Red spider lily Lycoris radiata has a bit of an ominous reputation. In Japan, it is believed to be a flower of the afterlife. They are planted at the tombs of ancestors, and believed to help guide a soul into their next incarnation. Table of Contents Spooky stories abound. So too do the myriad of names it’s known by. Called red magic lily, corpse flower, resurrection lily, or equinox flower and more, it’s a stunning beauty....
One of the best parts of growing potatoes is the delight of harvesting them after months of waiting for the delicious tubers. Root vegetables are beloved and grown across the world but are also susceptible to different pests and diseases. Often, because the crop is underground, the symptoms are not visible until we pull them out. There’s nothing worse than waiting the entire growth period to learn a disease has stricken the crop....
I’m shocked that more people don’t grow Sansevieria cylindrica. The African spear plant is an incredible houseplant! Its smooth, cylindrical leaves make it a real attention-grabber. Table of Contents Like its relative the snake plant, it’s an easy-care plant. But it’s much more versatile. Like lucky bamboo, this plant can be braided to give it a unique appearance. Its leaves layer in the same way that a bowstring hemp plant’s do....
Once you’re sure the seeds are mature and ready to be collected, it doesn’t take much to gather a bag to start indoors or sow outside next year. And they’re perfect for sharing! Here are two things I love: wildflowers, and collecting seeds from my garden to save for next year. It only makes sense to combine the two into a fun, relaxing, kid-friendly, educational activity, right? Rudbeckia hirta is one of those wildflowers that’s simple to grow, beautiful to have in the garden, and easy to collect from....
You’ve no doubt noticed that nurseries put many plants on clearance in the autumn. Planting perennials like roses in the fall is my secret weapon. Okay, so it’s not exactly a secret, but even though it’s finally getting more recognition as a smart gardening practice, I’m surprised at how many people avoid it. Every time I sweep up piles of discounted plants during the autumn when nurseries are clearing out their inventory, gardeners ask me if it’s really a good time to plant....
Most of us have grown at least one of the veggies on this list, but I’d venture a guess that you didn’t know that you could regrow these eight veggies endlessly. Talk about sustainable. One of the reasons that I love gardening so much is due to the endless cycle of growth and cultivation, so it’s no surprise I’m in love with the fact that these plants can be harvested many times over....
Simply put, hydroponics is the practice of growing plants using only water, nutrients, and a growing medium. The word hydroponics comes from the roots “hydro”, meaning water, and “ponos”, meaning labor, this method of gardening does not use soil. Table of Contents Sounds high tech and futuristic, right? It’s not. The earliest examples of hydroponics date back to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the Floating Gardens of China. Humans used these techniques thousands of years ago....
I’ll take you through the process of harvesting this leafy goodness, from the garden to the kitchen. Beet greens, the leaves that grow from beet roots, are tasty and nutritious. Sure, you can compost them, but why do that when you could eat this often wasted leafy vegetable that’s packed with vitamin A and calcium? Using them in the kitchen is a great way to reduce food waste, and it’s just as easy as cooking with Swiss chard....
Many wild species and cultivars such as ‘Moonbeam,’ ‘Sun Up,’ and ‘Zagreg’ are suitable for cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9, while newer, more colorful cultivars don’t survive those Zone 4 and 5 winters and are hardy in Zones 6-9. Bright and dainty yet boldly toothed, coreopsis flowers aka tickseed, are a lot prettier than their name suggests. The blooms are so cheerful that the Sunshine State, Florida, designated all Coreopsis species, both annual and perennial, as the state wildflower....
If you are just beginning your gardening journey, a few simple houseplants are a great way to get things going. Table of Contents You’ll want to choose some healthy specimens that show no signs of disease. Opt for adaptable and forgiving plants rather than needy ones with special requirements. Before we walk you through 10 of the best indoor plants for beginners, there are a few basics to think about when it comes to growing inside your house…...
Garden carts are an ingenious way to move tools, plants, containers, or any other stuff, related to gardening from one spot to another. They not only save you a lot of time, but also makes your work a lot easier. But, getting them from a store can be quite an expensive affair. So, here are some creative DIY Garden Cart Ideas you can use to make one for yourself! Check out our article on super budget gardening ideas here DIY Garden Cart Ideas 1....
Table of Contents Many gardeners hate weeds. They will curse them under their breath as they drag the roots from the soil and toss them onto the compost pile with relish. In her well-known book “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Harper Lee describes Miss Maudie’s reaction to a blade of nutgrass with sufficient illustration: “She swooped down upon it with a tin tub and subjected it to blasts from beneath with a poisonous substance she said was so powerful it’d kill us all if we didn’t stand out of the way....
You’ve seen these succulents everywhere. Their captivating rosettes have been a constant in garden stores for years. Graptosedum is a classic that’s fun and easy to grow. Table of Contents Yes, the name sounds like grapes, but this succulent actually resembles Echeveria. Graptosedum’s compact leaves spiral around the stem and create rosettes at the top. It comes in a wide array of hues from purple to orange to white. This succulent is sure to add color to your garden....
Table of Contents Everyone and their grandmother seems to be building or buying polytunnels these days – and for a good reason. They’re an absolutely amazing gardening tool that extend the growing season, protect your garden from the elements, and ultimately increase the size of your harvest. And for all of these benefits, you don’t even have to build a permanent structure like a greenhouse! About 9/10 people who buy premade polytunnels end up erecting them themselves....
When you’ve run a gardening blog for a few years, you start to receive a lot of questions from your readers. Not surprisingly, one of the questions that I have received the most often is about whether or not Miracle-Gro is an organic or a synthetic fertilizer. Table of Contents Because of this, I decided it was time to directly address this topic. But, before we get into the nitty gritty of answering “is Miracle Gro organic?...
Sedum kamtschaticum offers lush groundcover of deep green leaves. The stem of the plant is 6″ tall. The bloom time of the small, yellow flowers is late spring and mid-summer. The foliage color turns a striking bronze in winter, while the long-lasting, star-like, golden yellow flowers retain their color throughout the bloom time. Table of Contents The drought tolerant Stonecrop Sedum retains its spoon-shaped foliage all season long. This plant is perfect to grow in between stone pathways or in xeriscape gardens....
Succulents are forgiving plants when it comes to growing conditions. Their ability to store water makes them one of the best drought-tolerant plants. But is it possible to grow them in just sand? Find out! Why Are Succulents Low Maintenance Plants? Coming in weird shapes, sizes, and colors, succulents are the trendiest plants these days. They grow in arid regions and deserts and known for their ability to store water in their fat leaves....
Along with being quick and easy to pick, this leafy green is packed with antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and K. After plants mature, it takes just a few minutes to gather enough greens for a tasty and nutritious meal. One of my favorite things about kale is its easy and prolonged harvest. It’s the ultimate cut-and-come-again option for your veggie garden. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....
It turns out there are several ways to prevent and control these unwanted snackers, to keep them from decimating your hard-earned harvest. Listronotus oregonensis The last thing you want to find when it’s time to pull your carrots is that a bunch of grubs beat you to the anticipated carrot crunching. Those sweet, crisp roots were supposed to feed you and your family, not some small, hungry weevils! What can you do?...
Today, they can be used to flavor everything from desserts and meat to, of course, gin. If you’re looking for some ideas to use up the fruits, here’s what we’ll tackle coming in this article: It’s about time juniper berries got the attention they deserve. These common plants grow all over the Northern Hemisphere and the berries not only feed wildlife, but humans can use them herbally, in the home, and in the kitchen as well....
