 Fertilizer often includes key main ingredients that are essential to plant health. When buying fertilizer, understanding these basics can help you choose the best fertilizer for your garden.
[Read the rest of this article...] Make a space-saving raised bed for your vegetable and herb gardens. Using this raised garden bed design, you can build a raised bed in an afternoon. These step-by-step, illustrated instructions show you how. [Read the rest of this article...]  Adding fertilizer is an important, but often confusing, part of gardening. Use this list to help estimate how much fertilizer to use based on what types of vegetables you are planting.
[Read the rest of this article...]  Fertilizer comes in different forms, each with important advantages and disadvantages. Learn how to read the labels and decide which fertilizer formula is right for you.
[Read the rest of this article...]  In a nutshell, the soil is brimming with living organisms that help release nutrients, among other good things, from organic matter present in the soil.
[Read the rest of this article...] Parsley isn't just a flavorful herb; this hearty plant makes a great landscape edging. Use double-duty parsley plants to border your vegetable garden or flower beds for edible edging that will last year-round in milder climates. [Read the rest of this article...] A successful vegetable garden takes the right combination of sun, soil, and water. If you're new to vegetable gardening, read this helpful article to get started on planting your first garden. [Read the rest of this article...] When growing basil, be sure to pinch the blooms as they appear. This will keep your basil plant leafy and lush long into the season. [Read the rest of this article...] Take good care of your garden soil and you'll be rewarded with a lush, healthy garden. Working the soil too early can do more harm than good, so make sure to look for these signs before you begin. [Read the rest of this article...] We use this great, organically-based fertilizer formula to grow healthy, well-rooted transplants in our greenhouses. Now you can continue it in your garden. [Read the rest of this article...] Growing vegetables in pots is easy if you take care to use the right combination of watering and fertilizing. Container gardening will give you great results if you follow this helpful advice. [Read the rest of this article...] Collards belong to the cabbage, or cole family, along with broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, and kohlrabi. They have large, smooth, waxy green leaves that have a mild flavor when kissed by frost. [Read the rest of this article...] Compost promotes healthy plant growth, and homemade compost is wonderful to add to your garden soil each season. Here are some secrets to turning organic matter into benefit-rich compost. [Read the rest of this article...]  John Richardson and Jasmine Hodges share the story of planting their first vegetable garden. Any gardener will love their endearing story of the challenges and rewards they encounter when growing tomatoes and other vegetable plants.
[Read the rest of this article...]  When growing tomatoes, peppers, melons, and eggplant, there's a risk of blossom-end rot destroying your vegetables. You can work with the soil in advance to prevent rot, and use a stop-gap measure to salvage an affected plant.
[Read the rest of this article...] View the Container Gardening Inspiration Gallery for fresh ideas for container gardens. See how to incorporate herbs and vegetables into your containers in new and different ways. [Read the rest of this article...] Garden watering is an important element in plant growth. There are certain times when vegetable plants are most sensitive to watering. Use this guide to make sure you're giving your vegetables adequate water. [Read the rest of this article...]  Don't let a drought ruin your vegetable or herb garden! Bonnie gardeners share their favorite tips for conserving water and keeping your garden healthy even in dry conditions.
