When the photographer for my book, Donna Griffith, grabbed an old window a mutual friend was giving away, I enlisted my brother-in-law, Deon, to help me figure out how to build a cold frame to fit. You could also use clear plastic for the lid. The idea is that the glass or plastic will harness the winter sun’s warmth, allowing plants to grow inside. Now we’re not talking tomatoes here, but there are several things you can grow, including root vegetables and greens....

If you want to make your own vertical garden, then you’re in the right place! Vertical gardening has become super popular over the past few years, and creating a vertical garden is so much fun. My favorite thing about growing vertically is that I can use my creativity to grow plants in fun and unique ways. There aren’t any hard-and-fast rules for building a vertical garden, which means our options are basically unlimited....

If you missed out on harvesting your broccoli at the tight bud stage, all is not lost. Even with the bright yellow flowers open, you can still harvest your broccoli. Broccoli plants are made to flower and produce seeds. The perfect time to harvest broccoli heads is when the heads are still bright green and still composed of tightly formed buds. If a few of the buds have bloomed and turned yellow, it is not too late but you need to harvest the crown quickly before the rest of the buds open up....

Looking for air purifying plants to keep your indoor air fresh and free of toxins? Gardeners have solid research to defend the urge to buy more houseplants. A study from NASA and the ALCA (Associated Landscape Contractors of America) concludes that houseplants purify the air. We all love to have houseplants like bamboo palm and spider plants to make our rooms look warmer and more inviting. This study, which was intended to purify air for astronauts orbiting in space, proved to have positive implications on Earth, too ....

Sapodilla is a tropical evergreen tree, cultivated in many countries for export. This tree can be grown in home gardens and containers as well. You can also plant this exotic fruit tree by following the Growing Sapodilla Tree and Care tips given in this article. Let’s read in detail How to Grow a Sapodilla Tree! Botanical Name: Manilkara zapota Soil pH: 6.0-8.0 USDA Zone 4-11 Common Names: Naseberry, chikoo, chiku, dilly...

In home vegetable garden popularity contests, green beans rank second only to tomatoes. Green beans are easy to grow, but gardeners do have to take measure to prevent diseases from damaging or destroying their bean crops. Green Bean Varieties Pole beans need support, but they are easy to harvest. Bush beans (aka string beans) are easier to grow because they don’t need support, but they are harder to harvest because you have to search for the beans, which hide under the leaves....

Want to know how to grow snapdragon flowers? Snapdragons are particularly famous for their snout-like flower bulbs which will snap back like a jaw when pulled apart and then released. They come in three size categories: dwarf (6-8 inches), medium (15-30 inches), and tall (30-48 inches). The different sizes allow for them to be used for different landscaping designs. The tall snapdragons sometimes require stakes in order to remain standing correctly....

Come late February or March, the winter is on its way out over much of the country. It’s pruning time for folks who have woody-stemmed plants that bloom or hedges and shrubs that need shaping up. But how and when to prune are puzzling to many people who otherwise know a lot about gardening. There are some basic rules that can serve as guidelines for pruning, but one should also carefully consider the individual cultivars of plants they have and realize that some of them don’t follow the rules precisely....

It’s easy to just nab whatever pot and soil your local store has available, but if you really want to foster big, beautiful plants, you should put a little extra consideration into your choices. Potting soil and the container it sits in are literally the foundation for your houseplant. Without them, your plant can’t access nutrients, doesn’t have a base of support, and won’t be able to thrive. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

There are some key differences between these two insects, and we’ve laid out all of the details below, including some straightforward ways you can tell them apart. Little black insects are hanging around your plants, looking suspicious. You do a quick search online and immediately two results pop up: fungus gnats or shore flies. But which one are you dealing with? Both are often found hovering around plants. Both like moist conditions....

