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Where to grow lavender I grow lavender as a border plant against taller perennials, like coreopsis (though some plants can reach three feet or more), in one area of my garden. And I have some along the curb where my garden meets the street. The soil isn’t the greatest, but my plant thrives, even during the hot, dry days of summer. And when I harvest, I’m selective, so there are still blooms to enjoy aesthetically in the garden—and for the pollinators....

6 considerations when starting an indoor garden Before you head to the plant store or start browsing for pots and plants online, take a few minutes to plan your indoor garden. It can save you time and money, but also help you select the best plants for your indoor growing conditions. Light Light is the most important factor to keep in mind when choosing plants for an indoor garden. Don’t select plants based on something you’ve seen in an Instagram post....

1) Kohlrabi An under-used and under-appreciated fall crop, kohlrabi is very easy to grow, quick to mature, and oh, so tasty. It’s also the perfect choice for succession planting – and for kids, who will enjoy the odd rounded stems in shades of apple green or deep purple. Direct sow in the garden 8 to 10 weeks before the first fall frost, or get a jump start by starting the seed indoors under grow lights....

What is fusion gardening, exactly? The way I interpret it is it’s basically a blend of traditional gardening elements (visual design, for example), whilst accommodating several environmental factors—pollinators, rainwater, native plants, etc. A big piece of the puzzle is controlling the flow of rainwater, so it disperses naturally. And then on the other hand, you want to capture some of that water for gardening, so you can reduce the amount of water you get from the tap....

To show you some great examples of and tips for selecting low-maintenance roses, we’ve teamed up with the Knock Out® Family of Roses. These floriferous, easy-care shrub roses come in some pretty stunning hues from white, yellow, and peach, to a spectrum of pink. (I have to give a little shout-out to Rainbow, with its coral-pinkish petals and yellow center.) What to look for when selecting low-maintenance roses Keep an eye out for the following traits when selecting roses—or any perennial, for that matter—to add to a low-maintenance garden....

Why planting onion seeds is better than planting sets Onion sets are immature bulbs that were grown from seed that was planted in mid-summer of the previous year. The partially-grown bulbs are pulled from the soil in the fall and stored in a dormant state through the winter to be replanted the following spring. Many gardeners plant onions from sets because they’re widely available and it’s easy, but there are a few reasons why this may not be the best way to grow a good onion crop....

All about Begonia Escargot A variety of a group of begonias known as Rex begonias (Rex cultorum group), Escargot is a cultivar that reaches about 6 to 12 inches in height. In warm climates where freezing winter temperatures do not occur, Rex begonias are evergreen perennials that live for many years. In cold climates, we grow them as summer annuals, enjoying them for a single growing season then often letting them succumb to frost....

Bolting, when the plants shift from leafy growth into flower production, is caused by a number of factors including high temperatures, long daylight hours, and less moisture – in essence – summer. Lettuce does offer a few clues when it’s about to bolt. First, the center of the plant begins to elongate as the flower stalk is formed. Another obvious indiction is that the formerly sweet flavour is replaced by a bitter bite....

Four flowers for the vegetable garden: Sunflowers – No vegetable garden is complete without a few cheerful sunflowers, whether the massive stalks of ‘Russian Giant’, bee-friendly blooms of ‘Lemon Queen’, or the knee-high flowers of ‘Musicbox’. If you’re into the more unusual shades, try ‘Prado Red’, a deep hued sunflower with chocolate and mahogany flowers or the pollen-less, but spectacular ‘Strawberry Blonde’, a hybrid with soft yellow tips and burgundy centers....

Timing considerations There are many factors that help determine the best time to plant pumpkins. I’m going to discuss most of these factors in greater depth throughout this article, but this initial bulleted list gives you an idea of how many considerations are involved in the proper timing of pumpkin planting. Soil temperature Air temperature Soil moisture level The average first and last frost dates in your region The variety of pumpkin you are growing Days to maturity of each variety Whether you’re growing from seed or transplant Let’s tackle each of these topics and look at how they impact when to plant pumpkins....

