February in zones 4-6 means we're still firmly in winter's grip, with temperatures swinging from a teeth-chattering -20°F to an occasionally hopeful 35°F. While your garden beds might still be hidden under that stubborn blanket of snow, your windowsills are about to become prime real estate for seed starting season! Sure, your neighbor might think…  READ MORE 

February in zones 7-8 brings average temperatures ranging from 25°F to 45°F (-4°C to 7°C), with those teasing warm spells that hint at spring around the corner. While your garden soil might still be too chilly for direct sowing, your moderate winters offer opportunities that colder zones can only dream about. In these zones, your…  READ MORE 

While northern gardeners are still shoveling snow, February in zones 9-10 feels like full-on spring, with daytime temperatures typically ranging from 65°F to 80°F (18°C to 27°C) and nights generally staying above 45°F (7°C). Your last frost date is long past (or maybe never arrived), and the soil is warming up nicely. This is prime…  READ MORE 

Too hot or too cold, and those freshly germinated seeds won't go anywhere. They won't grow into those juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, or rich eggplants that we love. So what is the best temperature for seedlings? How can we make sure they thrive? I'm not here to call anyone out, but when you get those…  READ MORE 

I never expected a routine trip to my local food co-op to revolutionize my cooking and gardening life. Standing in the herb section that spring morning, I was absentmindedly rubbing basil leaves between my fingers – a chef's habit for testing freshness with different types of basil – when the most extraordinary aroma stopped me…  READ MORE 

Last spring, my six-year-old daughter taught me an important lesson about how to get more peas on your plant. She'd been helping me in the garden since she could walk, and her absolute favorite activity was harvesting pea pods. The problem was, she was so enthusiastic about collecting them that our yield was significantly lower…  READ MORE 

Wondering what the deal is with bush beans vs. pole beans? I'll never forget my first attempt at growing green beans. While other beginning gardeners often start with bush beans, I dove straight into pole beans. There was something magical about the idea of plants climbing skyward, and I loved the thought of keeping my…  READ MORE 

Strawberries are one of America’s favorite fruits, but did you know their growing seasons vary widely across the country? During a trip from New England to Florida, I discovered this firsthand. As I picked juicy strawberries alongside vibrant oranges in Florida’s sun-drenched groves (dodging fire ants along the way!), I couldn’t help but marvel at…  READ MORE 

For many years, I've spent months at a time in both Florida and California at different times of the year, and there's no better time, in my opinion, than a citrus season. This is the time of year when the air smells like orange blossoms, like jasmine, and especially in Florida, you can pop into…  READ MORE 

Your ultimate guide to kickstarting the growing season with fresh, homegrown produce.  READ MORE 

Now that it’s February, we’re only a hop skip and a jump until the tulips start springing up where I live in the Northeast, the fragrant sign that winter is finally over. But by the time they’re in bloom, most of the gardening supply stores, including the farmers co-op down the street from me, are sold out of the most essential gardening tools, or at least any specific ones that I want.  READ MORE 

When it comes to seed starting, there are a variety of different methods that you can use depending on your preferences and the types of seeds you want to start. Some popular seed-starting methods include seed flats, seed tapes, seed mats, and peat pots. Traditional Seed-Starting Methods Seed flats: Seed flats are trays or containers…  READ MORE 

If you're looking for a way to grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs indoors all year round, then hydroponic gardening might be the perfect solution for you! Hydroponics is a type of gardening that doesn't use soil. Instead, plants are grown in water with added nutrients. This method has many benefits, including faster growth rates and…  READ MORE 

Rosemary is one of my absolute favorite herbs. I use it all the time for cooking and medicinal purposes. Plus, I love how it’s easy to propagate and grow indoors. If you’ve been meaning to grow your own rosemary but are too scared you’ll kill it, this article’s for you. Because the take-away is that you might, but you can always try, try, again.  READ MORE 

Chicken Cacciatore is my favorite go-to dish—it reminds me of Sundays at my Italian grandmother's house, and it might be the first spicy dish I ever tried. Of course, when I was a kid, I picked out the peppers and onions, but nowadays all the ingredients are equal on my plate! This dish is also…  READ MORE