Many varieties are repeat bloomers, giving a second wave of flowers after the first spring flush – often starting in midsummer and lasting until the arrival of heavy frost. Beloved for their fun funnel-shaped flowers and bold splashes of vivid color, azaleas are woody shrubs that thrive in semi-shade, adding a sassy punch to the shadows. They make a tidy anchor piece in beds, islands, and foundations and are simply mesmerizing when mass planted....

Many growers refer simply to “Asian type” eggplants when describing these – and I’m going to follow their example throughout this article. Japanese eggplants are known for their long, slender fruit, with thin skins and few seeds. The mild, delicately flavored flesh is less bitter than some of the varieties you would typically find in the grocery store. Some like to distinguish “Japanese eggplant” as a separate category of “Asian eggplant,” but quite often the two terms are used interchangeably to refer to the long, slender, thin-skinned varieties of this vegetable....

by Jennifer Poindexter Are you in the market for shrubs that will grow fast? You came to the right place. There are many options which fall into this category, and I’m going to walk you through them. Whether you need fast landscaping or a shrub which will provide privacy between you and your neighbors, there’s surely something on the following list to fit your needs. If you need large shrubs in a hurry, here are a few varieties you don’t want to miss....

Information Are the leaves curling on your beloved tomato plants that you've added to your vegetable garden this season? There are a number of different reasons this can happen, with some more common than others. In this article, suburban homesteader and gardening expert Meredith Cohrs examines why this is happening to your tomato plants! By Merideth Cohrs Last updated: October 4, 2022 | 9 min read Tomatoes are one of my garden must haves every year....

Flowers Dahlias are some of the most popular ornamental flowers these days, and with good reason. Their vivid blooms make them an extremely attractive option for many flower gardeners looking for a new flower to plant. But will you be replanting them every season? Are Dahlias annuals, biennials or perennials? The answer is "it depends." Let's take a look in more detail before you head off to buy some dahlia tubers this season....

Essential oils have several medicinal properties. Besides many uses in the health and beauty sector, essential oils are used in gardens to prevent harmful pests and diseases. Learn more about the best essential oils for gardening and how to use them! Check out our article on chemical-free pesticide recipes here! Using Essential Oils in the Garden 1. Rosemary Essential Oil Rosemary essential oil has a woody scent and is a great option for pest control in the garden....

When building a greenhouse, you need to have greenhouse plastic unless you’re building a permanent structure with solid-sheet panels of glass, acrylic, or polyethylene. So what should you use? How do you figure out how much you need, and what’s the best greenhouse plastic for your needs? Table of Contents Today we’ll dive into the world of greenhouse plastic, both film and semi-rigid or rigid, and discover some of the options available to you....

Question: Can Swiss chard be eaten raw? How should I prepare it. -Laura R. Answer: It’s true that many of us are most familiar with eating Swiss chard when it’s been cooked low and slow as part of a braised dish, but this nutritious leafy green can also be eaten raw. It’s delicious as a simple, classic salad, of course, but here are some less conventional ways you can enjoy your homegrown Swiss chard without spending the time to cook the greens, and you won’t have to heat up the oven or stove....

Shrubs Do you live in hardiness zone 8, but aren't quite sure if hydrangeas will thrive in your climate? Hydrangeas are gorgeous shrubs, but they typically grow the best in the right environment. In this article, gardening expert Jill Drago examines what you can expect when growing hydrangeas USDA hardiness zone 8. By Jill Drago Last updated: November 22, 2022 | 6 min read Hydrangeas are a classic plant in the Northern United States but it is also a southern favorite....

by Jennifer Poindexter Have you ever heard of the aechmea bromeliad plant? It’s a unique houseplant that some people really enjoy having around their home. It has dusty green foliage which produces a vibrant bloom. The flower comes in a variety of colors and shapes. Though, they tend to all have a spiky appearance. The plant definitely adds a statement to the area it’s decorating. If you’d like to try growing this plant, you may be wondering how to care for it....

