Gardening Advice
October 30, 2020
If you can’t visit the tropics, try growing your own citrus trees in containers! Dwarf citrus varieties grow year-round. They all bear edible fruit and have glossy, evergreen leaves and delicious-smelling flowers. (The scent is heavenly!) Learn how to care for your indoor citrus trees.
There are many kinds of citrus that work well as container plants. Here are a few of the more popular ones:
Varieties of Dwarf Citrus to Try
Meyer lemon is a cross between a lemon and a tangerine, and is one of... more
October 29, 2020
By now, you are probably aware that about 1/3 of our food supply depends on bees and other insects for pollination. It would be a fruitless fall without their help! So, what plants are best for bees? What flowers do bees like the most? Let’s find out!
I’m sure many of you have dealt with the frustration of seeing blossoms fall off your vegetable plants because they have not been pollinated. Not only do food crops depend on these beneficial insects, but most flowering trees and plants need... more
October 28, 2020
As gardeners, we are connected to all people who have come before us, caring for the earth. Native Americans and indigenous cultures from across the globe have a long history of growing food, with many “old” techniques that have recently been made popular. Ready for the best “modern” gardening techniques? Let’s look to the past for wisdom!
Gourds, beans, and peppers were being cultivated in Mexico by 5,500 BC, and by 5,000 BC, maize was being grown in Mesoamerica and potatoes in South America.... more
October 22, 2020
When frost threatens, it’s time to move many of your outside plants indoors. Many tender bulbs, annuals, herbs, and tropical plants will only survive the winter inside. Here’s advice on which plants to bring indoors this fall and how to winterize plants and pots.
When to Bring Plants Inside
True annuals and plants that we grow as annuals (considered tender perennials in southern regions) cannot survive cold winter temperatures. But there’s no need to say farewell to these plants forever! Many “... more
October 20, 2020
Now that you have grown and harvested some beautiful winter-keeping vegetables, how are you going to store them? Not everyone has access to a root cellar. Here are other ways to store your harvest!
In great-grandma’s day, most houses had a root cellar or a cold storage room somewhere in the house. Today’s modern houses don’t include that feature and pride themselves on having warm, dry, finished basements instead of cold, damp cellars with dirt floors (for good reason).
So, how do you store... more
October 12, 2020
This fall—in the yard and in the woods—be on the lookout for deceptively beautiful berries. Some of these berries are poisonous. Even if you don’t plan to pop a berry into your mouth, it’s helpful to know which plants in the landscape have poisonous berries. Here are the most common poison berries of fall.
Poisonous Berries in Fall
If your kids have been active participants in berry picking all summer long, let them know that not all berries are okay to eat. Teach them not to put anything in... more
October 12, 2020
Let’s make our fall vegetable garden cleanup easier! Here are 11 tasks to do in autumn before the weather gets uncomfortably cold. Tidying up your garden prevents problems later and means less work in the cold springtime.
Which Vegetables Can Withstand Frost?
Not all vegetables need to be removed and cleaned up. Some vegetables are hardy or semi-hardy and can stay in the ground. Many semi-hardy and hardy vegetables taste better after a frost or two. Check the frost dates in your area.
Semi-... more
October 12, 2020
Lavender grows best outdoors, but you can also keep these aromatic gems alive over the winter. Plus, lavender is not only pretty, but also brings a sense of calm to every room. Here are some lovely lavender varieties and advice on how to overwinter lavender.
Meet the Lavenders
A fragrant and colorful plant native to Europe and Western Asia, lavender is a sun-loving flower best grown outdoors. Depending on which type of lavender you keep and where you grow it, it can be grown as a perennial or... more
October 8, 2020
Good Gourd! What’s with the bumpy, weird-looking decorative squash? We get many questions about growing and curing our gourds. (Did you know that the luffa sponge is a gourd?) See different types of gourds to plant in the spring—or, find some “gourdgeous” gourds this fall and save their seeds!
What are Gourds?
Gourds are among the oldest cultivated plants. They were the early water bottles of the Egyptians, and have been used for utensils, storage containers, and dippers for centuries.... more
September 28, 2020
If this was your first year growing garden fruits and vegetables, you probably have found that much of your homegrown produce does not look like what you see in the store. Don’t be discouraged! It is what’s on the inside that counts! Learn more about that “ugly” produce.
Experienced gardeners know that imperfect produce is actually more normal and natural than the grocery store specimens which are often aesthetically perfect.
There is nothing wrong with twin-rooted carrots, even though they... more
Pages
Get inspired by Robin Sweetser’s backyard gardening tips and tricks. Robin has been a contributor to The Old Farmer’s Almanac and the All-Seasons Garden Guide for many years. She and her partner Tom have a small greenhouse business and also sell plants, cut flowers, and vegetables at their local Farmer’s Market.
FREE BEGINNER'S GARDEN GUIDE!
BONUS: You’ll also receive our Almanac Companion newsletter!
