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It took forever to pull all the plants together because there were so many possibilities to choose from, but I finally ended up with the following plants for my container: Sedum ‘Sunsparkler Lime Zinger’ Sage (hiding in the centre) Chrysanthemum (it’s just a standard fall ornamental with no label) Heuchera micranthus ‘Palace Purple’ (this one I had already purchased at a plant sale) Button bush ‘Sugar Shack’ Red Baron Japanese blood grass Ajuga (this I dug out of my lawn....

Besides salad greens, I love growing a selection of tougher greens I can cook with in my raised beds, from kale and Swiss chard to pak choy—and New Zealand spinach. Read on for tips on growing this yummy spinach that’s not really a spinach from seed. So what is New Zealand spinach? While it might pass the Popeye test, New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) isn’t actually part of the spinach family....

My brand new book, Gardener’s Guide to Compact Plants (Cool Springs Press, 2019), introduces hundreds of dwarf edibles and ornamentals for small gardens. Meet some of the very best compact evergreen shrubs in this excerpt from the book. Small evergreen shrubs for year-round interest Compact Maximum Rhodendron (Rhododendron ‘Maximum Compacta’) – A small evergreen shrub with colorful blooms: A mini version of a traditional rhododendron, this broad-leaved dwarf evergreen produces large clusters of pinkish lavender flowers in late spring....

Summer gardening tips Trim back the perennial plants that are done blooming to clean up dead flower spikes and remove seed pods. This will help to keep the perennial garden looking its best, and make the flowers that are currently in bloom really stand out. Deadhead annual flowers to give the plants a boost and encourage more blooms. Simply pinch off any faded flowers and seed pods from the plants, and soon they will be covered with flowers again....

12 companion plants for peppers In my award-winning book, Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden (Storey Publishing, 2021), I take a deep dive into the topic and introduce dozens of companion planting strategies that are proven to improve plant health and yields by deterring pests, building soil health, limiting weeds, enhancing biological control, and more. By employing these plant partnerships in your garden, you’ll create not just a more diverse growing environment, but a more resilient one, resulting in healthier, more productive plants....

First off, there are over 480 different species of ladybugs in North America and many of them aren’t red with black polka-dots. A significant number of species have completely different coloration. These garden friendly bugs can be brown, yellow, cream, orange, black, gray, burgundy, or pink. They can have lots of spots or no spots at all. They can be striped, banded, or mottled. They can even have blue eyes. The checker spot ladybug in the featured photo is a good example of a common ladybug that’s certainly not red with black polka-dots....

Garlic growing basics for containers Before we dive into the specifics about how to grow garlic in pots, it’s essential that you understand a few basics about how garlic grows. Garlic has a long growing season. And by long, I mean lllllooooonnnggg. It takes about 8 to 9 months for a small planted garlic clove to develop into a ready-to-harvest head of garlic. Yes, that means you could grow a whole human baby in the same amount of time it takes to grow a head of garlic!...

Varieties of kale to grow There are many different varieties of this super-healthy member of the Brassica family (Brassica oleracea, to be exact), which also includes broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage. My favorite varieties of kale include Vates Blue, a curly variety. Curly kale has these wonderful, ruffled leaves. When I use it, I cut around the tough stems and toss them in the compost. If I’m stir frying the leaves, I find sometimes the curls become a bit crispy, which adds a nice crunch to a dish....

The basics of composting I’m not going to spend a lot of time discussing the science of composting when Jessica did just that in this excellent post. Instead, I want to focus on the various types of DIY compost bins you can build and the best materials to use. However, those new to composting may wonder if it’s worth the effort. To that I say, yes! There are many benefits to making your own compost:...

A few easy projects for mini holiday houseplants What I love about miniature houseplants is that you can buy a few to play with and not break the bank. For these projects, I worked with a lot of materials that I already had. The most expensive item I bought was black reindeer moss, but I was able to use it for two projects, and I’m sure I’ll make use of it again....