[Read the rest of this article...] Without adequate water, your vegetable or herb garden is in jeopardy. But how do you get enough water during drought conditions? Try these water-saving tips in your garden. [Read the rest of this article...] Most gardeners appreciate the beauty of a veggie, but author Pamela Crawford has taken it to a different level by mixing flowers with the bounty of vegetables. Her trial-and error approach connects with a lot of people who are growing vegetables for the first time and anyone who just wants make them showpieces. With lots of pictures and straight talk Pamela shows gardeners which vegetables were the easiest for her and how to make them look good in containers. [Read the rest of this article...] Plant a fall garden with these cool-weather crops, and you'll enjoy fewer insects, less sweat, and great-tasting vegetables. Fall is the perfect time of year to grow broccoli, kale, spinach, and other hearty plants. [Read the rest of this article...] Keeping your herb and vegetable plants watered is important, but sometimes nature doesn't cooperate. Set up a drip irrigation system that conserves water and hydrates plants naturally. [Read the rest of this article...] If you're growing tomatoes but tired of waiting until it's time to pick your first juicy, homegrown tomato, use these techniques to speed up your harvest. Cheat the calendar with these simple steps for speedy tomato plants. [Read the rest of this article...] These five simple gardening tips will help you clean your garden and eliminate insects and diseases. Keeping your garden healthy from season to season is easy if you take the time to prevent problems in advance. [Read the rest of this article...] Growing tomatoes using a stake or support system helps prevent diseases and makes it easier to care for and harvest your tomatoes. Try these techniques for growing tomatoes on single stake, circular cage, or wire trellis structures. [Read the rest of this article...] This Mother's Day, give your mom a thoughtful gift that will continue to get better. She'll love picking fresh herbs for adding flavor to her favorite dishes. A container herb garden is a unique, bright present that's perfect for any mother. [Read the rest of this article...] Turn your garden soil into black gold, even if your site has hard soil or debris. Nutrient-rich top soil makes for more productive herb and vegetable plants. These tips will help you tackle common garden soil challenges. [Read the rest of this article...] Having key garden tools that are comfortable and effective makes a big difference. A few good gardening tools, such as gloves and a garden fork, will make planting your herb or vegetable garden a better experience. [Read the rest of this article...] This is an easy way to grow strawberries without a lot of space and it keeps them clean and easy to harvest. [Read the rest of this article...] Know when to pick your broccoli, cabbage, or other fall-garden vegetables using this guide to cool-season vegetables. Picking these plants at their peak will yield lush, tasty vegetables this season. [Read the rest of this article...] Know when to pick your beans, melons, cucumbers or other garden vegetables using this guide to summer veggies. [Read the rest of this article...] All herbs will grow in containers, so planting your herb garden in a large pot is a great option. A container herb garden takes some special considerations, but works especially well for people who have trouble bending over a normal bed. [Read the rest of this article...] You may be surprised to know that you can grow herbs even in cool weather. Plant a pot of hardy, cool-weather herbs by your kitchen and enjoy fresh parsley, rosemary, and mint late into the year. [Read the rest of this article...] Strawberry jars feature pockets big enough to hold individual herb plants. Plant these jars in stages using these recommended herbs and you'll enjoy a perfectly sized herb garden for cooking use. [Read the rest of this article...] When it doesn’t rain enough, turn on the spigot. Veggies need water to produce, especially in this hot weather. [Read the rest of this article...]  Knowing how much potting soil to use when filling your pots can be tricky. This simple chart helps you learn how many pots you can fill with each bag of garden soil.
[Read the rest of this article...] Either by rain or watering, your vegetable or herb garden needs about an inch of water per week. In hot climates, your plants need even more. Here's how to figure out how much water your herb plants and vegetable plants require based on average temperatures in your area. [Read the rest of this article...] Any plant material is prime for composting. Whether you choose a compost bin, compost pile, or other composting method, composting is a great way to recycle kitchen and garden waste. Plus, nutrient-rich compost is great for your garden. [Read the rest of this article...] Bonnie peat pots are better for your plants and the environment. Follow these simple steps when planting with Bonnie peat pots and you won't have to worry about transplant shock. [Read the rest of this article...]  If gardening with friends and neighbors sounds like fun, you are a candidate for community gardening. All across the land neighborhoods and communities are digging in. Not since the Victory Gardens of WWII have community gardens been so popular.
[Read the rest of this article...] The mother of all raised beds, this 8 x 24-foot bed is 18-inches deep and has the potential to yield hundreds of pounds of food. This is a project for folks with building experience and who want a sturdy bed that will last a long time. [Read the rest of this article...] Overcome your garden soil challenges by opting to plant raised beds for growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Raised beds allow you to increase your depth of good garden soil and allow for better drainage, plus you'll have more room than in traditional rows. [Read the rest of this article...]  If your cat is going crazy for your catnip plant, you can easily prevent it from causing damage. Catnip plants are relatively fragile, so use this easy method to protect the plant from being rubbed to death by your eager kitty.
[Read the rest of this article...]  You may be surprised to learn that your compost pile needs just as much water as your live plants. There are several ways to ensure your compost is getting the adequate amount of water needed to do its job.
