5 Most Important Ways Not to Kill Your Blueberries
Many years ago, when we first bought our current home, I decided to take the plunge and plant some blueberry bushes in my backyard. My main motivation was simply a …
pruning shears
Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing and Enjoying Spinach
Spinach, a nutrient-rich leafy green, is a favorite among gardeners and cooks alike. To cultivate and enjoy spinach to the fullest, having the right tools and equipment is essential. Whether …
Decoding Watermelon Ripeness
There's nothing worse than slicing open a white watermelon, am I right? The good news is you can still make watermelon juice or watermelon lemonade out of it, but …
How to Cut Broccoli off the Plant and Keep it Growing
Let me tell you about the first time I grew broccoli. I planted three in a row. They were one of the first to grow in my garden that year, …
Olive You a Lot: Adventures of an Accidental Olive Farmer
Ah, the humble olive tree. It stands tall, proud, and often perplexing in front yards across certain neighborhoods. Growing up in Hillsdale, just north of Sacramento, I couldn't help but …
How to Handle Cedar-Apple Rust and Save Your Harvest
It's a beautiful, early-fall day. You got ambitious a couple of years ago, and you now have three gorgeous apple trees around your garden. As you get closer, though, you …
Harvesting and Pruning your Tomatoes
One of the fun things about tomatoes is that you can harvest them before they’re actually ripe; those are the green tomatoes that you so commonly see in southern cuisine, …
10 Summer Garden Chores for a Happy Garden
If you want a happy garden, you can't really set it and forget it. If you ignore your garden for a few days in mid-summer, especially if you go away …
Harvesting, Storing, & Preserving Grapes
Harvesting Grapes
How do you know when your grapes are ripe for the picking? The answer depends on the type of grapes you’re growing and how you plan to use them. …
How to Organize Garden Tools & Supplies That Aren’t in Use
Alright, maybe calling a collection of tools a work of art is a stretch. Or perhaps it isn't? Handmade tools can be gorgeous, with hammered metal blades and turned wood …
