Home Gardening
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10 California Natives for Organic Pest Control
10 California Natives for Organic Pest Control By Lara Wadsworth Whether you call California home or not, we can all agree it is a beautiful state. From the alluring coastline to the towering redwoods, the natural meadows, and rugged mountains, California is a place all its own. How can you ful... -
10 Direct Sow Cool-Season Vegetables
10 Direct Sow Cool-Season Vegetables by Lara Wadsworth As winter loosens its grip and the days grow longer, avid gardeners eagerly anticipate the arrival of spring. February marks a pivotal time for garden planning and preparation, especially for those keen on direct-sowing cool-season vegetabl... -
10 Edible Perennials for Cool Climates
10 Edible Perennials for Cool Climates By Lara Wadsworth When living in northern climates, we can often forget that vegetable growing and edible landscapes don’t have to be left to those with longer growing seasons than us. But, that couldn’t be more wrong. In pre-colonial times, most of North ... -
10 Native Plants for Attracting Beneficial Insects in Southeastern USA
10 Native Plants for Attracting Beneficial Insects in Southeastern USA By Lara Wadsworth The Southeastern United States is a beautiful symphony of sights, sounds, and … plants? Yes! This region is home to more than 11,000 different plant species. 3-4 thousand of those plants are completely ende... -
10 Native Plants for Pest Management in the Rockies
10 Native Plants for Pest Management in the Rockies by Lara Wadsworth The Rocky Mountains are home to as many as 5000 plant species. Each plays its part in creating a diverse and symbiotic ecosystem. When we cultivate our gardens, we often choose plants simply for their look or popularity. This... -
10 Native Plants to Attract Beneficial Insects in the Midwest
10 Native Plants to Attract Beneficial Insects in the Midwest By Lara Wadsworth Rolling hills, farmlands, forested valleys, and pristine lakes characterize the American Midwest. This is the region I call home, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Anyone who lives here is familiar with the wide... -
10 Natives of the Southwest USA for Pest Control
10 Natives of the Southwest USA for Pest Control By Lara Wadsworth The Southwestern United States is a region incredibly unique to the rest of the country. The hot, dry weather can be challenging for plants and animals to thrive without additional help. That is why gardening with natives can be... -
10 Perennials for Cool Northern Climates
10 Perennials for Cool Northern Climates By Lara Wadsworth Just because you live “up north” doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice beauty! The perennials that thrive in zones 2-5 often have some of the best blooming seasons available due to the dormancy period they undergo during the wintertime. Pl... -
10 Seed Starting Tips For A Successful Garden
10 Seed Starting Tips For A Successful Garden Written By Chelsea Hafer Embarking on the journey of starting your own seeds is an exciting step toward cultivating a flourishing garden. While the prospect may seem daunting for new gardeners, the joy that comes with watching seeds transform into... -
14 Hanging Basket Flowers for Full and Cascading Blooms
14 Hanging Basket Flowers for Full and Cascading Blooms By Ashleigh Smith Hanging flower baskets are one of the most popular ways to display blooms all season long. They can quickly add a flash of color around your home and patio or attract pollinators to the garden. Not only are hanging bask... -
15 Shade Tolerant Annual Flowers
15 Shade Tolerant Annual Flowers By Ashleigh Smith When it comes to growing flowers in full sun, there are endless options, but many people have a hard time selecting flowers that can tolerate shade. Check out this list of 15 popular shade-tolerant annuals to brighten the shady corners of your ... -
30 Fall Blooming Flowers By Ashleigh Smith Fall is simply beautiful. With the changing colors and cooling temperatures come more challenging conditions for growing flowers as winter approaches. Keep color in your gardens with these flowers. Some varieties may also be planted in the mid to late ...
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4 Reasons Why Mushrooms are Food’s Best Kept Secret
4 Reasons Why Mushrooms are Food’s Best Kept Secret By Jordan Freytag Super high in protein—the PERFECT meat replacement! Mushrooms are naturally high in protein, making them a perfect nutritional replacement for meat. Some mushrooms, such as Lion’s Mane and Shiitake, have a firm texture which ... -
50+ Summer Blooming Flowers By Ashleigh Smith Summer is the season of perpetual blooms and harvests. We hope you will find plenty of flowers on this list for your gardens. Whether you are looking for a seasonal pop of color or something to transition your garden from a vibrant summer to moody a...
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5 Common Landscaping Mistakes to Avoid
5 Common Landscaping Mistakes to Avoid By Lara Wadsworth With the summer season approaching, landscaping projects are soon to be underway. Before starting your next project, consider these 5 common pitfalls of landscaping. By planning ahead and making smart choices regarding soil health, plant ... -
