It’s almost winter, and gardening winter vegetables means planting frost-lovers like brassicas, garlic, leeks, and peas. Cabbage is a lovely winter crop that enjoys a kiss from the frost. And what better to plant with it but cabbage companion plants? Table of Contents Companion planting is a great way to keep your garden plentiful, and safe from common pests. It also provides a lot of variety to what could otherwise be a monoculture....

Cacti are intriguing plants that sometimes seem like they are from another world. Not only are they unique in appearance, but cactus adaptations give them a remarkable ability to thrive in harsh desert landscapes where few other plants can survive. So what is it about cacti that makes them such strong survivalists in these hostile environments? How are cacti adapted to the desert? Cacti have numerous anatomical and behavioral adaptations for absorbing and storing water, preventing water loss, protecting themselves from predators, limiting damage from the hot sun, saving their energy, requiring few resources, and attracting pollinators....

QUESTION: Can I plant last year’s shallots? If so, any tips on how to do this? Do I need to prepare the shallots for planting? -Tim J ANSWER: Yes, you can plant last year’s shallots in the following growing season, and since each shallot that you plant produces nearly two pounds of bulbs, you should always have more than enough to use in the kitchen, leaving plenty of additional bulbs to plant in the next fall or winter....

QUESTION: Does cabbage grow back after you pick it? Is there a way to harvest more cabbage without planting more plants? -Riley W. ANSWER: Yes, but note there is a specific way you need to harvest the cabbage. When harvesting, be sure to keep just enough of the bottom leaves in place to keep the plant alive. If you cut below the lower leaves, the remaining threads will wither and die....

The endive plant can be a little confusing. Several plants are referred to as ‘endive’ and some endive plants are mistaken for vegetables such as lettuce and other leafy greens, which have a milder flavor. Hopefully, this article will help explain the differences between the different types of endive and will give you some tips on how to grow the lettuce-type leaves you may recognize from supermarket salad bags. Table of Contents...

By Matt Gibson There’s good news for the majority of us gardeners who have a pair or two of abandoned garden shears that have been collecting dust and losing their edge ever since the last time we pulled them out of the tool drawer. Most garden shears are pretty beat up and dirty, tossed into the back of a tool shed, or into a tool satchel that’s overstuffed with other tools that could use a bit of attention (at the least) or a full on replacement or refurbishment....

Growing dill is simple and rewarding, and they don’t require much care. In this post, I’ll show you everything you need to know in order to have your best crop ever. Dill is a beautiful and useful herb that’s easier to grow than many beginners may think. Once you understand when to plant it and how to care for it, you can enjoy an abundance right from your home garden....

In our guide to growing forsythia we talk about how to cultivate this shrub in the home landscape. Forsythia is a deciduous woody shrub that thrives in full sun and average, well-draining soil. It’s an iconic harbinger of spring in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8, where its masses of yellow blooms make for a dramatic yearly display. This shrub is appreciated for being a hardy, fast grower that requires little maintenance. However, it’s not invincible, and sometimes less than favorable conditions pose a serious threat to its well-being....

Rather than heat-treating and robbing the stalks of their crunch after harvest, this article will teach you how to apply a gardening technique to your crops that will improve texture and flavor. Are you a celery fan? Done right, it’s satisfyingly flavorful with a pleasing texture that leaves you wanting more. But it can be difficult for the home gardener to achieve this without applying a little extra attentive care....

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) plants are one of the most common (if not THE most common) houseplants out there. It seems like everywhere you go, you see peace lilies growing as office plants or in someones home. Well, that’s because they are super easy to care for! Commonly given as sympathy gift plants, this gorgeous indoor plant with white flowers and dark green foliage adds life and vibrance to any room....

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana or Florist Kalanchoe is one of the best flowering succulents that you can easily grow outdoors or indoors. The best part is, the blooms are long-lasting and won’t fade soon! So, if you have one and want to know How to Make Kalanchoe Flower way more than it does, read ahead! Learn how to grow Kalanchoe plant indoors here When Do Kalanchoes Flower? Before answering this question, let’s remind you that when it comes to blooming, flowering kalanchoes are a lot like poinsettias, which means they are photoperiodic, and their flowering depends on the day length....

Growing amaryllis in water is a fun project, and looks cool too. It’s easy to do, and you can get really creative with it. In this post, I will give you step-by-step instructions for how to plant an amaryllis bulb in water, and share some simple care tips too. Planting amaryllis in water rather than dirt is a cute way to display them for the holidays, and it’s a really fun DIY project too....

by Jennifer Poindexter Do you enjoy cooking with bay leaves? Would you like to learn how to grow bay laurel so you can have this fresh ingredient on hand any time? You’ve come to the right spot. If you’re interested in growing the bay laurel tree, I’ll fill you in on what you should know to begin growing this plant. You’ll be introduced to the plant’s growing conditions, ways to propagate this tree, you’ll learn how to care for it, and also how to protect it from common garden pests and diseases....

People usually associate crotons as container plants, but they can also be cultivated as tall specimens. Here are some tips on How to Grow Big Croton like a Tree that’ll help you to flaunt it as a tall specimen in your yard! Find out a few unknown secrets of colorful croton plants here Croton As a Tree Crotons grow best in a subtropical climate, usually found around South and Central Florida....

Keep reading to learn how you can grow it in your garden. Cymbopogon citratus The first time I harvested lemongrass in Virginia, I was invigorated by its refreshing, citrusy fragrance. It sure provided a nice contrast to the fall greens and roots I was harvesting from the fields. Lemongrass is an herb used in the kitchen for its citrus flavor and scent. It’s native to the tropics, so it does require some protection from the cold....

But the real motivating factor for me and many other gardeners is that starting tomato seeds at home opens up a dizzying selection of varieties for us to choose from – including less common cultivars we’re unlikely to find as transplants at our local plant nurseries. It’s pretty easy and convenient to pick up a pack of tomato seedlings from your local garden center and plug them into the soil....

Whiteflies are notorious pests, with a taste for a wide variety of plants including common vegetables and ornamentals. Aleyrodidae As you walk through your garden, admiring the bright flowers and productive vegetables, a cloud of white insects flutters up from the leaves of a plant as you brush past. Upon taking a closer look, you notice the leaves are speckled or turning yellow, and the plant looks like it’s shedding some leaves....

Lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora) is highly aromatic because the plant’s glandular trichomes, where the essential oils live, are located on the external parts of the herb. The tasty citrus flavor and gentle character of this abundant and easy-to-grow herb make lemon verbena perfect for the entire family to enjoy as an infusion. Kids and elders alike can benefit from the bright personality of this cheerful plant. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

More aromatic than the sweet variety, the large, shiny leaves are a distinct almond shape with a sweet, peppery flavor and notes of anise, cloves, and mint. Ocimum basilicum ‘Genovese’ Fragrant, fast-growing, and a delight in the kitchen, ‘Genovese’ basil is an easily cultivated and rewarding herb for the gardener and cook alike! It’s the traditional Italian herb used to create the very best pesto. This preferred variety has large, sweet leaves, is slow to bolt in extreme heat, and does not become bitter with age....

The harvest is versatile and tasty. Allium cepa Along with robins, daffodils, and cool breezes, why not add homegrown onions to your list of things to look forward to this spring? Spring onions, Allium cepa, are easy to grow and care for in your garden, whether you sow seeds the fall before for overwintering, or plant in spring from seeds, slips, or sets as soon as the ground can be worked....