Sometimes it seems like there is just this one weed that has to ruin everything. It grows out of control, ruining the aesthetic of your lawn, landscape or garden. It outcompetes the things you actually want to grow. It looks horrible and grows way too fast to keep under control. I know that some people don’t mind weeds, or even appreciate them (many are tasty … Continue reading What weeds are telling you
It seems as though the sweltering heat of summer has come early to suppress us all in a lazy, hazy fog. I know I certainly avoid being outside as much as I can when the thermometer tops 90 degrees. Merely sitting — even in the shade — can leave you a sticky, sweaty mess. There’s one way to beat the sultry summer blues, though. Think … Continue reading Escape summer by thinking fall
Eating fresh produce from the garden is truly one of the pleasures of the season. Fresh salads, tomatoes, peppers and onions highlight the summer table. I can still remember the first big Sunday dinner of the summer at my grandparents’ house — a table full of nothing but corn on the cob, green beans cooked with new potatoes (with, of course, some form of pork), … Continue reading Plan ahead to preserve the harvest
Weeds seem to occupy the minds of gardeners for a great deal of the growing season. There are weeds in the landscape, weeds in the vegetable garden, weeds in the lawns … weeds, weeds and more weeds. Some people let the weeds preoccupy them for most of the gardening season, while others really couldn’t care less. Sometimes I just shake my head as I see … Continue reading Controlling weedy foes in the garden
This year, I’ve had the opportunity to do some traveling. It turns out, though, that all of the wonderful places that I have visited have had one thing in common: drought. Earlier this year I traveled twice to California, and just last week I had the fortune of touring farms around New Mexico. Signs everywhere tell you to conserve water, and restaurants serve water only … Continue reading Be water-wise and you’ll be OK when summer sky is dry
Now that warm weather is (supposedly) here to stay, it’s time to turn our attention to the more fair-weather members of the vegetable garden team. I would say that it is finally safe to plant peppers, beans, corn, cucumbers, squash and the like. But the one thing most people are really excited about planting is tomatoes. I’m not sure why planting tomatoes creates so much … Continue reading Growing your best tomato
There seems to be a lot of confusion and misinformation these days concerning the origin and safety of everyday garden seeds. While I do appreciate many of our heirloom seeds, I also appreciate what hybrid seeds bring to the table. Unfortunately, misinformation has led to a great number of home gardeners believing that hybrid seeds are genetically modified and unsafe. It is amazing to see … Continue reading Should I be planting hybrid seeds?
Many people ask me what my best suggestion is for starting a vegetable garden. Hands down, the first suggestion that comes out of my mouth is to garden in raised beds. There are just too many benefits to raised beds not to make them a serious part of your garden. For a modest up-front investment of money, time and labor, you can enjoy years of … Continue reading Raise your garden to the next level
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
BearlyGrowing 