Savvy Gardening

Direct seeding: Tips on sowing seeds right in the garden

Every winter, I make a plan for which veggies, flowers, and herbs I’m going to start from seed throughout the growing season. Some of them get a head start indoors, while others I wait until the timing is right for direct seeding outside. I also have a little list of seeds for succession planting in the summer after certain crops, like garlic and peas. In this article, I’m going to share tips on direct seeding, as well as explain which crops benefit from being started outside.

Growing sunflowers in pots: A step-by-step guide

Written by Niki Jabbour

Cheerful and charming, sunflowers are one of the most popular – and easiest! – annual plants to grow. There are pint-sized sunflowers that grow just a foot tall and giant varieties that reach for the sky, but you don’t need a big garden to grow sunflowers. These classic summer bloomers can be planted in plastic pots, fabric planters, or even buckets. Keep reading to learn more about growing sunflowers in pots.

When to harvest rhubarb for the best flavor and yields

Written by Jessica Walliser

Rhubarb is a hardy perennial vegetable that produces one of the first harvests of the growing season. The edible portion of the rhubarb plant is the petiole – or leaf stem (sometimes also called the stalk). The rhubarb harvest is used to make pies, jams, and desserts, often in combination with strawberries and lots of sugar! But, harvesting the petioles at the wrong time or in the wrong way can impact future plant growth. This article discusses when to harvest rhubarb for the best flavor and yields.
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Low growing perennials: Choosing short plant options for the garden

Written by Tara Nolan

The gardens that lined the lengths of my the backyard at my first home weren’t straight. They were long, smooth curves that evoked a welcoming, almost fairy-tale-like feeling. Between the plants were solar lights that lit the garden at night. The plants in this urban oasis were chosen carefully so that everything could be seen and admired. This included a mix of shrubs, tall perennials, low growing perennials, and groundcovers.

Pepper plant spacing: How far apart to plant peppers in a vegetable garden

Written by Niki Jabbour

Peppers are a fun and relatively ‘hands-off’ crop to grow. There are many types you can choose from with fruits that range from sweet to super hot. When growing peppers in raised beds, in-ground gardens, and containers, it’s important to have the right pepper plant spacing. Seedlings planted too close together can result in reduced yield and those planted too far apart waste valuable garden space. Below you’ll learn the proper spacing for pepper plants so you can give your seedlings a strong start to the growing season.

How to get rid of squash bugs: 8 methods for success

Written by Jessica Walliser

This article examines how to get rid of squash bugs effectively and without the use of synthetic chemical pesticides. Both summer squash varieties (also called zucchini) and winter squash types are regulars in my vegetable garden. I bet they are regulars in your garden, too. No doubt it’s because they are productive and easy to grow. However, squash also face their share of garden pests, the most common of which is the squash bug. If you’ve ever faced a squash bug infestation, you know how challenging these pests are. As a horticulturist and former organic market farmer, I’ve seen my share of these pests over the years. Below I outline some of the best ways to get rid of squash bugs.
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