Peace lily drooping As houseplants go, Spathiphyllum plants are fairly forgiving, but, if you notice your peace lily drooping, you should act swiftly. When peace lilies go limp—and particularly when they’re allowed to remain that way for too long—bringing them back from the brink can be more difficult. Fortunately, the most common reasons for a drooping peace lily are fairly simple to remedy. Find and fix the trouble, and you’ll be rewarded with glossy, deep-green foliage and stately flowers—each comprised of a white, leaf-like “spathe” and a creamy yellow spike or “spadex”—standing at attention again....

First, I think it’s important to note that a ‘tomato sucker’ isn’t botanically a sucker. A sucker is a shoot that that grows from the base of a plant. It’s common for trees or grafted plants to produce suckers. Suckers are usually removed because they sap energy from the main plant and don’t produce flowers or fruits. A tomato ‘sucker’, on the other hand is a secondary stem, or side-shoot, and will produce flowers and fruits....

In my new digital series, Get Growing with Niki Jabbour, we celebrate all types of food gardening and hope to get you growing no matter where you live or how much growing space you have. In our premiere episode, we focus on some of the fun and unique vegetables I grow in my garden. Why grow unusual vegetables? There are a lot of reasons to try growing new-to-you vegetables in your garden:...

To grow gorgeous citrus plants of your own, follow these steps. 8 steps to growing citrus in pots Step 1: Start with the right variety. The citrus varieties I mentioned above are particularly suited to container culture because they don’t grow as large as some of the other choices. Source a mature or semi-mature plant from a greenhouse that specializes in citrus. Online companies will ship directly to your door. Do not purchase a plant that’s already in flower or bearing fruit....

9 herbs to grow in winter You just can’t beat the flavor of fresh herbs like parsley, chervil, and chives. The dried versions are a pale comparison flavor-wise, and I therefore want to enjoy fresh herbs for as long as I can. The good news is that there are many herbs that are cold hardy and can be harvested during the winter months. It helps to find a site with full sun for winter herbs to thrive....

Trash Can Spuds Garden-grown spuds should be viewed with nothing but the utmost reverence, my friends! Not only do fresh potatoes boast outstanding flavor, unearthing these nutritious nuggets of garden gold is guaranteed to imbue you with smug satisfaction — and who can blame you! Given all that, growing potatoes in a trash can/dustbin could be interpreted as, well, a little disrespectful. But there’s logic behind the apparent madness. Potatoes grow fast, producing lots of floppy foliage that makes them hungry for space, but grow them in containers and their boisterous behavior is instantly tamed....

How do you know which raised garden bed materials to use? Personal preference and the look you want to achieve will certainly play into your decision. Part of it will be about budget considerations and availability of materials. And you may be concerned with the longevity of the materials you choose. Building a raised garden from wood Wood is probably the most popular option that is used for raised garden bed materials....

What factors affect garlic spacing? Garlic is a member of the Allium family and related to vegetables like onions, leeks, and elephant garlic. There are a number of factors that can impact garlic spacing in raised beds, in-ground gardens, and even containers. Here are 4 points to keep in mind when you’re deciding how far apart to plant garlic cloves. 1) How garden size affects garlic spacing Gardeners with plenty of growing space can afford to plant garlic at a distance that encourages big bulbs....

3 reasons to start your own seeds indoors: Diversity – Buying seeds from mail order catalogues or local nurseries, and then starting the seeds yourself, allows you to choose from a MUCH wider selection of varieties. For example, there are thousands of tomatoes available to gardeners through seed companies. But, if you rely on your local garden centres for your seedlings, you’ll be choosing from just a few dozen varieties, at best....

What is a tachinid fly? I used the word “parasitoidal” in the paragraph above, so I guess I should start by telling you what that means, just in case you don’t already know. If you’re familiar with the term “parasite” then you’ll be a quick study. Parasites are organisms that live off of another organism, whom we call its “host.” There are tens of thousands of different parasites in this world, some animal, some plant, and some fungal....