Growing Food

The first time I planted a seed, I held my breath. Would it grow? Would it fail? Would it, like so many things in life, be taken away before it had a chance to flourish? People ask me all the time, "Why do you garden?" I don’t think they expect the real answer as to …

Tomatoes, peppers, and flowers thrive in Indiana's changing climate clear into November these days. In the wake of climate change, Indiana's landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation. When I embarked on my gardening journey, the northern reaches of Indiana were firmly situated in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's hardiness zone 5a. However, in recent years, …

Growing potatoes in straw is a fantastic way to dive into home gardening, offering a simple yet effective method to yield fresh, organic potatoes right from your backyard. This simple method makes it easy to grow potatoes without heavy digging. First, choose the right potato variety and find suitable containers like large pots or even …

Unlocking the secrets to cultivating thriving blueberries starts with the crucial question: how to prepare clay soil for blueberries? It's a journey that goes beyond simply planting and reaps the sweet rewards of understanding the intricacies of blueberry-friendly environments. Growing these berries demands a meticulous approach, honing in on their unique soil preferences and environmental …

How to plant sweet potato plants becomes a thrilling adventure when you embark on the journey of cultivating your own produce. This endeavor not only satisfies the palate but also brings deep satisfaction to the soul. Now, let's shine a spotlight on one remarkable player in the realm of self-cultivation—the sweet potato plant. Packed with …

Indoor spaces come alive with the addition of plants for small spaces. These remarkable green companions have the power to transform even the coziest nooks into lush, vibrant areas bursting with life. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in places with spatial constraints. Whether they're trailing along a wall, basking on a sunny windowsill, nestled …

Wondering how to grow bay leaves indoors? The bay leaf plant, or Laurus nobilis, is a culinary treasure that can bring a touch of Mediterranean charm to your indoor garden. Cultivating bay leaves indoors can be a delight, especially when you can reach out and pluck those aromatic leaves for your cooking. In this guide, …

I invite you to step into my Indiana garden on November 2nd as we explore the resilience of winter vegetables in my hoop house., to a closer look at my Indiana winter vegetable garden, where every day brings new discoveries and challenges. As we stroll through my hoop house on this brisk November 2nd, we'll …

Growing a variety of cool season vegeatbles is the easiest way to have fresh food in your own backyard from fall through spring. Today I want to talk to you about the types of vegetables that do good in the fall garden. Almost any vegetable that you plant in early spring, such as lettuce or …

Treating plant blight, especially through organic methods, is a topic that's near and dear to my heart. Plant blight, it's a bit like Mother Nature's curveball, isn't it? It throws a wrench into the gears of our gardens, homes and farms, and the culprits behind it are as diverse as a jungle full of exotic …

Embracing the art of growing fall vegetables is a delightful journey, especially if you're a passionate backyard vegetable grower like me, proudly hailing from Indiana. As the temperatures begin their gentle descent, a magical window of opportunity opens, allowing you to extend your growing season and relish a bountiful harvest even as winter's chill approaches. …

Boswellia sacra is technically classified as an herb, however I found it difficult to acquire either a start or seeds of this plant.  I have been on the hunt for seeds or starts of this plant for over three years.  After a very long search for either a live Boswellia sacra plant, or seeds I found that …

Are you intrigued by the idea of growing your own food in a self-sustaining ecosystem? Aquaponics might be your answer. In this blog post, we'll delve into my personal adventure as I ventured into the world of aquaponic gardening, complete with tips, challenges, and dreams of a thriving green oasis.  

When winter's chill descends upon your garden, it might seem like your green thumb has to take a long hiatus. But wait, there's good news for gardening enthusiasts – the cold season doesn't have to mark the end of your horticultural endeavors, especially once you understand vegetable garden frost protection methods. With the right techniques …

Gardening isn't just a hobby for me; it's a way of life, just like carrot seed starting. Nestled in the heart of Indiana, where the USDA Hardiness Zones 5 and 6 dictate the rhythm of our seasons, I have honed my skills in growing plants from seed. Regardless of the weather outside, my garden thrives …

Before planting the vegetable garden, it is a good idea to make a plan on paper then prepare cold frames or tunnel houses to protect the crops from unexpected frost in spring. Planning a vegetable garden on paper is something many gardeners do, but they often forget about planning an early spring vegetable garden. Planning the …

An easy way to keep fruit tree pests from laying their eggs on your fruit tree flowers is to make a banana smoothie. This smoothie must be put out before the fruits flowers. Once the fruit flowers, the insects may have laid their eggs in the flower.  

