How to Winterize Roses

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To have healthy, beautiful roses, you need to grow varieties suited to your growing zone. And if you live where the ground freezes during the coldest months of the year, you may have to provide winter protection to get those beauties safely through to spring. Learn how to winterize your roses in this guide.

How Cold Hardy Are Poinsettia Plants?

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Poinsettias are colorful tropical plants that add vibrant color to your holiday decor. But how cold-hardy are they? Whether you want to grow these winter-blooming plants indoors or out, you’ll need to know their cold limits. Learn more about poinsettia cold hardiness and in what areas you can grow them outdoors.

Tips for Growing Brussels Sprouts in Winter

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Brussels sprouts are a cool weather crop suitable for cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9 and their flavor is improved by a light frost. But what about if a heavy freeze is in the forecast? Learn how to protect your brussels sprouts and enjoy a fresh winter harvest in this guide. Read more now.

How to Regrow Bok Choy from Scraps

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Did you know that you can regrow bok choy from kitchen scraps? With just a bowl full of water, a leftover stalk, and a few days to spare, you can easily regrow this plant from leavings that you might have thrown away otherwise. Read more to learn a quick and easy technique for growing bok choy from a stalk.

How to Propagate Poinsettia Plants from Cuttings

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Want to grow your own poinsettias at home? Start with a live poinsettia plant and then follow seven steps for a brand new batch of beautiful, baby Christmas flowers. By taking cuttings from your established plant, you can grow others just like it. Learn how to propagate poinsettias from cuttings in this guide. Read more.

How to Propagate Geraniums from Stem Cuttings

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If you’re growing vibrant geraniums, like cranesbill, garden, and ivy, learn how to propagate new plants from stem cuttings. Whether you just need more plants or want to keep your favorite annuals from year to year, taking cuttings is an easy and cost-effective propagation method. Get started now with easy how-to instructions.

How to Overwinter Garden Geraniums

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Garden, or zonal geraniums are popular herbaceous perennials in Zones 10 and 11 that grow as annuals in colder regions. Instead of letting them die at season’s end, you can overwinter your plants indoors for planting out the following spring. Learn all you need to know to winter over garden geraniums in this guide.

How to Grow and Care for Garden Geraniums

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Garden geraniums are easy to grow and come in an array of colors, bi-color combinations, and double-petal varieties. If you have a sunny spot, slightly alkaline, moderately rich soil that drains well, you can grow your own. Learn how to plant and grow this classic summer flower in your garden. Read more now.

Putting a Blanket on Blanket Flowers: Gaillardia Winter Care Guide

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Gaillardia is an easy-to-grow perennial that puts on a burst of color throughout the summer months. With a few simple preparations, you can set up your plants to survive winter’s chill and come back healthy in springtime. Learn how to care for your blanket flowers during the winter in this guide. Read more now.

How to Prepare Your Fuchsia Plants for Winter

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Do you love the long-lasting vibrancy of fuchsia flowers but hate to see them go when Old Man Winter ambles into town? There’s no reason to give up on your plants just because it’s cold. Learn how to protect your plant, whether it’s in the ground or in a container, so you can enjoy it year after year. Read more now.

How to Care for Calendula (Pot Marigold) in Winter

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Did you know that in mild climates calendula can thrive in the garden all winter long and may even survive a light frost? The spectacular orange and yellow flowers can bring warmth and light to the winter garden, even on the chilliest of days. Learn how to keep calendula plants blooming well into the winter months.

What Are the Different Types of Bird of Paradise Plants?

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If you want to grow dazzling bird of paradise flowers in your garden or as houseplants, you’ll need to know about the different types. There are five species in the Strelitzia genus, some are perfect as indoor plants while others thrive outdoors. Learn about the different types of bird of paradise plants in this guide.

How to Care for Milkweed Plants in Winter

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Milkweed is wonderful for attracting monarch butterflies and other pollinators to the garden, and with minimal winter care, this attractive perennial herb will reemerge from its impressive root system year after year. Ready to learn how to winterize your milkweed plants for a bounty of blooms next season? Read more.

How to Overwinter Bird of Paradise Plants

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If you are growing tropical birds of paradise you’ll need to know how to care for them over the winter months. These flowering plants aren’t cold hardy, and sometimes they need extra winter protection – even in their ideal growing zones. To learn all about winter care for bird of paradise, read our guide now.

