by Jennifer Poindexter What’s a vegetable you love to eat and grow? Peas are probably one of my favorite vegetables. They taste great, are simple to grow, but they do require a little extra work when shelling them. However, if you enjoy their flavor, it’s worth it. Did you know some gardeners face major challenges when growing this crop? It happens to all of us from time to time. There are some common mistakes people make when growing this crop....

While you can’t straighten a carrot out once it gets wonky, you can learn how to prevent deformities and produce a nice straight root crop in your next growing season. Are your homegrown carrots forked, branching, twisted, or knobby? While they may make for amusing photos, these deformed vegetables can make food preparation a challenge – try turning a twisted carrot into carrot sticks! These odd-shaped vegetables can also be a sign of serious garden problems....

Wreath making is usually a pretty chilly task to do outside, especially if you’re trying to twist fine florist wire around each branch that you add. I’ll bundle up to make the container outside. But for the wreath, most years I’ll set up shop on the living room floor, spreading my branches out on top of newspaper, so I can easily choose what I need as I work through my DIY craft with a cup of hot tea close at hand....

Hypoestes phyllostachya comes in multitudes of colors and does quite well in indoor conditions, making it one of the most beautiful houseplants you can grow. Check out Different Types of Polka Dot Plant Varieties and pick your favorite one! Have a look at some awesome houseplants with Polka Dot prints here Different Types of Polka Dot Plant Varieties 1. Pink Brocade Pink Brocade offers mottled pink dots on the green hairy leaves of the plant....

Growing Strawberries Hydroponically is a new trend nowadays. In a hydroponic culture, plants do not grow in soil; instead, they grow in a water-based nutrient solution. A nutrient-rich solution, consisting of peat-moss, vermiculture, or fertilizer that supports the plant’s roots. But do ensure that the right nutrient in the right concentration is the key to growing juicy strawberries successfully. 1. Hydroponic Strawberry Tower This DIY hydroponic tower is the easiest way to grow juicy strawberries in a small space....

Winter composting can seem like a huge challenge. Especially if you live in an area where it gets freezing cold. But if you’re like me, it feels like such a waste to throw away all of those awesome kitchen scraps, rather than tossing them into your bin, tumbler, or heap. Well guess what? You don’t have to stop composting in winter, and it’s actually easier than you might think. In this detailed guide you’ll learn all about how to prepare your pile in the fall, the benefits of winter composting, and all you need to know to keep going, even through the coldest and snowiest months of the year....

When it comes to caring for tomato plants, focus mostly goes on soil, water, and sunlight, forgetting an essential aspect of tomato care–Spacing! For a bountiful harvest, you need to save up as much space as possible without overcrowding the plants. But exactly How Far Apart to Plant Tomatoes? Do all the varieties require equal spacing? Is spacing depends on the type of planting method? Let’s discuss it in detail....

Their long stems, sparkling flowers, and strong, spicy scent are ideal in beds, borders, containers, edging, and rockeries as well as butterfly, courtyard, gravel, and zen gardens. Dianthus superbus A classic in the cottage and cutting garden, dianthus species are beloved for their sweetly spicy fragrance and bright, cheerful flowers that rise above cool, glaucous green foliage. Large pinks feature feathery flowers in intense shades of burgundy, lilac, pink, scarlet, and white with deeply cut, fringed edges that can be delicate and silky or wildly plumed....

Here’s how you can grow them in your own little vegetable patch. Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis Bok choy (or pak choi), literally translated from Chinese, means “white vegetable,” but the irony is that only the stalks near the center of the plant are white. The outer leaves are beautiful shades of light purple or green, and seem to open out like supporting ballerinas arching back to reveal the star of the show – the compact-headed, bulbous-bottomed central stalks and leaves....

