Savvy Gardening

Hay vs straw: The benefits of using straw in your vegetable garden

One of the gardening “ingredients” I include in my raised bed gardening is straw. I started by using it as a winter mulch for my fall-planted garlic bulbs. Then I added it as a summer mulch to a couple of gardens. This year, I’m going to spread straw on a pathway between some of my raised beds instead of using the usual shredded cedar. One thing I didn’t realize when I was a newer gardener was that there is a difference between hay vs straw. In this article, I’m going to share some of the benefits of using straw in the garden, and why you may want to avoid using hay bales.

Onion spacing: How far apart to plant onions in the vegetable garden

Written by Niki Jabbour

Proper onion spacing is essential to promote healthy plant growth and high yields in a vegetable garden. Plant and row spacing depends on the type of onions you’re growing (green onions, small bulbs, or full-sized bulbs), as well as the planting technique (direct seeding, transplanting seedlings, or planting sets). Keep reading to learn more about how far apart to plant onions.

Growing strawberries in raised beds – A complete guide

Written by Jessica Walliser

Strawberries are among the easiest fruits for home gardeners to grow. These berries are perennials that return to the garden year after year, they are perfect for small spaces, and you can grow them for a fraction of their supermarket cost. If you want to start a crop of your own quickly and simply, try growing strawberries in raised beds. This article has all the info you’ll need to get started. It’s a complete guide to raised bed strawberry growing – from planting to harvest.
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Planting cilantro seeds: Tips for a bountiful harvest

Written by Tara Nolan

Cilantro is one of my favorite herbs. I’m part of the population that LOVES the flavor—not the portion that thinks it has a soapy taste! I grow a lot of my own herbs because the cost of one seed packet is comparable to a bunch or clamshell pack at the grocery store. For cilantro, I look forward to the shoulder season months because timing is the key to planting cilantro seeds. In this article, I will share tips on when and where to sow cilantro, how to know when to harvest, and slow-to-bolt varieties.

Lima beans planting and growing tips for vegetable gardeners

Written by Niki Jabbour

Home-grown lima beans are a summer treat! This is an easy to grow vegetable that yields a heavy crop of buttery beans that can be enjoyed as fresh shell beans or as dried beans. If lima beans are on your list of crops to grow in your vegetable garden, I’ve got plenty of lima beans planting and growing tips to help you be successful. Keep reading to learn more.

Growing marigolds from seed: Tips for indoor and direct sowing

Written by Tara Nolan

Marigolds were one of the first flowers I could identify as a kid. Growing up, my mom would plant marigold seeds along the side of our garage. I remember the strong scent as you’d brush by the bright yellow and deep orange blooms in the summer. Growing marigolds from seed is an easy way to add annuals to your gardens and containers. In this article, I’m going to share tips on sowing seeds indoors (and then moving your plants to the garden), as well as direct-sowing your marigold seeds in the spring.