QUESTION: What are the benefits to hilling my potatoes? Does hilling potatoes increase yield? -Kayla W. ANSWER: Hilling is not meant to increase the size of your potato harvest, but instead hilling protects developing potatoes from the elements as they grow. That said, hilling does tend to end up increasing the yield of potato plants because in addition to preventing potatoes from going green, it also controls weeds, improves drainage, and raises the temperature of the soil....

Echeveria elegans is as classic as succulents get. If asked to think of a succulent, we’d bet this is the one you’re picturing. It has tight rosettes of plump leaves, blue-green-grey coloring, and a healthy coating of farina (also called epicuticular wax). It’s no wonder you’ll hear this succulent called “Mexican gem”. Table of Contents Also nicknamed Mexican snowball, Echeveria elegans is a drought-tolerant, Mexico-native plant that’s shaped like a sphere....

Ready to learn more? Here’s what we’ll take a look at in this article: Long before beets were ever considered a food, they were used as herbal medicine. Surprising, right? Even today, research shows that your homegrown beets really can bring a bounty of health benefits! We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Beet Background In Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa where they originate – and long before they were first consumed as a root vegetable – beets’ ancient ancestors were harvested for use in herbal medicine....

Watering globes are a useful tool to provide your potted plants with water while you are away on vacation. Alternatively, they can be used all the time, to reduce the frequency that you have to manually water your plants. But before you set up a watering globe you really want to know how long it is going to last. How Long Do Watering Globes Last? Watering globes normally last for between 7 to 14 days, depending on the size of the globe, the size of the opening, the soil they are placed in and the plant they are intended to water....

They may be small, but they have a big impact as day-brightening accent plants, whether you grow them with taller succulents in a dish garden or to create a thick succulent mat along a walkway or at the edge of a garden. Anacampseros spp. In a world full of cell phone-camera-alarm clocks, slow cooker-air fryer-Instant Pots, and convertible cargo shorts-pants, I appreciate the anacampseros succulent. This compact plant does one job for us gardeners, and it does it so well....

Fruit If you are considering adding blackberries to your home garden this season, you've come to the right place! Garden grown blackberries can be equally rewarding and delicious! In this article, gardening expert and farmer Taylor Sievers walks through each step you'll need to follow for a bountiful blackberry harvest this season! By Taylor Sievers Last updated: August 4, 2022 | 18 min read Few things are more rewarding as a gardener than harvesting fruit from your very own backyard!...

Me? I looked for familiar faces, but not in the people passing by. My eyes were peeled, scanning the roadsides and the fields, the highway medians and the drainage ditches, searching for flowers and plants that I could identify. Rudbeckia Hirta I’ve been fortunate to travel across most of the United States from coast to coast. The majority of this traveling has been in line with the “Will Work for Food” variety rather than the five-star hotel kind....

by Jennifer Poindexter Have you ever heard of the hebe shrub? It’s pronounced hee-bee. This plant is a wonderful addition to have around your home. The plant originated in New Zealand. Therefore, it enjoys a warmer climate. Don’t be discouraged if you live in a cooler area. There are ways to work around this plant’s climate preferences. If you’d be interested in growing this shrub in your yard or garden, be sure you understand what it needs....

In our guide to growing lettuce, we cover how to cultivate crispy heads and tender greens in your garden. Almost all garden plants are susceptible to some type of disease, and lettuce is no exception. Some can be mildly inconvenient and easy to prevent, while others can destroy crops and infect soil, leading to chronic crop loss if you don’t have the land available to rotate. If you’re growing your own salad greens for healthy, homegrown salads, it’s a huge disappointment when you discover your plants are showing symptoms of disease....

Propagating string of pearls is very quick and easy. In this post I’ll show you exactly how to root the cuttings in either soil or water. For anyone interested in learning how to propagate string of pearls, you’ll be excited to know that it’s simple and fun to do. In this step by step guide I’ll discuss the different methods, and provide clear instructions on how to tackle the most common techniques....

