When you’ve spent months nurturing your garden, the last thing you want is for your precious vegetables to wilt, rot, or otherwise go to waste. As a food gardening enthusiast, I’ve picked up a treasure trove of storage secrets that will keep your homegrown veggies—and even those from the farmers market or your favorite grocery…  READ MORE 

As any enthusiastic gardener or home cook will tell you, there’s no greater heartbreak than seeing your lovingly grown vegetables or favorite snacks go bad before their time. Enter the superhero of food preservation: the vacuum sealer! With one of these handy devices, you can extend the life of your fresh produce, leftovers, and even…  READ MORE 

The potato is one of the most versatile, nourishing, and comforting foods in the world. It’s no wonder that cultures from America to Ireland, Germany, and beyond embrace potatoes as a staple for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Whether mashed, fried, roasted, or baked, potatoes have a way of bringing people together—especially when the harvest is…  READ MORE 

The potato: humble, versatile, and utterly delightful. From crispy fries to fluffy baked beauties, this tuber has claimed a permanent spot on our plates and in our hearts. But have you ever wondered about the most popular potato varieties in America and what makes them so special? Let’s dig in—literally!—to explore their stories, how to…  READ MORE 

Potatoes are more than a side dish—they’re a culinary superstar that can bring creativity, comfort, and culture to every meal. Inspired by The Marvelous Potato: A Harvest Story, this week-long meal planner showcases how to incorporate potatoes into breakfast, lunch, and dinner, celebrating regional varieties and cultural traditions. Let’s dive into 21 easy, healthy, and…  READ MORE 

As we all know, August can be a tricky month for gardening, with scorching temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns. But fear not! With a little know-how and some careful planning, you can still create a thriving garden that will provide you with a bountiful harvest well into the fall. You're probably thinking that August, being…  READ MORE 

August in USDA zones 7-8 presents a unique opportunity for gardeners to balance the waning summer heat with the promise of a bountiful fall harvest. These zones, characterized by their longer growing seasons and milder winters, offer an extended window for planting that many gardeners in cooler regions can only dream of. As the dog…  READ MORE 

As gardeners in USDA zones 9-10, August presents  a unique set of challenges and opportunities. While much of the country is winding down their summer gardens, you're gearing up for a second round of planting in some of the hottest conditions of the year. August in zones 9-10 is characterized by scorching temperatures, often soaring…  READ MORE 

Most gardeners think of beets as a cool-season crop, and they’re not wrong – these ruby-red roots do prefer temperatures between 60–65°F. But here’s a little-known secret: with the right varieties and techniques, you can absolutely grow delicious beets even when summer temperatures soar into the 80s and 90s. The key is understanding what makes…  READ MORE 

You’re standing under your peach tree in July, reaching for what looks like a promising fruit, only to find a sad, golf ball-sized disappointment that tastes more like the white rind of a watermelon than than summer sunshine. Sound familiar? The culprit isn’t bad luck or poor soil–it’s probably a lack of proper pruning. Here’s…  READ MORE 

Nothing’s more frustrating than eagerly pulling up your radish crop only to find massive, lush green tops attached to skinny, woody disappointments underground. If your radishes are producing gorgeous foliage but pathetic roots, you’re not alone–and more importantly, you’re not doomed to repeat this leafy letdown. When radishes go “all top, no bottom,” they’re essentially…  READ MORE 

Nothing beats the satisfaction of harvesting your own crisp lettuce just weeks after planting. While tomatoes take months to ripen and peppers test your patience, lettuce is the sprinter of the vegetable garden, ready to grace your salad bowl in as little as 30 days. When my daughter and I plant our gardens (yes, she…  READ MORE 

Nothing beats the satisfaction of harvesting armfuls of crisp green beans from your garden, but what happens when your plants produce more than you can eat fresh? Mastering the art of storing green beans is important work, and the good news is that with proper storage techniques, you can enjoy your homegrown green beans for…  READ MORE 

Nothing beats the satisfaction of biting into a sun-warmed tomato fresh from your own garden–that perfect balance of sweetness and acidity that store-bought varieties simply can’t match. Our Tomato Gardening Made Easy Special Issue transforms novice gardeners into confident tomato growers with comprehensive guidance for every challenge these beloved plants present. Success begins with proper timing…  READ MORE 

If you've been looking for a way to grow more squash in your vegetable garden, but don't have the space or time for lots of plants growing every which way they please, then you should know how to train squash to grow vertically.  It's easy and it will help maximize your space without sacrificing yield. Plus, squash and trellises are basically made for one another. Squash vines are vigorous, they love to sprawl out and they need support on which to climb.  READ MORE 

I have zero regrets about planting blueberry bushes in my yard. In fact, they are my prized plants! My daughter will in fact, only eat blueberries in season, from our bushes. She refuses to eat them from the store. (I mean, who can blame her, really?) I have four bushes now, but after many years,…  READ MORE 

There's a lot to say about watering. And there is definitely enough to put it into a "Watering A to Z" list. I will tell you, though, this was challenging. I could have repeated some letters several times! Watering is a tricky task. I have overwatered, underwatered, and completely forgotten about that poor plant in…  READ MORE 

Pickling is so much fun, but there's a lot of confusion around it, so many people are a little afraid to do it! I totally get that too, because fermented pickles are a science show all on their own. But that's not the only way you can pickle, and in fact, there are many ways to do it.  READ MORE 

As a kid, I lapped up bowls of fruit ambrosia at our family gatherings. You know the stuff - canned mixed fruit with fluorescent cherries, in a fluffy batter of marshmallow, whipped cream, and sour cream - what a delight! As a verified grown-up (or at least that's what my daughter tells me), I think…  READ MORE