Savvy Gardening

When to harvest spaghetti squash: Plus tips for curing & storing

Knowing when to harvest spaghetti squash means the difference between having flavorful, pasta-like squash noodles in your bowl and a watery squash disappointment. Spaghetti squash are long-season crops that take most of the growing season to fully mature in many parts of the US. They give you the chance to exercise your patience as you watch the seed you planted develop into lovely roping vines with small green fruits. Anticipation will continue building as those small green fruits become football-sized and take on a white and then yellow shade. This is how you know when to harvest spaghetti squash. In this article, read about different ways to determine your spaghetti squash’s maturity, as well as how to harvest, cure, and store this squash so you can eat your garden bounty through the fall and winter. (This is why it’s called winter squash, after all!)

Can tomato plants survive winter? Yes! Here are 4 ways to overwinter tomato plants

Written by Jessica Walliser

If you’ve ever asked yourself Can tomato plants survive winter? the answer is a resounding yes. In their native tropical growing range, tomato plants are perennials that live for many years. In cold climates, however, they do not survive winter outdoors because they are not frost-tolerant. Because of this, most gardeners grow tomatoes as annuals. We plant them in the spring after the danger of frost has passed, harvest them through the growing season, and then uproot and compost the plants as soon as they’ve been killed by freezing temperatures. But if you’re willing to put in a little effort, tomato plants can live and produce for many years. In this article, I’ll share four ways you can overwinter tomato plants and keep them from year-to-year.
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Why you need to plant garlic this October (and how to get BIG bulbs)

Written by Niki Jabbour

Garlic is one of the few vegetables that should be planted in autumn, and especially if you want to supersize your bulbs. It’s an easy crop to grow and can be planted in in-ground gardens as well as raised beds and even containers. Plus, if you grow hardneck varieties, you’ll enjoy a double harvest of edible scapes as well as the flavourful bulbs.

Plants to trim or pull in autumn: What to do NOW to avoid more work next year

Written by Tara Nolan

While some would say weeding can be a soothing activity, it can also be incredibly overwhelming when unwelcome plants start popping up everywhere in a garden. And while the plants mentioned in this article are not generally considered weeds, when they release their seeds, well, one could argue that they very much are. Why add extra work in the spring when you can take a couple of quick measures this fall to nip a potential problem in the bud. Here are a few suggestions of plants to trim or pull in autumn.

How far apart to plant hydrangeas in garden beds or for a hedge

Written by Niki Jabbour

Hydrangeas are popular, beautiful, and easy plants to grow for summer and autumn. They’re also long-flowering and not bothered by many pests or diseases. The large showy flowers persist for months and with such a range of plant and flower shapes and sizes, there is a hydrangea for every garden. But for the healthiest plants and best possible flower show they must be spaced properly. In this article you’ll learn how far apart to plant hydrangeas types and get tips on doing it right.

10 Late-blooming perennial flowers to attract butterflies in the fall

Written by Jessica Walliser

As the warm days of summer give way to the crisp air of autumn, you may find your garden lacking vibrant blooms, and with them, the butterflies that bring so much life and beauty to the landscape. My garden, on the other hand, is filled with late-blooming perennial flowers that offer a vital lifeline for butterflies, providing nectar at a time when resources are growing scarce. By planting these autumn beauties, you too can support butterfly populations and enjoy a burst of color long after most other flowers have faded. In this article, I’ll introduce you to 10 great late bloomers adored by butterflies in my garden.