How to Grow Your Own Pumpkins

A close up of two pumpkins growing on the vine, resting on the soil in the summer garden. In the background is foliage and soil in soft focus.

Have you always wanted your own pumpkin patch, filled with winter squash that are perfect for cooking and decorating throughout the fall? It’s not as hard as you might think. From small cultivars to large homegrown varieties that are ready to be carved into jack-o’-lanterns, we’ve got you covered. Read more now.

Train Those Melons on a Trellis: How to Grow Cantaloupe Vertically

A close up of a cantaloupe melon growing vertically in a greenhouse, ready for harvest, pictured on a soft focus background.

Are you wondering if you have space in your garden for vining cantaloupe? It’s true that they take up several feet of space when they’re grown on the ground. But you can grow them vertically to save space, help prevent disease, and allow them to get all the sun they need. For everything you need to know, read more now.

7 of the Best Collard Greens Varieties to Grow at Home

A close up, top down picture of a large Brassica oleracea var. acephala, aka collard greens, growing in the garden, with large dark green leaves and light colored veins.

Want to grow your own collard greens in the garden? These veggies are a Southern favorite, packed with fiber and healthy nutrients. Delicious raw or cooked, growing your own leafy greens is the best way to add more to your diet. Select your favorite cultivar from our roundup of top picks. Read more now.

How and When to Compost Tomato Plants

A close up of a garden fork stuck in a gray plastic backyard compost bin, containing garden waste, pictured in bright sunshine.

Whether or not to compost tomatoes is a controversial topic in the gardening world. Fears that composting tomatoes will encourage pathogens, create messes, and cause trouble the following season lead many gardeners to trash their plants. Read on to examine these concerns and learn how to safely compost tomato plants.

9 of the Best Companion Plants to Grow with Corn

A summer garden scene, showing a raised bed garden with corn and a variety of other vegetable and ornamental plantings, a stone wall in the background, with trees and shrubs.

Corn is a popular crop around the world, and it’s easy to grow in the garden. If you’re growing corn you’ll need to know the best companion plants to repel pests, provide groundcover, and fix nitrogen in the soil. Learn about the Three Sisters planting method and what to plant with your corn crop. Read more now.

11 of the Best Blue Asters to Add to the Garden

A close up of delicate daisy-like blooms in light purple, with yellow centers, of the perennial aster, pictured growing in the garden, and fading to soft focus in the background.

Asters are transitional flowers that bloom from summer to fall. There’s an array to choose from that includes dwarf and tall, as well as annual and perennial types, best known for their multiple daisy-like blossoms that attract a host of beneficial pollinators. Read on to find 11 of our favorite blue varieties now.

How to Grow Azure Monkshood for Stunning Fall Color

A close up of the blue flower of Aconitum carmichaelii on a green soft focus background.

An alpine meadow perennial, azure monkshood produces stunning purple-blue flowers and distinctive green foliage in the fall garden. This plant is disease resistant, and relatively easy to care for. Keep it moist, and it should bloom reliably in the fall. Read on to learn how to grow this late season gem now.

Learn How to Grow and Care for Asparagus Ferns

Horizontal image of asparagus ferns planted in a garden bed topped with brown wood mulch, with small red berries on some of the stalks.

For an attractive indoor hanging plant, choose a variety of asparagus fern. Appreciated for its delicate and feathery leaves, this vigorous grower is easy to maintain and adds soft green color and textural interest to your indoor decor. Learn how to plant and grow this South African beauty. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Tomatoes in Your Garden

A close up of three ripe tomatoes growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

The fresh taste of juicy homegrown tomatoes is one of the joys of summer gardening. Whether you enjoy them tossed in a summer salad or cooked in a classic sauce, tomatoes are a must-have in the veggie garden. Learn how to plant and grow your own tasty tomatoes and enjoy the fresh taste of summer. Read more now.

11 of the Best Pumpkins to Grow for Pies, Puree, and Other Treats

A close up of an autumnal kitchen scene, with a pie, a rolling pin, unshelled walnuts, and three pumpkins on a rustic wooden surface on a dark background.

If you want to grow pumpkins to make pie, puree, and other delicious treats, which variety should you plant? While you can make pie out of many pumpkin cultivars, some have sweeter flesh than others. Learn about 11 of the best pie pumpkins to grow in your garden now on Gardener’s Path.

How to Grow Herbs in Containers

A close up of a variety of different herbs growing in small colorful pots outdoors on a wooden surface.

For incomparable fresh flavors, a container herb garden provides a quick, efficient, and affordable way to grow your own, even in the smallest space. They’re attractive with pretty flowers and delightfully fragrant. And once planted, they’re low-maintenance, fast growing, and highly rewarding. Find our easy tips here.

How to Grow and Care for Anise Hyssop Flowers

A close up of a clump of Agastache foeniculum, with tall upright flower stems, pictured in a backyard setting.

Are you looking for a perennial native flower to naturalize in your yard? Anise hyssop is the answer for sun-filled border gardens, where its lavender spikes create a showy swath of color throughout the summer months. Learn how to grow and care for this easy-to-grow, deer-resistant plant. Read more now.

