Zinnias are among my favorite summer flowers. I plant these bloom-filled annuals everywhere—my raised beds, my front yard ornamental garden, in pots. I like to plant a variety of colors and several plants, so that a few flowers can be snipped here and there for cut flower arrangements, while leaving enough to be enjoyed in the garden. There are many gorgeous varieties, but today I’m going to talk about the Zinnia Profusion series.
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The best vegetables to grow in raised beds: 10 delicious choices
Raised beds are a popular way to grow vegetables in home gardens and for good reason. They warm up earlier in spring extending the growing season, drain well, and allow you to control the soil. These advantages make it easier to grow crops like tomatoes, peppers, carrots, and melons which benefit from the warm loose soil. Read on to discover the best vegetables to grow in raised beds.
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Unusual hydrangea varieties for the garden
Hydrangeas are a favorite flowering shrub for many gardeners. Their enormous blooms brighten the summer landscape weeks after the flowers of spring-blooming shrubs like lilacs, viburnums, and forsythia have faded. While the pink and blue flower heads of traditional big-leaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) have long been the darling of gardeners, today, I’d like to introduce you to five unusual hydrangea varieties you can grow in your planting beds to add both color and flair. These plants are featured on Savvy Gardening thanks to the sponsorship of Bloomin’ Easy Plants, the grower and supplier of these fantastic unusual hydrangea varieties.
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Growing wasabi and horseradish in a home garden
If you’re looking for a few cool edibles to add to your garden, look no further than the pungent roots of wasabi and horseradish. While you may think that growing wasabi and growing horseradish are difficult tasks, with the right know-how, you can grow your own harvest of these two powerful spices. In the following excerpt from our favorite spice-growing book, Grow Your Own Spices, author Tasha Greer explains everything you need to know to cultivate both of these spicy, sinus-clearing edibles. This excerpt was provided by the book’s publisher Cool Springs Press/The Quarto Group and used with their permission.
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How to care for hostas in pots: Tips to help this popular shade plant thrive
It was a garden tour—actually, three tours—that inspired me to grow hostas in containers. Each yard was quite shady, so all those sun-loving annuals and perennials would have been off the table. I loved how each gardener embraced the conditions of their property, and put together some beautiful shade-loving plant displays, which were predominantly hostas in all shapes and sizes. Because you don’t want to treat your hostas like an annual plant (you’ll want to display it year after year), there is some TLC involved in helping them thrive. I thought I’d share some tips on how to care for hostas in pots.
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How often do you water tomato plants: In gardens, pots and straw bales
One of the questions I’m asked most is ‘How often do you water tomato plants?’ Too much water can damage the roots and crack or split ripening fruits. Too little water can reduce yield or cause issues like blossom end rot. Smart watering is a skill anyone can learn and can mean the difference between a so-so harvest and a bumper crop of sweet summer tomatoes. Read on to learn more about how often to water your garden and container-grown tomato plants.
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