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Vegetables Are you looking for some veggies you can add to your garden this fall? Fall crops are important when it comes to maximizing the yield in your garden each season. In this article, gardening expert and former organic farmer Logan Hailey examines her favorite fall crops you can plant this season! By Logan Hailey Last updated: November 10, 2022 | 13 min read As gardens begin to fade from summer’s glory, savvy growers are extending the season with fall vegetables....

Whether you’re interested in purchasing just one of these houseplants, thinking of starting a hoya collection, or planning to expand the collection you already have, this guide will help you deepen your understanding, love, and appreciation for these beautiful plants. Hoyas are fantastic houseplants with foliage that comes in many shapes, sizes, colors, and textures – in fact, there is so much variety that it can be hard to know which one to choose!...

Heirloom tomatoes, winter squash, and homegrown brussels sprouts are great, but who wants to wait three months or more before you can enjoy your first taste from the garden? Sometimes slow and steady does not win the race. Like all those little kid gardeners, there are occasions when even the adults tire of waiting long periods to see sprouts, or taste the fruits (or should I say greens?) of their labor....

Understanding the basics of the nutrient cycles Most of us learned about nutrient cycles in middle school. We learned how ecosystems naturally recycle nutrients through the processes of life and decay. Plants are major players in both the carbon and nitrogen cycles as they photosynthesize, grow, transpire, decompose, or become part of the food chain. In an undisturbed ecosystem, plants are self-feeding, so to speak. In a nutshell, carbon, nitrogen, and many other essential plant nutrients are released back into the soil upon a plant’s death (or upon the digested plant being excreted by whatever organism ate it)....

If you recently moved to a big city to get closer to your job or you still want to carry on farming in the dead of winter, do not fret; indoor gardening is a viable option for you. Aside from reaping a bounty harvest of your favorite vegetables, indoor gardening is suitable for growing seedlings for transplanting into a farm or continuing growth after transplanting. Indoor plants do not require a lot of space and can survive in room corners, window sills or balconies, and they grow in containers in a process called potting....

Houseplants are a great way to bring a piece of nature into your home, and Calathea orbifolia will surely stand out form your collection! When grown indoors, this calathea will stay rather small, although its leaves can grow to be pretty wide. The white and green stripes are mesmerizing and will quickly become your favorite house plant! Table of Contents Calathea orbifolia can be a bit tricky to care for at first as you try to find just the right spot for it in your home....

QUESTION: Can you grow lettuce in the summer? When will lettuce bolt? -Jeremy C. ANSWER: Lettuce is easiest to grow with success in the spring and fall, but with a few precautions you can grow it all summer long, too. Lettuce plants that aren’t heat resistant do best in temperatures between 45 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. For lettuce plants that thrive in summer, start out with a variety that’s designed to withstand rising temperatures....

Here are 10 of our favorite early blooming perennials: Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea): The sunny yellow flower in the feature photo of this post is a Golden Alexander. This tough, North American native requires only lean soil and full to partial sun. With blooms much like a yellow Queen Anne’s lace and parsley-like foliage, Golden Alexanders are in full bloom by the end of April in my Pennsylvania garden. They readily self-sow and reach about two feet in height when in flower....

Meet the Golden Goddess philodendron Of all the purchases I’ve made for my ever-growing collection of indoor plants, few have been as rewarding as philodendrons. They are low maintenance plants and are a great addition for both expert and novice houseplant growers. While I have several different types of philodendrons in my collection, the Golden Goddess philodendron is the one that garners the most attention. Each and every neon-yellow leaf on this member of the trendy philodendron family is a stand-out....

You either love it or hate it! That’s what we hear the most about cilantro. Regardless of your personal tastes, you’ll love growing cilantro for its good looks alone. That this whimsical, feathery plant is a delicious garnish is just a bonus! Table of Contents Another bonus you’ll get with this plant is coriander seeds. Cilantro and coriander may look and taste different, but they actually come from the same plant....

