Tan-colored butternuts are a winter variety with a characteristic hard and inedible rind that covers vivid, saffron-colored flesh with a rich, nutty flavor and lovely, buttery texture when cooked. Cucurbita moschata Delicious and nutritious, butternut squash is a vining annual with a free, sprawling habit that’s fairly easy for the home gardener to cultivate. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

QUESTION: Is it normal for Christmas trees to lose needles? Mine seems to be dropping quite a few. – Randall T ANSWER: It is normal for any cut tree to lose its needles a bit, but a freshly cut live Christmas tree should last for four to six weeks indoors and stay fresh, maintaining most of its needles. To get the best chance that your tree holds its needles through Christmas, check the trees for freshness before you make a purchase....

Table of Contents We all love the early flowers of the spring months. But some of these should be started in the fall to produce those gorgeous displays. Narcissus flowers are high on that list. Daffodils, jonquils, and narcissus are all from the same genus of plant, and are easy plants to care for. These produce bright, showy flowers in sunny spots, delighting the eyes. And a few even produce a sweet scent, too!...

As an avid YouTube gardening video binge-watcher, imagine my absolute surprise and delight when I saw the collaboration between Epic Gardening’s Kevin Espiritu and the legendary Charles Dowding on how to make a no-dig garden bed back in December. This video came out at the perfect time for me because I had just decided to expand beyond my apartment patio and rent a garden plot through my local park district. I think many city dwellers like myself may come across a time when we venture beyond our tried and true containers into the wild and wonderful world of in-ground gardening....

Benefits of Planting from Seeds When you begin herbs from seeds, you gain two major advantages: control over the seedlings’ environment (and thus their overall health) and a greater selection of herbs and simples to choose from. The beginning days of a plant’s growth are crucial to its later health and wellness. A sickly plant at the beginning means low production and inferior taste later. By controlling the environment, the seed is nurtured when it becomes a seedling, which is important for the overall success of a garden....

If you’ve ever grown these pretty plants, you know exactly what I mean. They’re perfectly happy in a pot or in the ground just doing their thing. Whether you prune them or not, they’ll keep on blooming. There is a lot to love about nasturtiums. One of my favorite things is that you can pretty much plant them and forget them. With little input from me, they’ll bloom and bloom all season long....

Growing tomatoes in containers: 7 strategies for success When growing in containers, there are a few simple strategies you can use to boost success and keep plants healthy and productive. 1) Container selection Match the pot size to the variety size. Some tomatoes, like ‘Micro Tom’ grow just a foot tall and can be planted in small, six-inch diameter containers. Others, like ‘Sungold’ can grow over seven-feet tall and need a large five to seven gallon container....

by Jennifer Poindexter Do you need shade in your yard? If so, you might need to consider planting a fast-growing shade tree. In the home I grew up in, it had a gorgeous master bedroom. The only problem was there were tons of windows and no tall plants around them. This was a problem because during hot, southern summers that room was unbearable most of the day. If you have a similar problem, consider planting trees around your home....

Why are my tomatoes not turning red? This is a very common question! In this post, I will talk about when tomatoes should turn red, and give you some reasons why they don’t. Then I’ll share my five tricks for ripening tomatoes on the vine faster. Are your tomatoes slow to ripen on the vine? There’s nothing more frustrating about growing them than being forced to frantically pick tons of green tomatoes the night before frost....

QUESTION: What do you do with poinsettias after Christmas? Can I keep it growing for next season? -Tami R. ANSWER: Poinsettias start to look a little bit sad after the holidays have passed. At this point, depending on where you live, you have several choices as to what to do with your poinsettia. The most common choice is to throw it out and buy a new one next year. They typically only cost around $10, and you get to enjoy them from whenever you bought them in late October or early November through the New Year....