Disclaimer: I did receive some of the items mentioned in this article including the Culti-Cave for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Successfully gardening in cold climates in early January is about tricking Mother Nature - and choosing the right plants. Creating an artificial environment in which plants will …

There are a number of vegetables to plant in January and by planting early you get a  head start on growing early spring vegetables. Planting cool weather crops in January means you will need cold frames and row covers if you live in a cold climate unless you plan to start seeds indoors. Here in Indiana …

Yes, you really can use frost to your advantage in the garden. While often times gardeners don't worry about frost until fall rolls around, it is an issue in early spring as well. Once you learn the basics of using frost to your advantage, you can get a head start on your spring garden and …

Disclaimer: I did receive the products mentioned in this post for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. To further disclose, I have purchased items from Gurney's Seed & Nursery Co. in the past. You might know you can buy seeds online from Gurney's Seed & Nursery Co., but they sell …

If you want to grow vegetables but don’t have a yard or can’t get down on the ground to work a vegetable garden all is not lost, try container vegetable gardening this year. There are numerous varieties on the market that are designed specifically for container gardening – from corn to eggplant, tomatoes, peppers and …

A survival food garden is a great way to work towards emergency preparedness by learning to grow and preserve food in a variety of ways including canning, freezing, salting, storing in oil and dehydrating. These days everyone is thinking about emergency preparedness. Whether they are thinking of disaster preparedness in the event of an earthquake, …

Growing great tomatoes is easy as long as you know how to grow tomatoes. The articles below are intended to help you stop worrying about success and enjoy the experience of growing fresh tomatoes in a container or in your own backyard. After all, many gardeners want to grow the biggest and healthiest tomato crop on …

Disclaimer: This is a guest post from Sustainable Seed Company. I did not receive any compensation for this post. I chose to share it because it contains useful information for my readers. Have you ever wondered what the 10 easiest vegetables to grow from seed are? Growing your own food is the most gratifying and …

When it comes to February garden chores, some are small and others are huge, like tapping maple trees. February is a good month to purchase any last minute seeds for the garden, clean used flowerpots and buy seed starting supplies such as seed starting potting mix, peat pots, flower tags and organic fertilizers. This is …

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post written by John Fendley of the Sustainable Seed Company. I only recommend products and companies I personally like. Growing great tomatoes is easy if you know the tricks and secrets.    

Long season garden plants are either those that take a long time to flower, produce their crop or fruit for an extended period of time. Many plants will bloom longer if the faded blooms are cut off. This process is known as deadheading. Most plants need an inch of water a week to thrive and …

The world is changing - everyday it seems there is a new report of how unsafe or contaminated our food or medicine is - and frankly this new trend is downright scary which is one reason why you might want to grow an herbal medicine garden. I'm not surprised by all of this though - …

The banana comes from the genus Musa and is one of the most popular foods in the world which is why learning about bananas is not only important, but fascinating. Banana plants are available in both large and dwarf varieties, so there is one that is ideal for everyone regardless of where they live. Dwarf …

If you are going to invest the time, money and energy to grow tomatoes, you will want to achieve the best possible results for your efforts. When you start researching how to achieve this, you will come across the topic of what the best soil amendments for tomatoes are. Becoming a successful vegetable gardener means learning …

You can eat better and save money by growing a garden! With spring fast approaching, many of you are in the final stages of deciding what to grow in your vegetable garden this coming year. Most of us will agree that growing our own food not only produces better tasting produce, but also allows us …

Gardening in winter in a cold climate outdoors is possible if you are willing to grow cool weather crops and protect those crops with frost cover, cold frames or a similar structure. It is a cold, snowy 16 degrees F here today however it is January 1 and I am harvesting and planting vegetables in …

It's the start of another year - and what better way to start off a new year than to direct sow carrot seed in the garden. Yes, you heard that right. Here in Indiana - United States Department of Agriculture hardiness zone 6 - I sow carrot seed in the garden on January 1. Now …

Disclaimer: I did receive some items for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. BROOMFIELD, CO – Gardeners are generally a calm, even contemplative, group of people. Their passions are ignited by a sweetly scented flower or a great-tasting tomato variety. But one recent issue has turned their passion into …

Sustainable gardening practices that are economically viable are easier to achieve when you go green with hydroponics. Gardening without soil offers solutions for third world countries, worn out agricultural land plus have the advantage of being environmentally friendly. As people become more aware of the damage chemicals and pesticides cause the need for a better …

The cool, crisp days of September are upon us. Most of the garden harvest is in and you may be thinking of putting your garden to bed for the winter. But wait! There is still time to plant more cool season crops in the Mid-West.

The herb garden tips below are sure to help you grow the best indoor herb garden you've ever grown! It's not always easy to grow a flourishing garden indoors, but it is possible. There are some tips and tricks I have picked up over the years that may help you on your quest to growing …

This year I decided to try a tomato sampler challenge to see which tomatoes tasted the best and ripened the fastest here in my Indiana garden. Waiting for the first tomatoes of the season to ripen - especially if you are growing new varieties - is hard. I grow a lot of heirloom varieties on …

A member of the Malvaceae family, mallows, have been grown since ancient times which means you too can easily grow mallows in your home or yard. Beginning with the ancient Greeks and Chinese, and carried on into the Victorian age up to today, mallows symbolize ambition, abundance, and fruitfulness. One of the more common members of the …