For me, the seed-starting season begins with early sowings of slow-growing plants like leeks, onions, geraniums, and pansies in mid-February. Today, I use a homemade three-tier light stand with simple four-foot long shop fixtures fitted with fluorescent bulbs. But, early on, I used my mother’s dining room table (sorry mom!). Best way to start seeds: grow lights or windowsills I was only about 16 years old when I first started sowing my own seeds indoors....

When you hone in on the growing characteristics of some of these plants, “mint family” makes sense because of the herb’s tendency to spread. If you’ve planted mint in a garden, you know exactly what I mean. You’ve probably been pulling it out every year since! My mint (spearmint, mojito, etc.) is always dug into pots. Some of the other plants listed here, like oregano, lemon balm, lamium, and creeping Charlie, can also be aggressive spreaders....

What is bottom watering plants? Bottom watering plants is a method of watering that waters potted plants from the bottom up. The plant is placed in a tray or container of water and absorbs water via capillary action through the holes in the bottom of the pot. Learning how to water correctly is an essential skill when caring for plants. Don’t water on a schedule. Instead pay attention to your plants, checking them once or twice a week and watering as needed....

If you’re looking to add a few flowering trees to your landscape, here are some of my favorite varieties. The best flowering trees for home gardens Serviceberry (Amalanchier species): There are several different species of these flowering trees, each deserving of a place in the garden. Also called Juneberry and saskatoon, most serviceberry trees reach 15 to 30 feet at maturity. They easily survive winters down to -30 degrees F and are native to North America....

But sweet alyssum is no mere filler. Its dozens of tiny white or purple blooms will attract important beneficial insects to the garden. In her new book, Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden, Jessica devotes a page to the benefits of growing sweet alyssum. The plants can be used as natural pest control in the vegetable garden to manage aphid infestations. Parasitic wasps and syrphid flies consider alyssum pollen and nectar to be a tasty food source....

Speaking of the seed heads, they are edible when dried, as are the flowers called umbels that look like yellow fireworks. Dill leaves, or fronds, can be eaten fresh or dried. If you’re looking in the spice aisle, dried dill is often called dill weed and can be used in everything from soups to stews. I love fresh dill in a summer salad. Growing dill from seed Dill is one of those herbs that dislikes having its roots disturbed, so it’s best to direct-sow seeds in the garden....

What is a weed? A weed is generally defined as any unwanted plant. Common garden weeds include dandelions, purslane, lamb’s quarters, bindweed, and pigweed. Weeds compete with plants for water, sunlight, and nutrients, but they can also harbor pests or diseases. Many weeds, like lamb’s quarters also produce a huge volume of seeds so if allowed to set seed in your garden you may find yourself pulling them out for many years....

Why do you need to know how to harden off tomato plants? I was just a teenager when I learned the importance of hardening off seedlings like tomato plants. As a new gardener, I was starting seeds indoors for the first time. I planted a few trays of vegetable, flower, and herb seeds and was growing them beside a window in the family dining room. I felt like a proud parent and, one sunny day in early May, I thought I’d do my seedlings a favor and take them outdoors for a few hours of direct sunlight....

Trees with peeling bark aren’t always a sign of a problem Let’s start by setting the record straight. Many people assume there is something wrong with a tree that has peeling bark. Yes, some trees may have peeling bark due to physical damage, an insect infestation, or environmental factors such as a lightning strike, sunscald, or frost damage (which I’ll discuss later), but the trees I’m focusing on in this article have bark that peels off naturally....

Jessica says: There is so much I love about this container planting! First, the container itself is pretty cool. I love the dark slate blue against the Pennsylvania fieldstone patio. The fleur-de-lis (French for “flower of the lily”) pattern on the pot complements the swirls of the ‘Escargot’ begonia foliage. It’s hard to believe there are only three plants in this container – a red dragon wing begonia, an ‘Escargot’ begonia, and a ZZ plant (also called a Zanzibar Gem – Zamioculcas zamiifolia)....