Before I start to explain how to grow winter aconite and where to plant it, it’s important to note that the entire winter aconite plant is poisonous, including the tubers, so avoid planting it if you have pets or small children. Hardy down to about USDA zone 4, winter aconite originates in the woodlands of the Balkans, France, and Italy, but has naturalized in other parts of Europe. This sunny sign of spring has a few names—winter hellebore, Éranthe d’hiver, and buttercup (because it is part of the Ranunculaceae or buttercup family)....

Houseplants Are you looking for another unique houseplant to add to your collection? You may not thing of monsteras as incredibly unique, but what about if you add a little leaf variegation? In this article, gardening expert and houseplant enthusiast Madison Moulton walks through 11 reasons why you'll love adding a variegated monstera to your houseplant collection! By Madison Moulton Last updated: November 25, 2022 | 7 min read You can’t scroll through gardening social media pages without seeing at least one variegated Monstera plant....

by Erin Marissa Russell Looking for new recipes that will inspire you to cook the spaghetti squash you grew in the garden this year? Once you’ve worn out your tried and true favorite methods of cooking spaghetti squash, you’ll be glad for some fresh ideas of new ways to prepare this delicious vegetable. Don’t get stuck in a culinary rut or spend hours searching the web—we’ve done the legwork to round up the most unique and delicious recipes so you can make the most of your spaghetti squash harvest....

If it ever crossed in your mind to grow spices at home in pots or in your garden, this post is for you. Even if you live in a small condo, you can plant any of these spices and create a Container Spice Garden. 1. Turmeric Botanical Name: Curcuma longa The part that is Used as Spice: Roots and Rhizomes Difficulty: Easy to Moderate When it comes to spices, turmeric tops the list because of its innumerate benefits....

The best way to increase the curb appeal of your home with vivid hues is to add greenery. Here are some fantastic Colorful Outdoor Plants for Patio & Porch that’ll do the job just right! Have a look at some beautiful patio and porch design ideas here Colorful Outdoor Plants for Patio & Porch 1. Stromanthe Botanical Name: Stromanthe This exotic plant features dark green variegated leaves with pink and cream stripes—the backside of the leaves has a pink-purple hue that makes it more attractive....

Houseplants If you've decided to add a palm tree to your indoor garden, there are plenty of options to choose from. Bringing a palm tree indoors can liven up just about any indoor living space, and help it stand apart from other more common indoor gardens. In this article, we take a look at our favorite types of palm trees that you can grow indoors! By Jason White Last updated: July 20, 2022 | 12 min read Are you looking to add a taste of the tropics to your living space?...

If your plants in your vegetable garden keep dropping leaves, turning odd colors, and generally failing to thrive, it might not be your gardening techniques that are at fault. Table of Contents There could be an imbalance in your soil structure that’s killing your garden plants. In such instances, improving your soil fertility might simultaneously improve your chances at having a successful garden. However, it’s always a good idea to test the pH levels and the soil acidity in your garden before you start applying fertilizer....

The peony, Paeonia spp., is a sun-loving perennial with varieties that produce pink, purple, red, white, and yellow flowers. Its climate preference is for USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8. Some brides plan spring weddings, risking the whims of the weather to ensure their bouquets and table settings dazzle guests with masses of ravishing, silky-soft peony blooms. I’ve met a gardener who lives well inside a no-frost climate who is so determined to grow swathes of these elegant flowers, she takes drastic steps....

Meet the Gryphon Begonia An herbaceous perennial in the Begoniaceae family, Begonia Gryphon is a foliage plant with maple-like leaves. The colorful foliage consists of palmate green leaves with white variegation and maroon leaf undersides and leaf veins. It’s a majestic beauty that’s named after the mythical creature known as the gryphon. With the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, the gryphon, though only a figment of man’s imagination, is unforgettable – just like its namesake plant....

While we have more ways to communicate now and multiple unique gifting options for birthdays, the messages conveyed by Birth Month Flowers with Meanings could be as meaningful even today as ever. Here are the best birthday flowers according to month Birth Month Flowers with Meanings What is Your Birth Flower? Here are the Birth Month Flowers with Meanings for you to know! Snowdrop Carnation Lily of the valley Strength of character...