Gardening Tips

For years, well-meaning gardeners routinely maimed, swatted, sprayed, and squished every bug they could get their hands on. However, careful observation of nature and the move to organic practices have shown that encouraging beneficial insects is one way to give Mother Nature a hand. Lets look at three common beneficials, and how to attract them

If there’s one thing we gardeners in the Pacific Northwest know about, it’s how to grow tomatoes in the most difficult conditions. It’s bad enough that our summers are normally very cool but now the coming weeks are filled with hot days and warm nights, the perfect breeding ground for late blight disease. Phytophthora infestans,

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is a common allergic condition that causes symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes. It occurs when the body’s immune system reacts to certain allergens, such as pollen, dust mites, or animal dander. Pollen is one of the most common allergens that cause hay

Soil borne fungus diseases are a common problem in agriculture, horticulture, and home gardening. These diseases are caused by fungi that live in the soil and attack the roots, stems, and leaves of plants, causing serious damage and even death. Some of the most common soil borne fungus diseases include: Fusarium wilt: This disease is

Cucumber beetles can be a major pest in vegetable gardens, causing damage to a variety of plants including cucumbers, squashes, melons, and pumpkins. These beetles are small, roughly 1/4 inch long, and can be yellow, green, or striped. They are most active during the warmer months and can be found feeding on the leaves, stems,

Bellis – English Daisy, Herb Margaret The Daisy of Europe is the one of which we speak here. Who has not read the words of Burns and Wordsworth, and having read, who has not admired these charming button-like flowers tile more? Let us read again several stanzas of Burns: TO A MOUNTAIN DAISY On turning

A compost tumbler is a specialized container used for composting organic material. It is typically a cylindrical drum that is mounted on a stand, and has a mechanism for rotating the drum. Compost tumblers are designed to make the composting process easy and convenient, and are a popular choice for home gardeners and small-scale farmers.

Janus, who lends his name to the month of January, was the dual-faced  Roman god of gates and doors.  He also was called the god of beginnings as it  was commonly believed that you needed to go through a door or gate in order  to enter a new place or beginning. The god was depicted

Winterizing our Greenhouse Jack Frost has already drawn up his list of greenhouses to visit. Will you be ready? Here’s the routine we follow at our house each fall: Clean The Greenhouse Take ll plants out of the greenhouse and thoroughly clean the frame, glazing and benches. Physan 20  is an effective disinfectant. Make glass

THERE may be some who think it is a little late to talk about winter protection of plants in December, but as a matter of fact, m ost growers are agreed that the really critical tune for plants which are on the borderline of hardiness is in late winter when a warm sun, combined with

Visiting local greenhouses and transporting holiday plants home safely, cleaning and storing hand tools, and removing snow from shrubs are some of the garden-related activities for this month. Try to visit a local greenhouse, as the sight of so many plants all in bloom is sure to lift the spirits on a cloudy and cold

Having raised garden beds is a great idea for people who love to grow their own vegetables. They are easy to maintain, large enough to grow a good amount of veg, and they look really nice too. Putting a garden to bed is one thing, but how to prepare your raised garden beds for winter?

Certain garden plants are grown more for the aromatic quality of their foliage than for the beauty of their flowers. Their flowers may be insignificant, and their leaves may not be particularly handsome, yet the plants are beloved of gardeners because of the scents given off by their leaves, sometimes in hot sunshine, sometimes when

What are hardiness zones? It seems every gardening book and nursery catalog refers to plant hardiness zones, also known as climate zones or growing zones. If you’re new to gardening, you may be wondering what all the fuss is with these zones, and how to find out which zone you are gardening in. Basically, plant

A gardener in Pheonix, Arizona, and a gardener in Bangor, Maine has vastly different gardening quandaries. It should go without saying that a region’s climate has a profound impact on its gardens; the temperature, the humidity, the precipitation, and more affect the region in the short and long term, so gardeners need to fully understand

This map is from the Australian Government Bureau or Meteorology. Hardiness zones are a way of classifying areas based on their average minimum winter temperatures. In Australia, there are 10 hardiness zones, ranging from zone 1 (the coldest) to zone 10 (the warmest). These zones are used to help gardeners determine which plants are likely

At this time of year, with the earth frozen, or at least semi-frozen, catalog madness strikes many gardeners with a considerable wallop. Sometimes when you are in the throes of this particular seasonal disorder, it is helpful to take time out to regain perspective. I usually do it by walking around my garden and reminding

A mulch is a cover spread over the surface of the soil. Newly-planted fruit trees and shrubs were traditionally mulched with strawy manure immediately after planting. This practice continues to this day. The mulch protects the newly planted tree or shrub from frost damage in winter and from summer drought. At the same time, the

‘Every year it seems as if some arbiter of taste and fashion anoints a member of the vast mint family as “mint of the moment.” Several years ago it was thyme–not just ordinary thyme but lemon thyme, golden thyme, and wooly thyme, not to mention mother-of-thyme. Big name gardeners like Martha Stewart cultivated as many

Sprouts are an excellent source of digestible protein, fiber, and Vitamin C, and are full of antioxidants. A 1997 study at John Hopkins University found that broccoli sprouts contain higher levels of cancer-fighting compounds than fresh broccoli itself. Sprouting is so low-tech that it doesn’t even require a green thumb. Some simple equipment and just