Are Poinsettia Plants Poisonous?

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Poinsettias have a reputation for being toxic, but are they really? These holiday plants are no longer considered poisonous, but they come with some serious safety concerns. Learn more about how to keep yourself, your kids, and your pets safe when these potentially irritating plants are in your home in this guide.

How to Prevent and Treat Powdery Mildew on Pumpkin Plants

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Pumpkin plants are highly susceptible to powdery mildew, a fungal infection can affect the quality of the fruit. In severe cases, it can destroy your whole crop. However, there are treatments available and preventative measures you can take. Learn how to prevent and treat powdery mildew on your pumpkins in this guide.

How to Prepare Coreopsis for Winter

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Bright coreopsis flowers provide a sweet, cheerful sight during the summer months, and now they’ve died back. These perennial wildflowers will go dormant through the winter months and return in the spring. But how do you prepare your coreopsis for winter? Learn all about winter care and preparation in this guide.

How to Put Strawberry Plants to Bed for the Winter

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Strawberries are suited to cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 10. With the proper winter care, hardy varieties can come back year after year and yield abundant harvests of sweet and juicy berries. Learn how to prepare and protect your strawberry plants during the winter months in this guide. Read more now.

Tips for Growing Winter Pansies

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Winter pansies are a delightful sign of spring, even in deep winter. As long as there are a few warm days, your pansies will perk up and do their stuff. They’re an excellent addition to your garden and containers, and ask for little more than some water and tender deadheading. Get our top tips for growing winter pansies.

Keeping Basil When It Gets Chilly: Fall and Winter Growing Tips

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There’s nothing better than homemade fresh pesto in the middle of winter. But supermarket basil gets pricey after the summer season, and it can be hard to find. The good news is that there’s a way to keep your garden basil alive throughout even the chilliest winter months. Find out how in our guide. Read more now.

13 of the Best Varieties of Mustard Greens to Grow in Your Garden

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Looking to spice up your veggie patch? Mustard greens are a fast-growing, great-tasting addition. The microgreens can be ready in just 7-10 days, and full-size leaves mature in 45 days or so. From tender mustard spinach to Asian greens like mizuna and tatsoi, here are 13 of the top choices to grow in spring or fall.

How to Winterize Hardy Garden Mums

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You’ve enjoyed their vibrant autumn color and now winter is creeping in. But what if you’re not ready to say goodbye to your mums? Rather than tossing them out, our helpful guide will show you how to overwinter your plants so you can enjoy them year after year, from fall prep to spring care. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Mustard Greens

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How well do you know your mustard greens? Some varieties may come as a surprise, since this category includes Asian greens, Southern-style broadleaf mustard, and crunchy tatsoi. Most varieties that you can plant in your garden are green, but some are red! Learn how to plant and care for this fast-growing favorite now.

Health Benefits of Kohlrabi

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Kohlrabi may look funny and have a silly-sounding name, but it offers serious potential health benefits! With a mild flavor and crisp texture, it’s easy to add to many dishes. And it’s also quite simple to grow! Read on to learn more about kohlrabi’s nutritional value and why you should add this vegetable to your diet.

How to Prepare Boysenberry Bushes for Winter

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Your boysenberry bushes provided tasty sweet-tart berries through the summer, and now they’ve died back. You know they’re going to return in the spring – as long as you can keep them warm this winter. But how do you do that? What steps are involved? Learn everything you need to know in our guide. Read more.

Health Benefits of Parsnips

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Root vegetables bring a touch of earthy sweetness to meals, and the parsnip is no exception. Plus, this nutritious veggie offers several potential health benefits! If you’re looking for a sign to plant more root veggies in your garden, this is it. Learn more about the nutrition that parsnips have to offer.

How to Care for Peony Plants in Winter

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If you are growing peonies you’ll need to know how to care for them over the cold winter months. Peony plants require a period of dormancy and chilling hours to bloom again next season. So how do you prepare your plants for winter? Learn all about winter care for peonies in this guide. Read more now.

