Gardening Advice
April 22, 2016
Every spring we plant about a dozen different varieties of basil but I’m told there are over 150 species to choose from! So many basils, so little thyme! Here are some types of basil that I’m crazy about.
‘Genovese’ is my all-time favorite because it makes an awesome pesto and has lots of real Italian basil flavor.
‘Classico’ is another Genovese-type that we grow. The seeds are from Italy but since they do not come from Genoa they can’t be called Genovese. Those Italians are so strict when it... more
April 10, 2016
Gardeners curse the ubiquitous dandelion and its pervasive nature. They pop up everywhere in spring and are so hard to get rid of; that darn tap-root goes to China!
Dandelion History
It is hard to believe but at one time there were no dandelions in North America. Dandelions originated in Asia Minor and quickly spread throughout Asia and Europe.
The Normans called this plant “dent de lion”—tooth of the lion—for its jagged leaves. Anglo-Saxons corrupted this name into dandylion.
The Vikings... more
April 5, 2016
Gardening is not for pansies! It is a strenuous activity and none of us are getting any younger. Here are a few tips to make your chores easier and more comfortable to do.
Assess the situation. Just how much can you lift and how far can you bend? What chores are painful or put too much stress on your already sore parts? How long can you work before tiring? Remember gardening is supposed to be fun!
Stretch and warm up first before throwing yourself into the day’s chores. As with any form of... more
March 22, 2016
Succeed with seeds! Here are 10 tips for starting your seeds indoors.
The Hindi word for seed is ” bija” which translates literally as “containment of life”. An apt description for these tiny miracles that contain everthing needed to make a new plant. This time of year we are up to our elbows in dirt, starting more seeds indoors each week.
Why would you want to start your own seeds? Three big reasons: There is a much wider range of varieties available as seeds, things you would never find in a... more
March 5, 2016
Ready for a tropical interlude? Luckily, I only had to go as far as our state’s Orchid Society’s Annual Show to share some of the most beautiful orchid pictures for you—and picked up some orchid growing tips, too.
At this show, orchid growers have set up their displays and all the plants have been judged with many plants awarded ribbons.
What a treat to be able to escape from the frigid cold while viewing these gorgeous flowers!
I admit to being an orchid nut, having at least two dozen of... more
February 19, 2016
Have you abandoned your compost pile because you’re tired of trudging outsideto dump your kitchen scraps onto a frozen pile? Do you feel guilty about adding biodegradable waste to the tons of trash already at the transfer station? How about using worms to turn your kitchen scraps into fertilizer.
Called vermicomposting, having earthworms eat your garbage is an easy way to recycle food waste indoors year round. It is great science project for the kids and if you don’t get too attached to the... more
February 7, 2016
Winter is a great time for garden planning, We can make lengthy lists of plants we want to try growing, seeds to order, and drawings of new plot plans.
Unfortunately a lot of this gets lost when the gardening season revs up and we are overwhelmed with work. Even though I start out the year with every intention of keeping close track of things in a garden journal, I am usually so busy by June that my record keeping has degenerated into hasty notes scribbled on muddy scraps of paper.
Keeping a... more
January 20, 2016
Find out how to overwinter rosemary and grow rosemary indoors to keep this wonderful herb growing all year.
A reader’s question about overwintering rosemary reminded me that it was something I wanted to write about. I have had mixed results with rosemary plants over the years, but after killing a few I think I have finally gotten it right.
Every fall at least one person heading south for the winter will come to me with plants that they can’t bear to let die. I am a sucker for a beautiful plant... more
January 17, 2016
Between the cold weather and the football games on television, I have had lots of time to pore over the seed catalogs.
Many offer special enticements if you order early but we are still working to finalize our orders.
Some of the catalogs we receive should win awards for fiction; the glowing descriptions can not possibly be true. Do watermelons really grow on trees?
The artwork also borders on fantasy, depicting plants that are far removed from reality. Read closely and you’ll find that the... more
November 8, 2015
Everyone has heard of fast food but Thanksgiving is a time to think about slow food. No, I don’t mean the bad service you get at the favorite greasy spoon.
Slow Food is a worldwide movement that celebrates the pleasure of fresh, local food and traditional cooking. Promoted as an alternative to fast food, it strives to preserve traditional and regional cuisine and encourages farming of plants and livestock that’s more native.
At Thanksgiving, we enjoy so many “real” foods versus processed foods... more
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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.
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