This is a beneficial undertaking, because fluctuating temperatures typical of winter cause alternating cycles of freezing and thawing in the soil, which can damage plant tissue. The rose (Rosa spp.) is an ancient flower known for its velvety petals and menacing thorns. An inspiration to writers and a classic token of lovers’ affections, it is one of today’s most popular ornamental plants. There are heirloom and modern varieties with growth habits that include miniature, climbing, rambling, shrub, and tree forms....

Sweetheart Hoya is a thick succulent famous for its heart-shaped leaves. The plant gains wide popularity during valentine’s week as people gift it to their loved ones. If you too want to add it to your collection, then here’s all you need to know about Hoya Kerrii Care Indoors. Botanical Name: Hoya Kerrii Common Name: Sweetheart Hoya, Valentine Hoya, Heart-shaped Hoya, Valentine Wax plant, Heart Wax plant, Sweetheart Wax Plant...

Over the past few years, plantable pellets have become very popular. They are fast, convenient, and easy to use, and they’re kinda fun too. Some people really love the seed pellets, and there are definitely advantages to using them over potting soil. But there are also some disadvantages that are important to consider. If you’re new to growing seeds, then this side-by-side comparison of peat pellets vs potting soil will be extremely helpful for you....

Brown tips on spider plants is a very common problem. But the good news is that it’s fixable. In this post, I’ll tell you all the causes and also the solutions so you can get rid of them for good. The most common issue people have with spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum, aka airplane plant) is brown tips and how to deal with them. This problem can be caused by a wide range of things, which makes it frustrating for beginners to figure out....

Thinking about starting a market garden to earn money? The satisfaction that comes from growing your own vegetables or having the yard that is the envy of passers-by, is just scratching the surface of what your love for gardening can bring to you and your family. With a little bit of imagination, creativity and manual labor, your market garden can generate cold hard cash. Turning your green thumb into green in your bank account isn’t as difficult as you might think....

Terrific tomatoes: Mark Cullen, best-selling author, television and radio host, newspaper columnist & gardening spokesperson: “My favourite tomato is Lemon Boy, which produces medium-sized, perfectly round fruit. The bright yellow tomatoes are popular with gardeners because of their unusual, sunny appearance, but Lemon Boy also tastes great! It’s very sweet – a great hamburger and sandwich tomato, and the plants are blight resistant.” Carson Arthur, HGTV Host & Outdoor Design and Lifestyle Expert “While not an heirloom, my favourite find for 2015 was definitely Pinky Tuscadero!...

Maybe you want to start a bunch of plants at once to create your own orchard, and you need to do it affordably, with reliable results – or you want to plant more than one tree for cross-pollination, which is recommended for bigger yields. There are several reasons why you might choose to grow your own pomegranate trees at home. Obviously, there’s the fresh factor – homegrown produce seems to taste better when it’s just been picked than store-bought fruit that’s been shipped from afar and left to sit, doesn’t it?...

Wonderfully low maintenance, they’re simple and easy to cultivate and propagate readily from cuttings, seed, or root division. Edible herbs are some of the most rewarding plants to grow. They add delightful beauty and fragrance to the garden and deliver amazing flavors for beverages, the grill, and your favorite recipes. Highly aromatic with pretty flowers, they also attract helpful pollinators to the garden, like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. And they make the best companion plants, adeptly driving away pests from flower beds and vegetable crops with their intense essential oils....

Sugar snaps and snow peas don’t even need shelling; they can be added to the menu directly after harvesting with nothing but a rinse in between. Did you ever have the chance to shell freshly harvested peas as a kid? It’s so fun! Each one hides its contents like little prizes earned from all the nurturing you provided through the growing season. Well, if you didn’t have that experience in childhood, there’s still time to make up for that as an adult....

QUESTION: What is a bag garden? Is it literally growing vegetables in a bag? What kind of bag? -Jacob R. ANSWER: There are multiple ways to grow a bag garden. To begin, you must have a bag. This can mean that you either purchase a bag of soil or you purchase a linen, burlap, or heavy plastic sack. These are available at most major retailers. Some of the large woven bags can hold up to 50-gallons, have handles to make moving your garden easier, and ensure proper airflow....