Ilina 
Rosemary is one of the hardiest herbs in the garden, but January is its “make or break” month. Because it originated in the dry, rocky soils of the Mediterranean, our modern winters—often a cycle of bone-chilling frost and soggy, heavy …
Weeding is often the least favorite chore for any gardener. It’s a repetitive cycle: you pull them up, and a week later, they’re back. The secret to breaking this cycle isn’t found in a bottle of herbicide or a heavier …
The Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera) is the marathon runner of the houseplant world. It survives for decades, often passed down through generations. However, once those spectacular winter blooms fade, many of us relegate the plant to a dusty corner until next …
Most gardeners view January as a month for catalogs and tea, but for the peony enthusiast, it is a critical window of opportunity. While your peonies appear to be doing absolutely nothing above the frozen soil, the “eyes” (buds) for …
Traditional potato farming is a “land-hungry” endeavor. If you follow the old-school rows-in-the-earth method, you need significant square footage to get a harvest that lasts more than a week. For urban gardeners or those with small backyards, potatoes often get …
While the landscape outside may be tucked under a blanket of frost, January is secretly the most important month for a forward-thinking gardener. It is the month of the “slow-burn” crops—the plants that take so long to mature that if …
Whether you are a beginner looking for a quick win or a seasoned gardener dealing with a short growing season, the “wait” is often the hardest part of gardening. We’ve been conditioned to think that growing food takes months of …
January and February often feel like the “quiet months” in the garden, with most plants tucked away in dormancy. However, for the proactive gardener, these chilly months offer a golden opportunity. By performing a light “winter cleanup” now, you can …
Celery is a kitchen staple, but it often comes wrapped in excessive plastic and can be surprisingly expensive. The good news is that celery is one of the easiest vegetables to “recycle.” By using a simple propagation technique, you can …
Container gardening is often a game of space management. However, planting in pots doesn’t mean your vegetables have to grow in isolation. Companion planting—the practice of growing different plants together for mutual benefit—is just as effective in a 5-gallon bucket …