5 Flowers to Grow This Spring!
5 Flowers to Grow This Spring! By Jordan Freytag 5 Flowers to Grow This Spring! “[Flowers] are important,” says former Director of Disney’s Horticulture and Environmental Initiative, Katy Moss, “they make you feel good.” Here at MVSeeds.com, we couldn’t agree more. We believe that being in the... -
5 Reasons Everyone Should Grow Mizuna
5 Reasons Everyone Should Grow Mizuna By Lara Wadsworth Mizuna is a delicious and unique Asian mustard green that should be more popular than it is. It is quickly gaining popularity anywhere that it is being used. Everyone should grow Mizuna because: It is easy to grow Mizuna takes little to ... -
5 Sap-Suckers in Your Garden and How to Get Rid of Them
5 Sap-Suckers in Your Garden and How to Get Rid of Them By David Bernal When compared to larger pests such as grasshoppers, snails, or beetles able to feed on plants directly, sap-suckers can be some of the more manageable insects in the garden if spotted early. They are soft-bodied and an earl... -
5 Spring Pests - Prevent With Companion Planting
5 Spring Pests - Prevent With Companion Planting By Lara Wadsworth One of the surefire companions of gardening is the unfortunate presence of pests. Very rare is the gardener who has never had a pest in their crop. Springtime can especially be anxiety-ridden because that is when all the dreaded... -
5 Tips for Growing Your Vegetable Starts Indoors
5 Tips for Growing Your Vegetable Starts Indoors By Jordan Freytag If you are planning to or have started your vegetable seedling indoors, here's reminder of some best practices to keep your seedlings healthy so that you can have the best spring and summer garden possible! Thin seedlings... -
5 Tips to Keep Deer Out of Your Garden
5 Tips to Keep Deer Out of Your Garden by Chelsea Hafer Nothing can be more picturesque than the sight of a deer loping through a field – unless it’s on its way to the garden to chew your plants to the ground. That’s when Bambi turns into a destructive pest that you don’t want around. It’s ha... -
6 Annuals For Wet Soil Conditions
6 Annuals For Wet Soil Conditions By Ashleigh Smith Soil is the most important component of your garden. It is responsible for how well every single plant in your garden does. The trick though is that each plant has its own preference for how warm, cold, dry, or moist it is. The best way to man... -
6 Multi-Purpose Vegetable Seeds to Get You Thinking Outside the Garden Box
6 Multi-Purpose Vegetable Seeds to Get You Thinking Outside the Garden Box By David Bernal 1. Alfalfa - (Medicago sativa) This ancient field crop has only recently been celebrated for its multi-purpose benefits both in and out of the garden. Alfalfa is a proven winter-hardy cover crop seed tha... -
6 Reasons Why The Pros Still Plant Seeds in Summer
6 Reasons Why The Pros Still Plant Seeds in Summer By David Bernal Experienced gardeners never miss out and always know that seeds can be sown year-round in every month of every season. Just spend a day at your local Farmers’ Market and see for yourself the abundance of garden fresh produce ava... -
8 Annuals For Dry Soil Conditions
8 Annuals For Dry Soil Conditions By Ashleigh Smith When it comes to growing plants, the most underrated material needed is the soil. Soil controls nutrient and water availability, ease of root development, and water drainage. When you are faced with a location that tends to naturally be dry, y... -
8 Flowers For Fall Planting by Lara Wadsworth We all know about the spring rush to get our gardens planted before too much of the growing season passes. However, did you know that a wide variety of plants, especially wildflowers, will thrive in the coming year if you plant them in the fall? You...
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8 Pro Tips for Spring Garden Prep
8 Pro Tips for Spring Garden Prep By Jordan Freytag 1. Get a Gardening Journal Tracking your garden from beginning to end is a joy and an essential component when planning next year's garden. You can learn from what worked and what didn't work the year before. Over time, after observing differe... -
8 Undeniable Benefits of Wildflowers
8 Undeniable Benefits of Wildflowers By Lara Wadsworth Many of us dream of the perfect wildflower garden. The stunning and vibrant flowers burst forth like fireworks in the spring and remain until the frost. It is low-maintenance and easy to enjoy from a window, balcony, or patio. However, ther... -
All About Poppies By Lara Wadsworth Poppies are one of the most world-renowned flowers. Poppies are easily recognizable and well-loved, from the rolling fields of Europe to the roadsides of California and so many more locations. However, there are actually a wide variety of poppies available ...
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Amaryllis By Ashleigh Smith Amaryllis is a trumpet shaped flower that is often seen in red and white varieties around this time of year. Beyond those colors it is also available in pink, orange, and salmon. The varieties sold during the holiday season are usually of the genus Hippeastrum. If y...
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A Plant’s Journey from Germination to Fruition
A Plant’s Journey from Germination to Fruition By Chelsea Hafer Plants, silent witnesses to the ever-changing seasons, embark on a fascinating journey from the tiny seed to the blooming flower. Understanding the intricacies of their growth stages unveils the magic that sustains life on our plan... -
Are Bananas Good For Compost and Garden Soil?
Are Bananas Good For Compost and Garden Soil? By Erica Groneman Before you throw away your banana peels, think about your garden. Did you know that banana peels are an excellent fertilizer as they are high in potassium, phosphorus, and calcium? They’ve also been found to have manganese, sodium,... -
A Ripe Tomato by July 4th?! Here's how . . .
A Ripe Tomato by July 4th?! Here's how . . . By Jordan Freytag A gardener’s dream: a plump ripe tomato ready to harvest for the Fourth of July. That is our goal and the goal of many fellow gardeners we know! Who doesn’t love fresh cherry tomatoes right off the vine or slicing into a slicer vari... -
Artichokes By Ashleigh Smith Artichokes aren’t the most popular vegetable in the kitchen; why is that? Personally, I haven’t used it much because I lacked knowledge about what it was and how to cook with it. Aside from dips, I was pretty clueless about what it could be used for. I am here to he...
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Asian Vegetable Types By Ashleigh Smith When it comes to Asian vegetables, you likely use them all the time or not at all. This article is for those who want to become more familiar with Asian vegetables for authentic cooking. Each vegetable has its scientific name listed, a description, and co...
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August: Dealing with the Late Summer Heat
August: Dealing with the Late Summer Heat By Jordan Freytag The unrelenting heat of late summer is here and nowhere do we notice it more than in our gardens. The soil can dry out and crack alarmingly fast. Even with consistent watering, plants can become wilted in the intense sunlight. 2016 was... -
Bamboo: The Fastest Growing Woody Plant In The World
Bamboo: The Fastest Growing Woody Plant In The World By Ashleigh Smith Bamboo is one of the most easily identifiable plants around the world. Its distinct internode segments give it a unique look ideal for both interior and outdoor ornamental use. It is not only nice to look at, but is incredib... -
Best Tomato Plants to Grow - Tomato Guide
Best Tomato Plants to Grow - Tomato Guide By Ashleigh Smith Originally Published July 12, 2022 Updated February 7, 2023 Tomatoes come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors. But which one is right for you? To answer that question, you will want to round up the answers to the following ques... -
Biological Control as an Alternative to Pesticide Use
Biological Control as an Alternative to Pesticide Use Written by Kaitlin Miller – Winner of the 2016 Demetrios Agathangelides Scholarship! When it comes to pesticides, many farmers try to limit its use as it tends to accumulate in the soil and plant tissue with the possibility of becoming harmf... -
Brassica Brilliance - A Diverse Family Of Nutrient-Rich Vegetables
Brassica Brilliance - A Diverse Family Of Nutrient-Rich Vegetables Written by Lara Wadsworth Brassicas are a group of plants belonging to the Brassicaceae family, also known as the cruciferous or mustard family. These plants are valued for their edible leaves, stems, flowers, and roots. Commo... -
Broccoli Raab - The False Broccoli
Broccoli Raab - The False Broccoli By Ashleigh Smith Broccoli Raab is a very interesting vegetable, most commonly used in Italian and Chinese Cuisine. Even though its name includes broccoli it is more closely related to mustards and turnips with bitter flavored leaves and flowers, sharper than ... -
Carrots For Your Spring Garden
Carrots For Your Spring Garden By Ashleigh Smith Carrots are one of the most common vegetables to grow. This is likely because they are so easy to grow. It is really as simple as plopping them in the soil, watering, and digging them up. The best thing about growing carrots is they can be plante... -
Christmas Cactus By Ashleigh Smith You've probably at least heard of the Christmas cactus, but did you know there are actually three popular Holiday Cacti? They are named after the holidays they bloom during. We have the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter cactus. However, the Thanksgiving cact...
