Rose Kennedy

An avid raised bed vegetable gardener and former “Dirt to Fork” columnist for an alt-weekly newspaper in Knoxville, Tennessee, Rose Kennedy is dedicated to sharing tips that increase yields and minimize work. But she’s also open to garden magic, like the red-veined sorrel that took up residence in several square yards of what used to be her back lawn. She champions all pollinators, even carpenter bees. Her other enthusiasms include newbie gardeners, open-pollinated sunflowers, 15-foot-tall Italian climbing tomatoes, and the arbor her husband repurposed from a bread vendor’s display arch. More importantly, Rose loves a garden’s ability to make a well-kept manicure virtually impossible and revive the spirits, especially in tough times.

How to Grow Golden Zucchini

Vegetables Cucurbits, Squash (Cucurbita), Zucchini

A close up of a golden zucchini growing in the garden, with bright yellow fruits in various stages of maturity, pictured in light sunshine.

Grow a super food summer squash in a fresh yellow color! Golden zucchini are a bit sweeter than green varieties and nearly as productive. The shape makes them superior for zoodles, and their color’s a benefit in the kitchen and garden alike. Have some fun, follow these tips, and you’ll soon be harvesting summer gold.

How to Plant and Grow Zucchini

Vegetables Cucurbits, Squash (Cucurbita), Zucchini

A close up of the ripe, dark green fruits of a summer squash, growing in the garden, surrounded by foliage with soil in soft focus in the background.

A traditional home garden favorite, zucchini is popular as a zero-carb spiral noodle standout. A few plants can supply the whole family! But with so many wonderful cultivars for edible blossoms, stuffing or pickles, why not plant a bunch and harvest all summer long? Follow these tips for zucchini bliss.

How to Plant and Grow Tomatoes in Clay Soil

Vegetables Nightshade Family (Solanaceae), Solanum, Tomatoes

A close up of small tomato seedlings growing in dense soil amended with organic material.

Think tomatoes won’t thrive in clay soil? Here’s where we shatter that gardening myth. Even clay can’t stop a determined vegetable gardener from growing a bounty of tomatoes. The strategies for producing top yields and great flavor from tomatoes grown in heavy soil start with soil prep, and end at harvest. Read more.

How to Make Tomatoes Turn Red When They Refuse to Ripen on the Vine

How To, Vegetables Nightshade Family (Solanaceae), Solanum, Tomatoes

A close up of a bunch of ripe cherry tomatoes on the vine, ready for harvest on a soft focus background.

It’s so sad when tomatoes won’t ripen on the vine. Stay one step ahead of the coming frost with these tips to make homegrown tomatoes turn red. Temperature, cultivar selection, and stress all come into play. And sometimes you can bring green fruit inside to ripen. Our motto: No tomato left behind. Read more now.

9 Fast-Growing Vegetables and Herbs to Pep Up Your Pantry Menu

Herbs, Vegetables

A close up of a gardener on the left of the frame holding a metal watering can and irrigating a raised vegetable garden in the light sunshine, on a soft focus background.

Impatient for a homegrown harvest you can serve or snack on? Opt for quick-growing vegetables and herbs that yield tasty, fresh ingredients, some in just 14 days. These early-season homegrown shoots, microgreens, and even a flower will perk up your end of winter, pantry-based meals. Forget slow and steady! Read more.

15 of the Best Canning Tomatoes You Should Grow

Beginners, Vegetables Nightshade Family (Solanaceae), Solanum, Tomatoes

A close up top down picture of glass jars containing freshly harvested tomatoes, pictured in bright sunshine on a soft focus background.

Want to grow your own canning tomatoes for year-round deliciousness? Heirloom or hybrid, huge or snack-sized, each of our favorite varieties has its own unique taste and texture. Discover 15 of the best tomatoes to grow and preserve and to fill your pantry with sauces and salsas to see you through the rest of the year.

How to Grow Hyacinth Bean Vines

Annuals, Flowers, Vines

A close up of a Lablab purpureus vine growing in the garden, with large green leaves, purple flowers, and green seed pods, in bright sunshine on a soft focus background.

Not just a beauty, the hyacinth bean produces glorious blooms as well as showy purple pods and edible shoots. It grows fast as an arbor or living privacy fence, and avoiding its potentially toxic tendencies is simple. This guide will tell you how to tap all that purple power, and there’s nothing tough about growing it!