Get Your Daily Dose of B Vitamins with These Homegrown Vegetables

A vegetable garden with rows of produce growing in the sunshine with a brick wall and trellis in the background.

Vegetables harvested fresh from the garden bring a burst of flavor to our meals. They also add a nutritious boost of vitamins and minerals – including many B-complex vitamins. Read more now to learn how these vitamins help with essential functions in the body, and which types of homegrown produce are the best sources.

13 of the Best Dill Varieties for Your Herb Garden

A close up of the foliage of Anethum graveolens growing in the garden, fading to soft focus in the background.

Dill is a popular addition to the herb garden. Its feathery, fragrant foliage adds interest to the landscape and livens up many a homecooked meal. There are a number of different cultvars available, that vary in size, flavor, and time to maturity. Learn about 13 of the best dill varieties and find your favorites now.

13 of the Best Tall China Asters for the Late Summer Garden

A close up of China asters growing in the sunshine in the late summer garden in a variety of colors.

China aster is a late summer flowering annual with colors ranging from vibrant, vivid tones to subtle pastels. Tall varieties make the perfect anchor for beds and borders. They brighten the landscape and make attractive and sturdy cut flowers. Discover 13 of our favorite varieties of China aster for your garden.

How to Choose the Best Halloween Pumpkins to Grow in Your Garden

An autumnal scene, with pumpkins carved and whole, surrounded by straw and candles set on a wooden surface.

If you’re getting ready to plant your Halloween pumpkins, you might need help choosing the perfect varieties for that spooky night. In this guide, you’ll learn the best varieties to grow whether you’re carving, painting, eating, or just setting out the bright veggies for decoration. Read on to discover your favorites.

How to Harvest Angelica

A large angelica plant with green foliage, purple stems, and large flower heads pictured growing on the side of a lake with mountains in soft focus in the background.

If you are growing angelica in your garden, you may not know that all parts of the plant are edible. With a rich history of use in food and medicine, this fragrant herb has a variety of culinary and medicinal uses. Discover how to harvest and use the leaves, stems, and roots of your angelica plant. Read more now.

7 Tips for Growing Formal and Informal Forsythia Hedges

A close up of a hedge with bright yellow flowers, pictured in the sunshine on a soft focus background.

Forsythia is an ornamental shrub best known for having bright yellow flowers in early spring. Its serrated leaves are green in summer, turning bronze in fall. Grow it as an informal hedge with natural contours, or manicure it with regular pruning, for a more formal shape. Read our 7 top tips to grow forsythia as a hedge.

How to Grow Cantaloupe in Containers

A close up of a row of black plastic pots growing cantaloupe melons indoors in a greenhouse, fading to soft focus in the background.

Cantaloupe is a warm weather crop that’s sweet, firm, and scrumptious. If you want to harvest homegrown cantaloupe, but don’t have room in your garden (or the right type of weather) why not try growing it in containers? Planting in pots saves space in your garden and can extend the growing season. Read more now.

Juglone in Pecan Leaves Can Harm Plants

A photo of a shady pecan grove showing a sparsely plant populated lane between rows.

As a close relative of black walnut, pecan also produces the strong toxin juglone. This toxin is poisonous to people, animals – and plants. Its presence can make it impossible to grow some kinds of plants under these trees. Read on to learn about juglone in pecan trees and how to work around it.

Are Hellebores Toxic to Animals or People?

Pink-Purple hellebore flowers with vegetation.

Despite their use as a medicine in previous eras, all parts of hellebores are toxic if eaten by children or animals. Key symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and convulsions in serious cases. Read on to learn what to do if your dogs, cats, or horses ingest hellebore and to learn more about the poisons involved.

How to Grow and Care for Calico Aster in the Late Summer to Fall Garden

A close up of Symphyotrichum lateriflorum flowers, with delicate white petals and rose pink centers, growing in the garden on a soft focus background.

Calico aster is a daisy-like native perennial suited to USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8 that adds cheer to the garden from summer to fall. It needs little care once established, and readily naturalizes, especially in moist woodland settings. Read on to learn all you need to know to cultivate calico aster in your landscape.

How to Grow Chamomile in Containers

A close up of a Matricaria recutita plant growing in a container at the side of a pathway in the garden, surrounded by other perennials.

Chamomile is boisterous in the garden, self-seeding where you least expect it. Planting it in a pot can keep this herb under control. There are just a few things you need to succeed, including the right container, soil, and location. Read more now to learn everything you need to know to grow chamomile in a container.

The Top 10 Reasons to Love Tomatoes and Add More to Your Diet

A close up background picture of a variety of different tomato cultivars, some are cut in half and others pictured whole, set on a wooden surface.

Whether you like your tomatoes raw, stewed, juiced, pureed, or transformed into a sauce, we can all agree that they’re amazing veggies. Tasty to eat and enjoyable to grow, they also offer incredible health benefits and contain essential vitamins and minerals. Learn the top 10 reasons to love tomatoes – read more now.

When and How to Harvest Cantaloupe, the Sweetest Garden Candy

A close up of two hands from the right of the frame grasping a small melon with "netted" rind, just prior to harvest, pictured on a soft focus background.