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Columbine: A Fall Planting Delight
Columbine: A Fall Planting Delight By Chelsea Hafer Nature is full of gorgeous, unique, and adaptable flowers, each with its own story to tell. The Columbine flower is one such beauty that grabs your attention with its special looks and colors. Believe it or not, you can actually plant this flo... -
Container Garden Vegetables by Ashleigh Smith Beans Beans are a perfect container gardening crop as they don’t take up much space. Beans come in two major categories, bush (12-24 inches tall) and pole types (5-8 feet tall). Bush varieties maintain a compact habit, while pole beans grow tall an...
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Container Growing Watermelons By Lara Wadsworth Watermelon is one of the most popular summertime fruits. The crisp and sweet flesh is undeniably delicious and nostalgic. But what if you can’t devote a garden plot to these delectable fruits? The good news is that you don’t need to give them up c...
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Cottage Garden - Plants and Ideas
Cottage Garden - Plants and Ideas By Ashleigh Smith Once you have learned about growing seeds and how to pair different plants together, you may wonder, what comes next? To elevate your garden skills and appearance, consider the type of garden styles you prefer. As you pair different plants, ... -
Cover Crop Highlight: Buckwheat
Cover Crop Highlight: Buckwheat by Ashleigh Smith Buckwheat is an amazing cover crop that is often overlooked. While there are many great cover crop options, buckwheat has several advantageous and valuable characteristics worth keeping around. Its strongest advantage is its quick growth. Exactl... -
Cover Crops Provide Natural Feed For Free Range Chickens
Cover Crops Provide Natural Feed For Free Range Chickens By Ashleigh Smith Why Are Chickens Good For Gardens? Chickens have been a natural source of organic fertilizer since their existence began. Chickens provide nitrogen-rich manure to naturally enrich your garden soil. In addition to provid... -
Crack the Code: End Rapid Soil Drying
Crack the Code: End Rapid Soil Drying by Lara Wadsworth Being watered is the most consistent input plants need from us. Unless they are outdoors in a rainforest, chances are they need to be watered. But why do they dry out so fast? This never-ending cycle can be frustrating at times, even for... -
Creating an Urban Meadow Garden
Creating an Urban Meadow Garden By Ashleigh Smith Urban Meadow Gardens are all about bringing vegetation back into city spaces. While some people really enjoy the feeling of being in a big city with tall buildings, busy streets, and sidewalks for miles, they still crave the feeling of being i... -
Cultivating Health: How Gardening Improves Your Well-Being
Cultivating Health: How Gardening Improves Your Well-Being Written by Chelsea Hafer Gardening has long been celebrated as a fulfilling hobby, but did you know that it goes beyond being a pastime and can significantly contribute to improving and lengthening your life? In this article, we'll expl... -
Cut Flower Gardens By Ashleigh Smith What Makes A Good Cut Flower? There are many characteristics and traits of a flower that put it into the cut flower category. Among these are stem length, stem strength, bloom period, bloom sturdiness, fragrance, ability to preserve, and your personal prefe...
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Days of the Last Spring Freeze
Similar to the USDA hardiness zones map which helps growers anticipate the minimum annual temperature in their region, the annual frost dates easily help catalog the first and last 32°F days of the year. These first and last frost days of the year essentially “bookend” the growing season as we k... -
Direct Sow Vegetable Seeds By Ashleigh Smith Spring is here, and it is time to get planting! You might have some indoor starts ready to go, or you are just trying to figure out if it is too late to start planting. Now is a great time to start sowing seeds directly. Most zones are approaching or...
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Drought Train Your Lawn By Ashleigh Smith If you reside anywhere near the intermountain west, you have likely seen the same drought warnings or are aware of the great water problems across the country. While the amount of precipitation has varied over the years, there is something you can do to...
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Early Spring Vegetable Planting
Early Spring Vegetable Planting by Ashleigh Smith Depending on your local weather and average last spring frost date, work in the garden may look different from one town to the next. For some, snow may still prevent you from working outside. If this is the case for you, begin by starting seeds ... -
Easy Guide to Pruning by Lara Wadsworth Almost every yard in America has some kind of woody perennial in its landscape. Woody perennials do well with being pruned periodically. But, with so many different shrubs, ornamental trees, and more, it can be daunting to know how and when to prune. Luck...
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Easy seeds to start for beginners
Easy Seeds to Start for Beginners Not sure which fruits and vegetables to grow in your first garden? Check out the following seeds recommended for beginners just like you! Whether a new job, school, or hobby, starting anything new can be intimidating even for the most courageous of us. So if yo... -
Egg Carton Seed Trays By Ashleigh Smith Are you looking for a way to teach your kids about gardening? Getting them directly involved is a great way to catch their interest. From the time I was able to first pull weeds, place a seed, or hold a hose I remember helping my grandmother with her gard...
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Everything You Need To Know About Rain Gardens
Everything You Need To Know About Rain Gardens By Lara Wadsworth Rain gardens are quickly gaining popularity for their perfect marriage of utility and beauty. What simply looks like a beautifully landscaped garden is actually a native habitat that serves as a storm drain and water sponge. But h... -
Extending Your Growing Season: Grow Longer with Low Tunnels
Extending Your Growing Season: Grow Longer with Low Tunnels by Chelsea Hafer As gardeners and farmers, we all know the feeling of watching our plants thrive during the warmer months and then facing the disappointment of seeing them wither away as winter approaches. But what if there was a way t... -
Extending Your Growing Season: The Power of Cold Frames
Extending Your Growing Season: The Power of Cold Frames by Chelsea Hafer Gardening has come a long way, but some old-school techniques remain as valuable as ever. One such technique is the use of cold frames, a vintage season-extending tool that's been employed by gardeners for generations... -
Fall Cover Crop Planning By Ashleigh Smith Cover Crops are a valuable tool for a home gardener to have. They protect soil from erosion, replenish nutrients between growing seasons, and improve soil health. If you want to learn the basics about cover crops and how they can help your home garden,...