[Read the rest of this article...]  Once people are enjoying the fruits of their labors, they’ll be hooked. Here are some ideas for encouraging interaction.
[Read the rest of this article...] Decode tomato plants by learning the difference between determinate and indeterminate, as well as symbols for disease resistance. If you're growing tomatoes, use this guide to help you select the variety. [Read the rest of this article...] Growing cucumbers is even better if you use a trellis to get your cucumber plants off the ground. Cucumbers make an excellent climbing vegetable plant because they will grab a trellis, and you'll get better results. [Read the rest of this article...] It's important to write down your observations each growing season so you can apply your knowledge to your next herb garden or vegetable garden. Your notes are a valuable resource for garden planning. [Read the rest of this article...] Finding the right-sized pot is key when planting a container garden. Depending on what vegetable and herb plants you are growing, there are several container options to choose from. [Read the rest of this article...] Growing tomatoes breaks the common gardening rule that you shouldn't plant too deeply. Tomato plants should be planted so that a full two-thirds of the plant is underground, creating a better root system. [Read the rest of this article...]  Growing broccoli, cabbage, collards, or other cole crops is easy when you plant using these illustrated, step-by-step instructions.
[Read the rest of this article...]  Follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to plant your pepper plants, from preparing your garden soil through mulching your plant. Plus, these color photos let you see exactly how your pepper plant should look at each step.
[Read the rest of this article...] Use these step-by-step instructions to properly set your Bonnie squash this year. [Read the rest of this article...] If you're growing tomatoes this season, be sure to take a look at these illustrated, step-by-step instructions to give your tomato plants a healthy start. Whether your tomato plant is in a Bonnie peat pot or plastic container, these tips help you get it in the ground properly. [Read the rest of this article...]  Learn which vegetable plants give you the greatest yield per square foot with these handy ratings from the National Garden Bureau. Be sure and check this list when planning your vegetable garden.
[Read the rest of this article...] In some regions of the country you can enjoy growing tomatoes well into the fall. Here's what you can do to revitalize your tomato plants for a late-season harvest. [Read the rest of this article...] Ellen Spector Platt shares her experience with rooftop gardening in the big city. A rooftop container garden can be an oasis in an urban environment, but this type of gardening presents some unique challenges. But raised planters filled with herbs and flowers bring gardening to the big city and create a space for neighbors to enjoy. [Read the rest of this article...] A must for any herb garden, a rosemary plant gives you a fresh herb that is easy to snip and makes a flavorful addition to any meal. Rosemary plants will grow in containers or beds, and they are evergreen in some zones. [Read the rest of this article...] Looking for ways to save on your household bills? Growing a vegetable garden or herb garden saves money and trips to the grocery store. These plant varieties, including tomatoes and specialty peppers, offer maximum savings. [Read the rest of this article...] 
When planning your garden, make sure your garden site has these three essentials. Picking the right place to plant your herb or vegetable garden is an important part of gardening. [Read the rest of this article...]  Compost provides your garden with rich, organic material to help your plants grow. If you want to add to your garden soil or get your compost pile started, these four types of store-bought compost can help.
[Read the rest of this article...]  Learn how a freeze affects your fall vegetable garden and what to do when one happens. You can protect your plants, especially during early freezes, and still look forward to a full harvest.
[Read the rest of this article...] In summer herb gardeners get a delicious payoff for all our efforts. Oddly enough, this is where some gardeners become timid, unsure what to do next because the plants are so full and beautiful, you hardly want to trim them. However, here is a little advice for clipping with confidence. [Read the rest of this article...] This 4- by 8-foot raised bed is a snap to make from 3 8-foot boards that you can have cut to size at the store. To build it, all you do is screw the boards together at the corners. [Read the rest of this article...] When squash vines suddenly collapse, it’s may be the work of squash vine borers. You can read about them in our pest ID section. If you find that borers are at work, here is a last ditch technique to perhaps save your plants. [Read the rest of this article...] Take inspiration from gardeners across the country with this vegetable garden photo gallery. These pictures illustrate gardening tips and garden planning ideas from gardeners like you. [Read the rest of this article...] Growing broccoli can be a little tricky because this cole crop is especially sensitive to temperature. Check the planting dates for your area to find out the prime time for broccoli. [Read the rest of this article...] Garden soil teems with life. Learn how to encourage the unseen creatures underfoot, and you’ll grow your best garden ever. Learn about the soil food web. [Read the rest of this article...]  Hardy and semi-hardy vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli, English peas, and spinach are great choices for fall plants. You can enjoy gardening well into the fall, depending on your region, with great-tasting results.
