Today we are going to start a mini-series on how to propagate plants. Different plants are successfully propagated using different methods. There is no one size fits all solution to making more of your garden plants. So in the next several articles we will be discussing tips for propagation via seed, cuttings and grafting. Because…
Category: Gardening
How To Prune Hydrangea Macrophylla
Earlier this year we discussed how to prune Hydrangea paniculata, the woody, sun-loving white hydrangea. Today we are going to discuss how to prune its semi-woody cousin the mophead hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla. These are the hydrangeas with glossy green leaves and blooms that are blue or pink and can change color depending on the soil…
The No-Spray Fruit Tree You Should Start Growing Now
Everyone wants to grow common fruits such as a apples, peaches and plums in their backyards. The sad reality is that most people are unlikely to reap a nice crop from these more common fruits. Realistically, they are just not no-spray fruit. Most homeowners who plant fruit trees do so without realizing that these trees…
The 10 Best Winter Vegetables You Should Be Growing
Now that we gave you some tips to use to extend your season, we thought we would tell you about 10 of our favorite winter vegetables. Some of these have the potential to overwinter to produce a very early spring crop as far north as places like Vermont and New York if given protection. Of…
Kiwi Vines: A Tasty Fruit Every Gardener Can Enjoy
Did you know that people in most parts of the country can grow kiwi vines? Most people think that kiwis are tropical fruits, and you never see kiwi orchards around. However, kiwi is not nearly as tropical as you might think. There are two different types of kiwi commonly grown, hardy kiwi, and fuzzy kiwis….
How To Grow Veggies All Winter–Season Extension Tips
If you love gardening and growing fresh vegetables, you probably miss those vegetables in the winter. Did you know that if you plant the right crops, and care for them properly, you can harvest fresh vegetables long past your first fall frost? Keep reading for 7 of our season extension tips. With some practice and…
Storage Tomatoes: The New Tomato You Should Grow Next Year
Back in July we talked about heat tolerant greens. We looked at alternatives to lettuce that would last long enough into the summer to allow you to eat fresh salads with greens and heirloom tomatoes from your garden. Now we are going to look at the opposite, storage tomatoes. Growing storage tomatoes will allow you…
How To Get Started Winter Gardening
Have you ever wanted to grow a winter vegetable garden, but haven’t been quite sure where to start? Or do you think that it’s too cold where you live to plant fall crops? Did you know that people as far north as Vermont can harvest winter vegetables deep into the winter under an unheated high…
How To Spot And Control Spider Mites
This is the time of year when it has started to frost and many gardeners have moved tender plants indoors to overwinter them. Be it inside a greenhouse or your sunny south window, this is also the time of year that spider mites love to sneak up and overtake the unsuspecting indoor gardener. If you…
Pesticides Are Out. Biological Pest Control Is In.
On several occasions in the past, we have mentioned that pests can sometimes be effectively controlled biologically. Not surprisingly, Mother Nature has a system of checks and balances for insects just as she does for the larger ecosystem. Thus, it would be in our best interests to learn how to work with nature to control…