This DIY concrete block planter not only looks fantastic, but you can get super creative with it, and come up with your own unique design. It’s also versatile, so you can put it anywhere – and make it as small or large as you need to fill your space. It’s also wonderful way to try your hand at growing vertically, and is excellent for adding height to a boring empty corner like mine....

Houseplants Did you recently add a Monstera plant to your indoor or outdoor plant collection, but aren't sure exactly where to place it for optimal sun exposure? In this article, gardening expert and houseplant enthusiast Madison Moulton looks at how much sunlight Monsteras need, and the best places in your home to place them. By Madison Moulton Last updated: January 12, 2023 | 4 min read Monsteras are often labeled wonderful plants for beginners, possibly due to their widespread popularity in the houseplant community....

by Matt Gibson and Katie Olson Control onion flies to protect your crop. Onions are a popular seasonal vegetable that presents itself in many colors and can be grown in the spring and the fall. This vegetable can be eaten in multiple ways with different dishes, and it provides a great source of nutrition. The quercetin in red onions is even known to help fight against cancer. However, onion flies, also known as onion maggots, can put a damper on your vegetable garden if preventive measures aren’t taken against them....

Reliably cold hardy, they also multiply freely, naturalizing abundantly in almost any soil type. Muscari spp. With their dazzling colors, fragrance, and easy growth, bulbs make a great addition to the garden. Take grape hyacinth, for example. This pretty, petite bulb is a perennial spring charmer with a carefree habit, and striking colors that look fantastic in small stands or big, bold drifts. They can be grown in beds or containers, forced indoors for winter growth, or naturalized in woodland settings....

With their ease of care and aesthetic appeal, it’s no wonder these houseplants are so popular, often being used not just in homes but also in commercial offices, lobbies, or shopping malls. Philodendron spp. Philodendrons provide a gateway to growing rooms full of houseplants for many aspiring indoor plant enthusiasts, including myself. For most of my gardening days, I’ve focused on outdoor plants, but when my partner opened a yoga studio that needed some lush greenery as fast as possible that could also handle low light conditions, I turned to philodendrons....

Here are the topics we’ll explore: Achillea spp. Yarrow, Achillea spp., is a semi-evergreen flowering perennial in the aster, or Asteraceae family. Suitable for growers in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9, it has corymb, or flattened, flower heads with densely clustered blossoms in shades of pink, red, white, and yellow. In this article, you’ll learn all you need to know to cultivate and maintain yarrow in your garden. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

With the right care, cantaloupe can thrive in a container – even a smallish one – which means anyone, anywhere, in whatever size house or garden, can enjoy its sweet deliciousness. Maybe you have a small yard, or a tiny patio garden that you lovingly tend. Or maybe your garden is already chock-full of green goodness and you don’t have any space for any huge, hungry melons. Whatever the reason, if you think you don’t have the space to grow your own sweet cantaloupe, think again....

Caladium is one of the most sought-after ornamental plants thanks to its vivid foliage and ease of growing nature. Learn How to Grow Heart of Jesus Plant and all about taking its right care. Here are the most stunning types of caladiums you can grow What is Heart of Jesus Plant? Caladiums are also called the Heart of Jesus, thanks to their heart-shaped leaves. The plant comes in brilliant shades and does remarkably well as a houseplant....

The Nemesis genus contains over 50 species, and most of these plants are native to South Africa. These flowers are easy to grow and can be a wonderful addition to any home and garden. Let’s have a look at How to Grow Nemesia easily! Check out the stunning flowers that start with ‘N’ here Nemesia Plant Information Nemesia strumosa is a true annual that displays white or blue flowers and can grow up to a foot tall....

When I say the dead of winter, I mean it. Pastinaca sativa doesn’t just tolerate freezing weather – it needs it. It tastes best after it has lived through a few weeks of some seriously chilly temps. I don’t know why parsnips aren’t more popular. Their cousin, the colorful carrot, is a kitchen garden must-have. But when you mention parsnips, it tends to elicit looks of confusion (if not disgust)....