Jessica says: Right now, I’m busy collecting seeds in my garden. I love to gather seeds from as many open-pollinated veggie and flower varieties as possible and save them for next year’s garden. For dry seeds, such as tithonia, sunflowers, zinnias, and beans, I spread the collected seeds on a newspaper to dry for two to three weeks. I write each variety’s name right on the newspaper. Then, after the seeds are dry, I pack them into labeled envelopes and store them in the fridge....

What are Armenian cucumbers? Armenian cucumber, also called snake cucumber, yard long cucumber, and cucumber melon is widely available through seed companies. My introduction to them was through my Lebanese in-laws. In Lebanon, Armenian cucumbers are called metki and they’re a popular crop grown in home gardens. The plants are vigorous, easy-to-grow, and thrive in the heat of summer. I love them so much that I wrote about them in my award-winning book, Veggie Garden Remix!...

Nasturtiums are the perfect “spillers” in container arrangements. They’re also edible. Both the young leaves AND the blooms can be tossed into a salad with other garden greens. (Though before you dump in a handful, I’d take a little nibble to make sure you like them first. The leaves can be a bit peppery and too spicy for some.) I love topping salads and desserts with nasturtiums when I’m serving them to company or bringing them to a potluck....

The lettuce table has been a very popular project. It’s one of the main projects brought up in interviews and you can find how-to instructions on Creative Green Living and the DIY Network’s Made+Remade blog. What’s so special about this particular lettuce table? Rather than just build a table from brand new lumber, I wanted to add a little style to this DIY in the book. Originally I was on the hunt for vintage legs (I was going to build a box to sit on top of them separately), but as I was strolling through an antique market not far from my home, I came across this lovely little vintage find....

We’ve teamed up with the good folks at Bloomin’ Easy® to introduce you to three drop-dead gorgeous cultivars of Hydrangea paniculata that will have you falling in love with hydrangeas in a whole new way. What’s so special about Hydrangea paniculata? Commonly called panicle hydrangeas, there’s a lot to love about Hydrangea paniculata. Here are just a few of the things that make this species so darn perfect. • Unlike varieties such as the mophead hydrangeas, Hydrangea paniculata (and its close cousin Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora – the peegee hydrangeas) produces flower buds in early spring on new growth and new wood, not on the woody stems formed during the previous gardening season....

Why choose drought tolerant shade plants? While the conditions of your garden may be challenging, choosing a plant that is more conditioned to adapt to the location is a good long-term goal. With water being such a precious resource, whether you have a full sun or a shade garden, drought tolerant plants will help to conserve water over time. Do keep in mind that new plants will need to be regularly watered until they become more established in their new home....

Growing tomatoes in containers: 7 strategies for success When growing in containers, there are a few simple strategies you can use to boost success and keep plants healthy and productive. 1) Container selection Match the pot size to the variety size. Some tomatoes, like ‘Micro Tom’ grow just a foot tall and can be planted in small, six-inch diameter containers. Others, like ‘Sungold’ can grow over seven-feet tall and need a large five to seven gallon container....

Before I start to explain how to grow winter aconite and where to plant it, it’s important to note that the entire winter aconite plant is poisonous, including the tubers, so avoid planting it if you have pets or small children. Hardy down to about USDA zone 4, winter aconite originates in the woodlands of the Balkans, France, and Italy, but has naturalized in other parts of Europe. This sunny sign of spring has a few names—winter hellebore, Éranthe d’hiver, and buttercup (because it is part of the Ranunculaceae or buttercup family)....

Meet the Gryphon Begonia An herbaceous perennial in the Begoniaceae family, Begonia Gryphon is a foliage plant with maple-like leaves. The colorful foliage consists of palmate green leaves with white variegation and maroon leaf undersides and leaf veins. It’s a majestic beauty that’s named after the mythical creature known as the gryphon. With the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, the gryphon, though only a figment of man’s imagination, is unforgettable – just like its namesake plant....

Where I live now, I’m on a ravine which means even WAY more squirrels than my last yard. Cute as they are, they can be very destructive. With a couple of oak trees and a bird feeder next door, you’d think the squirrels would leave my gardens alone. Nope! They like to take big bites out of my tomatoes, just as they’re ripening and ruffle around in my containers. With a bigger property, I find it harder to defend all my gardens....