The first step toward a highly productive garden is simply understanding what makes a garden successful. To get the most out of your garden, it’s important to: Grow for a purpose. Take the time to consider the goals of your project. Grow for the tastes … Read More

Climbing beans are the plants that keep on giving and giving and giving! So long as you pick the pods, the plants will respond by simply growing more, all summer long and on into autumn. Climbing, or pole, beans seem to scramble skyward with effortless … Read More

Build a compost pile in four easy steps—pick the right spot, start piling, water it, and turn it. It’s that simple. Read on for tips from Grow Your Soil! guaranteed to save you time. Step 1: Pick the Right Spot Find a spot that is … Read More

As you develop your garden planting plans, take time to consider the benefits of companion planting and how these mixed-planting strategies can help your vegetable garden flourish. Most of the benefits that companion planting strategies provide fall into one of the following seven categories outlined … Read More

I grew up on a 150-acre sheep farm in rural Virginia. We had a fabulous garden right out our back door. We ate from it all season long and well into the winter. Our pantry and freezer chest were chock-full of homegrown food. I still … Read More

Carrots come in many colors and their sweet, earthy flavor and crisp texture make them a delicious addition to all kinds of dishes, whether roasted, pickled, or straight from the garden. Discover all the ways you can make the most of these long-lasting, nutritious vegetables … Read More

The best time to save seeds from your open-pollinated tomato varieties is when the first tomatoes ripen. I use the first ripe tomatoes for seed saving to reduce the chances that the bees will have worked the flowers and cross-pollinated the … Read More

Moving a seedling or grown plant to a new place is called transplanting. It can be planting a potted plant in the garden or moving a plant from one place in the garden to another. Before you move seedlings outside, though, you need to harden … Read More

W hat’s your favorite way to warm up on a cold winter day? Mine is to put on a big pot of homemade squash soup! With such a staggering selection of varieties, you’ll quickly discover that there is a perfect squash for whatever you want … Read More

Gardening has always been a way to stay connected to the seasons. You can mark the passage of time not by counting the hours but by the warming of the soil, the germination of seeds, the emergence of fruit, and the harvest. That much holds … Read More