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Luckily for us, this evergreen perennial in the mint family, Lamiaceae, grows splendidly in containers. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is one of those herbs that grows all year long in the right conditions, which is good news for those of us who love using it as a seasoning in our favorite dishes. The name “rosemary” is pretty in itself, but wait until you learn about its roots: “ros,” Latin for “dew,” and “marinus” for “sea” results in combination in the poetic moniker “dew of the sea....

In our guide to growing rosemary, we cover how to cultivate this classic herb in your garden. In this guide, I’ll discuss the different ways to propagate rosemary plants. For years I purchased rosemary plants from my local nursery, under the impression that my favorite culinary herb was too difficult to start myself. While it is true that rosemary is particularly challenging to grow from seed, it can be propagated easily from stem cuttings and by root layering....

Are you going to Scarborough Fair? Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme, Remember me to one who lives there, She once was a true love of mine. So begins the old Simon and Garfunkel song “Scarborough Fair,” borrowed from the Elizabethans, and a fine lot they were. What seems on the surface to be a perfectly innocent folk song turns out to be riddle of devilish complexity. Nevertheless, we as herbalists are in a prime position to figure it out....

Rain chains are perfect for harvesting rainwater. They not only add a decorative element to the garden but are also easy to make and can be a lot of fun! As getting them installed professionally can be a costly affair, we have some great DIY Rain Chain Ideas for you to do it at a fraction of a cost! Check out our article on rain garden and its benefits here 1....

If you’ve ever harvested disappointingly unappealing Apium graveolens or want to make sure your current crop zips with tasty but not overbearing flavor, this article is for you. In the life of a gardener, few things are sadder than nurturing a plant, harvesting the tasty fruit or veggie, eating it… and discovering that it tastes terrible. This happened to me a couple years ago with the carrots I grew and forgot to fertilize regularly....

In this article, I’ll cover how to cultivate borage, a versatile herb that may be grown as an ornamental, an ingredient for herbal and culinary use, or as a cover crop. Borago officinalis Borago officinalis, commonly known as borage or starflower, is one of a host of herbs with origins in the Mediterranean region. It’s a member of the Boraginaceae family of plants, which includes forget-me-not and heliotrope. Naturalized in the United States, it grows in a wild and weedy fashion, sporting its signature blue star blossoms as well as fuzzy leaves, stems, and drooping buds....

Many of our world’s ancient civilizations were created along the banks of rivers. This is not a coincidence because rivers offered strategic resources. The ancient Chinese had the Yellow River, the Sumerians built along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Indus river gave rise to the ancient Indian civilization and the name “India”, and the ancient Egyptians worshipped the Nile. These people thrived due to their access to abundant drinking water, ample irrigation, efficient transportation, and fertile, silty soil....

What is a Plant Grow Tent? A grow tent is a grow room with LED lights and other features. It provides a portable, optimal environment for seedlings and plants indoors. With its help, you can control the lighting, heat, and air circulation and even grow the plants in winters. You can choose any of these tutorials and do as directed to make your own functional DIY grow tent at an affordable cost....

A good garden has a lot in common with a good recipe. You start with a detailed plan and enjoy the outcome, but suddenly you’re adding an extra tablespoon of this and half-cup of that to make the meal your own. Before long, you’re cooking by feel rather than using strict measurements. I garden the way I cook, and there’s nothing else like it. Diving in with a loose idea of what to produce is what it’s all about....

I’ll share the benefits of deadheading here, and let you know when and how to perform this beneficial task. This is the information I’ll cover: It may sound a wee bit excessive to suggest the ongoing chore of deadheading for a flower like bachelor’s buttons. After all, the plant with the botanical name Centaurea cyanus and nickname cornflower grows so rampantly that in some areas, it’s considered invasive. But even with that vigor, bachelor’s buttons will appreciate the assist....