If you’re growing cantaloupe, you may be wondering when and how to harvest the melons for maximum sweetness and flavor? Discover all the top tips on when and how to harvest your delicious, homegrown cantaloupe. Plus we’ve got some recipe ideas for different ways you can enjoy the juicy sweetness. Read more now.

Recognizing, Managing, and Preventing Rust on Canna Plants

A close up of a green leaf with orange spots caused by a fungal disease.

Canna, often called canna lily, is a rhizomatous perennial with spikes of bright blossoms, and ample, tropical-style foliage. Under less than ideal conditions, it may fall victim to a condition called rust. Learn what this is, how to treat an infection, and what preventative measures you may take to avoid an outbreak.

35 of the Best Bush Bean Varieties

A close up of various different colored bush beans set on a hessian surface, there are green, purple, and yellow varieties.

Ready for a tour of 35 of the best bush bean varieties? Whether you are growing in planters, worried about bean diseases, or dealing with unusually hot or cool summer conditions, there’s a variety for every garden. Discover the best classic snap, stringless, filet, wax, purple, and Romano bush varieties. Read more now.

Healthy Purple Produce: Should You Eat More Purple Fruits and Vegetables?

A close up of a variety of different purple vegetables and fruits set on a wooden surface.

Purple fruits and vegetables get a lot of praise for offering powerful health benefits. Here we explore what makes foods purple and dive into the nutrition facts. We also cover ideas to grow and eat more purple produce at home. Embrace the power of purple! Read more now to learn what makes purple produce so special.

11 White Aster Varieties for the Late Summer to Fall Garden

Close up of white petaled aster flowers in bloom.

The aster is a daisy-like perennial that adds height and texture to gardens from late summer to fall. You may be aware that it comes in shades of blue, pink, and purple, but did you know that it’s also available in white? Read on for 11 white asters that are sure to refresh your surroundings, here on Gardener’s Path.

How to Plant and Grow Ghost Peppers

A close up of ripe ghost peppers, ready for harvest, growing on the plant, surrounded by foliage and fading to soft focus in the background.

Do you like hot peppers? If you can stand the heat, why not try growing ghost peppers? Once thought to be the hottest pepper in the world, the bhut jolokia packs an almighty punch of flavor and adds sizzling heat to a variety of dishes. Learn how to plant and grow ghost peppers with these top tips. Read more now.

How to Grow Napini Kale

A close up top down picture of a flowering shoot of the Brassica oleracea plant in the second season, commonly harvested as napini.

Did you know that kale is a biennial that produces tender edible shoots and buds in the second season? Napini, or kale rabe, is delicious, tender, and sweet, a treat you won’t want to miss out on. What’s more, growing kale for napini is easy. Learn how to grow and harvest your own napini kale. Read more now.

13 Favorite Basil Varieties for the Garden

A close up of two different varieties of Ocimum basilicum, the top of the frame shows a green-leaved type, and at the bottom a cultivar with dark purple foliage.

Tasty and fragrant, basil is a delicious ingredient when eaten fresh or added to recipes. Its lush growth and pretty flowers have great ornamental appeal. Did you know that there are a number of different basil cultivars available? Learn about 13 of our favorite basil varieties to add to your herb garden. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Olive Trees

Green and purple olives grow on a branch with long, narrow green leaves.

Learn everything you need to know about how to grow the majestic olive tree, a large plant that makes a dramatic landscape statement while providing delicious fruit that’s suitable for preserving in brine, oil, or water, or for pressing to make a flavorful oil that’s beloved by cooks around the world. Read more now.

11 of the Best Pink Aster Varieties

A close up of bright pink flowers growing in the garden in bright sunshine.

If you want to add a touch of pink to your landscape, vigorous asters bring swaths of color, texture, and vertical interest to summer and fall gardens. Discover 11 outstanding varieties, from ballerina pink to sizzling magenta, you’re sure to find your new favorites for beds, borders, containers, and carefree meadows.

How to Grow Stinging Nettle in Your Garden

A top down close up picture of young stinging nettle plants growing in the garden in light sunshine with soil in the background.

Though often overlooked as an undesirable weed, stinging nettle is an astonishing plant with an abundance of uses, many dating back for thousands of years. Learn to appreciate this forager’s favorite and discover tips for growing, harvesting, and using nettle greens, with some bonus cooking tips too. Read more now.

How to Grow Parsley in Your Home Herb Garden

Use curly leaf parsley as an accent plant in your landscape | GardenersPath.com

Parsley has a rich and storied history, and its substantial health properties and usefulness as a garden herb are timeless. Easy to grow and propagate, this attractive herb is a welcome addition to veggie patches and flower containers, and storage of surplus stock is simple as well. Get all the details on how to grow and enjoy parsley – read more now on Gardener’s Path.

How to Grow Broccoli in Containers

A close up of a black seedling tray containing broccoli seedlings set on a wooden surface on a soft focus background.

Broccoli is a cool weather crop that’s nutritious and delicious. If you want to harvest tender, homegrown broccoli for your soups, quiches, and sides, but don’t have room in your garden, why not try growing it in containers? Planting in pots saves space in your garden and can extend the growing season. Read more now.

