Savvy Gardening

When to plant sweet peas: The best options for lots of fragrant flowers

Sweet peas are old fashioned annuals with ruffly, fragrant flowers in rich shades of blues, purples, reds, pinks, and whites. They’re essential in cut flower and cottage gardens and for the best show of flowers, you’ll want to start the seeds at the right time. This article provides all the information you need to know about starting sweet peas seeds indoors as well as direct sowing in the garden. If you’re wondering when to plant sweet peas, keep reading.

Malabar spinach: How to grow and care for climbing spinach

Written by Jessica Walliser

Malabar spinach, also known by the common names of Ceylon spinach, Indian spinach, vine spinach, and climbing spinach, is a heat-tolerant green with large, succulent leaves that are flavorful both raw and cooked. Its climbing growth habit means it takes up very little room in the garden. Plus, its prolific production translates to plenty of fresh greens to add to salads, stews, sautés, stir-fries, smoothies, and soups all summer long. In this article, I’ll share complete growing instructions for this easy-to-grow edible climber.
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How to grow calendula from seed

Written by Tara Nolan

My first experience with growing calendula from seed was tossing a wildflower mix into one of my front yard gardens. It was fun to see all the different flowers reveal their blooms throughout the growing season. The superstar, though, was the calendula, which produced vibrant, sunny blooms right into December. While a few of the wildflowers have popped up again here and there after reseeding themselves, it’s the daisy-like calendula that dependably returns each year in that one little area. In this article, I’m going to share how easy it is to grow calendula from seed.

Garden soil vs potting soil: What’s the difference and why does it matter?

Written by Tara Nolan

When faced with all of the different soil mixes available online and in our favorite garden centers, deciding on garden soil vs potting soil can be a little confounding. After all, there are individual products for potting up orchids, African violets, cacti, succulents, and more. So, how do you tell them apart? And what potential benefits can be attributed to them? To find the answers—and figure out which growing medium might be best for your gardening project—it’s important to understand which ingredients are typically found in both garden soil and potting soil. Then you can fill your garden or container accordingly so the plants, seeds, and seedlings you dig in can thrive.

When to plant zinnias: 3 options for months of beautiful blooms

Written by Niki Jabbour

Zinnias are one of the easiest annuals to grow from seeds started indoors or direct sown in the garden. The colorful blooms attract pollinators like bees and beneficial insects. They also make long-lived cut flowers in bouquets and arrangements. Knowing when to plant zinnias can mean the difference between months of beautiful blooms or a short show at the end of the growing season. For the best display of flowers you need to plant zinnias at the right time. Below I’ll walk you through all the steps of when to plant zinnias.

When to fertilize azaleas and how to do it right

Written by Jessica Walliser

Azaleas are among the most popular spring-flowering shrubs – and deservedly so. Their brilliant flowers can’t be beat for early season color. Caring for azaleas isn’t difficult, but one item many gardeners struggle with is azalea fertilization. Do you know when to fertilize azaleas, what fertilizer to use, and how to apply? If not, this article provides all the know-how you need to get the job done right.
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