There’s something especially magical about gardening in the Northeast in June. After months of watching gray skies, muddy paths, and stubborn morning frosts, the garden suddenly seems to burst awake all at once. The tomato plants that looked so small just weeks ago are stretching taller every day, peas begin climbing their trellises with determination, and strawberries hide beneath leafy canopies like little jewels waiting to be discovered. Early mornings feel almost sacred this time of year. The grass is still damp with dew, birds chatter from the trees, and the scent of warm earth and lilacs drifts through the air as the garden slowly warms in the sunshine. READ MORE
On a mild June morning, everything in your food garden looks hopeful. The soil has finally warmed. Your “What to Plant in May and June in Your USDA Zone” list is checked off (or at least mostly checked off). Lettuce is crisp and leafy, peas are reaching for their trellis, and the first tiny flower… READ MORE
It's June! When the soil has finally warmed, the threat of frost has (mostly) passed, and gardeners everywhere are itching to get their hands dirty! While your southern friends might be sweating through their second planting, you're just hitting your stride in the garden sweet spot. June planting in these cooler northern zones is all… READ MORE
June in zones 7-8 marks the transition from spring to full summer growing conditions. With soil temperatures consistently warm and the threat of frost long gone, gardeners in these moderate climate zones can take advantage of a wide planting window. The growing season here stretches comfortably into fall, allowing both warm-season crops and a second… READ MORE
June gardeners in USDA zones 9-10 are navigating the increasing heat while still maintaining productive gardens. Spanning diverse regions from coastal Oregon to Arizona, Florida, and parts of California, zones 9-10 offer unique growing conditions that can allow for year-round gardening with proper planning and plant selection. I've carefully selected 10 plants that thrive when… READ MORE
In this month’s Food Gardening Magazine, you get everything you need to know about blackberries—so easy to grow, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start planting blackberries sooner! There are three main types of blackberry bush, and we’ll help you decide which types of blackberries are best for your growing situation. We’ve got you covered! You get all the tips, techniques, and advice about how to start and maintain a productive blackberry vine. READ MORE
Oregano, a fragrant herb often associated with Mediterranean cuisine, is a versatile and aromatic addition to any kitchen. While commonly used to enhance the flavor of pasta sauces and pizza, there's so much more that this herb has to offer. Here are five ways to use your garden-fresh oregano that go beyond the traditional: 1.… READ MORE
In this month’s Food Gardening Magazine, you get everything you need to know about growing basil—an essential herb for every kitchen and garden. And planting and harvesting basil is just about the easiest—and most bountiful—thing you can grow in your garden. If you want everything you need to know about growing and harvesting fresh basil, this gardening guide is for you!
Basil is one of the most common herbs grown by food gardeners and is enjoyed by cooks to flavor everything from spaghetti sauce to salads, vegetables, and pesto READ MORE
In this month’s Food Gardening Magazine, you get everything you need to know about growing cucumbers at home—they’re the second most popular home-gardening food item behind tomatoes! With about 100 varieties of cucumbers, we’ll help you narrow down your list with a look at some popular varieties that make growing cucumbers easy, so you can have a delicious cucumber harvest! It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the possible choices, so we’ll help you choose the best tasting cucumbers to grow in your garden. READ MORE
In this month’s Food Gardening Magazine, you get everything you need to know about growing tomatoes at home—the most popular home-gardening food item, with 86% of American households growing this versatile fruit. And with more than 7,000 varieties of tomatoes, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the possible choices of which tomatoes to grow. READ MORE
A four-month garden planning system with customized growing schedules for Zones 4–10—plus eight new recipes inspired by your summer harvests. There’s always a moment when the garden shifts into high gear. One day, the beds seem comfortably manageable, and the next, tomatoes are climbing their supports, zucchini are multiplying overnight, and the cucumbers have somehow… READ MORE
Some plants like the cool weather, while others prefer the heat. Some plants are easy to start indoors, like tomatoes, and others prefer to be planted directly, like beans. One of my rules of thumb is to visit my local garden center and follow their guidance. They don't typically put anything out until it's safe for them to be planted. That's why you might see herbs in May, but not tomatoes until late May or June. READ MORE
There are many great reasons to grow your own lettuce, and I personally prefer to grow it hydroponically indoors from fall through spring. One of the most compelling reasons for me is that there are so many recalls on processed lettuce in the stores. That alone is enough to make most people want to grow… READ MORE
Herb gardening is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding hobbies out there. Not only does it give you fresh herbs to cook with, but it also adds a splash of color and fragrance to your home when you grow them indoors or hang them to dry at the end of the season. Plus, there's… READ MORE
When it comes to starting a vegetable garden, the options can seem overwhelming. With so many delicious and nutritious vegetables to choose from, it can be challenging to know where to begin. While all vegetables offer health benefits, some are easier to grow and provide a higher nutrient density than others. In this article, I'm… READ MORE
Citrus is such a joy of a fruit. Delightful to drink, and even more fun to bake with. I use a microplane to zest my lemons and I add the zest to everything from sautéed peas with garlic, to custards and sweets. Today we're going to use the juice and zest of a Meyer lemon or a regular lemon to make this delicious, dense, and moist Lemonade Cake Bread, which is also a nice gift at holidays and for Mother's Day. READ MORE
Few dishes deliver the kind of comfort that a baked casserole does, and this Creamy Chicken and Kale Casserole is a shining example. With its layers of velvety cheese, perfectly cooked pasta, and tender kale, it strikes the perfect balance between indulgence and nourishment. It’s a dish that satisfies cravings for something rich and hearty… READ MORE
Soup is one of the most flexible, forgiving dishes you can make. Sure, almost every recipe provides you with exact amounts of ingredients to include. But show of hands—how many of us follow the recipe to the letter? I think it’s far more fun to look at the recipe, consider what ingredients I have on… READ MORE
There’s nothing like a steaming bowl of soup to warm up a cold night or a rainy day. This Ground Turkey and Kale Soup is especially nice because it's so healthy but still filling, thanks to the rice and turkey. Plus, you really can’t go wrong when a recipe starts with cooking shallots, carrots, celery,… READ MORE
As the acclaimed Queen of Greens, kale should be a no-brainer choice for a salad. But if you’re already making a face and shaking your head, chances are you haven’t had a kale salad prepared the right way. Kale’s a hardy vegetable, and sometimes the leaves can be a little tough. Baby kale leaves are… READ MORE
Sunday is one of my favorite days of the week because it also holds the status of “Pancake Day” in our house. There’s nothing quite like a fluffy pancake slathered with maple syrup and paired with the usual culprits of a picturesque breakfast: over-easy eggs, perfectly-cooked bacon,… READ MORE
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