Savvy Gardening

When to harvest jalapenos for the best quality and flavor

Jalapeno peppers are my go-to hot pepper offering mildly hot fruits that are super versatile. I use them in salsas and stir-fries, as well as on nachos and in hot sauce. The plants are prolific, yielding dozens of glossy green fruits, and are easy to grow in containers and garden beds. The big question is when to harvest jalapenos for optimum flavor, heat, and quality. Below you’ll learn more about when and how to pick jalapeno peppers.

Low growing shrubs for the front of the house: 16 great choices for reduced maintenance

Written by Jessica Walliser

Attractive low growing shrubs for the front of the house are great for reducing yard maintenance. While most gardeners love to work in their garden, they may not love pruning their shrubs every year. One way to make landscaping easier while increasing your home’s curb appeal is to move beyond the typical overgrown azaleas and rhododendron and choose foundation plant varieties that stay compact. The list of 16 low growing bushes featured in this article consists of both evergreen shrubs and flowering choices. They’re the perfect solution for homeowners who don’t enjoy pruning!
READ MORE » about Low growing shrubs for the front of the house: 16 great choices for reduced maintenance

When to harvest pumpkins: How to tell when pumpkins are ripe

Written by Niki Jabbour

Pumpkins are a fun and easy crop to grow in a home vegetable garden with the harvest season beginning in late summer. The colorful fruits can be used as Jack-o’-lanterns, autumn decor, or stored for cooking and baking. However you use your homegrown pumpkins, it’s important to harvest the fruits when they’re fully mature. Why? Underripe or overripe pumpkins are prone to rotting. Below you’ll learn four signs to help you to decide when to harvest pumpkins from your garden.

Parsley root: How to grow this two-for-one root vegetable

Written by Tara Nolan

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.

Soldier beetle: A good bug to have in the garden

Written by Jessica Walliser

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

Written by Tara Nolan

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.