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February: Sowing For Springtime Prosperity
February: Sowing For Springtime Prosperity By Jordan Freytag Last month, we talked about planning your garden and gathering the seeds you’d like to start growing this spring. Well, now is the time to get sowing indoors or in a greenhouse. We focused on preparing to sow tomatoes and peppers la... -
Fire it up! By Kat Jones For many of us, we can get used to sticking with the same tried-and-true crops; the ones we know we like and will eat. The one we know will not offend or shock us in the garden, kitchen, or local neighborhood pot luck. While this strategy is a great place to start, why ...
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Flowers For Companion Planting This Season
Flowers For Companion Planting This Season By Ashleigh Smith I love flowers! Chances are you do, too, if you are reading this. When planning out your flower garden, the focus is usually on balancing colors, heights, and light requirements. But have you put any thought into what plants do well t... -
Flowers: Starting Indoors vs Direct Sowing
Flowers: Starting Indoors vs Direct Sowing By Jordan Freytag When you think you've started all your seedlings this year, you remember . . . flowers! While we prepare our vegetable starts, it can be easy to forget about the flower garden. Luckily it is still a good time to start flowers indoors ... -
Forage Crops: Benefits for Livestock, Farmers, and Sustainability
Forage Crops: Benefits for Livestock, Farmers, and Sustainability by Chelsea Hafer Forage crops play a vital role in ensuring the health and well-being of livestock. These crops not only provide essential nutrition but also improve soil health and sustainability. Before delving into the specifi... -
Fragrant Flowers and Herbs For A Garden That Smells Good
Fragrant Flowers and Herbs For A Garden That Smells Good By Ashleigh Smith Around this time of year, you have likely planted most of your vegetable garden and flower beds. The good news is, that most people still have room to add a plant or two. Today we wanted to help you elevate your garden w... -
How to Grow Vegetables From Seed Check out our garden planner for more help! Starting your very own vegetable garden and seeing it through to harvest is one of the most rewarding activities that anyone can do. Here at True Leaf Market, we want to make the process of preparing your garden bed or...
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Frost and Light Snow Tolerant Vegetable Varieties
Frost and Light Snow Tolerant Vegetable Varieties by Chelsea Hafer As the winter frost descends upon our gardens and the first dustings of snow coat the world in a glistening white, one might assume that the time for cultivating fresh, homegrown vegetables has come to a halt. However, for those... -
Garden Cover Crops By Jordan Freytag Garden Cover Crops So, your garden has been a success this season, showering you with snap peas and string beans and squash—oh my! Now, as the kids return to school and the weather cools, it is time to put your garden to bed. After you clean out your garde...
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Gardening terms and definitions
Gardening Terms and Definitions All-America Selections (AAS): Established in 1899, the All-America Selections is a committee of professional gardeners and horticulturists across North America that tests plants of all kinds for production, tolerance, and beauty. AAS award winning seeds are simply... -
Garden Labels By Ashleigh Smith Picture your garden about 3-4 months from now. You are starting to harvest and use your fresh produce in the kitchen. You are preparing dinner and you need that extra something from the garden. You send your child out to pick it, but they come back asking which p...
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Getting the Most Out of Your Spring Harvest!
Getting the Most Out of Your Spring Harvest! By Jordan Freytag The coattails of spring welcome additional responsibilities for the gardener as the temperatures rise and as the air becomes drier. The gardener must be sure their crops are drinking enough water but not drowning in it. The gardener... -
Growing and Cooking Chrysanthemum Greens (Shungiku)
Growing and Cooking Chrysanthemum Greens (Shungiku) By Ashleigh Smith I love chrysanthemums, don’t you? Did you know chrysanthemums represent joy and happiness, are edible, and are the birth flower for November? Usually, when people think of Chrysanthemums, they think of the popular fall flower... -
Growing Brussels Sprouts - A Nutrient-Packed Veggie
Growing Brussels Sprouts - A Nutrient-Packed Veggie by Chelsea Hafer Brussels sprouts, deriving their name from the city of Brussels where they were first cultivated in the 16th century, prove to be a nutritious and flavorful addition to any home garden. Despite being a bit challenging to grow,... -
Growing Fall Sunflowers By Ashleigh Smith Yes! You absolutely can grow sunflowers late in the summer as long as you have enough days left in the season before the first fall frost comes. Sunflowers are known as a late summer bloom however, they play a big role in the fall as well. You are sure ...
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Growing Ferns Inside By Ashleigh Smith Growing ferns inside can be tricky if you don’t understand what conditions they like. Ideally ferns like a humid, dappled light, constant environment. Changing temperatures and light conditions quickly will result in a less appealing appearance and weak gr...
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Growing Grass From Seed: Simple Strategies for a Beautiful Lawn
Growing Grass From Seed: Simple Strategies for a Beautiful Lawn By Lara Wadsworth Growing an entire lawn from seed can seem daunting, but Quicklawn grass seeds has made the process simple, easy, and exciting with reliable results. Experience success by following our simple guide to growing a lu... -
Growing Potatoes From Seed vs Tubers
Growing Potatoes From Seed vs Tubers By Ashleigh Smith Potatoes are a staple to almost any kitchen. They are not only tasty, but filling and can be prepared in a myriad of ways. I once had a high school teacher from Idaho who was so proud of potatoes, he would spend an entire class period prese... -
Growing Soybeans AKA Edamame By Ashleigh Smith You might have heard of soybeans or edamame before. If you are like me you might have wondered what the difference is between the two. It turns out they are the exact same plant, only edamame is the young harvested pod. Soybean refers to the mature...
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Grow Your Garden Anywhere: Finding Container-Friendly Plants
Grow Your Garden Anywhere: Finding Container-Friendly Plants By Ashleigh Smith Looking for varieties that are container-growable? It is easier than ever to find garden seeds that can be grown in tight spaces like patios and balconies! True Leaf Market has added an identifying icon that appears ... -
Grow Your Own Juicing Garden By Ashleigh Smith Juicing is more than another diet fad; it is very healthy. Juicing allows you to quickly access the nutrients stored in fruits and vegetables without digesting the fibers and other plant materials. If you don’t have a juicer of your own, check out ...
