While old-fashioned companion planting techniques relied more on folklore than science, modern methods of companion planting are now gaining traction, thanks to hundreds of recent and on-going studies evaluating the effectiveness of various plant partnerships. In previous articles, I’ve outlined the best companion plants for tomatoes, as well as plant partnerships to benefit zucchini. Today, I’d like to introduce a dozen of the best companion plants for peppers.
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Raised garden bed materials: Rot-resistant wood, steel, bricks, and other options to build a garden
You’ve chosen the perfect spot that gets at least eight to 10 hours of sun a day. Now you need to choose your raised garden bed materials. I have used a few of the options I’m going to tell you about—wood, fabric, and metal. They’re all scattered around my front, back, and side yards. Because I live on a ravine, I don’t just have one great big sunny area, so I have to choose my sites accordingly.
Growing carrots in containers: An easy way to grow carrots anywhere!
You don’t need a garden to grow carrots! This popular root vegetable is easy to grow in containers, window boxes, and planters. Growing carrots in containers is a fun way to grow food in the smallest of spaces as well as on decks, patios, and balconies. And with a little planning, you can succession plant pots of carrots for a non-stop harvest from early summer through late fall.
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How to harvest chives from the garden
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are among the most popular herbs for home gardeners to grow. They are easy to plant and care for, and since they are a hardy perennial, they return to the garden year after year. The fragrant and flavorful leaves of the chive plant are delicious to people, but the deer and rabbits leave them alone. To add yet another benefit, chive flowers are a favorite nectar source for many of the pollinators who also help pollinate other edible crops. Learning how to harvest chives for use in the kitchen is key to enjoying this easy-to-grow herb. Let’s take a look at several different ways to harvest chives for both fresh use and for preservation.
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Blue hosta varieties for the perennial garden
Hostas are shade garden foliage staples. And while at a glance, they may all look pretty similar, search around at different garden centers and nurseries and you’ll discover there are a lot of interesting varieties. You’ll find solid-colored leaves in vibrant lime tones or variegated gradients of greens, and different leaf shapes and textures from large and heart-shaped to long and crinkled. What I find to be especially captivating are blue hosta varieties. Blue isn’t as common of a plant color, in foliage or blooms, which is what makes them so unique.
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Round zucchini: A growing guide from seed to harvest
Zucchini is one of the most popular vegetables grown in home gardens because it’s easy, productive, and delicious. There are many types and varieties to try with a wide range of fruit colors and shapes; from cylindrical to scallop to crookneck to round. They offer subtle differences in flavor and texture as well as kitchen use. In our garden, round zucchini varieties have become a favorite for their novel shape and bright colors. Read on to learn more about planting and growing round zucchini.
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