Mamey sapote, the national fruit of Cuba, is a tropical fruit that is popular in Central America and the Caribbean. It is also grown in the United States in temperate areas of South Florida, California, Texas, and Hawaii. Although it is more common in South Florida, mamey sapote is hard to find in other areas of the United States. You probably won’t be able to find them in the produce section at the grocery store....

Onion jam is quick and easy to make, and this recipe is savory, sweet, and is so incredibly yummy. In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to make it step by step. If you’re looking for a simple onion jam that you can whip up in minutes, my delicious recipe will have you and your family asking for more. You can make a batch of this to use right away, or try canning it for later....

Types of garlic There are hundreds of varieties of garlic to grow, but two main types: hardneck and softneck. Jessica writes about them in this detailed article, but here are the basic differences: Hardneck garlic: I grow hardneck garlic in my Northern garden as it’s very cold tolerant. The plants produce a central stem, called a scape which gardeners typically snap off in early summer in hopes of promoting large bulbs....

San Marzano tomatoes are famous worldwide for their sweet taste and thick flesh. Their reputation is a gold standard by which other tomatoes are judged. They are a high yielding tomato variety with origins dating back to 18th century Italy. San Marzanos are not a commonly grown cultivar and there’s a low probability of finding starters, which is why your best option is to start growing them from seed. Here are some facts you might not know about this wonderful tomato variety....

Have you ever seen a sesame plant? Surely you’re familiar with sesame seeds, sesame oil, and tahini. But have you tried growing sesame plants for sesame oil yourself? If not, here’s your chance! Table of Contents Sesame or Sesamum indicum is grown all over the world as a food crop in hot dry areas, like India and Africa. There are records of its growth in China over 5000 years ago. Tahini, a well-loved food (not just among people in the Mediterranean and the Middle East), is ground sesame seeds....

String of hearts plants are easy to care for and fun to grow. In this post, I’m going to teach you all you need to know about them, and give you tons of tips for watering, light, soil, fertilizer, pruning, and more! The low-maintenance and eye-catching string of hearts plant is a great choice for any home gardener looking for a beautiful indoor or outdoor vine. I love putting them in hanging baskets or tall planters, and they’re also great for setting on a bookshelf or cascading over a pedestal....

QUESTION: What is redroot pigweed? I keep hearing about it at gardening club meetings, but I’m not sure what people are talking about. — Harvey T. ANSWER: Redroot pigweed is a widespread summer annual weed plant. The seeds germinate in summertime or whenever soil is sufficiently moist and the temperature is 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. These seeds are the reason the plant is so prolific. Every redroot pigweed plant can produce tens of thousands of seeds, and those seeds remain able to reproduce for a decade or even longer....

1. Create a Container Water Garden That’s a trendy idea and perfect for those with a patio, large balcony, or rooftop garden. Making a container water garden is easy. A 15 to 25-gallon size container is suitable to start with. Read our post to learn more! HGTV.com has a tutorial on it, too. 2. Plant Shrubs Annuals, vegetables, shade-loving, and low-growing plants are common among container gardeners, but not most people like to grow shrubs....

These Beautiful Golden Plants for Hanging Baskets add a subtle color to your plant collection with their eye-catching, dangling foliage and look great in patios, balconies, and gardens! Here are the best trailing foliage plants for hanging baskets Beautiful Golden Plants for Hanging Baskets 1. Creeping Jenny Botanical Name: Lysimachia nummularia The plant is also popular by the name moneywort, thanks to its coin-shaped leaves. For the best yellow shade, grow it in full sun as the leaves take a brown hue in the shade....

Pothos is one of the easiest plants to grow in the home and it’s surely one of the 10 most popular indoor plants as well. If that is not enough, it’s also the best air purifying houseplant! And, we’re not over yet–After knowing these beautiful Types of Pothos Varieties listed below, you’ll say, it’s beautiful, too! Here’s everything you need to know about growing pothos Best Types of Pothos Varieties These best Types of Pothos Varieties can be easily maintained indoors with regular trimming....