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Grow Your Shabu Shabu Garden By Ashleigh Smith What is a Shabu Shabu Garden, and what goes in it? Well first off it is a garden that provides a mix of ingredients ideal for a hot pot meal. A hot pot is an oriental cooking method where a pot of broth cooks in the middle of the table. This one po...
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Guide to Cucumber Types By Ashleigh Smith Cucumbers come in many shapes and sizes. They are also used for many different things, including pickles, salads, relish, fresh eating, smoothies, water, and more! With all of these uses, how do you pick the right one? The answer is to identify the type...
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Guide to Growing Flowers - Let's Get Blooming!
Guide to Growing Flowers - Let's Get Blooming! by Ashleigh Smith The presents have been opened, the boxes broken down, and now it is time to start thinking about the garden. What will you grow? When should you start planting? These are all questions that should be addressed well ahead of actu... -
Guide to Growing Onions By Ashleigh Smith Onions are a staple in almost any kitchen, and for good reason. Not only do onions add flavor to your cooking, but nutrients too. They are known for their ability to lower inflammation and aid the immune system. The onion family Allium includes the comm...
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Guide to Heat Tolerant Bok Choy
Guide to Heat Tolerant Bok Choy By Juliet Webb Bok choy Brassica rapa var. chinensis is a leafy green vegetable of the cabbage family. They are available with green or white stems, rosette shapes (Brassica chinensis var. narinosa), and flowering types (includes Choy Sum). Other names for Pak Ch... -
Guide to Pepper Types by Ashleigh Smith Peppers are one of the most popular summer vegetables to grow. They love the warm summer months and make the perfect summer snack, fresh salsa ingredient, pizza topping, or splash of color in your fajitas. Peppers are definitely one of my must have garden...
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Guide to Salad Greens By Ashleigh Smith What Are Salad Greens? Salad Greens are any vegetable leaves eaten raw that may include petioles, shoots, and flowers. Many people simply think of lettuce, spinach, or kale as salad greens. The truth is these are only a small portion of greens available ...
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"Hardening Off" The Right Way By Jordan Freytag As your starts begin maturing, bearing their “true” leaves, we know the time is drawing near to transplant. Transplanting can be stressful for growers because it is common to lose plants to “transplant shock.” When our plants spend the first few w...
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Hardy Annuals for Spring or Fall Planting
Hardy Annuals for Spring or Fall Planting By Ashleigh Smith What Does Cold-Hardy Mean? The time between New Year's and your last frost date can feel like an eternity. This has been one of those years for us as we continue to receive scattered snow storms. We definitely need the snow to refill ... -
Heat Tolerant Vegetables by Ashleigh Smith The summers just seem to be getting hotter. If you live in an area with hot summers, you might be wondering what you can grow successfully during these months. I have certainly planted a lovely patch of leafy greens and herbs just to have them bolt and...
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Help for new gardeners / growers
If you're new to growing, we have some excellent information available on our site: _https://www.trueleafmarket.com/pages/help-info-guides-and-faq_ _https://www.trueleafmarket.com/pages/how-to-tutorial-videos_ _https://www.trueleafmarket.com/pages/starter-guides_ _https://www.trueleafmarket.com/... -
Have you been sketching your garden plans on scrap pieces of paper and notebooks that have become lost through the seasons? There is now a better way to design, plan, and track the progress of your garden with the Hortisketch Garden planner. This all-in-one garden planner allows you to outline ch...
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Hot Peppers By Ashleigh Smith Peppers come in all shapes, sizes, flavors, and heat levels. The level of heat is designated by its Scoville Heat Units. On the scoville scale, originally developed from Wilbur Scoville, the heat level of a pepper was determined by a taste test. This test is now r...
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How Fermented Foods can Support a Healthy Digestion
How Fermented Foods can Support a Healthy Digestion By Jordan Freytag Like me, some of you may have experienced the discomfort of a sluggish digestion, feeling a bloating sensation throughout the stomach and lower bowels. Others of you may be plagued with sporadic to frequent heartburn. In the ... -
How Late is Too Late to Start Your Garden?
How Late is Too Late to Start Your Garden? By Jordan Freytag June is here, and some of you might be wondering—have I missed the planting window? Is it too late to plant my garden? We say NO WAY! It’s never too late to plant in summer months as long you stick to more short term crops that will m... -
How To Attract Pollinators To Your Flower And Vegetable Gardens
How To Attract Pollinators To Your Flower And Vegetable Gardens By Erica Groneman What would we do without pollinators? These tiny creatures, the bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, mosquitos, etc. are critical to our ecosystem and way of life. Without pollinators, we wouldn’t have tomatoes, cucum... -
How To Control Weeds With Organic Home Garden Methods
How To Control Weeds With Organic Home Garden Methods By Erica Groneman There are more ways to deal with pesky weeds than pulling out the conventional herbicide spray. Here are just a few tips to avoid synthetic products and control weeds using organic methods. Best Practice - Keep the Ground ... -
How To Germinate Hard Gourd Seeds
How To Germinate Hard Gourd Seeds By Ashleigh Smith Are Gourd Seeds Difficult To Germinate? Isn’t it funny how different seeds have their own special needs when it comes to growing? These needs start from a plant's beginning as seeds. When it comes to gourd seeds, they can require a bit of ext... -
How To Grow A Butterfly Garden
How To Grow A Butterfly Garden By Ashleigh Smith Butterflies are one of the most loved insects because of their appearance. Butterflies aren’t just pretty to look at either, they also help with pollination. To attract these beauties to your garden plan to include plants they like, and encourage... -
How to Grow a Giant Pumpkin Guide by Ashleigh Smith & Erica Groneman Growing award-winning giant pumpkins is a sport. Giant pumpkin growers are as dedicated to their growth as athletes are to their sports. It is a world of its own! The current pumpkin world record holder is Stefano Cutrupi ...
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How To Grow A Vertical Garden By Erica Groneman Have you ever tried gardening vertically? Any garden can benefit from having at least a few plants grow vertically for an easier harvest and variety in visual interest. A vertical garden is about training your plants to grow up rather than growing...
