The succulent, tasty leaves of homegrown spinach are beyond compare, but spinach can be a struggle for some gardeners to grow. Spinach is particular about its growing conditions and knowing when to harvest spinach can mean the difference between a big harvest and a minuscule one. In this article, I’ll offer tips on when to harvest both baby greens and mature leaves for a long 3- or 4-season harvest. I’ll also teach you how to overwinter spinach plants for an extra early spring harvest.
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How and when to fertilize bulbs
Planting spring-flowering bulbs is an essential part of my fall gardening to-do list. Every spring, I anxiously await their staggered flowering times. Knowing when to fertilize bulbs ensures that I enjoy that variety of blooms in my ever-growing collection of naturalized and perennial bulbs year after year.
Growing lettuce in winter: Planting, growing & protecting winter lettuce
Growing lettuce in winter is easier than you think! The key is to select frost-tolerant varieties and pair them with a season extender like a cold frame, mini hoop tunnel, or polytunnel. I love having a steady supply of tender, organic lettuce leaves from December through March from plants that grew just a few steps from my back door. Below you’ll find detailed information on timing, planting, and protecting winter lettuce as well as my all-time favorite cold hardy varieties.
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Mexican bush sage: How to grow and care for Salvia leucantha
There is so much to love about Mexican bush sage. First off, no one can deny the beauty of the velvety light purple flower spikes. But it’s also the gray-green foliage, the drought-tolerance, the pest resistance, and the romantic, billowy growth habit that make Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) so adored. There is no doubt that this is a plant well worth growing. In this article, you’ll learn all the ins and outs of growing Mexican bush sage, along with tips for the best location and how to keep the plant from year to year if you live in a colder climate. Let’s dig in and learn more about this great plant.
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Milkweed pods: How to collect and harvest milkweed seeds
Growing up, finding milkweed pods on a woodland walk was like stumbling across buried treasure. I would delightedly open the pods to reveal the silky bounty and then toss those soft strands in the air to watch them float away in the wind. Attached to those strands are milkweed seeds.
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Growing black beans: A seed to harvest guide
Black beans are a reliable, easy-to-grow crop for home gardeners who wish to grow their own dried beans. The plants are compact and productive and the meaty beans are delicious in soups, burritos, and many other dishes. The seeds can be planted in garden beds or containers and require little fussing during the growing season. Keep reading to learn more about growing black beans.
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