Savvy Gardening

When to cut back coneflowers—and when to leave them alone

Coneflowers are incredibly popular perennials and for good reason. They’re native to North America, support many species of pollinators and birds, and are long-flowering, pest-resistant, and drought-tolerant. Plus, the beautiful flowers come in a wide range of colors including purple, pink, red, white, orange, and yellow. Knowing when to cut back coneflowers is essential to triggering more blooms, controlling plant energy, and feeding and sheltering wildlife. In this article you’ll learn three options for when to prune coneflowers, how to do it right, and when to leave them alone.

How to grow wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Written by Tara Nolan

There comes a point mid-summer where the edges of my local bike paths and rail trails are awash in mauve. Wild bergamot is in bloom and lilac-colored clouds mingle with other wildflowers. I grow it in my garden, too, because I love the unique, starburst-like blooms. Those tubular flowers are magnets for valuable pollinators. In this article, I’ll share more reasons to add this easy-to-grow native perennial to your garden.
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When to plant carrots for autumn and winter harvesting: Expert tips for success

Written by Niki Jabbour

Knowing when to plant carrots for autumn and winter harvesting is the difference between a bumper crop of sweet, crisp roots, and a disappointing harvest of under developed carrots. I’ve been planting carrots for fall and winter for decades, and have learned exactly when to plant for the best quality crop. In this article I’ll share my expert tips on timing, boosting germination in hot weather, caring for the seedlings, and protecting carrots for harvesting into winter.

Growing napa cabbage (aka Chinese cabbage)

Written by Jessica Walliser

Napa cabbage is one of those delicious crops I look forward to growing every year because it is as beautiful in the garden as it is useful in the kitchen. Seriously, napa cabbage is a real looker! It also happens to taste great. I love its sweet, tender crunch, and I especially appreciate how easy it is to grow (and it’s perfect for making homemade kimchi). Whether you’re planting napa cabbage for fresh salads, quick stir-fries, or your own homemade kimchi, this crop deserves a place in your vegetable garden. In this article, I’ll share what napa cabbage is, why it is worth growing, how to plant and care for it, and when to harvest those crisp, flavorful heads.
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Common pepper plant problems and how to fix them

Written by Tara Nolan

Each year, I enjoy growing a variety of peppers in my raised beds—especially jalapeño, poblano, habanero, and bell peppers. As plants in the nightshade family, peppers are not the easiest to grow. Pepper plant problems range from insect pests to fungus, and viruses to bacterial infections, not to mention the hazards of too much or too little rain, MIA pollinators, and unexpected cool or wet weather. In this article, we’ll look at the most common challenges, how to identify them, and how to solve them. Read all the way to the end for a few of my tips for growing more peppers, too.

How often to fertilize tomatoes for bigger, better harvests

Written by Niki Jabbour

Whether you’re growing heirlooms like Cherokee Purple or more common hybrids such as Early Girl and Better Boy, understanding how often to fertilize tomatoes can make or break your plans for a huge harvest. Tomatoes are heavy feeders, so getting the hang of when and how often to fertilize tomatoes—not to mention with what exactly—really matters. Get it wrong and you could end up with fruits that are undersized and underwhelming. But, if you get it right, you’ll be rewarded with robust plants that are less susceptible to disease and insect damage and much more productive.