Carrot Cultivation Carrots do best in deep, well-cultivated sandy loam, preferably well-manured for the previous crop. Fresh manure causes forking and excessive top growth. Apply a good compound fertilizer 7-10 days prior to sowing. This may be fish meal or 3 parts of superphosphate, 2 parts of sulfate of potash and 1 part of sulfate
Quirky, collectible, and water-wise, succulents will add eye-catching texture to any garden bed or container display. There are some succulents that are cold hardy, while others will need to be brought indoors for the winter in colder regions. Join Danielle, Carol and guest Amanda Thomsen as they share some of their favorite succulents, including a
ROOT CROPS Crisp, sweet carrots are just the beginning of delicious roots from the vegetable garden. Parsnips are back in style, possibly because of their sweet nutty flavor when lightly grilled. The new appreciation for vegetarian cuisine has also caused a surge of interest in turnips and rutabagas, two root crops long known only as
These seven tough pollinator plants can take wind, heat, full sun, and extremely well-drained soil without much supplemental water. In An Urban Rooftop Garden for Pollinators, Hayden Regina writes: “Standouts such as calamint (Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta, Zones 5–7), ‘Onyx and Pearls’ penstemon (Penstemon digitalis ‘Onyx and Pearls’, Zones 3–8), and ‘Drops of Jupiter’ oregano (Origanum ‘Drops of Jupiter’, Zones
Spider mites, also known as two-spotted mites, become a particular problem for the gardener through the winter. Normally, they hibernate in ground litter or under the bark of trees or shrubs. However, if they stow away onto a plant being brought indoors, the artificial lights, and warm, dry, conditions of most heated homes will allow
My name is Heather, and my husband and I garden in Macon, Georgia. We moved into our historic home 13 years ago, and we set to work creating a cottage-style landscape that would allow us to grow vegetables, enjoy cut flowers, and still provide plenty of space for our young children. About five years ago,
Traditionally, garden sheds have been seen as humble outbuildings primarily used for storing garden tools and equipment. Yet, as you delve deeper into gardening and outdoor decor, you’ll soon realize these structures can offer much more. Uses For a Garden Shed With their unique charm and secluded location, garden sheds can be transformed into virtually
Until recently, if you wanted to add a little fire to your food, you didn’t have many choices. You could grind black peppercorns over your plate or shake on some dried red chile flakes. If you were really adventurous, you could give your food a couple of squirts of Tabasco. But the pickings were pretty
The garden shed is a structure that should be in any good garden that has an ounce of self-respect. Some people like to fill their garden sheds with tools, gardening equipment, and other such things that help them look after their house and garden. Others like to just have space where they can open the
My name is Elizabeth. I am 24 years old and live in Pennsylvania. My grandma is my best friend and has over 10 acres of farm land. On her farm she has a small 40-foot by 80-foot garden. I planted over 20 crops this year with her. I love how larkspur (Consolida ajacis, annual) looks
There is a rarity about blue flowers that appeal to most gardeners. Many flowers are called blue, but comparatively few are a pure blue. Catalogs in general make little distinction between blue and tones of purple. And in association with other colors, blue is scarcely less valuable than white. It conflicts with none, it softens
Most likely native to Southeast Asia, colocasia (Colocasia esculenta, Zones 7b–12) is used by many gardeners for its large, tropical-looking foliage. This plant also has a long history of being used in cooking. Visitors to Hawaii are often treated to poi, a starchy Polynesian edible food paste made from its rootlike corm. Common names of
Summer is here! Vegetable gardens have yielded the first tomatoes of the season, perennial borders are overflowing with colorful blooms, fruit is ripening in the orchards, and rose bushes are flushing out with their second round of flowers. On the surface, it might appear that summer brings nothing but a profusion of delightful blooms, lush
Today’s photos are from Mary Murphy in Minnetonka, Minnesota. We’ve visited her garden before (More Blooms From Mary), and today she’s focusing on her lily collection. Here are some photos of my lilies (Lilium hybrids, Zones 3–8). I have gradually added to my collection over the years. I started with this variety, Lilium ‘Tiny Pearl’.
Today’s photos are from Carla Z. Mudry in Malvern, Pennsylvania. I was part of my very first garden tour on June 24, The Hardy Plant Society Mid Atlantic Member Garden Tour. Even when it was raining, they came. And they liked my garden! And they loved all of the birds we share the garden and
Oak wilt kills hundreds of thousands of oaks (Quercus spp. and cvs. Zones 3–11) in the Midwest and beyond every year, but what is it? Oak wilt is caused by a fungus (Bretziella fagacearum, formerly Ceratocystis fagacearum) This lethal fungal disease is a threat to oaks in residential settings and forests. Oak wilt fungus grows through
Today we’re in Lake Bluff, Illinois, visiting Nicki Snoblin’s garden. This year I decided to dig up about a third of my front yard to make a place for sun-loving, pollinator-friendly perennials. I had many plants in my backyard that were no longer getting the sun they needed as the landscape matured over the years.
Camping can be one of the most immersive nature experiences you can have. It allows you to interact with nature, see its beauty, and understand the importance of adopting more sustainable practices. However, identifying the harm of common camping practices can be challenging. It’s not always as simple as cleaning as you go and leaving
Today we’re visiting with Judith. After 25 years of living in my home in Pines Lake, a lake community in Wayne, New Jersey, my garden is still a work in progress with constant challenges. I have a tiered property, and the upper woodland area area was once filled with hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis, Zones 3–7), but
Managing Plant Growth: To ensure optimal growth, your seedlings require specific conditions. Keep the temperature around 65°F (18°C) and provide gentle air circulation and ample light. Research has shown that lowering the night-time temperature of seedlings to 55-60°F and lightly brushing your hands over the tops of the seedlings for a couple of minutes each