Everybody knows the feeling– just as your tomatoes are looking great, a hail storm batters them. Weather is certainly one of the greatest factors influencing gardening success, and while we can’t control it, we can mitigate the damage at times by trying one of these methods to protect plants from the effects of extreme weather….
Intrigued by community gardens, but worried about getting in over your head? It can certainly seem daunting and ambitious, but thinking of it as “gardening in community” and taking it just one step at a time may make it easier to get started. Consider these three easy steps to jump start your spring planting: Step…
Or rather, your soil. Whether you’re amending an in-ground area or improving a growing medium for your containers and raised beds, there is no substitute for good soil. And not just good soil, the best soil. Working on your soil may be a little less thrilling than aisles of fresh green plants and racks of…
Vine-crops, such as melons, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, and gourds, aren’t always well-behaved. A single, mature melon plant can cover up to a hundred square feet of garden real estate, and because many gardeners already find space at a premium, they might not be able to grow as many vine-crops as they’d like. It’s sad to…
A Show-Stopping Discovery C.L. Fornari is a nationally renowned speaker, author, radio personality and television host. Known as “The Garden Lady,” she regularly appears at horticultural shows and clubs throughout the United States and Canada. For decades, C.L. grew numerous varieties of plants and vegetables in the ground and in plastic containers. Then in 2007…
Tapping Into Opportunity Anna Haupt was the manager at Fifth Season Gardening Company in Charlottesville, Virginia. For years, she sold flowers and vegetable plants in standard plastic nursery pots. But there was a problem. The plants dried out quickly, their roots tended to bind and they would ultimately tap through the holes in the bottom…
When potato planting time arrives, don’t turn over the soil — fill up a Smart Pot instead. You should grow potatoes in Smart Pots. Here is why: Planting potatoes in fabric planter bags makes growing potatoes super simple. Not only are the spuds easy to plant, when the growing season ends, they’re also a snap to…
Potting mix, also called potting soil, is a soilless blend of ingredients used to grow plants. Often containing a combination of peat moss, coir fiber, vermiculite, sand, perlite, pine bark, compost, and other ingredients, there are dozens of brands of commercial plant potting mix on the market. Though all good-quality potting mixes should be easy-to-handle,…
Many gardeners enjoy starting their own plants from seed. Whether annuals, vegetables, perennials, or herbs, starting from seed means a greater selection of varieties and a reduction in cost. When you grow from seed, you can grow a whole lot of plants for very little money. Plus, planting seeds gives you greater control over how…
We are often asked “How much mix (or medium) should I buy to fill my 5 gallon Smart Pot?” Or my 10 gallon? Or my three – 7 gallons and one 30 gallon? Planning ahead for this question will make container gardening much, much easier – and a lot more fun! Container gardeners need to…