Did you know that pruning pepper plants can result in many benefits? The debate about whether or not to prune tomato plants seems to be a constant in the gardening world. There are a million different ways to do it and everyone swears their way is best. As a result, pruning the second most popular home garden crop – peppers – always seems to be forgotten. I know plenty of gardeners who don’t prune pepper plants, and that’s okay, but there are lots of good reasons why giving your pepper plants a strategic and well-timed trim pays big dividends. In this article, I’ll introduce the many reasons for cutting back pepper plants at certain times of the year, and how to do it right to ensure maximum benefits.
READ MORE » about Pruning pepper plants for improved plant health and yields
Perennial vegetables: 15 easy to grow choices for gardens and landscapes
While most food gardeners concentrate on annual vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce, there are many perennial vegetables that offer an annual crop of leaves, stems, fruits, roots, tubers, flowerbuds, or bulbs. Plus, most are easy to grow, resistant to pests, and improve soil. There are so many reasons to add perennial vegetables to your garden and landscape. Read on to discover fifteen of my favourite perennial edible plants.
READ MORE » about Perennial vegetables: 15 easy to grow choices for gardens and landscapes
Blossom end rot: How to identify, prevent, and treat
Watching little green tomatoes mature into large ripe tomatoes is one of the garden’s greatest joys. But when something goes awry and those ripe red fruits don’t come to fruition, it can be heartbreaking. Though tomatoes are subject to several different fungal diseases that can affect fruit development, perhaps the most upsetting tomato disorder of all is blossom end rot. Thankfully, if you can properly ID this disorder and learn to prevent and treat it, you won’t have to face the heartbreak it brings in future years.
READ MORE » about Blossom end rot: How to identify, prevent, and treat
How to harvest lavender for bouquets, culinary uses, and DIY projects
My love for lavender stems back to a trip to Provence before my last year of university. I have a postcard of the lavender fields we passed while in transit—and have been dreaming about them ever since. I was delighted when my first garden had an established lavender plant in the front garden. And in my current home, I have a few. I love to pick small bouquets and add sprigs to bigger arrangements with other cut flowers. However, if you’re going to gather it to use in sachets and cooking, it’s important to know how to harvest lavender—and when.
READ MORE » about How to harvest lavender for bouquets, culinary uses, and DIY projects
Tomato plant suckers: When and how to prune tomato plants
It’s a question I’m asked all the time, “Should I remove tomato plant suckers?” The answer: “It depends!” There really isn’t a right or wrong answer to this question as it relies on a few factors like the type of tomato plants you’re growing and how you’re supporting them. Read on to learn whether or not you should pinch out tomato suckers.
READ MORE » about Tomato plant suckers: When and how to prune tomato plants
Herbs that grow in shade: 10 delicious choices
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.
READ MORE » about Herbs that grow in shade: 10 delicious choices