Heck, you can even break off a leaf and rub the gel on your skin to soothe burns. So, they’re practical and beautiful – even if it’s true that I probably wouldn’t waste one of those pretty leaves if another salve was handy. Aloe x ‘Christmas Carol’ I’m both frugal and an admirer of a good work ethic, so I find ‘Christmas Carol’ aloe appealing. This member of the Asphodelaceae family provides holiday cheer in season, and is also a beautiful house plant all year long....

Coneflowers (Echinacea) have become widely popular in recent years, although for a long time, they were nothing more than humble prairie flowers. With their large pinkish to purple flowers and long stems, coneflowers look charming in a cottage garden, xeriscaped bed or wildflower planting. The plants are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, making them adaptable to almost every part of the country. They can be propagated from seed, cuttings or division and they require almost no care....

These radishes require little upkeep and store well. During the dark of winter, I love munching on them to add some zing to an otherwise dreary day. Raphanus sativus var. Longipinnatus It has always seemed to me that daikon radish is one of the easiest fall crops to grow. Sometimes I’ve sown seeds and forgotten about them, only to return to large white roots. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

I won’t lie, I first fell for heathers because they’re so low-maintenance, but once I discovered the range of colors in both the foliage and the flowers, I was hooked. Maybe you feel the same way? Andromeda, Calluna, Daboecia, Erica spp. For a tough plant that thwarts hungry deer, marauding rabbits, swarms of aphids, and even most diseases, heather has a delicate beauty all its own. While it comes from regions that sport some pretty inhospitable environments, heathers have learned to adapt to all kinds of areas....

When you think of soybeans, what comes to mind? Large agricultural fields full of bushy plants, or maybe you think of soy milk or tofu. Either way, if you haven’t considered growing your own soybeans, then exploring how to grow soybeans may inspire you to plant your own soybean crop. Table of Contents Some claim soybeans are the oldest food crop in the world, which isn’t surprising, considering soybeans are more than a food source....

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....

Grown as an annual in much of the country, bat-faced cuphea is evergreen to the upper 20s°F and root hardy to the lower 20s°F. In some areas, it will die to the ground and – with heavy mulching – grow back from the roots. Cuphea Ilavea Don’t you just love unusual plant names? There are species with names like turpentine bush, and of course there’s snake plant and Persian shield, too....

Succulents Propagating jade plants can be quite rewarding. But it's always best to have the right steps in place before you attempt to do it on your own. In this article, gardening expert and houseplant enthusiast Madison Moulton walks through how to propagate a jade plant by detailing each step you'll need to take. By Madison Moulton Last updated: December 21, 2022 | 10 min read For those looking for a beginner-friendly, easy-care plant that will give you no trouble at all, look no further than the Jade plant....

Information Are your hydrangeas wilting or drooping and you aren't sure why? There are a few common causes for wilted and droopy hydrangeas. In this article, gardening expert and hydrangea enthusiast Jill Drago walks through why your hydrangeas are droopy or wilting, and how to address the situation to revive your beautiful blooming shrubs! By Jill Drago Last updated: November 22, 2022 | 4 min read Hydrangeas are the stars of gardens all over the world....

You have a few options for how you can store fresh apples and you might even choose to turn part of your harvest into preserves. In this article, I’ll cover these various options. With winter coming on, there’s something reassuring about a well-stocked larder. And when it includes an abundant supply of apples for fresh eating and to turn into warm baked goods, that reassurance is especially sweet. But if you want your harvest of homegrown apples to last as long as possible and maintain their delicious flavor and crisp texture, it’s important to keep them in the ideal conditions....

Succulents Need help determining the best way to care for your Kalanchoe Fedtschenkoi? This popular succulent is low-maintenance and makes an excellent plant for beginners. In this article, gardening expert Melissa Strass walks you through the maintenance and care of Lavender Scallops! By Melissa Strauss Last updated: January 12, 2023 | 14 min read If you’ve decided to welcome a new succulent into your garden, Kalanchoe Fedtschenkoi (also known as Lavender Scallops) is a low-maintenance succulent plant that’s perfect for novice houseplant owners, and expert gardeners alike....