Harvesting brussels sprouts is easier than you might think, and actually kinda fun too! In this post, you’ll learn how to tell when they are ready to pick, plus I’ll show you step by step exactly how to gather them, and even give you tips for using, and storing them for later. Have you ever seen a funny-looking brussels sprouts plant and wondered how you were ever going to harvest them correctly?...

Since their arrival, succulents have taken the gardening world by storm. But with so much popularity there comes upheaval of queries too. One such question among gardeners is that how long do succulents live? Now it’s a tricky one to answer, as there isn’t a definitive answer. But first, we need to know what factors contribute to the life of succulents! Check out Our Article on Propagating Succulents here! Factors Affecting the Life of Succulents Many factors contribute to the lifespan of a succulent....

Let’s see why! Ficus carica The occasional pejorative use of the term “fig leaf” is wholly undeserved. The leaves of the fig tree (Ficus carica) are quite lovely – large, beautifully shaped, and generous in their provision of shade. It is entirely unjust that the leaves of this lovely tree have been so maligned throughout history, likely due to their part in the biblical story of Adam and Eve. Any plant that gives us food, beauty, and shelter surely deserves our respect and admiration, rather than our scorn....

Are you ready to welcome an areca palm into your home? Here’s what I’ll cover: Dypsis​ ​lutescens​ Living in a northern climate with long cold winters, I am always looking for dramatic indoor plants to liven up my home. With its elegant, arching fronds, the areca palm adds a tropical flair to the living room all year long. Relatively low maintenance, these popular houseplants are nontoxic to dogs and cats, and with the right care will grace your home for many years....

With prolific growth patterns, plants can have a dramatic spread of up to six feet, and they bloom all summer long in cascades of vibrant color. Pelargonium peltatum Fast growing and brightly colored, ivy leaf geraniums take center stage in any hanging basket arrangement. In the family Geraniaceae, Pelargonium peltatum is commonly known as ivy leaf, trailing, or cascading geranium. An herbaceous perennial native to South Africa, P. peltatum was introduced to the cool climates of Holland and England by 1704....

If long vines covered with big green hearts weren’t already a sweet enough deal, this houseplant also comes with the bonus of lovely, fragrant blossoms, even when grown indoors – and it’s also supremely easy to propagate to make new plants. Hoya kerrii Are you in the market for a long term relationship? If so, let me introduce you to sweetheart hoya. Sweetheart hoya, please meet our dear reader. (Yes, I may be playing matchmaker here....

Other species in the family are at home in the backyard garden, ornamentals that display lovely flowers for us to admire. Linum spp. Enjoying that breezy new linen shirt you picked up on sale last weekend? Linen, a textile crafted from a member of the Linum genus, is renowned for its use in summer wear. The particular weave used to craft linen fabric, combined with the fiber’s inherent qualities including high absorption rate and heat conduction, render the textile well-suited for use in summer clothing....

In this article, we’ll take a look at the top five pests that can damage this fragrant member of the Allium genus. Garlic is a stinky, pungent bulb. For this reason, it’s logical to assume that most pests will leave it alone. It’s even used as a pest deterrent in the garden, planted as a companion for roses, peppers, and tomatoes to keep pesky insects away. But we think it’s delicious, so why shouldn’t the bugs?...

A concrete block raised bed is cheap and easy to build, and a great way to quickly add DIY raised garden beds to your yard. The best part is that you can build your raised bed right over the top of the grass! In this post, I will show you exactly how to build a raised garden bed with concrete blocks step-by-step. A few years ago, I got to work on a project to build a community garden....

Fruit Dwarf meyer lemon trees can make excellent fruit tree companions for your garden, in the right climate and hardiness zone. In this article, recreational gardener Jason White walks through every step you'll need to take in order to successfully plant, grow, and care for dwarf meyer lemon trees in your garden. By Jason White Last updated: September 21, 2022 | 16 min read Owning a dwarf Meyer lemon tree can make you feel like you’re living in a tropical paradise....