Plenty of gardeners consider shade to be more of a curse than a blessing, especially when it comes to growing vegetables and herbs. Your plant choices are slightly more limited than gardeners with full sun, but there are plenty of edible plants that tolerate—and even thrive—in the shade, including herbs. Though you may think all herbs are sun-loving plants, there are many herbs that grow in shade. In this article, I’ll introduce you to 10 of my favorite herbs for shady garden corners and containers.
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Pink perennials for the garden: A gradient of rosy shades from pale pink to fuchsia
I’ll admit it, one of my favorite colors is pink. If I see pink perennials at the garden centre and I need a plant to fill a hole in my garden, chances are at least one of them will end up in my cart. Come to think of it, I have quite a range of beautiful pink perennials in my front, side and backyard.
Straw bale gardening: Learn how to grow vegetables in straw bales
Straw bale gardening is HUGE! And for good reason as it’s an easy way to grow vegetables and flowers in small spaces, driveways, or any area where it’s hard to dig a new garden. A straw bale is a self-contained garden where the centre of the bale is seasoned with fertilizers to start the decomposition process and create a rich pocket for plants. Read on to learn more about gardening in straw bales.
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Alpine strawberries: How to grow this delicious little fruit from seed or transplants
If I had to pick a favorite backyard fruit, I’d pick the strawberry. But not just any strawberry, mind you. I’d pick the alpine strawberry (Fragaria vesca). These sweet little gems are far more fragrant and luscious than their jumbo-sized, commercially grown kin (Fragaria x ananassa). Alpine strawberries are also called woodland strawberries. Pop one in your mouth and be prepared for a juicy burst of sugary goodness with a flavor that’s a combination of pineapple and berries with a floral twist. Yep. They’re THAT good. And most importantly, they’re also really easy to grow.
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How to plant roses: Planting bare root roses and potted shrub roses
In the last few years, plant breeders have come out with some really great varieties of hardy roses that are disease-resistant and lower maintenance. The At Last rose from Proven Winners convinced me that I could maintain a healthy rose bush that would last through a harsh winter. It’s actually referred to as an easy-care rose, which is perfect for my style of gardening. More recently, I became the owner of Emily Brontë, a 2020 introduction from David Austin Roses. The planting process for both my rose bushes was different. Here’s a little primer on how to plant roses—and why I’ve used two different methods to plant them.
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Transplanting raspberries to grow more fruit or to share with others
I’ve always wanted a raspberry patch, I just hadn’t gotten around to it yet. Picking sun-warmed raspberries, fresh off the bush reminds me of summers at the cottage as a kid. This spring, one of my neighbours was renovating his raspberry garden, and asked if I wanted any transplants. I told him I very much did, and my afternoon shifted to clearing a garden area and transplanting raspberries.
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