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
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.
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Growing napa cabbage (aka Chinese cabbage)
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
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.
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How often to fertilize tomatoes for bigger, better harvests
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.
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The best pumpkin fertilizer to grow bigger, better pumpkins
As large, fast-growing annuals, pumpkin plants are hungry, so giving them the nutrients they need is very important. As gardeners, it’s up to us to set our plants up with all they need to thrive. Everyone who has grown pumpkins before knows how wide the plants reach and how large the fruits grow (yes, pumpkins are botanically fruits). Because of this, sometimes all you need to grow the best pumpkin crop is to find the right pumpkin fertilizer. For bigger, better pumpkins, we want rich, balanced soil, but pumpkin plants often need a little extra “juice” to grow top-sized pumpkins. In this article, I’ll break down pumpkins’ nutrient needs, the pumpkin fertilizer options available to you, and how to best apply fertilizer to your pumpkin patch. You’ll also learn about one critical fertilizing mistake to avoid at all costs.
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