As soon as the sun starts to peak out in spring it’s easy to assume winter must be gone by now…right? Unfortunately, the cold weather doesn’t give way to warmer days reliably. Gardeners can easily be tricked into planting too early, only to be caught off guard when the thermometer dips back down again. While there’s no hard-and-fast rule for when it’s safe to plant outdoors, let’s dive into some considerations....
As the weather starts to warm up in spring, the gardener’s drive to get plants growing outdoors starts to kick into high gear. Planting a spring garden is a great way to jumpstart the growing season, but not all plants can survive the unpredictable- and often downright frigid- springtime weather patterns. Sometimes the spring weather is nasty enough to keep even the most determined gardener hiding indoors! But don’t let the flip-flopping between winter’s cold and summer’s heat deter you from getting started!...
We’ve been hard at work improving Planter with some of your most requested features. Near the top of the feature request list was the ability to rotate 1x2 square plants, such as squash, watermelon, and pumpkin. We’re happy to announce that this is now possible! Note: These changes are being rolled out over the next week, so you might not have access to them yet. We like to do slow roll-outs for big features like this, in case there are any bugs....
Alliums, that is plants belonging to the onion family, are a must-have in your garden! They are low-maintenance, resistant to many pests and diseases, and super-versatile in the kitchen. Alliums are not limited only to onions- shallots, chives, leeks, and garlic are also alliums! Even though they belong to the same plant family, each of these plants has unique growing requirements and culinary characteristics. Whether you’re a gardening newbie or expanding your gourmet garden, there’s an allium for everyone!...
Last year, the rabbits won. They ate my sugar snap pea seedlings. They ate my corn seedlings. They even nibbled through the green bean stalks, leaving the rest of the previously flourishing plant to wilt and die. I had a pet rabbit as a kid, and I love them. But not in my garden! So this year, I set out to fix the problem by ripping out the old, dilapidated garden fence and replacing it with a brand-new, (hopefully) rabbit-proof fence....
Peat moss has been getting a bad reputation lately, due to its environmental impact. But is it really that bad? Let’s explore this question, and you may learn that it’s not as simple as you thought. But first, what is peat and where does it come from? Peat Moss Peat is partially decomposed organic matter that forms in wetlands. It is made up of mosses, sedges (think tall grasses), and other plants that have died and accumulated over time....
Have you been curious about the technique of soil blocking? Wondering why you might want to try soil blocks instead of the usual seedling trays? Well then, you’ve come to the right place! Soil blocking is a seed-starting technique that can be a bit baffling for many gardeners who aren’t familiar with it. The beauty of this technique is that it’s a versatile option for gardeners who have troubles with seedling roots or simply want to cut down on their hobby’s waste....
Have you ever thought about turning your gardening hobby into more-than-a-hobby? Getting paid to garden might seem too-good-to-be-true, but there are plenty of gardening-related jobs out there! Whether you’re searching for a summer gig, finding your vocation, or looking to ditch a desk job, read on to learn how to cultivate a career in gardening! Be sure a gardening job is right for you: Before you embark on your gardening job hunt, it’s important to understand that gardening as a job can be very different from gardening in your own backyard....
Veggies come in all colors these days; purple carrots, orange tomatoes, and even yellow watermelon. But among the most prized (and hard to find) veggies are the rainbow varieties. Many of these are fairly new but they’re starting to show up at farmers markets and even some grocery stores. Here’s a collection of the rainbow varieties that we’ve found: Rainbow Hot Peppers Although they look colorful, you may not want to “taste the rainbow” with this particular variety....
If you’ve been busy starting seeds indoors, you might already be at the point where your seeds have germinated and are growing into tiny seedlings (if not, be sure to check out our Seed Starting series to get started!) But the conditions that seedlings need to grow and thrive are different from what they need to germinate. Knowing how to properly care for your seedlings is important to get them off to the best start possible!...