I don’t really think of myself as having a green thumb when it comes to indoor houseplants. It’s more green-ish. Orchids? I can keep them alive, but I’ve never had one rebloom for me. I have varying success with other plants, depending on what it is and the care required. But I love to buy them—for myself and as gifts. I recommend that you ask at the time of purchase what the care instructions are for the plant you’re taking home....

This article is going to dive into rain garden benefits, as well as how to go about planning for a typical residential rain garden. It will also offer some suggestions on what to plant. What is a rain garden? During every big rainfall, as water flows down driveways and sidewalks, and off rooftops, it washes everything it encounters in its path—chemicals, fertilizer, dirt, road salt—into storm drains, as well as into our lakes, rivers, and streams....

What are small pumpkins? Small pumpkins are those that weigh less than four pounds, with many small pumpkins being truly miniature and weighing less than a pound. Like large pumpkins, small fruited varieties need a long growing season, often up to 100 days for the plants to grow and the fruits to mature. Different varieties also have different growing habits. Some produce long vines, while others have semi-vining or bush-type plants....

What are snake plants? Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata, formerly Sansevieria trifasciata), also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, is a popular indoor plant native to Africa. There are various types to grow with most having upright, vertical growth and sword-shaped or pointed leaves. They’re tough, almost indestructible plants and thrive in a range of light levels – from full, direct sunlight to low light conditions. There’s a type of snake plant for every sized space as certain varieties are compact and grow just 6 inches tall, while others can reach heights of 6 to 8 feet when mature....

When I was coming up with projects to include in my book, Gardening Your Front Yard: Projects and Ideas for Big & Small Spaces (2020, Quarto Homes), I reached out to John to ask if I could include his concept, which I knew would look stunning in my own front yard garden. And it is a huge conversation starter with neighbors who walk by! Before I got started with building my own pollinator palace, I had the opportunity to interview John about how he came up with the idea…...

Growing tomatoes from seed: Types of tomato seeds When flipping through your favorite seed catalog, you’ll probably notice descriptions like ‘heirloom’ (or sometimes ‘heritage’), ‘open-pollinated’, and ‘hybrid’. Understanding the different types of seeds will help you pick the right tomato varieties for your garden. Heirloom – An heirloom tomato is an open-pollinated variety that has been passed down through the generations. The main reason to grow heirloom tomatoes is flavor! The fruits are packed with mouthwatering flavors that are seldom matched by hybrid varieties....

Why is figuring out how to get rid of slugs in the garden so challenging? Let’s start with the obvious: slugs have a major ick factor. They’re slimy and pretty darned disgusting. Most species are decomposers who feed on decaying plant and animal wastes. But, there are a handful of slug species that prefer to feed on living plant material, making them the bane of many gardeners. If you’re here to figure out how to get rid of slugs in the garden, these are definitely the species you’re dealing with....

Why is onion spacing important? Proper plant spacing is essential when growing vegetables. Those planted too closely compete for water, sun, and nutrients, but planting too far apart wastes garden space and reduces yield. Tightly packed plants also limits air circulation which increases the risk of plant diseases. Getting the spacing right means healthy plants and larger harvests. Spacing information is typically provided on seed packets, but you can also find it in a book like my award-winning book The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener....

This post is an excerpt from Veggie Garden Remix by Niki Jabbour. Glorious ground cherries The flavor of a ripe ground cherry (Physalis pruinosa) is comparable to pineapple with hints of cherry tomato and vanilla. It’s an unusual combination, but one that works. Occasionally, I’ll bite into an extra-ripe berry that almost tastes like butterscotch — sublime! Their sweet flavor is what earns them the nicknames “strawberry tomato” and “Cossack pineapple....

Succession planting is a simple technique that allows gardeners to enjoy the longest possible harvest. As early crops are picked, the empty beds are then re-seeded or planted with fresh seedlings. With the exception of root crops, I prefer to use seedlings over seeds when succession planting. In summer the hot, often dry weather, plus the increase in insect pests, can make direct seeding difficult. As well, the seed of many crops won’t germinate when the temperature reaches a certain point – for example, the germination rate of lettuce nosedives at 27 C (80 F)....