11 Native Blue Wildflowers for the Garden

Rail Fence and Texas Bluebonnets.

Is the garden looking tired? Wake it up with splashes of blue. Discover 11 native blue-flowering plants that will give your landscape an instant makeover. Plant among yellow bloomers for contrast that’s nothing short of breathtaking. Find your new favorites in this informative article from Gardener’s Path.

How to Plant and Grow Ramps

A close up picture of bunches of ramps at a farmer's market with the roots removed, the bulbs cleaned, held together with elastic bands, on a soft focus background.

Ramps are an incredibly delicious treat in the kitchen, but they’re overharvested in the wild. The solution? Grow your own. Ramps are a fuss-free plant once they’re established, with a flavor that can’t be imitated. Our guide to growing Allium tricoccum includes everything you need to get started. Read more now.

How to Regrow Lettuce from Kitchen Scraps

A close up of three glasses on a windowsill with lettuce scraps that are regrowing, fading to soft focus in the background.

Did you know you can turn lettuce scraps into more delicious, leafy greens with nothing but a container, some water, and a little bit of time? We’ll show you how to grow your own hyper-local greens for free, with minimal effort. It’s also a fun project to do with the kids. Learn more now.

Gardening at Home: 31 of the Best Kits to Get Started

A close up of various gardening tools for indoor gardening with a watering can, pots and seed starter trays, and small hand tools, set on a wooden surface.

It’s the perfect time to start growing your own herbs, fruits, veggies, and mushrooms at home, or to take up a new hobby like terrarium-making or succulent propagation. We’ve found the best kits to help you get started. Most include everything you need, with helpful instructions. Pick your favorite, and get growing!

9 of the Best Companion Plants to Grow with Garlic

A close up of freshly harvested Allium sativum with roots still attached on a soft focus background.

Garlic boasts a deliciously pungent smell and makes an excellent repellent of pests and even fungi. While there’s a short list of plants not to grow alongside garlic, the list of plants that thrive next to garlic is longer. We narrow down the nine best options for you to companion plant with garlic. Read more now.

How to Harvest and Store Carrot Seeds

A top down close up picture of a light red and white carrot flower growing in the garden in light sunshine on a soft focus background.

Saving seeds from your homegrown carrots now can ensure a bounty of garden vegetables in future seasons. If left to flower, each plant produces over a thousand seeds, so saving them is a no-brainer in terms of cheap food production. Learn how to harvest and store your own carrot seeds with this guide. Read more now.

When and How to Harvest Broccoli

A close up of freshly harvested broccoli heads with the foliage removed, set in a wooden box.

Broccoli is one of those veggies that offers so much more than we often give it credit for. This staple crop can be harvested for its large heads, as well as its young tender leaves and side shoots. Read more now to learn how to harvest and store broccoli, and pick up some delicious recipe ideas too.

21 of the Best Japanese Eggplant Varieties

A close up of a variety of small purple eggplant fruits set on a dark gray surface.

Japanese eggplant is a delight on the plate and you can grow this veggie right in your own backyard. When choosing seeds, you’ll find an incredible selection, in shades that are dark black, bright purple, lavender, pink, and even green. Read on to discover 21 of the best Japanese and Asian eggplant varieties.

39 of the Best Violet Varieties

A close up of different colored violets growing in the garden in bright sunshine growing in the garden.

If you are looking for an easy to grow flower with vibrant colors to bring cheer to your garden, try violets. Violas, violets, and pansies are available all sorts of shapes, sizes, colors, and even scents. Learn about the different types and discover 39 of the best violet varieties to add to your garden. Read more now.

Vegetable Seeds: Which to Sow Outdoors vs. Indoors?

A close up of a small rustic green cabinet surrounded by baking paper containing seeds ready for planting. To the left of the frame are some biodegradable seed starting pots and a pair of gloves.

Some vegetable seeds should be sowed directly in the garden – while others are more successful when started indoors, and transplanted later. Find a list of which veggies are which, understand the reasons behind these guidelines – and learn about some exceptions you should know about, too. Read on to learn more now.

29 of the Best Lettuce Varieties For Your Garden

A close up of eight different varieties of lettuce, from tight headed iceberg to frilly red cultivars, set on a wooden board on a white surface.

Lettuce is an easy to grow, nutritious addition to your vegetable patch. There are lots of cultivars available in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and textures. From the classic crunch of the crisphead to the delicate, tender oak leaf, there’s sure to be one to suit you. Discover 29 of our favorite lettuce varieties.

How to Grow Mexican Oregano

A close up of the leaves and small flower buds of Lippia graveolens pictured in light sunshine on a soft focus background.

Are you open to adding a delicious taste of Latin America to your culinary garden? Consider growing Mexican oregano, the flavorful, citrusy herb whose large, woody shrub form is easy to grow. If you’re north of Zone 9, you can grow this Mexican native as an annual, or bring a container of it indoors to overwinter.

The Many Faces of Hellebores: 6 Unique Types to Love

A close up of a hellebore plant with light purple flowers and green foliage pictured in bright sunshine growing in the garden.