When and How to Harvest Cauliflower

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If you’re growing cauliflower in your garden, you might be feeling a bit confused about how and when to pick the delicious heads. How big should they be? How do you get them off the stalk? Discover when and how to harvest cauliflower for the best results in our expert guide, plus some bonus recipe ideas! Read more now.

How to Winterize Astilbe Plants: 5 Easy Steps

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If the feathery, spiked blossoms of astilbe plants adorn your gardens in late summer, you need to know how to prepare them for a good winter’s sleep. While they are cold-hardy, they benefit from a little TLC to ensure that they return each spring with vigor. Learn how to winterize your astilbe plants in this guide.

How to Prepare Your Delphinium Plants for Winter

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Your delphiniums bloomed splendidly during the summer, and now they’ve died back. You know they’re going to return in the spring, but only if you prepare them for dormancy and keep them warm during the winter. But how do you do that? What steps are involved? Learn everything you need to know in our guide. Read more.

The Best Companion Plants for Daffodils

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Daffodils do best with companion plants that will look great while they’re both in bloom. Good companions will also cover the unattractive faded daffodil leaves at season’s end. Check out the best flowering plants and veggies to grow with your daffodils, and the ones to keep far away from these spring-blooming bulbs.

When and How to Harvest Celery

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If you are growing celery in your garden, you might be feeling a bit confused about how and when to pick the crunchy stalks. How soon can you harvest them? Do you harvest the entire plant at once? Discover when and how to harvest celery in this guide. Plus, we share some bonus recipe ideas! Read more now.

How to Choose Flowering Annuals for Cold Climates

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Living in a cold climate doesn’t have to mean you can’t enjoy vivid colors in your garden. Learn how to select the best flowering annuals suitable for colder growing zones, and with minimal effort you can dazzle your neighbors with vibrant displays of color throughout the growing season. Read more now.

How To Identify, Prevent, and Treat Common Tomato Diseases

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Not sure what’s plaguing your tomatoes? Our roundup of common tomato plant diseases can help you to identify, treat, and prevent a variety of fungal, bacterial, and viral ailments, as well as other issues that may arise. From Alternaria stem canker to Verticillium wilt, we’ve got you covered. Read more now.

The Best Homegrown Vegetables High in Vitamin A

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Vitamin A is an essential nutrient that’s important for a plethora of functions within our bodies, including good vision! Dietary sources are easy to obtain, and can even be found right in your backyard vegetable garden. Read on to learn more about vitamin A and some of the top veggie sources you can add to your diet.

What Vegetables Are High in Iron?

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Iron is an important component of our red blood cells and it aids many functions in the body. While we may think of red meat or poultry first as dietary sources, iron can actually be found in several veggies! Read on to learn more about this essential mineral and some of the most abundant sources in your garden.

How to Pre-Seed your Garden in Fall for an Early Spring Harvest

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Looking for an easy way to get an early start to the spring season? Why not try planting next year’s seeds in the fall? With minimal effort this autumn, you can get a head start on next season with a healthier, heartier crop. Read on to learn how to pre-seed the vegetable garden this fall for an early spring harvest.

How to Identify, Prevent, and Treat Common Beet Diseases

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Dealing with beet diseases is frustrating, and some of them can destroy your harvest. From bacteria to viruses, there are lots of potential pathogens you may face. With the right knowledge, you can tackle most problems before they get out of hand. Read more now to learn how to identify and tackle your garden woes.

How To Save Broccoli Seeds At Home

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Broccoli is the perfect candidate for saving seed from the home garden, and a healthy specimen can produce hundreds of tiny seeds. Learning how to collect and store seeds from this vegetable garden favorite can help you to save money and more sustainably grow nutritious, productive plants for generations.

How to Create a Naturalized Daffodil Planting

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Naturalized daffodils are great for hard-to-landscape areas and can last for decades, providing springtime color year after year. To make these drifts of flowers look like they were designed by nature’s hand rather than your own, you’ll want to plan your layout before you plant in the fall. Keep reading to learn more.

Health Benefits of Caraway Seeds

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Caraway seed brings a lot to the table, adding unique flavor to both sweet and savory dishes. But did you know it also boasts several health benefits? Spice up your meals without adding too much extra salt or sugar. Learn more about caraway’s culinary uses, nutritional composition, and potential health benefits!

