March in zones 4-6 is when every slightly warmer day has us pressing our noses against windows, watching for the first signs of spring. While our gardens might still be sporting patches of snow, March is actually a crucial month for starting our growing season. No, we're not quite ready to dig in the dirt…  READ MORE 

March in zones 7-8 is when the rest of the country is still dreaming of spring, and you can already get your hands dirty! While northern gardeners are starting seeds under grow lights, you're out in the garden, celebrating the return of proper planting weather. Sure, you might get the occasional frost warning (keep those…  READ MORE 

Think of March as your garden's sweet spot. The intense summer heat hasn't arrived yet, but you've got plenty of warm, sunny days perfect for growing just about anything your heart desires. From the last of the cool-season vegetables to the first tomatoes of the season, March in zones 9-10 is a gardener's paradise. So…  READ MORE 

Let me tell you about one of the most magical things we can do in gardening: creating a single tree that produces multiple types of citrus fruits! As someone who's spent countless hours grafting, I still get excited every time I see a successful graft take hold. There's something absolutely wonderful about stepping into your…  READ MORE 

The secret to an exceptional blueberry harvest lies in understanding how these remarkable plants grow. Commercial growers consistently achieve yields of 15-20 pounds per bush, while unpruned plants might produce a mere 2-5 pounds. The key difference? Strategic pruning that works with the plant's natural growth patterns. Choosing Your Varieties The journey to a bumper…  READ MORE 

Onions have an undeniable duality. They can make you cry when sliced, yet caramelize into something irresistibly sweet when cooked. The stark contrast in their raw and cooked flavors is the result of intricate biochemical processes—ones that begin in the soil long before an onion reaches the kitchen. Onion sweetness isn’t just about the variety…  READ MORE 

Growing cucumbers brings a special kind of garden joy - there's nothing quite like plucking a fresh cuke right off the vine. But let's talk about their rather enthusiastic growing habits. These sprawlers can be real garden bed hogs, spreading their vines everywhere like they're trying to take over the world. Plus, when they're sprawled…  READ MORE 

Every spring, I watch fellow gardeners fuss over tomato varieties and perfect trellising systems. But after decades of getting my hands dirty, I've learned that the real magic happens underground. While everyone's debating between Brandywine and Cherokee Purple, I'm thinking about the invisible ecosystem that will feed those hungry plants for months to come. Let's…  READ MORE 

A four-month garden planning system with customized growing schedules for zones 4-10, plus eight fresh recipes featuring your late spring harvests.  READ MORE 

My husband and I both have Italian roots, with my family originating from Rome and his from Ischia. Whenever our conversations get animated, with wild hand gestures and raised voices, we often have to explain to our confused five-year-old that, "We're not yelling, we're just Italian!" My garden has a natural inclination towards Italian vegetables…  READ MORE 

Before you start applying fertilizers and lime treatments to your soil, take a sample and have it tested, either at home or professionally. Soil tests are like DNA kits for your gardens. So many people amend their soil without even knowing what they're trying to fix. DIY soil testing can often prevent the need for…  READ MORE 

Growing my own herbs for natural remedies has been a transformative journey for me, one that I stumbled upon pretty unexpectedly. It all began a few years ago when I was dealing with persistent headaches and occasional digestive discomfort. I had tried over-the-counter medications, but they only provided temporary relief, and I was searching for…  READ MORE 

As a more “earthy” gardener who digs with her hands and often goes barefoot in the garden, I have to admit that until now, I’ve always gone the do-it-yourself route for starting seeds indoors. In the beginning, I would always buy grown seedlings from the incredible farmers co-op down the road from me, but once I started growing my own, they were always planted in everything from eggshells to egg cartons, to BPA-free plastic bottle bottoms.   READ MORE 

I’ve never understood why most cauliflower crust pizzas sold in stores use flour. After all, isn’t the whole point of making a cauliflower crust, to skip over grains and gluten?   READ MORE