It’s a fact; certain crops are easier to grow. Maybe it’s because they’re faster to go from seed to harvest or maybe they’re bothered by fewer pests and diseases. Either way, new food gardeners or those with little time may want to stick to these below crops which I’ve found to be some of the easiest vegetables to grow.
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The easiest vegetables to grow in garden beds and containers
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Pruning blueberries: Step-by-step instructions
For backyard blueberry growers, winter means it’s time to break out the pruning shears and folding saw. Pruning blueberries is a task best performed yearly, when the plants are dormant. Closely tied to crop production, plant health, and fruit quality, pruning too aggressively – or not aggressively enough – impacts your blueberry’s performance. Continue Reading
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Raised bed designs for gardening: Tips, advice, and ideas
My first two raised beds were your standard rectangles anchored by 2x4s. My husband and I found the plan online. He surprised me by building them one weekend while I was away. They may have been simple, but they introduced me to all the benefits of gardening in raised beds. When it came time to work on my book Raised Bed Revolution, coming up with the different projects was one of the most fun aspects of the putting the book together. And since then, I’ve come across even more raised bed designs for gardening — if only I had more space!
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Growing tomatoes from seed: A step-by-step guide
Why start your own tomato seeds when you can pop into your local nursery and buy ready-to-plant seedlings? The biggest reason is variety! Your local nursery may have a dozen or so varieties of tomatoes, but growing your own tomatoes from seed allows you to choose from thousands of heirloom, hybrid, and open-pollinated varieties available through seed catalogs. Plus, starting your own tomatoes can save money, especially if you have a large garden.
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Houseplant fertilizer basics: How and when to feed houseplants
Being a houseplant parent can be confusing business! Unlike human babies, houseplants don’t cry when they’re hungry or uncomfortable. Instead, they respond to their environment in different, far more subtle, ways. Knowing when it’s time to feed houseplants is challenging stuff, even for long-time houseplant growers. Today, I’d like to review the basic ins and outs of houseplant fertilizer, and cue you in on how and when to feed your houseplants. Continue Reading
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New plants for 2019 gardens
One of the perks of being a garden writer is I sometimes get to trial new plants and seeds a year before they appear in retail nurseries, garden centres, or catalogues. I may also spot a striking specimen in other trial gardens a year or two before they’re released, or watch someone in the plant world tease new varieties in a talk. And at some point in any given year, my inbox starts to receive sneak peeks at new plant introductions. By the time the growing season rolls around, I’m usually pretty prepared to make recommendations—and seek out my favourites for my pots and plots.
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