I grow lemongrass in containers every year. When I give my raised bed talks, I usually tell the audience that I like to plant lemongrass in place of a spike or dracaena, in my ornamental pots because it provides that lovely dramatic height. It’s a great double-duty plant because of its ornamental grass qualities—and it’s edible. I love drying lemongrass for herbal tea, and come fall, when I fire up the crockpot, I toss it into hearty curries. Until I started growing it myself, I didn’t really know how to harvest lemongrass. It’s not a particularly expensive herb to purchase, but there is something very satisfying about growing your own. And harvesting is super-easy!
Read More »How to harvest lemongrass for recipes and herbal tea
Alliums for the garden: The best long-blooming allium varieties
In late spring, when they come into flower, allium bulbs make quite the statement in planting beds. Whether they’re mixed with perennials or planted in an area all their own, these onion relatives have so many worthwhile traits. They’re deer resistant, unbothered by voles, chipmunks, and squirrels, long-lived, and downright stunning. Alliums come in a surprising array of forms and colors, even though the flowers are always found in clusters atop straight, leafless stems. If you’re looking for the perfect alliums to add to your landscape, this article covers the best varieties for the job. Continue Reading
Read More »How to grow sweet potatoes in a home vegetable garden
Growing sweet potatoes is fun and easy, and a great way to enjoy super-sweet tubers that taste so much better than those you’ll find at the local supermarket. If you’re wondering how to grow sweet potatoes in your home vegetable garden, I’ve got all the information and advice you need to get started.
Read More »Rose pests and how to control them organically
Roses are a favorite landscape plant of many homeowners. Their beautiful blooms are classic show-stoppers. With so many long-blooming, low-maintenance roses on the market these days, you would think there would be no need for an article discussing common pests of roses. But unfortunately, while there are plenty of rose varieties that are resistant to common rose diseases, such as black spot and powdery mildew, there’s no such thing as a rose that’s completely resistant to insect pests. Even low-maintenance rose varieties face pest issues. I’d like to introduce you to eight critters who make holes in rose leaves, distort foliage, and destroy flower buds. I’ll also share some tips for managing them safely.
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Continue ReadingPlant perennial tulips for dependable blooms year after year
I used to think that all tulips came back every year. Pretty much every bulb I had ever planted would reappear each spring. In the house I currently live in, I had a few dependable bulbs that would bloom in my front garden. However after a few years, I noticed some were only producing leaves. It turns out that flower production ebbs in certain types of tulip. If you want your bulbs to bloom each year, you need to look for perennial tulips.
Read More »Row cover hoops for frost and pest protection
In my award-winning book, The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener I write extensively about the row cover hoops I use to stretch the harvest season in my vegetable garden. I use them to get a head start on spring planting, but also in autumn to protect from frost and cold weather. Simple row cover hoops can also be used during the growing season to shelter vegetable plants from pests like flea beetles, potatoes beetles, and squash bugs, or even larger pests like rabbits, deer, and birds.
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