Feb 25
A productive square foot garden starts below the plants. Because vegetables are grown closely together in a relatively small raised bed, the growing mix needs to hold moisture, drain well, provide nutrients, and remain loose enough for roots to spread easily. The traditional square foot gardening soil recipe was developed specifically for this style of …
Feb 16
Starting tomatoes from seed gives you access to far more varieties than you are likely to find as transplants at a garden center. Heirlooms, paste tomatoes, colorful cherry tomatoes, compact patio varieties, and unusual beefsteaks are all much easier to find when you begin with seed. The challenge is timing. Start tomato seeds too late …
Feb 07
Anemone flowers are a remarkably diverse group of perennials, ranging from tiny spring woodland flowers to brilliant Mediterranean cut flowers and tall Japanese anemones that bloom well into autumn. Their colors include white, pink, red, violet, blue-purple, and magenta, while their growing requirements vary just as widely. That diversity is also why anemone care can …
Feb 01
Cosmos flowers are generally considered deer resistant, but they are not deer-proof. Deer often leave established Cosmos bipinnatus plants alone when more appealing food is available, which makes cosmos a useful annual for gardens where deer browsing is a concern. However, hungry deer can still eat the foliage, stems, buds, or flowers—especially when plants are …
Feb 01
There is no single correct way to grow a garden. A gardener with a sunny half-acre can plant directly in the ground, while someone with a small balcony might harvest tomatoes, herbs, lettuce, and flowers from containers. Raised beds can make difficult soil easier to manage, vertical gardens use walls and trellises to increase growing …
Jan 30
You do not need a large backyard to grow tomatoes, herbs, salad greens, or a balcony filled with flowers. Urban gardening is all about making smart use of the space you already have, whether that means a sunny apartment balcony, a narrow patio, a small courtyard, a rooftop, a front porch, or a few containers …
