Most of the plants we grow in our vegetable gardens provide us plenty of nutrients in the form of vitamins and other micronutrients. Very few provide protein. One family of plants, legumes, does provide significant amounts of protein, along with dietary fiber. Dried beans like navy beans, black beans, pinto beans, lima beans, great [Continue]
There are many reasons why a gardener might want to utilize raised beds. One of them – better drainage – became very apparent last week when more than two inches of rain fell over a short period of time. Other reasons include: raising the soil even a few inches makes it easier on your back [Continue]
Asparagus is usually the first vegetable out of the garden in spring, in early May. If you’re already growing asparagus – lucky you! – because after planting, it’s two years until the first harvest. It is well worth the wait though, since harvesting can continue beyond one gardener’s lifetime. While asparagus can be [Continue]
A floating row cover is a thin white material made of polypropylene or polyester that has multiple garden uses. They come in various weights and sizes depending upon their intended use. The lightest weight products, used to protect plants from pests, allow about 95% of sunlight through and don’t trap heat so they can be [Continue]
Our homes, businesses and hands are probably more germ-free than ever before, and we’ve been buying all manner of chemical cleaners and sanitizers to make them that way. Did you know that there are many herbs with antiseptic properties that you can easily grow in your own garden? Here are just four of them, all [Continue]
Perhaps the coronavirus pandemic will spawn a whole new generation of people who will feel compelled to keep their food supply and other items at a level even above “well stocked” at all times, similar to what happened to those who lived through the Great Depression. To be truly prepared for a long-term [Continue]
The Perennial Plant Association has announced Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’ as its choice for 2020 Perennial Plant of the Year. ‘Sun King’ is a high-impact plant that will provide a large, bright pop of color to shade or part-shade gardens. In appearance, it is like a very large spirea, although the stems are [Continue]
Competition in the plant world is fierce as the various species battle it out for sunlight, water, nutrients and space. Plant use a variety of ways to get the upper hand, some actually resorting to chemical warfare to crush the competition. This process is called allelopathy. Besides the lovely way the word “allelopathy” [Continue]
The International Herb Association has made a rather unusual choice for their 2020 Herb of the Year. Instead of what we typically consider herbs – basil, lavender, oregano, thyme, etc. – raspberries and blackberries have been given this year’s honor. And that’s not all. The entire Rubus species, which numbers in the hundreds, is included. [Continue]
It’s hard for many people to understand, but there are some of us who love winter. If you are one who would rather think about winter from a distance of six months or so, or if you’d like to experiment with a unique theme garden next year, here are some plants you might include [Continue]