Perennial hellebores add color to the late-winter garden, when many plants are still dormant. There are numerous varieties and each has unique characteristics. Some are more common in the home garden, and others are quite rare. Read on to increase your knowledge of the Helleborus genus, right here on Gardener’s Path.

37 of the Best Hibiscus Varieties

A close up portrait of an orange hibiscus flower with characteristic staminal column on a dark soft focus background.

There’s nothing quite like hibiscus to enchant your summer garden. With huge blooms and a vivid color palette to suit every garden style, we take an in-depth look at cultivars of both the hardy, perennial types as well as the tender tropical lovelies. Learn about 37 of our favorite hibiscus varieties. Read more now.

9 of the Best Grape Hyacinth Varieties for Your Garden

A close up of bright blue Muscari flowers growing in the spring garden in bright sunshine fading to soft focus in the background.

For an easy pop of bright color and sweet perfume, muscari bulbs are a great plant-and-forget solution. Wonderfully low-maintenance and reliable, they send up stands of rich blue, purple, and white flowers in the early spring garden. Read all about the 9 best grape hyacinth varieties for the garden right here.

13 of the Best Rhubarb Varieties for the Garden

A close up of the red stalks of the rhubarb plant growing in the garden, with bright green foliage on a soft focus background.

Rhubarb pie melts in your mouth, but you can use pie plant in jams, cake, ice cream, and more. And there are plenty of varieties from tart to sweet and everywhere in between to satisfy your cravings. We round up thirteen of the best rhubarb varieties for you to grow in your garden this season. Learn more now.

11 of the Best Crocus Varieties for Your Garden

A close up of purple C. crysanthus flowers with dark edges and lighter center, surrounded by green foliage, fading into soft focus in the background.

Nothing brightens the spirit better than a field of early-spring crocuses. Did you know that there are numerous varieties to choose from? Some are deer resistant, others are extra hardy, and with their colorful hues, all are gorgeous. Check out our roundup of 11 of our favorite crocus varieties for your garden now.

How to Grow and Care for Hyacinth Flowers

A close up horizontal image of pink, blue, and white fragrant hyacinth flowers.

Mmm, what’s that lovely smell? With their heady perfume and rich colors, hyacinths make a wonderful addition to the spring garden,  or a very welcome indoor feature during the dreary winter months. Join us for a look at the best care and growing tips for this flowering favorite – read more now on Gardener’s Path.

Kale Spacing: How Far Apart to Plant for the Best Harvest

Neat rows of large, mature kale plants, intercropped with cabbage and other vegetables. In the center of the frame is a light green curly variety, and to its right a large purple variety.

Curious how much space to leave between each of the kale plants in your garden? By spacing these leafy green vegetables just right, it will be easy to care for and harvest your crop throughout your growing season. To find out the best spacing recommendations for your kale varieties and harvesting plans, read more now.

Why Is My Cauliflower Turning Purple?

A close up of a cauliflower head that should be developing white curds but instead is tinged with purple discoloration, set amongst the dark green leafy foliage.

Cauliflower can be a challenging cool-weather crop to grow in the home garden. Sometimes, developing curds that should be snowy white take on a purplish hue. Learn what causes this phenomenon, how to avoid it, and what it means in terms of crop quality. We’re discussing purplish cauliflower, here on Gardener’s Path!

7 Tips for Planting Hellebore Seeds

A close up of a pink hellebore flower with large seeds developing in the center, surrounded by foliage in light sunlight on a soft focus background.

Are you longing for color in the late winter garden, when most plants are still dormant? Hardy flowering hellebores fit the bill. Easy to sow, they reward with an abundance of sweetly nodding blossoms in an array of colors. Chase the winter blues away with these 7 tips for planting hellebore seeds. Read more now.

11 of the Best Double Hellebore Varieties for the Late Winter Garden

A close up of a flower with light green outer sepals with purple edging, light pink inner petals with darker edges and veining, on a soft focus green background.

Nothing shows that spring is on the way like the nodding heads of hellebore flowers in the snow. If you eagerly anticipate these hardy late-winter perennials, prepare to fall in love. Read on to discover 11 of the best double hellebore varieties with robust blossoms in irresistible colors. See our favorites now.

How to Prune and Control Asiatic Jasmine Vines

A close up of two hands wearing gardening gloves and holding red pruning shears, cutting a Trachelospermum asiaticum plant growing next to a pathway.

Deep-green Asian, or Asiatic, jasmine is a fantastic ground cover, especially for shady areas of the garden. But like many plants, it can get out of hand. Read more now to learn about several methods for pruning and controlling the spread of this assertive vine. Your neighbors will be glad you did!

How to Grow Asiatic Jasmine

Asiatic jasmine growing as a ground cover over a paved surface showing dark green and variegated leaves in light sunshine.

If you’re in need of a quick-growing ground cover that tolerates shade, salt, heat, cold, and drought, consider Asiatic jasmine, the easy-to-grow, low-maintenance import from Japan and Korea that quickly develops a thick carpet of cover, filling in your garden’s most problematic and frustrating bare spots.

10 Best Broccoli Varieties for Your Garden (Plus 3 Delicious Bonus Options!)

Top-down shot of small green heads of broccoli growing on plants with large green leaves.

