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
Parsley root: How to grow this two-for-one root vegetable
My first introduction to parsley root was on a rooftop garden in Whistler, B.C., where a chef pulled out what appeared to be a whole parsley plant and then delicately shaved away bits of the root for a group of writers to taste. Later, he’d use it in a part of our meal. When I found seeds at my local seed supplier, I jumped at the chance to grow this root vegetable that offers more than one crop. In this article, I’m going to share some growing tips, recommend patience, and explain what the heck to do with it.
READ MORE » about Parsley root: How to grow this two-for-one root vegetable
Garlic spacing: How far apart to plant garlic for big bulbs
Garlic is one of the easiest crops to grow in a home garden and to encourage the biggest bulbs, it’s important to pay attention to garlic spacing. If the cloves are planted too close together the bulbs won’t size up. Too far apart and you’re not maximizing your garden space. Below you’ll discover recommendations for the best spacing for hardneck and softneck varieties in an in-ground garden, raised bed, or container. You’ll also learn more about the factors that impact how far apart to plant garlic.
READ MORE » about Garlic spacing: How far apart to plant garlic for big bulbs
Soldier beetle: A good bug to have in the garden
The soldier beetle is a common sight in summer gardens across much of North America. These insects, also known as leatherwings, are surprisingly good for the garden. They’re often spotted feasting on the nectar and pollen of summer-blooming plants, but they are also keen predators of several garden pests. In this article, I’ll share details about this fascinating beneficial insect and introduce ways you can encourage their presence in your garden.
READ MORE » about Soldier beetle: A good bug to have in the garden
How to integrate regenerative gardening techniques into a home garden
As I’m sure many green thumbs can attest, as new gardening concepts are introduced, we adapt our own gardening styles accordingly. I’m not referring to following the latest trend. I’m talking about learning something new and changing because of a love and respect for the environment. My gardening evolution over the years, as I learn new things, has included: planting for pollinators, drought, and heat tolerance; over-seeding with low-maintenance fescues and clovers in my lawn; adding more native plants to my gardens; not cleaning up and cutting back the entire garden in fall; etc. Regenerative gardening is one of those concepts that we are starting to hear a lot more about. There are elements of it I was already doing in my garden. However as I learn, I modify what I do.
READ MORE » about How to integrate regenerative gardening techniques into a home garden
Broccoli Flower: Why broccoli plants bolt and what to do about it
Broccoli is a popular vegetable grown for its immature flower heads. Most varieties produce dome-shaped heads harvested when the the small buds are still tightly closed. However, if you wait too long to harvest, plant root-bound seedlings, or your garden experiences environmental conditions that affect plant growth, you’ll end up with a broccoli flower. Keep reading to learn more about what causes broccoli plants to flower and what you can do to prevent it from happening.
READ MORE » about Broccoli Flower: Why broccoli plants bolt and what to do about it