There are tricks to keeping that midsummer gardening going full tilt! By now, you should have harvested some goodies. But to keep your vegetable plants healthy, finish up that harvest strong, and start new plantings for fall, here is a basic “to do” list. Growing a garden isn’t just about getting plants started—it also involves tending to your plants and …
Hosta Care
Hosta is virtually carefree and comes back reliably year after year. Hardy in USDA zones 3-9, this tough plant performs well in most landscapes, even for beginning gardeners. Foliage occurs in shades of green, blue, white, gold, chartreuse and variegated patterns. Pointed leaves are heart-shaped or elongated, with smooth, pleated or wavy texture that creates depth in the landscape. Flower …
Create a Butterfly Garden!
Butterfly gardens provide food and sanctuary for many vibrant species of Lepidoptera. This type of garden can be planted in even the busiest urban location. Offering even a small habitat can help support the butterfly population in your area. A container garden consisting of a few carefully selected bushes and flowering plants may be all it takes to attract these …
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Bell Peppers
Peppers are a warm-season crop that comes in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. More good news: Most varieties resist garden pests! See our guide to planting, growing, harvesting peppers. About Bell Peppers Peppers have a long growing season (60 to 90 days), so most home gardeners buy starter pepper plants at the garden nursery rather than grow them …
About Tomatoes
When growing tomatoes and reading about them—on our website, store signs, and plant tags—you eventually encounter a lot of tomato growing terms. Determinate and indeterminate. Hybrid and heirloom. VFNT and SWV. What does all this mean? Determinate and Indeterminate When selecting tomato varieties, you must choose between plants with different types of growth habits called determinate or indeterminate. All tomatoes …
Raised Bed Gardening
Raised bed gardening is a simple technique that can improve the health and productivity of your garden. Raised beds have better soil structure and drainage, allowing the soil to warm up earlier in the season, and giving you a head start on spring. Stubborn perennial weeds can be less of a problem in raised beds than in other gardens. You …
How to Sow Seeds Outdoors
Seeds that are very large or fast growing are commonly sown directly outdoors where they are to grow. Your seed packets give this information for each type. Watch the Weather for the Best Time to Sow Seeds The key to direct sowing is to pick the right weather. Working back from your average last frost date, using the seasonal benchmarks …