Savvy Gardening

How to overwinter dahlia tubers: A step-by-step guide

If you grow dahlias and live in a cold climate, you’d do well to learn how to overwinter dahlia tubers. With their remarkably colorful, large blooms, it’s no wonder that dahlias cost as much as they do, and buying new ones each year is simply not possible for most gardeners. Fortunately, with a little elbow grease and some attention to detail, you can successfully overwinter these Central American beauties in your attic, basement, garage, or similar frost-free place and then bring them out of storage for re-planting in your garden next year. You’ll find lots of helpful advice below on how to overwinter dahlia tubers.

How to freeze sweet potatoes from the garden

Written by Jessica Walliser

One useful garden-to-kitchen skill that isn’t talked about enough is how to freeze sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are nutrient-dense and versatile (and, in my opinion, delicious) vegetables that can be grown in home gardens from the North to the South. With so many of us growing them at home, we should also learn how to freeze sweet potatoes to get the most from this crop. In this article, I’ll cover the reasons why I think you should learn how to freeze sweet potatoes, how to prepare sweet potatoes for freezing, various ways to freeze sweet potatoes, and how to use your frozen sweet potatoes in recipes, including baked goods and your favorite side dish.
READ MORE » about How to freeze sweet potatoes from the garden

Growing spaghetti squash from seed to harvest

Written by Jessica Walliser

Spaghetti squash is one of my favorite types of winter squash. It makes a great pasta substitute if you’re trying to eat healthier or add more veggies to your diet. When pulled apart with a fork, the interior of a cooked spaghetti squash is stringy and noodle-like, mimicking its namesake pasta perfectly. The mild flavor tastes great topped with marinara or garlic scape pesto. Growing spaghetti squash is surprisingly easy, as long as you have enough room in the garden. In this article, you’ll learn how to grow spaghetti squash in garden beds, both vertically and on the ground.
READ MORE » about Growing spaghetti squash from seed to harvest

Winter container garden ideas

Written by Tara Nolan

Putting together my winter container garden is something I look forward to each year. I usually wait until December for the indoor decorating, but I figure I can start with my outdoor pot in November. It’s nice to put things together when the soil hasn’t frozen solid! My black iron urn is home to four seasons of arrangements. The winter one is the most different because I’m not trying to keep anything alive. It’s just a lovely assortment of fir, juniper, and cedar boughs, sticks, maybe some holly or magnolia leaves, and an accessory or two.

Cucuzza squash: How to grow this edible and ornamental gourd

Written by Niki Jabbour

Cucuzza squash is a productive and easy-to-grow vegetable that produces long slender fruits similar in taste and texture to summer squash. However, if left in the garden to mature, those fruits grow up to four feet long and can be dried and used for crafting or decor. In this article you’ll get all the details on planting, growing, caring for, and harvesting this incredible hardshell gourd.

Weeding tools for gardeners: 10 top choices

Written by Jessica Walliser

As a professional horticulturist, I’ve used a lot of weeding tools for gardeners over the years, and some are more useful than others. In this article, I’ll introduce 10 of the best weeding tools for tackling these unwanted plants based on my own experiences. In some cases, these tools can be used for other gardening tasks, too, such as dividing perennials, planting transplants, and more. Read on to discover my favorite tools for removing weeds.
READ MORE » about Weeding tools for gardeners: 10 top choices