Savvy Gardening

Types of houseplant bugs: Who they are and what to do about them

While having the correct light levels and watering properly are two of the most important steps in growing healthy indoor plants, houseplant growers also have to constantly monitor their plants for signs of pests. There are many types of houseplant bugs, and arming yourself with a little information goes a long way toward preventing or eliminating an infestation. In this article, I’ll introduce you to some of the most common houseplant pests and hand you tips to prevent and control them.

How to collect and store dill seeds for planting or cooking

Written by Tara Nolan

I’ve planted dill seeds in a raised bed once and I haven’t had to plant them since. That’s because I let dill flowers go to seed. As those seeds start to dry, it’s inevitable that some will escape into the garden before I have a chance to harvest them. I don’t mind because I love dill and dill seedlings appear in all my raised beds at some point throughout the growing season. That means I always have fresh dill to harvest.

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

Written by Niki Jabbour

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.
READ MORE » about Can tomato plants survive winter? Yes! Here are 4 ways to overwinter tomato plants

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.