Companion planting is the intentional partnering of two or more different plants for reasons that extend beyond aesthetics. One popular form of companion planting partners plants with the intent of deterring pest insects. This form of natural pest control is gaining in popularity as gardeners come to discover that including specific plant combinations in the…
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…
Homegrown tomatoes are a little slice of heaven. Their flavor and texture far surpass store-bought tomatoes, and with a seemingly endless variety of colors, shapes, and sizes available, vine-ripened tomatoes are the jewel of summer garden. Gardeners are constantly striving to increase the health and productivity of their tomato plants, collecting tomato growing tips on…
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…
Got the itch to get dirty? Too cold to plant outside? Don’t forget you can start many of those popular fruits and veggies growing indoors while this Spring weather starts to warm up. Fabric aerations containers are great for growing plants, fruits and vegetables inside. It’s easy to get your seeds started so that you…
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…
Planting spring vegetables is a task many gardeners relish. After spending a long winter indoors, gardeners are anxious to step outside and get their hands in the dirt. But, early spring veggies don’t just offer an opportunity to exercise green thumbs, they’re also among the most delectable treats the garden has to offer. Here are…
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,…
From poor light conditions to improper watering, houseplant growers face many challenges. But for most of them, no problem raises greater concern than an encounter with indoor plant pests. A house’s warm, consistent temperature – coupled with its complete lack of pest-munching natural enemies like ladybugs and lacewings – makes the perfect breeding ground for…