If you’re looking for a cool weather crop, you can’t beat growing broccoli. It’s versatile and delicious, an excellent vegetable that’s perfect to enjoy at any time of day. Not sure which cultivar to choose? Read on for 13 varieties of one of nature’s healthiest choices for the table, now on Gardener’s Path.

9 of the Best Arugula Varieties for Your Vegetable Patch

A top down close up picture of arugula plants growing in a containers in bright sunlight.

Nothing tastes better than fresh, homegrown arugula. Did you know that there are numerous varieties to choose from, each with a slightly different flavor, texture, or color? We round up nine of the best varieties of arugula for you to grow in your vegetable garden this season. Learn more about our favorites now.

9 Reasons Your Crocus May Not Bloom

A close up of green crocus foliage on dark soil fading to soft focus.

Are your crocus corms failing to produce blooms, or maybe they’re not even pushing foliage through the ground? If you’re not seeing flowers by mid-spring, you know something’s up. But what could it be? This guide will introduce the nine most common reasons why your crocus might fail to bloom. Read more now.

7 Tips for Harvesting Your Best Leek Crop Ever

A close up of freshly dug leeks with roots and foliage still attached set on a dark soil background with a garden fork to the right of the frame.

Early and late-season leek varieties provide an abundant supply of nutritious, oniony flavor. From careful sowing and working hard to keep your crop moist to blanching the stems to a snowy white, now it’s time to bring in your best leek harvest ever. Enjoy sweet success with our expert tips. Read more now.

Can Crocus Grow in the Cold and Snow?

A close up of yellow crocus blooms pushing through the snow in early spring with water droplets on their petals in filtered sunshine on a soft focus background.

Crocuses are known for dotting lawns and gardens with vibrant hues of purple, pink, and yellow just when winter seemed it would never end. They’re also famously hardy. But can they survive the most frigid winter temperatures? What if they bloom just before a cold snap or blizzard? Can they grow in snow? Find out now.

How to Identify and Treat Pecan Twig Dieback Disease

A close up of a healthy pecan tree branch with green leaves, some in shadow, in bright sunshine on a blue sky background.

Stressed pecan trees can be susceptible to pecan twig dieback disease. Caused by fungi, this infection cannot be cured by fungicides. Learn how to identify pecan twig dieback and steps you can take to prevent it from taking hold and how to treat infected trees. Plus tips on how to keep your trees healthy. Read more now.

When to Plant Crocus Bulbs

A close up of purple crocus flowers growing in the garden through a light dusting of snow on a soft focus background.

Are you wondering when is the best time to plant crocus bulbs in the ground for a vibrant springtime reward? You won’t want to miss this guide. Discover exactly when to plant the three most popular crocus varieties for a late fall or early spring bounty of purple, pink, white, or yellow blooms. Read more now.

How to Propagate Hellebores

A close up of a bed of purple hellebore flowers surrounded by delicate green foliage.

The hellebore is an early-blooming perennial that is best known for having nodding flowers that grow through the snow. It is propagated by three methods. Discover what all three methods mean to the home gardener, and which two can be done at home with our guide to understanding hellebore propagation. Read more now.

Is Kale an Annual or a Perennial?

A top down picture of different types of kale growing in an autumn garden surrounded by yellow and brown leaves.

A vegetable garden favorite, kale is a reliable producer of healthy leafy greens. But is this cruciferous vegetable an annual or a perennial? We’ll have to go back to the birds and the bees to fully understand kale’s life cycle. To find out when to expect flowering and seed heads from your kale plants, keep on reading.

How to Collect Hellebore Seeds for Plant Propagation

A close up of a light green hellebore flower with dark brown central seed pods, already opened with the dark seeds visible on the inside.

Collecting and sowing fresh hellebore seeds is a cost-effective way to propagate them in home gardens. If you are enjoying the blossoms of this lovely late-winter flower, why not increase its presence in your landscape by gathering seeds to plant where you like? Learn how to collect and sow hellebore seeds now.

How to Grow Broccolini

A close up of a broccolini plant with delicate heads on long thin stems growing in the garden on a soft focus background.

Tender, crunchy, and sweet with a mildly peppery flavor, broccolini is a hybrid broccoli that is praised for its thin edible flowering shoots which can be harvested multiple times a season. Learn how to grow broccolini in your garden, the best varieties to choose, and enjoy this tasty vegetable all season long.

Tips for Growing Hardy Chicago Fig Trees (Bensonhurst Purple)

A close up of a ripe 'Hardy Chicago' fig fruit, pictured on a stem in bright sunlight with a soft focus background.

Hardy Chicago figs are the perfect type of fruit trees for northern gardeners who would like to enjoy homegrown fresh figs, and who need a cultivar that can withstand chilly weather. Check out our expert advice about how to grow these bountiful trees now, including site selection, watering, and fertilizing information.

7 of the Best Cold Hardy Apricot Trees

Ripe fruit on a cold hardy apricot tree.

