Savvy Gardening

Coreopsis ‘Zagreb’ and other tickseed varieties that look cheerful in the garden

Coreopsis ‘Zagreb’ is a dependable, drought-tolerant perennial in my front yard garden. I bought a couple of tiny plants at a native plant sale a few years ago because my first house had them in the garden. They have since spread into a decent little sunny swath of yellow, surrounded by lavender, catmint, and black-eyed Susans. I’ve since discovered many varieties of coreopsis—‘Solar Dance’ is in my list of favourite yellow perennial flowers.

The best herbs to start from seed for garden beds and containers

Written by Niki Jabbour

The first seeds I ever started were herbs: basil, lemon balm, chamomile, and parsley. I was amazed at how easy it was to grow my own herbs and quickly caught the gardening bug. In the below article, you’ll discover my favorite herbs to start from seed. Many popular culinary herbs are a snap to grow from seeds that are started indoors or direct seeded, but others are better purchased as transplants. Why? Some, like thyme are super slow to grow from seed while others, like mint, have varieties that don’t come true to type when grown from seed. Read on to discover the best herbs to start from seed.

A vegetable garden planner for a healthy and productive garden

Written by Niki Jabbour

For me, a detailed vegetable garden planner is essential to growing a productive and healthy vegetable garden. It keeps me on track of when to sow seeds indoors, helps make crop rotation simple, and allows me to maximum production with a succession planting schedule. Whether you’re starting your first food garden or are a seasoned vegetable gardener, consider creating your own custom kitchen garden planner to help you get more out of your garden.

How to grow broccoli sprouts and microgreens: 6 methods for success

Written by Jessica Walliser

Sprouts and microgreens pack a nutritional punch and offer a delicious crunch to sandwiches, soups, salads, and more. Both are reported to contain more nutrients per ounce than mature plants of the same species. Today, I’d like to share information on how to grow broccoli sprouts and microgreens, though this information can be used to grow young edible shoots of many different plant species, including radish, kale, beets, cilantro, basil, amaranth, and many others. They are far less expensive than sprouts or microgreens you purchase in the grocery store, plus they are fun to grow.
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Indoor gardening supplies: Houseplant gear for potting, watering, fertilizing, projects, and more!

Written by Tara Nolan

As consumers’ enthusiasm for houseplants grows, so too does the variety of indoor gardening supplies to satisfy this popular hobby. It used to be harder to find items like misters or special succulent soil—heck, even succulents. A few years ago when doing a project for a magazine, I had to go directly to a grower for plants. But now there they are in mainstream shops, basking among the traditional favourites, like African violets and peace lilies, for everyone to enjoy.

Pilea peperomioides care: The best light, water, and food for a Chinese money plant

Written by Jessica Walliser

Among the trendiest houseplants, the Chinese money plant (also known as the pancake plant, friendship plant, coin plant, or UFO plant) is adored for its unique appearance. The round, coin-sized leaves are thick and glossy. Each leaf is attached to the crown of the plant by a petiole (leaf stem) that connects directly to the leaf underside, giving it a very unique appearance. This houseplant’s tendency to create lots of small “daughter plants” that are easily separated from the parent plant means it’s a great houseplant for sharing with friends and family. To top it off, Pilea peperomioides care isn’t difficult, making this a terrific choice for houseplant lovers of all abilities.
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