plant: lettuce

Think you need to wait until spring to start your garden? Think again! Here in the Southeast, our mild winters give us the opportunity to grow delicious, fresh vegetables all year round. And let’s be honest, there’s something extra satisfying about harvesting your own food when there’s a chill in the air. So, grab your gardening gloves and let’s get planting! Why Cold-Hardy Veggies? Cold-hardy vegetables are a special group of plants that can handle chilly temperatures and even a touch of frost....

If you’re a gardener with pets, no doubt they spend some time in or near the garden. While it’s essential to do some pet-proofing to your garden, it’s also fun to hang out with your pet, just relaxing in the garden. While your dog or cat probably won’t help you with any garden chores, they might love to help you enjoy the harvest. Our pets can enjoy many fruits and vegetables....

As back-to-school approaches it can feel like planting the garden was all but a distant memory. But with the cooler temps comes a whole new potential garden season! While some plants like broccoli and cabbage commonly need to be started in the summer to be ready in time for a fall harvest, there are still plenty of plants you can start growing in early fall! Of course what you can plant in early fall depends on your location, so as a first step be sure to check the Growing Calendar in Planter to see which plants can be grown now in your local area....

Once midsummer hits it can feel like you’re in a gardening standstill. On the one hand you’re waiting for some of the longer-maturing plants to start producing a harvest, and on the other hand earlier spring crops are starting to fizzle out. But in midsummer many of us still have ample time to get new plants growing and get a substantial harvest before the season comes to an end. The first step is to check the Growing Calendar in Planter to see which plants you may still have time to grow in your area....

One of the things we first learn as gardeners is how important it is to select a full sun location for a veggie garden. Unfortunately, many of us don’t have the luxury of having an extra large yard with all-day sun exposure. Even if you’re lucky enough to have a sun-drenched backyard, you might have underutilized partially shaded areas of your yard that you wish you could grow food in. The good news is…you can in fact grow some vegetables in part shade!...

Harvesting fresh veggies is the ultimate reward for all the time and care we invest in our gardens! When harvest time finally arrives it’s easy to just get out there and start picking, but there is a bit of technique involved to harvest properly. You’ll want to make sure to harvest vegetables at their peak, while also helping the plants stay healthy and productive. How to harvest, and when to harvest, will vary for different crops:...

Summertime is a busy time in the garden. From managing watering, to preparing for vacation, and tackling garden problems, there is a lot to do to keep your garden going strong! Even though summer can get hectic, don’t forget to take a step back from the to-do list to plan your fall garden. While the tomatoes are ripening and the peppers are plumping, it’s time to be thinking about which seeds to sow and seedlings to transplant for fall harvests....

The first time your hear a gardener use the word ‘bolting’ in the same sentence as ‘plants’ it can be a bit of a head-scratcher (…are they running away?) In the gardening world, bolting refers to a non-fruiting plant that has started to produce flowers and seeds- also known as ‘going to seed’. Gardeners often see bolting as a bad thing, but it doesn’t have to be! What is bolting? When a plant bolts it focuses all its energy on producing flowers and seeds, instead of growing new, lush leaves or larger roots....

As the last remains of snow melt away and temperatures gradually warm up, gardeners start dreaming of putting in the first crops of the season. While we often look forward to planting summer crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, the early spring can be a season of great abundance and should not be overlooked! What are Cold-Hardy Crops? There are several cold-hardy crops that will grow in cooler temperatures and can withstand a mild frost or even a freeze....