Ready to grow flavorful homegrown apricots in your chilly northern climate? If you plant the best cold-hardy varieties, you’ll be sure to harvest a bounty of sweet fruit. Discover the best cold tolerant apricot cultivars to ensure a bumper summer crop, and defy the dreaded late frost. Keep reading to learn more.

How to Grow China Aster for Color in the Late Summer Garden

A close up of the bright red blooms of the China aster, some of the flowers have bright yellow centers, and are surrounded by dark green foliage, pictured in bright sunshine against a rustic wooden fence.

China aster is a flowering annual for late summer to fall color. Many cultivars are available in vibrant, colorful tones. Sow seeds in spring and enjoy lush foliage all summer long. Then, just when other flowers are winding down, China aster bursts into bloom. Learn all you need to grow this beauty. Read more now.

The Best Companion Plants to Grow with Dill

A close up of a yellow flower of the Anethum graveolens plant in filtered sunshine on a soft focus green background.

Gardeners appreciate dill’s attractive, feathery leaves and its commanding presence in the landscape. But before you add this herb to your garden, carefully consider what you plant nearby – there are good partners out there as well as potential foes. Learn more about the best and worst companion plants for dill now.

How to Grow Chives in Containers

A wooden container with a large flowering Allium schoenoprasum plant with other herbs. In the background is a lawn and a hedge in soft focus.

Chives are wonderful for adding a light oniony flavor to any number of savory dishes, including soups, salads, and baked potatoes. It’s a cinch to grow your own, especially in pots and containers that are easy to access from the kitchen, whether that’s on the back porch or on a sunny windowsill indoors. Read more now.

7 of the Best Ornamental Gourd Varieties

A close up picture of a large variety of different ornamental gourds and edible squash in different colors, textures, shapes, and sizes in bright sunlight.

Ornamental gourds are easy to grow and add color and texture to your garden. Did you know they are available in an array of shades, shapes, and sizes – and they’re perfect for brightening up the backyard or decorating your fall table. Learn about the different varieties and discover our 7 favorites. Read more now.

15 of the Best Tomato Hybrids for Your Veggie Patch

A selection of different heirloom tomatoes shown on a wooden background. A variety of large and small red fruits, as well as yellow and dark green cultivars. Some of the smaller fruits are still attached to the vine, and to the top of the frame are some herbs, just visible.

From the teeniest, tiniest cherry all the way up to the biggest, beefiest tomato, hybrid tomatoes come in a range of shades, shapes, and sizes, meaning there’s a perfect option tickle everyone’s taste buds! Read on to find out which variety of hybrid tomato ‘pips’ your interest in our guide to the top tomato hybrids.

The Best Cold Hardy Rosemary Varieties

A close up of a rosemary sprig with frost on its delicate leaves, in the background is the frost-covered bush fading to soft focus.

Do you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-7 and would like to overwinter rosemary? This pungent, warm-weather herb from the Mediterranean is commonly used to season savory dishes and provides interest in the garden. Learn about the different cold-hardy varieties that can withstand brutally cold weather. Read more now.

How to Overwinter Banana Plants

A close up picture of a bunch of small, ripe, yellow banana fruit on the tree, with the bright green leaves in soft focus in the background in light sunshine.

Banana plants add a dramatic and splashy punch of the tropics to the landscape, but they will succumb to winter’s wrath if they’re not properly cared for. In this article, our experts share several ways to safely overwinter these (mostly) cold-intolerant plants so they are happy and healthy when warmer weather returns.

How to Care for Nasturtiums in Winter

A close up of vivid red and orange nasturtium flowers in bright sunshine on a soft focus background.

Nasturtiums’ bright blooms and rounded leaves bring cheer to the summer garden. However, these edible annuals don’t do well in the winter chill. In order for your plants to survive the colder months, you’ll need to give them some extra care and protection. Get our top tips on how to care for nasturtiums during winter.

How to Care for Poinsettias After the Holidays

A close up of a Euphorbia pulcherrima plant with bright red bracts contrasting with the dark green leaves on a soft focus green background.

Don’t throw your fading poinsettia out after the holidays! With the right care, these showy plants will thrive in your home all year long. Under the right conditions, they will produce vivid color again just in time for the holidays. Learn all you need to know about growing poinsettias indoors.

How to Grow and Care for Christmas Cactus

With its bright and colorful blossoms, Christmas cactus is a gorgeous houseplant to have around during the holidays. To make sure this succulent plant produces vivid flowers to brighten your holidays year after year, it will need the right conditions. Learn more about growing and caring for Christmas cactus.

9 of the Best Cabbage Varieties to Grow at Home

A close up of a Brassica oleracea var. capitata growing in the garden. The central head has dark purple leaves around it fading to light green large leaves with purple veins on the outside.

Whether you enjoy it in sauerkraut, soup, or coleslaw, cabbage is a versatile addition to your vegetable patch. With different colors, textures, and sizes there are lots of varieties to choose from. Learn more about the different types of cabbage and choose the perfect one for your garden. Read more now.

How to Protect Rosemary Plants in the Winter

A close up of a rosemary plant growing in the garden in bright filtered sunlight, reflecting off the leaves and making some of them appear golden in color.