But maybe you’re not a commercial grower, and you simply desire some pretty foliage bedecked with colorful bracts for the holiday season. In order to succeed in this world, you have to keep your moneymakers in decent condition. Talented singers exercise their vocal cords, pro athletes work with nutritionists and physical trainers, and poinsettias aren’t really so different. In the plant world, poinsettias grown for profit need their leaves to be at peak levels of health and appearance – otherwise, they’ll be unmarketable....

Xeriscaping is a form of landscaping which requires little to no water. As you might guess, it’s hard to find a ground cover plant that will suit this sort of environment. But I do have one excellent choice to offer: salvia sonomensis, or Sonoma sage. Table of Contents Indigenous to parts of California, this sage forms a dense mat of grey-green leaves. When it flowers, spikes rise up from within and erupt in lovely blue-violet blossoms....

This cool weather crop can be sown in early spring, midsummer, or even late fall, with an array of choices for USDA Hardiness Zones 1-11. Broccoli tops the list of vegetable garden favorites, and it’s easy to see why. Delicious and nutritious, with a satisfying texture, this is a standby in a variety of cuisines. And it’s easy to grow in the home garden. These Old World cabbage relatives come from Mediterranean and Turkish regions, and have been a cooking staple in Italy since early Roman times....

From purple to white, you won’t commonly find these rainbow varieties in supermarkets, so they are certainly worth including in your veggie garden. Enjoyed in everything from salads to stir fries, carrots are easily one of the most popular and versatile veggies around. Perfect for those with a sweet tooth, carrots also provide an easy way to brighten up your plate. When you think of this common root vegetable, what comes to mind first is probably the bog-standard orange variety....

Coreopsis tripteris, or tall coreopsis is a flowering species of perennial herb that generally grows up to 6′ feet in height. With smooth-edged foliage and lovely yellow flowers, this plant will make a beautiful addition to your garden. You can expect a spectacular show of bright flowers from early spring to late fall. While it is a low maintenance plant perfect as a xeriscape plant, you must know how to care for it to make sure it stays happy and healthy in your garden....

Of all the creepy crawlies out there, earwigs are one of the scariest looking ones. It doesn’t help that these insects have had a serious PR issue dating back hundreds of years. They even starred in one of the scariest episodes in television history on the 1972 NBC show “Night Gallery”, where a woman put earwigs into her husband’s ears to eat his brain and eventually drove him insane. It should not come as a surprise that this show was written by the master of macabre Rod Serling, creator of “The Twilight Zone”....

Some chilies, such as jalapeños, start out green and fairly mild-tasting but turn red and get spicier as they remain on the plant. Growing hot peppers is the ultimate exercise in getting to know your neighbors — and I’ll tell you why later in this article. In the meantime, let’s learn a bit about growing chilies, and why you should consider adding some spice to your garden. Members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae, most cultivars originate from Capsicum annuum, a plant native to Mexico....

Fall colors, though brief, add a rich and vibrant feel to any garden, especially one that has been planned with all four seasons in mind. The right combination of plants, trees and shrubs can be used to landscape naturally and turn an otherwise boring yard into a flourishing autumn garden that features color, texture and dimension. Every garden should include a wide variety of plants to ensure that there is something blooming and providing visual inspiration year round....

Old bicycles are cheap and easy to find, get one or a few and install them on your entryway or garden with some creativity. 1. Old Bicycle Planter One old bicycle can be a nice planter holder. The tutorial is here. Also, check out cool birdcage planter tutorial for your garden. 2. Bicycle In Yard If not the flowers, you can also place an old rusty bicycle in your yard like an accent piece....

Red symbolizes love and passion. While growing flowers, you might have many options but with succulents, it might get tough to pick ones with red color. Keeping that in mind, we have combined a list of some of the Best Red Succulents that are both beautiful and easy to maintain! Check out our article on really rare succulents here Types of Best Red Succulents 1. Red Pagoda Botanical Name: Crassula capitella...