9 of the Best Companion Plants to Grow with Broccoli

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Broccoli is a popular veggie around the world, and it’s easy to grow your own. But what should you plant nearby? Knowledge of the best companion plants can help you to repel pests and balance out broccoli’s heavy feeding habits. Plus, find out which plants benefit the most from broccoli’s towering shade. Read more now.

How to Start Broccoli from Seed

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Have you ever wanted to grow broccoli from seed? Now is the time to give it a try! Broccoli is nutritious and delicious, and you can eat more parts of the plant than you might think. In this guide, we’ll show you everything you need to know about growing a spring or fall crop of this beloved Brassica. Read more now.

Identify, Prevent, and Treat Common Cabbage Diseases

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Do your cabbage plants appear diseased? An array of organisms can afflict cabbage plants, ranging in severity from powdery mildew, which generally does not kill its hosts, to bacterial soft rot, which totally decimates them. Read on to figure out which pathogen has infected your cabbages and what you can do about it.

When and How to Harvest Shallots

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If you are growing shallots in your garden, you might be feeling a bit confused about how and when to pick the delicious bulbs. Do you pull them up when the tops turn yellow, or does something else have to happen too? Discover when and how to harvest shallots in this guide, plus some bonus recipe ideas! Read more now.

How to Train Pumpkins to Grow on a Trellis

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Is your pumpkin vine taking over the garden, growing faster than you can contain it? Don’t lose hope. Growing your gourds vertically can tame those unruly vines, and training pumpkins on a trellis also helps to keep them free of pests and disease. To learn everything you need to know, read more now.

Are Ornamental Sweet Potatoes Edible?

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Ornamental sweet potatoes provide elegant coverage with their vibrant vines, and this special plant is typically used as a decorative addition both indoors and out. But with “sweet potato” in the name, you have to wonder – can you eat them too? Read on to learn if they’re just as tasty as they are beautiful.

How to Harvest Hazelnuts

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There is nothing better than filling your kitchen with the nutty scent of roasting hazelnuts that were picked at the peak of ripeness from the trees in your yard. Fortunately, harvesting your own hazelnuts is so much easier than you might think. Read more now for the best tips on how to pick and preserve your own crop.

How to Grow Teddy Bear Sunflowers

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For huge, double-petalled blooms on shorter plants, sweet, sunny ‘Teddy Bear’ sunflowers are a colorful addition to the summer garden. This easy-to-grow dwarf cultivar adds texture to borders and beds, and is a cutting garden favorite. Find top tips for growing ‘Teddy Bear’ sunflowers in your landscape. Read more now.

How to Identify, Prevent, and Control Common Cauliflower Diseases

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Cauliflower is a cool-weather crop that’s challenging to grow. It takes an ideal combination of temperature, moisture, and nutrients for pristine heads to form. Sometimes, even with best practices, plants fall victim to disease. Read on to learn how to avoid, recognize, and address 12 common cauliflower conditions now.

How to Protect Sunflowers from Birds and Squirrels

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Are wildlife pests trying to make a meal from your sunflowers? Try these kind and effective tricks to protect sunflower blooms from squirrels and birds. Nets (for the flowers!) and scary Mylar are two of the best ways to preserve your flowers for yourself, and seeds for the songbird feeder. Read more now.

Growing Avocado Seeds: A Fun Project to Do with the Kids

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Store bought avocado seeds can be turned into a simple, fun project that you can do with children, at home or in the classroom. This educational activity extends learning opportunities through the summer. Demonstrate the plant life cycle and spark a love of gardening by growing a lovely tree to enjoy for years to come.

How to Grow and Care for Dame’s Rocket

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Dame’s rocket has naturalized in almost every state. This pretty phlox-like flower that grows along highways and in meadows is considered invasive. However, its leaves and seeds have culinary and medicinal applications. Should you grow it in your yard? Learn how to plant, grow, and control dame’s rocket. Read more now.

How to Grow Hazelnut Trees

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Hazelnuts, also known as filberts, are easy-to-grow compact trees that begin producing buttery sweet nuts in just a few years. Since they can be pruned to a shrub or tree shape, they are a great choice if you don’t have a lot of space but want to grow and harvest your own nuts. Read on to learn how to grow hazelnuts.

