Creeping thyme is one of those ‘must have’ plants you see in glossy lifestyle magazines, with soft pink floral carpets cascading over cottage garden walls or sprawling across a gravel garden overlooking the ocean, creating an altogether dreamy and aspirational ambiance. Good news! It’s very easy to recreate this look at home. Read on to discover how to create your own little slice of flowering creeping thyme heaven that spreads quickly through your front yard....

I like the taste of okra, but I don’t like how slimy it gets when it’s steamed or sautéed. The first few times I cooked it fresh from my garden, I steamed it. But I found myself almost having to gag it down because it was the consistency of snot – EWE! Frying it gets rid of the slime, but all of the recipes I found were breaded and deep-fried. Well that’s NOT good for you....

Have you ever wanted to grow fruit, but didn’t want to give up space in the yard for one of those heirloom apple trees? Even a crab apple might be too large? Then you will want to know about espalier fruit trees and how they’re grown! Table of Contents This old technique has been used on grape vines, fruit and flowering trees, and even large shrubs. Pronounced “ess-PAUL-yay”, the term originates with the French word “aspau”, meaning “a prop”, referencing the trellis that supports branches....

Freezing pumpkin is fast and easy, and a great way to keep it on hand whenever you need it. In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to do it with either chunks or puree, step by step. If you’ve found yourself with an abundance of pumpkins this season, or you want to keep it on hand for all of your winter recipes, then try freezing some. It’s quick to do with only a few simple steps, and you can use it in all kinds of dishes or baked goods....

By Jennifer Poindexter Are you a fan of companion planting and looking for something new to grow alongside your rosemary plants? If so, you’ll be pleased to know that you have quite a few options to choose from. But what if you’re new to companion planting? Don’t worry because I’ll be providing information on this as well. I’m going to walk you through the benefits and reasons why people choose companion planting as a gardening method....

Vines Trying to transplant your clematis but aren't sure when or how to do it? Transplanting these popular vines is fairly straightforward. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen takes you through each step of transplanting clematis, starting with when to do it, through how it's done. By Liessa Bowen Last updated: December 12, 2022 | 5 min read Clematis are a perennial garden favorite. They are a familiar sight growing up a trellis or arbor, or cascading over the edge of a wall or large container....

If you’ve ever read instructions or watched a video on how to propagate plants, chances are you’ve heard about rooting hormone. It’s recommended when trying to “start” new plants from existing ones and serves a very useful purpose. How does rooting hormone work? Rooting hormone is used when propagating cuttings to increase success and works in two different ways. It helps to stimulate root growth and stronger root development and also acts as an antifungal agent to protect the freshly cut stem/leaf from infection....

Going through the process of planning and designing a rain garden is fun and interesting. In the end, it’s really just an exercise of understanding how water flows through your property, and finding the best location. If you’re interested in adding a rain garden, then you probably already know that choosing the best place for it is crucial for success. There are a lot of factors involved in planning a rain garden, and you can’t just put one anywhere you want....

Seedling problems are super frustrating, and many times you’re left wondering “Why do my seedlings keep dying?”. Don’t worry, I’ve got the solutions to your seed starting problems! In this post, I’ll give you detailed fixes and tons of help with seedlings, so you can finally stop struggling. Help! Why are my seedlings dying? This is one of the most common questions I get from gardeners when they’re starting seeds indoors....

G. jamesonii are one of the world’s top 10 best-selling cut flowers, and third favorite in the US, behind tulips and ornamental lilies. There are thousands of hybrids and you’ll often see them in bouquets or decorating dinner tables at weddings. Gerbera jamesonii Sometime in the 1920s, my great-grandmother planted a selection of Gerbera jamesonii along the side of her cottage. Her Barberton daisies, as she called them, thrived in the same garden bed for almost 100 years until the current owner decided they had to go....

USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8 are where they typically thrive, although this can vary depending on the species. Carya spp. Looking for trees that combine aesthetics and multi-functionality? Look no further than hickory trees. Native to North America, China, and Indochina, the Carya genus is composed of three subgenera consisting of typical hickories, pecans, and Asian hickories. In total, the Carya genus includes 19 different species of hardwood, deciduous trees characterized by their pinnately compound leaves, yellow-green flowering catkins, and hard-shelled nuts filled with tasty, edible seeds....

While this beautiful woody shrub’s native range stretches from central Florida and Texas and up through New York State and Maine, you can grow it just about anywhere if you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9. Ilex verticillata I grew up enjoying snowy winters every year in Montana, so when I moved to southern California for college, I missed the snow. A lot. But then came graduate school in Vermont, where not only did it snow every winter, but plants I hadn’t seen before in Montana popped up along with the snow and cold....

Celery can be a difficult plant to start from seed and may frustrate beginner gardeners. However, with a little knowledge and some patience, anyone can learn how to grow celery at home! Table of Contents Homegrown celery often has a much stronger taste than store-bought celery because commercial growers blanch their celery. This gives the plant a lighter green color and a mild, sweet taste. Celery has been cultivated in the Mediterranean for thousands of years....

Starfruit is a unique star-shaped fruit loved widely for its tarty juicy taste. If you want an unlimited supply, learn How to Grow Star Fruit at home! Learn about Growing Star Anise here Star Fruit Tree Information Carambola is a slow-growing evergreen tree that grows 20-30 feet high. The tree features large leaves about 20 to 50 cm long and tarty star-shaped fruits. Not just fruits, but the star fruit tree flowers are attractive with rosy-pink shade directed toward the leaf axils or at the trunk or branch....

There are numerous varieties of cabbage, and all of which belong to the Brassica genus which includes broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and kale. Most home gardeners learn quickly that there are some crops that need protection and rescue from a variety of common pests. Hornworms are going to munch on your tomatoes; slugs are going to chew your lettuce down to a nub; and aphids – well, aphids may make an appearance on absolutely anything....

Gladiolus are particularly vulnerable to those pests that affect bulbs and rhizomes as well as corms, which are the underground structures these plants grow from. These storage structures look similar to bulbs but lack the onion-like layers that true bulbs have. Gladiolus is a classic summer perennial known for its spiky, sword-like foliage and upright flower stalks that offer a burst of summer color. These plants are typically pretty robust and don’t struggle with a lot of pests....

by Matt Gibson Many fabulous recipes call for fresh herbs. If you skip the herbs, the dish is now lacking that key ingredient that pulls it all together. Dried herbs just don’t have the bold flavor that fresh herbs do, and they are not a substitute that is even worth rolling the dice on. So, what do you do to give that recipe the fresh herbs that it needs? You go up to the grocery store and you pay an exorbitant amount of money for a tiny little frustrating package of fresh herbs, most of which that end up wasted and wilting in your refrigerator after you finish making the dish....

Flowers Begonias are beautiful flowers that are quite hardy and can be grown in a variety of different locations. If you've decided to add begonias to your garden this season, there are some important factors to consider when maximizing their growth. In this article, certified master gardener and begonia enthusiast Laura Elsener provides exact steps to plant, grow, and care for Begonias. By Laura Elsner Last updated: October 19, 2022 | 20 min read Begonias are the queen of the shade....

Their showy blooms highlight beds, borders, and large containers. They’re a must-have for the cutting garden, and they make a spectacular addition to meadows, woodland fringes, or any natural setting. Lilium spp. Adored by florists and gardeners everywhere, lilies are delightfully flamboyant with gorgeous flowers and heady perfume. Renowned for their big, bold blooms in scrumptious colors, these hardy bulbs are dependable, low maintenance, and multiply easily. And many have an unforgettable and intensely sweet fragrance....

They’ll produce an abundant crop of edible seeds you can consume fresh or harvest dry to stock the pantry. Dried and split, these popular legumes are the star of the traditional Indian dish toor dal, and they’re tasty in a range of other recipes as well. Cajanus cajan When you live somewhere warm enough to grow them as annuals or perennials, pigeon peas sure do come in handy. These legumes, Cajanus cajan, are one of the most beneficial vegetables to grow in your garden....