Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is one of those things that people either absolutely love or absolutely hate. I stand firmly in the love column. I bet that most people who say they hate asparagus have only tasted the soggy spears that plop out of cans. Canned asparagus cannot even compare to fresh, especially if it is home- or locally grown. First, a little history Asparagus has … Continue reading Asparagus brings spring delight
It’s that time of year again. It is the time of year when we celebrate St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, famed for driving the snakes from the Emerald Isle (I’ve been there, and an affirm that it is, indeed, very green). People don their green apparel, maybe drink a little too much, and advertise their Irish heritage (even if they have none). Many … Continue reading St. Patrick’s day is time to think potatoes
You’ve heard me extoll the virtues of composting before. It is, afterall, a win-win situation; you reduce the amount of waste going from your kitchen and garden into the landfill and you get a wonderful soil amendment in the process. It is the gardener’s equivalent of Jed Clampett’s black gold – but while it is valuable in the garden, it won’t get you a Beverly … Continue reading Composting turns trash into garden treasure
Gardeners tend to see the world around them in two different ways, either as a landscape or as a practical/utilitarian food-producing spot. Some gardeners only enjoy landscape gardening, growing roses, shrubs and perennials that provide beauty. Other gardeners only grow vegetables and fruit, seeing produce as the ultimate goal of gardening. Even those gardeners who do both still treat their landscape and food gardens discretely, … Continue reading Sometimes its OK to play with your food
As we edge closer and closer to spring (wishful thinking?), it is time to start thinking about pruning up a few of the trees and shrubs in your yard. Pruning is necessary to keep your plants healthy, growing strong and producing flowers and fruits in abundance. And it requires proper technique and correct timing. The timing of pruning depends upon when the tree or shrub … Continue reading Pruning is a mix of art, science
So far, winter has proven to be a test of endurance and wits for most people around the state. Because of the trend of relatively mild winters with only short bursts of cold and snow, we have grown unaccustomed to the bitter bite of winter. You’ll have to go back a few decades to find a winter as harsh as this one. The question is, … Continue reading Gardeners seek survival signs amid harsh winter
Despite the unscientific opinion of certain ground-dwelling large rodents, gardeners are definitely itching for spring. When dreamily gazing at garden catalogs just doesn’t do it, when you need to get your hands dirty, and when you need to be assured that spring will arrive once more, then it is perhaps time to think about starting some seeds indoors. It is a popular topic, especially since … Continue reading Start seeds for variety and savings
This is the time of year I usually get garden fever. It has been months since putting the garden to bed, and the recent spate of arctic weather makes longing for plants and sunshine even stronger. When stuck indoors, even the most desperate winter monotony can be tamed by tending indoor houseplants. Even this most practical Garden Guru who grows mainly food plants has a … Continue reading Houseplants Brighten Winter Doldrums
Over the last few weeks, I’ve talked about some of the trends that the garden marketing world has picked up and is using to influence everything from what you find at the garden center to what hot new garden books are hitting the shelves. For the first time, it is interesting to note, the sale of food plants and seeds has surpassed that of purely … Continue reading Superfoods Are Becoming Garden Superheroes
One of the hottest new trends in gardening is beverage gardens. This trend includes options for the health-conscious (growing your own teas and ingredients for juices and smoothies), the DIY crowd (growing ingredients for homemade sodas) and those who enjoy an intoxicating beverage or three (ingredients to brew or flavor homemade alcoholic beverages). There are lots of things you can grow to drink instead of … Continue reading Homemade Beverage Production is Growing
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