April 2022

Gardener’s Notebook

Welcome to the April issue of Food Gardening Magazine! This is an exciting time to have a garden. Our seedlings are going into the ground, some early vegetables are coming in soon, and our pollinator friends are out making sure nature works the way it’s supposed to. In fact, I just saw my first bee… READ MORE

5 Things to Plant in April

Since you can still get some frost in April, always make sure whatever you’re planting is frost-tolerant, or simply wait until the end of the month. In terms of coming up with a list of things to plant in April, there are many, but the list below includes five specific vegetables and fruits that can more or less only be planted in April because they don’t like the summer heat. READ MORE

Choosing Between Types of Pruning Shears

What I love about gardening is that there's always something new to learn—some new experience a friend shared with you to improve the taste of your tomatoes or a trick to get rid of spider mites. There's no end to what we can learn from one another in the garden, and that doesn't stop when… READ MORE

10 Easy DIY Garden Tools You Can Make

There's an anonymous quote out there about gardening that says, "gardening is cheaper than therapy, and you get tomatoes." I don't know about you, but gardening is definitely my most expensive hobby (except maybe skiing). Sure, I could save all my seeds, work harder to make as much compost as I need so I don't… READ MORE

Red Curry Coconut Zucchini Noodles

While the word "umami" attempts to describe how savory a dish is, how do you describe savory? To me, it's this dish. It's sweet, but also spicy, and it fills in that fifth sense you didn't know you were looking to satiate. This Red Curry Coconut Zucchini Noodle dish is inspired by the classic Thai… READ MORE

Dividing Rhubarb: Splitting, Transplanting, and Methods for Moving

Rhubarb takes almost no effort to grow, and this perennial plant will give you tart, tender stalks for years. There’s just one thing you need to know about first: dividing rhubarb. We’ll get to that in just a moment, but first it’s worth a reminder that, while rhubarb stalks lend a lovely tang to pies… READ MORE

Everbearing Strawberry Plants vs. June-Bearing Strawberries

If you’re new to growing strawberries, you might be surprised to find that a strawberry plant is not “just” a strawberry plant. Who could blame you? When you buy them at the store, they come labeled as “strawberries.” If you buy them at a farmstand, they may tell you the varietal, but that’s not always… READ MORE

10 Summer Squash Companion Plants You Want in Your Garden

Summer squash grows quickly and easily. Some, like zucchini, are known as prolific producers. And they add some beautiful color to your garden with their vivid yellow-orange flowers and bright skins. They’re also prone to diseases and susceptible to pests, which is why some summer squash companion plants make good additions to any garden. Companion… READ MORE

Growing Good Food at Home

Food Gardening Magazine • April 2022