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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Kitchen garden basics: How to get started today
Kitchen gardening is making a comeback. These small, attractive, and productive vegetable gardens are having a renaissance of sorts. They’re popping up in backyards around the world. Let’s take a look at the basics of kitchen gardening with an expert on the subject, Nicole Burke, author of the beautiful book, Kitchen Garden Revival. The info in this article, combined with what you’ll find in Nicole’s book, will have you growing in your own kitchen garden like a pro.
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Patio vegetable garden setup and tips to get growing
If you’re looking for a way to grow food that doesn’t involve a half acre of land and a strong back, consider setting up a patio vegetable garden. All you need to start growing today is a sunny spot on a relatively level surface, some containers, potting soil, and the right veggies. In this article, I’ll walk you through the process of setting up and maintaining a patio vegetable garden of your own.
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Cucamelon seeds and how to plant them
I love planting cucamelons in our vegetable garden. In fact, I love them so much, they’re featured in my award-winning book, Veggie Garden Remix! Cucamelon plants are easy to grow and prolific, with each producing hundreds of small oval fruits that look like tiny watermelons but taste a lot like cucumbers. With more gardeners wanting to grow cucamelons, many nurseries are now offering seedlings. Yet savvy gardeners can easily grow their own plants by starting cucamelon seeds indoors in mid-spring. In this article you’ll get expert tips on planting, growing, and harvesting a bounty of cucamelon fruits.
