Welcome to January in zones 4-6 - when your garden thermometer seems stuck somewhere between "brr" and "why do we live here?" With temperatures plummeting from a chilly -30°F to a still-pretty-chilly 20°F, your garden is definitely in hibernation mode. While our friends in warmer zones are already planting their spring peas (show-offs!), we're huddled…  READ MORE 

January in zones 7-8 brings average temperatures ranging from 20°F to 40°F (-6°C to 4°C), with occasional dips below freezing and the odd warm spell. While it's not prime planting season outdoors, your relatively moderate winters offer opportunities that colder zones can only dream about. Plus, it's the perfect time to start seeds indoors for…  READ MORE 

Lucky you! While gardeners in other zones are huddled inside with their seed catalogs, January in zones 9-10 feels more like spring in most other places. With daytime temperatures typically ranging from 60°F to 75°F (16°C to 24°C), and nights rarely dipping below 40°F (4°C), your garden is still very much in the game. Sure,…  READ MORE 

January is an exciting time for gardeners. Seed catalogs arrive, offering a glimmer of spring in the middle of winter's chill. Flipping through the pages of catalogs like Baker Creek, Burpee, or Johnny's Selected Seeds feels like a treasure hunt. But as you dream about your next garden, you…  READ MORE 

Last summer, I discovered something unusual while sorting through my stored garlic harvest. Among the perfectly preserved bulbs from my garden, I found signs of what could look like spoiled garlic to some people – one bulb had developed a striking blue-green color between its cloves. I knew this wasn't necessarily cause for alarm –…  READ MORE 

Early in my gardening days, I learned an important lesson about pepper heat variations that changed my approach to gardening. I had planted both Hungarian Wax and Banana peppers, assuming they'd have similar heat levels since they look nearly identical when young. During our first harvest dinner, I confidently added a generous handful of what…  READ MORE 

Last spring, I practiced crop rotation and moved where I generally plant my carrots to a much lower raised garden bed. Later this summer I pulled up what I thought would be a beautiful crop of Danvers carrots, only to find a tangle of twisted, forked roots that looked more like tiny orange octopi than…  READ MORE 

One summer I found myself staring at roughly thirty pounds of cucumbers from just six prolific plants. I should have known better than to plant so many, but there I was, surrounded by a small mountain of cucumbers threatening to spoil before I could possibly eat them. That's when my obsession with creating unique flavors…  READ MORE 

In community gardens across the American Southwest, a quiet revolution is taking place. Where traditional lettuce varieties once withered and bolted in the intense desert heat, gardeners are now harvesting crisp, sweet leaves well into the summer months. This transformation comes from combining advanced plant breeding with time-tested growing techniques, creating heat-tolerant lettuce varieties that…  READ MORE 

Your ultimate guide to growing a season full of flavorful, garden-to-table tomatoes.  READ MORE 

Edible perennial fruits, herbs, and vegetables are the gift that keeps on giving! Unlike annuals or biennials, which must be planted annually or every other year respectively, perennials will return yearly with only one initial planting. Some of these plants may even survive for decades in your garden—just imagine how convenient it is to have…  READ MORE 

Winter is the season of garden planning, and once the holidays are over, I like to sit down and dream about what my garden will look like in the spring and get a head start on my gardening wishlist. It's a good time to think about what you like to eat from your garden all summer and plan accordingly.  READ MORE 

When you need some happy thoughts to brighten up a cold winter day, I know what you think of—composting, am I right? OK, so maybe your first thoughts are of spring lettuce and summer tomatoes and you'd rather be hibernating from the cold, but if you want your compost to keep, you'll need to master composting in the winter.  READ MORE 

The joy of a bountiful harvest is unmatched, especially when it's the ever-versatile potato. From savory dishes to hearty meals, there's no end to what you can create in the kitchen. But what happens when you've got more spuds than you know what to do with? If you've been following along here for a while,…  READ MORE 

Roasted beets and butternut squash are a perfect balance of sweet and savory. Add in a little maple syrup and they caramelize ever so gently. This side dish is also simple to make, which means you can spend more time at the table with your family.   READ MORE