited to a height of around four feet. They grow until the terminal bud …
Houseplants are wonderful in and of themselves. They provide a lot of beauty and liveliness to our homes and offices. But what if your houseplants could also provide you with …
Agapanthus is one of the few plants I can think of where the word “regal” is well and truly fitting. You have a plant with a full crown of emerald …
If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about the plants that you grow, what would that be? Predictably, my answer to this question varies with the …
Mint is a nightmare. To the uninitiated, you’re probably scratching your head and thinking, “Really? Mint doesn’t seem so bad. Can’t you make tea with it?” To those of us …
I love sweetcorn season! Nothing says summer like golden ears of corn dripping with butter, salt and pepper, served so piping hot you burn your fingers trying to pick them …
Hoo boy. I get asked this question all the time by Rural Sprout readers. One minute, your tomatoes are doing fine, and then, within a day or two, you have …
When I started writing this article, my first draft was titled The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Gardeners, an obvious riff on the self-help bestselling classic. But the more I …
I love volunteer plants. You know, the ones where you plant it once, and it self-seeds every year after that. I can’t tell you how nice it is not to …
Groceries are expensive. Anymore, I find myself spending $50 to “pick up a few” things when it used to cost around $20. Curbing my food waste is more important than …
Dried flowers hold a timeless charm, preserving the beauty of blossoms long after their natural season has passed. Whether you’re looking to capture the essence of a special bouquet, extend …
Garden arches are beguiling structures. Curving over the pathway, from one bed to another, they create these wonderful lush green tunnels to transport you through the rows. Passing under the …
Lavender is one of those plants that nearly everyone has in their landscape or garden. And why not? It’s easy to maintain, the pollinators love it, and its classic scent …
Summer is a time to eat al fresco and have ice cream; and maybe lounge in the hammock. Yes, theoretically I know that. But what do you think happens when …
If you garden long enough, you’ll eventually experience the joy of waging war against a plant you just had to have, only to find out later that it was bent …
When you’re growing vegetables, you rarely want your plants to get sick. We put a lot of work into making sure they don’t. So, it’s usually an upsetting surprise to …
Hostas are great. Everyone loves hostas. You’ve probably got a few yourself. Hostas have a lot going for them. They’re ridiculously easy to care for (basically ignore them). You can …
Lavender is a classic plant prized as both a flower and an herb. It is a classic plant that makes its way into gardens all over the world. Just the …
With summer temperatures climbing higher each year, many gardeners suddenly find it harder to grow tomatoes. Plants that used to burst with fruit come July now seem stuck. Thankfully, an …
Gardeners – and especially those who garden organically – ought to be well-acquainted with nitrogen. As the N in N-P-K, it’s the first nutrient you’ll learn about as a budding …
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. We tomato growers are a bit touched. We’ll try just about anything to grow the tastiest tomatoes, the earliest tomatoes and …