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How to Grow Canna Lilies From Seed
How to Grow Canna Lilies From Seed By Ashleigh Smith Canna Lilies are one of the most beautiful flowers! They have bright, unique blooms that develop in the early to mid-summer. Once you get your seeds going, your plants will continue to produce tubers allowing your canna collection to grow eac... -
How To Grow Carrots By Erica Groneman Carrots are a delicious, sweet root vegetable. They are an excellent addition to any garden. Carrots are simple to grow, but can also be difficult if the right conditions are not met. Challenges to growing a good carrot include forking, stunted growth, or g...
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How to Grow Easy Wildflower Gardens
How to Grow Easy Wildflower Gardens By Ashleigh Smith Published Nov 5, 2021 Updated Oct 21, 2022 Wildflowers are some of my favorite flowers. Their ability to easily grow in adverse conditions and poor soils makes them a great selection for improving unmaintained areas. Plus, you can prepare t... -
How To Grow Kale And Make This Yummy Green Smoothie
How To Grow Kale And Make This Yummy Green Smoothie By Erica Groneman Kale is an outstanding addition to any home garden. The nutritional benefits alone are incredible. One cup of kale provides more than 100% of the daily value in Vitamin A, Vitamin K, and Vitamin C. Kale also provides Vitamin ... -
How to Grow Tomatoes From Seeds
How to Grow Tomatoes From Seeds by Ashleigh Smith Winter is finally melting away, and it is time to get planting! This is your reminder to start those seeds for the vegetable garden. If you haven’t already, start by identifying your last frost date. Then, count back the number of weeks your s... -
How To Grow Your Own Popcorn By Erica Groneman Popcorn is a beloved treat at our house. Have you ever tried growing, harvesting, and preserving your own? True Leaf Market has several popcorn varieties you could try. Lately we have been obsessed with the Rainbow Jewel Popcorn. It not only makes ...
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How to Grow Zinnias From Seed By Ashleigh Smith Zinnias are one of the most popular flowers out there for many reasons. They are incredibly colorful, coming in shades of red, pink, orange, yellow, green, purple, and white. Because they are developed from three different types of zinnia, you can...
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How To Identify, Control, Treat, or Troubleshoot Tomato Plant Problems
How To Identify, Control, Treat, or Troubleshoot Tomato Plant Problems By Erica Groneman Your garden is probably in full swing and you’re starting to enjoy the fruits of your labors. How are your tomato plants doing? You may be seeing abnormal signs in your tomato plant indicating something’s n... -
How To Maximize Your Garden Space
How To Maximize Your Garden Space By Erica Groneman Do you love gardening but you just don’t have the yard for it? Or, do you love fresh home-grown produce but don’t think you can make it work where you live? Don’t fret! There is a way for everyone to enjoy the benefits of homegrown goodness re... -
How To Plan A Garden By Ashleigh Smith Originally Published Nov 24, 2021 Updated Feb 20, 2023 It's that time of year again, and I love planning a new garden! If you have grown a garden in the past, start by evaluating what went well and what you would like to do differently. Build on your prev...
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How To Start Seeds Indoors by Erica Groneman Whether you are just starting some herbs to keep indoors or getting ready to plant your seasonal garden, there are a few important steps to follow when you are starting your seeds indoors. This article will outline the steps to get your seeds ready f...
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How To Sun Map Your Garden By Erica Groneman We’ve already talked about growing a garden in the shade and which vegetables do well. But if you really want to get serious and more scientific about how much sun or shade you have in your yard, you can sun map your space by either creating your own...
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How To Water Your Garden By Ashleigh Smith If you are new to gardening you may wonder how you should be watering your garden. The truth is, there isn’t any one way that is correct. You can get the job done with a sprinkler, hose, irrigation, etc. But there are some methods that may make your li...
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Integrated Pest Management in Home Gardens
Integrated Pest Management in Home Gardens by Lara Wadsworth Integrated Pests Management, or IPM, is the best way to prevent and treat pest issues in a garden, greenhouse, or farm organically. The idea is to use as many tactics as possible to prevent and eradicate pests with natural processes a... -
Irish Gardens and Lucky Flowers
Irish Gardens and Lucky Flowers by Ashleigh Smith Everybody wants to be lucky. We do things all the time to bring luck to ourselves and our friends or families. Things like wearing specific articles of clothing, crossing fingers, wishing on a star, repeating a saying, etc. Athletes often create... -
It's Never Too Early to Start Planning Your Fall Garden!
It's Never Too Early to Start Planning Your Fall Garden! By Jordan Freytag Although the spring and summer months are great for gardening, they can be taxing on the gardener. I know that I've become spent trying to keep my garden watered in the scorching heat while troubleshooting problems as th... -
January: A Time for Planning By Jordan Freytag When the cold winds of January sweep over us, we know it’s time to start planning that spring garden. We break out the gardening journal (if you don’t use a gardening journal, we recommend that you do) and draw-up plans of how we’d like our garde...
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July Sowing to Early Fall Harvest!
July Sowing to Early Fall Harvest! By Jordan Freytag Who'd have thought that July would be a great time to direct sow select garden vegetable seeds? Come to find out, it's a great time for quick-to-harvest crops such as Basil and Dill, Beans and Greens, and Carrots and Cucumbers! What happens i... -
June: Companion Plants & Beneficial Insects
June: Companion Plants & Beneficial Insects By Jordan Freytag Now that the growing season is underway, an abundance of life begins to spring up in our garden: seedlings take root and begin branching out, showing signs of their future production. But with new growth and life, comes the c... -
Let's Talk About Transplant Shock
Let's Talk About Transplant Shock By Jordan Freytag Transplant shock happens to your seedlings when they undergo stress during the transplanting process from indoor growing conditions to the ground and the unpredictable climate outside. Many times it is caused by the roots being "shocked" by th... -
Light Essentials: Indoor Counter-top Gardening
Light Essentials: Indoor Counter-top Gardening By Jordan Freytag Although your kitchen may have an abundance of light, it may not be enough for growing flats of wheatgrass and microgreens—especially this time of year. The lack of sunlight effects everything, and even though your flat may be unde... -
Mainland Asian Vs. Japanese Cucumbers
Mainland Asian Vs. Japanese Cucumbers By Tanya Collings You may have heard of Asian cucumber varieties before and wondered what makes them different. Well, I am here to break it down for you. The biggest difference is their taste and affect on your digestive system. If you have a tendency to s... -
Mango By Ashleigh Smith Mangos are a delicious fruit enjoyed by many around the world. It is easily recognized by its green and blush-colored skin and bright orange flesh. You can identify the tree by its simple, lanceolate leaves that form in clusters. The flowers develop in large panicles wit...