How to Save Bachelor’s Button Seeds for Planting

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You can save money and spread even more joy when you save your bachelor’s button seeds to grow again next year. Follow a few simple steps and you’ll have so many cornflower seeds to plant and share. Start planning when the cheerful blooms appear, follow up with the perfect storage spot, and you’ll be set next spring.

Nutrition and Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds

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The culinary value of pumpkins goes beyond enjoying the tasty flesh in soups and pies – the seeds can be just as useful as a healthy snack that’s packed with essential nutrients. Making your own roasted pumpkin seeds from homegrown squash is a simple way to help utilize all parts of the pumpkin. Read on to learn more.

How to Grow Bay Laurel In Containers

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Ever wondered if you can grow bay in a container? Yes, you can! It isn’t fussy if you miss a watering or let it get root-bound. Plus, growing it in your kitchen garden or indoors means you will have a ready supply of this pungent herb at hand. Bay leaf is ideal for growing in pots, and we’ll show you how. Read more.

13 of the Best Companion Plants for Tall Late Season Asters

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Late season asters provide a colorful bridge between summer and fall. Their impressive heights and masses of tiny blossoms make a striking statement, especially when paired with other tall late season bloomers. Read on for 13 exciting companion plants for asters, and get ready to grow your best transition garden yet.

11 of the Best Cantaloupe Cultivars to Grow at Home

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Though the cantaloupe that’s available at the grocery store is generally pretty standard, this marvelous fruit is actually available in a variety of enticing cultivars. Ready to grow your own juicy and sweet melons? Dig into our roundup on Gardener’s Path to pick the best variety for your garden. Read more now.

How to Grow Chives from Seed

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Looking to grow chives from seed? You’re in luck! They’re easy to propagate and before you know it, you’ll be cooking with your own homegrown herbs. This article will give you everything you need to know, from seed saving tips to advice for getting seedlings started, whether you’re growing them indoors or out.

11 of the Best Purple Aster Varieties

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If you love purple flowers, asters make a cheerful addition to the outdoor living space. Choose from early or late blooming annuals and perennials ranging from low-profile plants with a single flower per stem, to tall bushy ones with clustered masses of blooms. Discover 11 of our favorite purple aster varieties now.

11 of the Best Pumpkin Varieties for Cooking

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Carving is cool, but it’s also fun to grow pumpkins that are great for cooking. From heirloom giants to hybrid minis, these 11 pumpkin picks are a home chef’s dream. Try them in your favorite fall soups, breads, pancakes, and even pumpkin lasagna, and freeze the excess from your bumper crop to enjoy all year long.

What Is an Heirloom Tomato?

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They’re colorful, juicy, and oh so tasty – we know an heirloom tomato when we see one. Heirloom tomatoes come in all shapes and sizes, have been grown in gardens for centuries, and often have charming histories attached to them. Want to know what makes these tomatoes worthy of handing down? To find out, keep reading.

How and When to Fertilize Your Pumpkin Plants

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If you’re growing pumpkins, you might be wondering how and when to fertilize your plants for an abundant harvest of gorgeous gourds. Pumpkins are heavy feeders, and the plants need different nutrients in different growth stages. Discover how to fertilize your plants with the right nutrients at the right times. Read more.

11 Perennial Aster Species for Summer’s Last Hurrah

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Late season perennial asters are known for having masses of small, daisy-like flowers and a somewhat shrubby growth habit. They add color to fading summer gardens and attract beneficial pollinators until the first frost. Read on to learn about 11 different species and how they can play a role in your landscape scheme.

How to Grow Cherry Tomatoes

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Do you fancy the idea of picking tasty, tangy cherry tomatoes fresh from the vine? Easy to grow and vigorous, they produce an abundance of bite-sized fruit in an array of beautiful colors. Among the earliest to ripen, they deliver a long season as well. Get all the best tips for growing cherry tomatoes right here.

Cracked Fruit on the Vine: Are Split Tomatoes Safe to Eat?

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Picture a red tomato ripening on the vine, perfectly plump and juicy. One day, you notice a split down the side! Are all of your gardening efforts wasted? Take a look at what causes splitting, and most importantly, whether you can salvage your harvest and safely eat tomatoes that have split or cracked. Read more.

How to Grow Your Own Pumpkins

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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.

How and When to Compost Tomato Plants

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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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.