Savvy Gardening

Winter aconite: Add this cheerful, early-spring flower to your garden

As winter starts to wind down and there are early hints of spring in the air (and in the garden), my eyes are always glued to the ground on my walks for signs the first spring-flowering bulbs are starting to emerge. Winter aconite is one of those seasonal treasures that pops up first, sometimes even before the snow has had a chance to melt. The cheerful, yellow flowers are a most welcome site and burst of color after a long drab winter. They even arrive a wee bit earlier than snowdrops and crocuses!

Straw bale cold frame: An easy DIY for autumn and winter harvesting

Written by Niki Jabbour

A straw bale cold frame is a temporary structure used to protect hardy vegetables in autumn and winter. They require no building skills and are quick and easy to put together. Once the bales are in place, they’re topped with a clear material like an old window or a piece of polycarbonate. With the arrival of spring, the frames are taken apart and the straw can be used for straw bale gardens, mulching, or added to the compost bin. Keep reading to learn more about straw bale cold frames.

Cissus discolor: How to grow and care for the rex begonia vine

Written by Jessica Walliser

I’ll never forget the first time I saw a rex begonia vine. At the Naples Botanic Garden in Florida, I spied it tumbling down over the side of a very tall container and I was awestruck. I had never seen a Cissus discolor plant before and fell immediately in love. I’ve had this beautiful plant growing in my patio pots or on my windowsill ever since. In this article, I’ll share the many virtues of this climbing plant. I’ll also fill you in on how to take care of it, regardless of whether you grow it indoors or out. Plus, you’ll learn three ways you can propagate Cissus discolor to share it with friends.
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Preparing raised beds for winter: What to leave, what to pull, what to add, and what to put away

Written by Tara Nolan

Preparing raised beds for winter, if you garden in them, should be an essential part of your autumn to-do list. I have several raised beds, and there are a few steps I take before I call it a season and give my green thumbs a break for the winter. Some of those tasks I start to think about in late summer. Others I try to make sure I do as I don more layers to go outside and finish up before the snow flies.

When to harvest spinach for maximum yields

Written by Jessica Walliser

The succulent, tasty leaves of homegrown spinach are beyond compare, but spinach can be a struggle for some gardeners to grow. Spinach is particular about its growing conditions and knowing when to harvest spinach can mean the difference between a big harvest and a minuscule one. In this article, I’ll offer tips on when to harvest both baby greens and mature leaves for a long 3- or 4-season harvest. I’ll also teach you how to overwinter spinach plants for an extra early spring harvest.
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How and when to fertilize bulbs

Written by Tara Nolan

Planting spring-flowering bulbs is an essential part of my fall gardening to-do list. Every spring, I anxiously await their staggered flowering times. Knowing when to fertilize bulbs ensures that I enjoy that variety of blooms in my ever-growing collection of naturalized and perennial bulbs year after year.