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March: From The Ground Up By Jordan Freytag It is about this time when your garden vegetables are germinating, poking through their little starter pots and pellets, reminding you that transplanting time is on the horizon. It is at this stage that you may have realized that you haven’t prepared ...
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May: Easy-Going Transplanting & Sowing
May: Easy-Going Transplanting & Sowing By Jordan Freytag Now is the time of year that folks are sowing seeds outdoors and transplanting indoor plant starts. Many beginner or inexperienced gardeners would like a clear-cut date and time that is best to sow and transplant. Unfortunately, it ju... -
Instructions - Micro Mat Growing Pad General Growing Instructions: For trays without drain holes : (recommended for microgreens & herbs) Add water into tray (amount may vary based on use). Place one Micro-Mat on the water surface (centered) and allow to absorb water. Pour off any excess wa...
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Mid-July Garden Planting! By Andrew Stewart It's mid July and many garden vegetables are maturing such as tomatoes and peppers. It's not too late in the summer to start planting, they just need to have a shorter life cycle to be able to mature before it gets too cold. Several root vegetables an...
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Native Plants for Pest Control in the Pacific Northwest
Native Plants for Pest Control in the Pacific Northwest By Lara Wadsworth Conventional gardening with rows of vegetables and neatly sectioned cut flower gardens is a thing of the past. We have learned that gardening with nature is better than attempting to control it. Even if you want a neat an... -
Navigating Transplant Shock By Lara Wadsworth Gardening enthusiasts, both seasoned and novice, often encounter the phenomenon known as transplant shock—a condition that can leave plants stressed, wilted, and struggling to adapt to their new environment. In this guide, we'll delve into the intri...
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Nightshade Vegetables By Ashleigh Smith Nightshade vegetables are one of the families of plants that get a lot of gossip thrown around about them. But what are they? Nightshade vegetables are the edible portions of some plants from the Solanaceae family. These plants are known for their antiox...
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Northeastern Natives for Attracting Beneficial Insects
Northeastern Natives for Attracting Beneficial Insects By Lara Wadsworth The Northeastern United States is rich with American history, but did you also know that it is rich in plant biodiversity? Nature has learned through time how to work in harmony with the various species that attempt to thr... -
Okra - A Summer Vegetable By Ashleigh Smith If you are from the Southern United States you are likely familiar with okra, a vegetable that thrives in the heat. It is grown across the globe in areas like India, West Africa, Ethiopia, and the United States. Okra has become an important crop for ...
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Perennials for Moist and Dry Soils
Perennials for Moist and Dry Soils By Ashleigh Smith What are Perennials? Perennials are plants that flower and set seeds for two or more seasons. Many people like growing perennials because they reduce the amount of planting that takes place from year to year. Wherever you live, there are ple... -
Piet Oudolf: Embracing the Naturalistic Garden
Piet Oudolf: Embracing the Naturalistic Garden By Lara Wadsworth Piet Oudolf is a world renowned Dutch garden designer. His designs are focused on a naturalistic approach to enjoy the ever changing beauty offered by plants in their various stages of life. His designs have played a role in the... -
Planning Your Spring Cover Crops
Planning Your Spring Cover Crops by Ashleigh Smith When to Grow A Spring Cover Crop Cover crops are the perfect way to prepare your garden for a plentiful fall harvest if you are skipping the early spring vegetables this year. Instead of letting the weeds go rampant, reduce and suppress them w... -
Planting Fruit and Vegetable Seeds By Zone
Planting Fruit and Vegetable Seeds By Zone Hardiness Zones 1-2 Central and Northern Alaska Growing Season: 110-120 days Extreme Annual Min.: -60 to -40 °F Although Zones 1-2 are not found anywhere on the mainland states, the central Alaska city of Fairbanks and the surrounding Denali area is ho... -
Preparing Your Garden for Winter: The Fall Cleanup Checklist
Preparing Your Garden for Winter: The Fall Cleanup Checklist by Chelsea Hafer As the vibrant colors of autumn leaves grace our landscapes, gardeners across the world are gearing up for an essential seasonal task—preparing their gardens for the impending winter. While it may seem like a bittersw... -
Preventing Deer and Rabbit Damage To Your Garden
Preventing Deer and Rabbit Damage To Your Garden By Ashleigh Smith Preventing damage to your garden by critters such as deer and rabbits doesn’t have to be as hard as it may sound. Animals tend to dislike plants with fuzzy textures and strong scents. This makes adding ornamental plants to your ... -
Purple Coneflower: A Lasting Classic American Wildflower
Purple Coneflower: A Lasting Classic American Wildflower By David Bernal Don’t give mom flowers this year that will only last a few days when you could give her flowers to last up to 40 years or more! While some of the most commercial wildflowers such as larkspur, cosmos, zinnia, or sunflower a... -
Quick To Mature Seeds For Your Garden
Quick To Mature Seeds For Your Garden By Ashleigh Smith Has this year's garden season snuck up on you like it has me? The good news is, it's not too late to start planting. There are several options you have to still produce a plentiful harvest. Start by figuring out how much effort you want to... -
Rediscovering Kamut: A Nutrient-Rich Journey
Rediscovering Kamut: A Nutrient-Rich Journey by Chelsea Hafer In the world of grains, Kamut stands as a venerable ancestor, a time-honored variety that has gracefully made its way back into the spotlight. The name Kamut, derived from the ancient Egyptian word for "wheat," paints a vivid picture... -
Rhubarb By Ashleigh Smith Rhubarb is one plant that many people have had at least once is one plant that many people have had at least once, thanks to their grandmothers. But did you know it has a wide variety of uses? You can add it to anything from a drink to a dessert, salad, sauces, salsas,...
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Vegetable Garden Seed Selector Quizzes Get Help Choosing the Best Vegetable Varieties: We know it can be a challenge to choose the best variety of vegetables for your garden. Even for experienced gardeners, the number of options can sometimes be overwhelming. For example, we currently offer: ...
