Savvy Gardening

How to grow catnip in the garden and indoors

My cat has a felt taco cat toy that was scented with catnip a few years ago and she still goes squirrelly whenver I pull it out to give to her. If you have a cat that responds favorably to catnip (apparently not all do), it’s worthwhile to learn how to grow catnip. This perennial herb is incredibly easy to grow from seed and from cuttings. It’s also drought tolerant and not too fussy when it comes to nutrients. Even if you don’t have a cat, catnip is an attractive plant that can be used for its foliage and flowers in cut flower arrangements.

Planting onions in the fall from seeds or sets

Written by Niki Jabbour

Considering onions are a staple ingredient in kitchens around the world, I’m surprised that more of us aren’t planting onions in the fall. Onions are most often planted in spring, but planting onions in the fall gives you a jump on an onion harvest and keeps your garden productive throughout the year. Planting onions in the fall is easier in some regions than others, of course, but you can make a plan to put your seeds or sets in the ground as the weather cools, even as far north as New Hampshire and many parts of Canada. In this article, I’ll cover the details of fall-planting these alliums, from the basics of onion growth to the best types of onions, garden preparation, and what to expect come springtime.

A winter greenhouse: A productive way to harvest vegetables all winter

Written by Niki Jabbour

In my vegetable garden, a winter greenhouse has become the heart of my cold season garden, providing me with homegrown vegetables and herbs from December through March. This unheated structure, which is also featured in my book, Growing Under Cover: Techniques for a More Productive, Weather-Resistant, Pest-Free Vegetable Garden, captures solar energy and shelters a wide variety of cold tolerant crops like kale, carrots, leeks, scallions, carrots, and spinach. In this article you’ll learn about the types of winter greenhouses, get my tips selecting which one is best for you, and discover my top crops to harvest in winter.

Planting milkweed seeds: 4 easy techniques for success

Written by Niki Jabbour

Planting milkweed seeds is a great way to get a lot of milkweed plants for your garden. Milkweed isn’t difficult to grow from seed and the plants are beautiful, long blooming, and support many species of pollinators, including monarch butterflies. In this article you’ll learn four easy techniques for planting milkweed seeds and get tips on caring for the seedlings.

Venus fly trap care: How to water, tend, and feed this carnivorous plant

Written by Jessica Walliser

Venus fly traps (also called Venus flytraps or just a flytrap) are among the coolest plants you can grow. In their native habitat, Venus fly traps live for years. Unfortunately, they are often short-lived plants in cultivation, but this is only because most people don’t care for them properly. In this article, you’ll learn all the essential basics of Venus fly trap care.
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When to harvest acorn squash

Written by Jessica Walliser

As you test out new varieties of storage vegetables for your home garden, you’ll benefit from learning when to harvest acorn squash. These winter squashes get their name from their acorn shape. They’re close cousins to Hubbard, pumpkins, buttercup, kabocha, delicata, spaghetti squash, and butternut squash. Here, I offer advice for growing acorn squash, indicators of squash maturity, how and when to harvest acorn squash, and all-important storage tips.
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