I’ve been growing green beans since I was just a kid. In fact, it was my love of green and yellow beans that inspired me to start gardening. Today, green beans remain one of my favorite crops to grow and eat. I grow both bush and pole types for the longest harvest season, planting them in my raised garden beds, but also in planters on my sunny back deck. Green beans are both easy and quick to grow, which also makes them the perfect vegetable for novice gardeners.
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Growing green beans: learn how to plant, grow, and harvest a bumper crop of green beans
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Purple perennial flowers: 24 brilliant choices for big and small gardens
Purple is a powerful color. When the Pantone Color Institute declared a shade of purple named Ultra Violet to be the Color of the Year, they called it “complex and contemplative,” noting that purple has long been “symbolic of unconventionality and artistic brilliance.” While I don’t know much about using purple for interior design, art, or fashion, I do know how to use it in a garden. The power and bravado of purple in the landscape is undeniable, especially when it comes to perennials. Today, I’d like to share my favorite purple perennial flowers. Whether their shade of purple is dark and regal or light and luscious, these beauties add depth, richness, and a pop of color to your garden. Continue Reading
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Foliage plants for lead and supporting roles in the garden
Raise your hand if you think foliage is just as important as the flowers in your garden. Foliage plants don’t necessarily have to be the star of the show—some plants are destined for supporting roles—but others definitely have superstar potential. And, of course, not all leaves are green. There is a whole rainbow out there waiting for their closeup in your garden.
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How far apart to plant tomatoes
Properly spaced tomato plants are likely to be healthier and produce a larger harvest than those that are overcrowded or too widely spaced. Tomato spacing depends on two factors; what types of tomatoes you’re growing and how you plan on supporting the plants. Once you have those key pieces of information, it’s easy to figure out how far apart to plant tomatoes.
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DIY potting soil: 6 Homemade potting mix recipes for the home and garden
I’m a huge fan of container gardening, and I know I’m not alone. Urban and small-space gardening is on the rise, houseplants are strutting their stuff all over Instagram, and few people have the time and energy to dedicate to a large in-ground garden these days. But with hundreds of seedlings to start and over 50 large pots to fill each season, my container gardening habit used to come with a hefty price tag. When I started making my own DIY potting soil, however, I cut my container gardening budget by two-thirds! Here’s how I make homemade potting mix for all of my containers, houseplants, and seed-starting needs. Continue Reading
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Brighten up dark areas of the garden with annual flowers for shade
I have a pretty sunny property, but there are a few little pockets that don’t see as much sun, if any. In these spots, I’ll pop in some annual flowers for shade to add little sprays of colour—a thin strip on the north side of my house; under a loose hedge of unmanicured cedars in the side yard; in my backyard near the ravine where the tree canopy is thick.Read More »
