Cultivating curiosity and confidence
Savvy vegetable gardeners know that summer succession planting is the key to a non-stop harvest. This technique can be used in large vegetable gardens, small plots, and even on decks and patios where food is grown in containers. The premise is simple. As soon as one crop is finished, clean out old crops from the bed (or container), amend the soil, and plant fresh seeds or seedlings.
READ MORE » about Summer succession planting basics: What to plant in July and August
Back in May, I crossed the pond, as they say, and spent my first full day in London at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This yearly gardening extravaganza was on my must-do list for a long time. I actually had to write an article about it for a magazine I worked at around 2009 based on someone else’s trip and photos. This year it was my turn and I came home brimming with ideas and inspiration.
READ MORE » about Ideas and inspiration from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show: A first-timer’s diary
There are many benefits to growing herbs in containers. For me, it’s all about access. I love having fresh herbs growing in pots just outside my kitchen door. That way, when I’m in the middle of making dinner and realize I forgot to harvest a handful of basil or parsley, it’s only a few steps away. As well, different herbs have different moisture needs and growing them in pots is an easy way to control soil moisture. Of course, growing herbs in containers will also keep aggressive spreaders, like mint and lemon balm, under control and away from garden beds. Here are seven of the best herbs for container gardening.
Even the healthiest gardens sometimes fall victim to plant diseases. While giving your plants plenty of room to grow and caring for them properly can help cut down on disease prevalence, there are times when a gardener will need to step in with a product control. To help prevent and manage plant diseases in the garden, we’ve compiled a list of the best products for the job.
READ MORE » about Plant Diseases in the Garden: How to Prevent and Control Them
Let me get right to the point; you don’t need a big garden to grow more food. Even small space gardeners can boost yield by thinking creatively in the garden. To help you up your garden game, we’ve teamed up with Lee Valley, the go-to store for American and Canadian gardeners, to show you three creative ways to grow more food.
The word “mulch” brings lots of thoughts to a gardener’s mind. Wheelbarrows, shovels, dust-covered arms, backaches, and calluses are just a few of the things the word conjures in my mind. Few people think about a ripe, red tomato, a perfect rose blossom, or a gorgeous hydrangea when they think about mulch. But, truth be told, without mulch, all of those beautiful things are far harder to come by. Despite its practical purpose and humble appearance — not to mention how much work it is to spread — mulch is absolutely essential to a healthy, productive garden. Let’s get digging into mulches and learn the whys and hows of this important gardening task.
READ MORE » about Digging into mulches: Types of landscape mulch for your garden