If you’re growing rosemary in your garden, you might be wondering if it can survive the winter outside. Depending on your growing zone, there are a number of measures you can take to help your plants through the colder months, including mulching and potting-up. Learn how to protect your rosemary plants this winter.

Will Kale Grow in Containers? Tips for Growing Your Crop in Pots

A close up of four terra cotta pots with Tuscan and curly kale growing in the bright sunshine on a balcony. The plants have large leaves in various shades of green, the background is white railings and a house behind.

Kale is a frost hardy annual that’s grown for its nutritious, flavorful leaves in fantastic colors and fanciful shapes. And it’s just as easy to grow in pots or containers as in the ground. Learn how to plant up a few pots for the kitchen garden right now, then enjoy its beauty and health benefits well into winter.

27 of the Best Cold Hardy Clematis Varieties

A close up of a clematis vine with light and dark purple flowers with green leaves behind them, against a green metal fence. In the background are trees and vegetation in soft focus.

Looking for a tough, reliable vine to survive your cold winters? One that puts on a gorgeous display of flowers in spring and summer, and that can handle the rigors of sub-zero temperatures and drying, frigid winds? You’ll love our list of the best cold hardy clematis varieties for Zones 3 and 4. Read more now.

How to Grow Parsley in Winter

A close up of a small parsley plant growing in dark rich soil with bright green curly leaves in soft sunlight.

If you mourn the loss of garden-fresh herbs with the arrival of cold weather, take heart. There are a few that still continue to produce leaves in winter, and parsley’s one of them – so you can enjoy their fresh taste in your favorite recipes all year. Join us as we dish the dirt on how to grow parsley in winter.

How to Grow Leeks

A hand from the right of the frame grasping the stem of a mature leek plant, ready to pull it out of the soil. To the left and in the background are rows of the same vegetable, with dark soil surrounding them, in bright sunshine.

Underutilized in American kitchens but delicious and worthy of a larger role in everyday recipes, leeks are easy to grow. They require rich soil, a good amount of water, and lots of sun. Read on for expert tips and advice about how to add this member of the onion family to your garden, and dine like the French do.

Tips for Protecting Kale from Pests and Disease

A top down picture of a mature curly kale plant growing in the garden, the large outer leaves are a darker green color and the small inner leaves are reddish green. In bright sunshine, the background is further foliage of the same plant.

Despite kale’s tendency to be healthy and vigorous, the plants can be vulnerable to insects, nematodes, bacteria, and fungi under certain circumstances. Read on to learn how to identify and control pests and pathogens on your kale plants.

Ginger Houseplant Care Tips: How to Grow Ginger Indoors

A close up of ginger rhizomes on a blue surface. The roots have started to sprout and the stems are pink at the bottom, contrasting with the green further up.

Did you know that you can grow ginger indoors all year long? In fact, growing ginger in containers alongside your other houseplants is surprisingly easy, and will reward you with a consistent supply of fresh juicy roots. Learn tips and tricks for growing this tropical herb in containers indoors in any climate.

Can You Eat Kale That Has Turned Yellow?

A close up of dark green healthy curly kale plants growing in the garden bathed in light sunshine.

Kale comes in several varieties, ranging in color from light green to deep purple. But when the leaves start turning yellow, you may be wondering if they’re safe to eat. To learn more about why your leaves may have changed color and whether you can still eat kale that has turned yellow, read more now.

9 Cauliflower Head Disorders and How to Avoid Them

A close up of a cauliflower head, well developed and a creamy white color nestled between dark green foliage in bright sunshine.

Cauliflower is a cool weather crop that can be challenging to cultivate. Sometimes growing conditions are less than optimal and the heads don’t form as they should. Join us to learn about 9 common disorders that may cause irregular cauliflower head formation, and measures to avoid them. Read more now.

How to Naturally Kill Insects on Kale: The Best Organic Solutions

A Brassica oleracea plant, seen from above, with its leaves chewed and destroyed, only small fragments of them remaining on the plant. Instead of being bright green, it is a dull yellow color. In the background is soil and other damaged foliage.

Don’t let your kale get overrun with pests. If you’re growing kale in your vegetable garden there’s a good chance you’ve got some insects damaging your plants. If they get out of control you’ll want to take action. Learn how to identify who’s chomping on your greens and kill these bugs naturally. Read more now.

How to Harvest Cabbage

A close up, top down picture of a cabbage plant with a mature head. There are large, dark green leaves on the outside, and light green tight leaves around the head. The background is soil, in bright sunshine.

Wondering when and how to harvest homegrown cabbage? Get tips from our experts that explain the right time for plucking your spectacular spheres of deliciousness, and discover the best methods of picking them from the garden, how to store them in the kitchen, and fabulous recipe suggestions. Read more now.

Anticipating and Assessing Frost Damage in the Fall Vegetable Garden

A close up of a dark green cabbage covered in frost. The center head is protected by the outer leaves, where most of the frost is concentrated.

When the thermometer takes a sudden dive, you may wake up to a vegetable garden coated with frost. Some crops can tolerate it, but others are ruined instantly. Learn about the hardiness of vegetables, what to do when frost is in the forecast, and how to deal with the damage that may occur. Read more now.