[Read the rest of this article...] You decide. Supporting your pepper plant with a plant stake can be a good idea in certain situations. Depending on where you live and what variety of peppers you're growing, staking might be necessary. [Read the rest of this article...] When growing tomatoes, you may find that some tomatoes develop unusual characteristics that aren't brought on by disease or insects. Learn what causes these "tomato quirks" in your tomato garden. [Read the rest of this article...] Growing tomatoes for delicious sandwich slices takes the big tomato varieties, such as Big Beef and Parks Whopper. To grow big, heavy tomatoes, follow these tips for caring for large tomato plants. [Read the rest of this article...] Start your container garden with the right pot, plants, and support. As long as there is sunshine and water, you can grow a container garden in virtually any spot. [Read the rest of this article...] Is your mint plant on the move? Growing peppermint and spearmint herb plants can be enjoyable and great for cooking, but mint plants can also grow farther than you'd like. If you live in an area where mint is perennial, use these tips to limit root growth. [Read the rest of this article...] You have a lot of options when choosing plant pots. This guide to plant pot materials will help you weigh your options and choose the best garden pot for your plants, weather conditions, and usage. [Read the rest of this article...]  You may have noticed the "All America Selections Winner" seal but aren't sure what that means. This evaluation program recognizes exceptional new varieties. Only those meeting the strictest criteria are selected as winners.
[Read the rest of this article...]  Composting is a natural process that transforms waste into a rich soil additive. Compost has many benefits for your garden soil, and increased soil fertility equals more bountiful plants in your herb or vegetable garden.
[Read the rest of this article...] Cilantro plants produce two useful parts: flavorful, aromatic leaves and a white umbel filled with coriander seeds. Growing cilantro is easy if you know what to expect from the plant each season. [Read the rest of this article...] Sometimes you just need horsepower. Many of us live where the soil is hard and if we want to make a garden in the ground, we have to break it up and add organic matter. This is gardening the original way—no raised bed—just a good garden in the ground. [Read the rest of this article...]  Composting requires patience because it often does not mature during prime vegetable planting times. Divide compost bins and look for these signs that your compost is ready to use.
[Read the rest of this article...] Plan your vegetable garden to yield the best seasonal produce. Vegetables can be divided into cool-season or warm-season crops, and this list helps you plant appropriately for a bountiful vegetable garden. [Read the rest of this article...] Soil pH affects how vital nutrients are delivered to your plants. If your soil pH is too high or too low, your vegetable plants may not be growing to their potential. Use these methods to test and adjust your soil pH. [Read the rest of this article...] There are many advantages to growing vegetables in pots. A container garden is easier to maintain and more convenient. Consider these herb- and vegetable-friendly reasons to plant in pots. [Read the rest of this article...] Whether you're looking to save on your grocery bill or get the freshest, tastiest produce available, there are many reasons to plant an herb garden or vegetable garden. Here are seven good reasons to grow your own vegetables and herbs. [Read the rest of this article...]  Once you have a garden location and excited would-be gardeners, it’s time to tend to behind-the-scenes tasks that put a community garden on the path to success.
[Read the rest of this article...] Potting mix, or potting soil, is a combination of nutrient-rich material that is healthier for your plants than regular garden soil. Good potting soil is essential for potted plants to grow a healthy root system. [Read the rest of this article...] When you have a garden big enough or you garden long enough through the seasons, your plants are likely to be attacked by common insects or diseases. Having a good sprayer on hand will make it easy to deal with the pests. [Read the rest of this article...] Bumble bees, sweat bees, and squash bees will help you get a good harvest of squash, melons, okra, and other crops. Make your garden friendly to them. [Read the rest of this article...] | Learn how to grow any vegetable or herb. Illustrated instructions walk you through planting, care, harvest, storage, and troubleshooting.
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