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Short Season Vegetable Gardening - Early Maturing Varieties
Short Season Vegetable Gardening - Early Maturing Varieties by Ashleigh Smith Gardening and growing food commercially continue to become a balance of supply, demand, and climate factors. It’s no secret climate and local weather continue to affect how we grow our food. If you find yourself in an... -
Soil Preparation: Cover Crops, Worm Castings, and More!
Soil Preparation: Cover Crops, Worm Castings, and More! By David Bernal Celebrate the late winter warmth by getting a head start on preparing your soil as we inch our way towards the first day of spring this Saturday. Daylight savings is now behind us and our days are becoming longer and finall... -
Sowing Flowers in the Cold By David Bernal One of the best ways to ensure a healthy, abundant, and efficient year-round garden is to emulate many of the natural cycles your plants would experience if grown wildly. For example, “true” wildflowers spend the summer carpeting the soil with millions...
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Spin Farming: with Urban Gardener Linda Borghi
Spin Farming: with Urban Gardener Linda Borghi By Kat Jones This week let's investigate a new farming phenomenon called Spin Farming and Spin Gardening. People in urban or rural areas are turning small plots of land into a farm for themselves and for others on as little as 1/3 acre, sometimes m... -
Spreading Joy with Wildflower Shakers
Spreading Joy with Wildflower Shakers by Ashleigh Smith Flowers have been a means of spreading joy for hundreds of years! Whether they are given to celebrate a relationship, mend broken bridges, show appreciation, or remember what was, flowers spark happiness. Flowers are not only linked to gif... -
Spring Blooming Flowers By Ashleigh Smith Spring is neck and neck with fall as my favorite season of the year. I love the combination of beautiful blooms, cool weather, and the sound of spring rain showers against the windows. Bring your garden back to life with some of these spring-blooming fl...
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Spring Gardening Checklist By Ashleigh Smith The days are getting longer and it is time to start your gardens! But wait…I still have snow outside. Is it really time to start gardening? Yes! A full spring garden starts by planning ahead and starting seeds indoors. If you wait until your final fr...
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Spring to Fall Flowers for Continuous Blooms
Spring to Fall Flowers for Continuous Blooms By Ashleigh Smith Are you tired of the cold and dreary weather yet? Or does the quiet blanketing snow energize you like Lorelai Gilmore? While I love to get all cozy and warm in my favorite sweats, I also miss the growing season's bright blooms and l... -
Square Foot Gardening By Ashleigh Smith Designing A Garden For Beginners If you are just starting out, gardening can be kind of intimidating. What kind of tools to use? What to plant? How do you plant? There can be a lot of questions if you haven’t had any experience with growing before. The g...
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Squash - Guide to Common Pests and Disease
Squash - Guide to Common Pests and Disease By Lara Wadsworth Squash plants got you down? They are a Cucurbitaceae family member, which means they are afflicted by many of the same pests and diseases as cucumbers, pumpkins, and watermelons. This article is intended to identify the most common pr... -
Starting Seeds Early. Why some and not others . . .
Starting Seeds Early. Why some and not others . . . By Jordan Freytag The initial thing a lot of folks wonder after they've decided to grow a garden that season is "Where do I start?" And then the more complex question follows, "Which vegetable crops do I start indoors and which do I plant dire... -
Planning Your Garden 🌱 The garden should be carefully planned. Most of the space should be occupied by the family's favorite vegetables. The vegetable garden should be in fertile soil with ample water supply available. It should be easily accessible to all members of the family so that produce c...
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Stimulating Roots with Mycorrhizae
Stimulating Roots with Mycorrhizae by Lara Wadsworth The word mycorrhizae literally means “fungus root.” It is the word that describes the symbiotic relationship between fungus and plant roots. This unique occurrence is most prevalent in healthy, well-established soil, such as in forests and un... -
Strategies for Extending Your Growing Season
Strategies For Extending Your Growing Season by Ashleigh Smith When Can I Start A Garden? Is it too late to start a garden? Too early? Is there an ideal time to start? It may seem like planting right after your last frost date in the spring is your only option. Really a garden can be started... -
Winter Garden Success Winter Gardening Success Winter gardening can be as fruitful as Spring and Summer gardening--and some say, a little easier. The following is intended on helping guide you through what gardening styles and garden seed varieties may offer you the best results this winter sea...
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Succession Planting: The Key to a Continual Harvest
Succession Planting: The Key to a Continual Harvest By Ashleigh Smith Do you find yourself harvesting large amounts of any given vegetable from your garden all at once? There is a solution! The practice of succession planting, or planting in segments over a period of time, allows you to harvest... -
Summer Sowing for Fall Harvesting
Summer Sowing for Fall Harvesting By Ashleigh Smith If you have experienced lingering winter weather or just didn’t get your garden in earlier in the season, don’t worry. It isn’t too late for you to start growing. Below are several flowers, vegetables, and herbs perfect for summer sowing. Many... -
Taro Root By Ashleigh Smith Taro Root is a less commonly known vegetable in the West. It is popularly used, however, in Southeast Asia, India, and Caribbean diets. The root (corm) originates from the Taro Plant, also known as eddo/edo, kalo, arbi, or dasheen. The plant can be identified by its...
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The 3 Essential Steps for Storing Winter Squash
The 3 Essential Steps for Storing Winter Squash By Jordan Freytag The process of storing winter squash may seem to be long and complicated. Although it may take up to two weeks, the steps for preparing your squash for long term winter storage can be as easy as brewing summer tea. All you need i... -
The Beauty of Regional Wildflowers
The Beauty of Regional Wildflowers By Chelsea Hafer Wildflowers may appear as mere adornments in nature, but their significance extends far beyond their charming appearance. These resilient plants are not just pretty faces; they are ecological powerhouses, essential to the balance and well-bein... -
The Benefits of Growing Mushrooms at Home!
The Benefits of Growing Mushrooms at Home! By Ashley Claire Turner Medicinal mushrooms have been incorporated in ancient healing modalities for centuries. Only recently have researchers been able to isolate and identify the specific compounds that give the various mushrooms their incredible hea... -
The Best Soil for Transplanting . . . and how to get it!
The Best Soil for Transplanting . . . and how to get it! By Jordan Freytag Now that you've got your seeds started, it is a good time to start focusing on getting your soil ready for transplanting time. Now, that may mean a few different things; you may need to amend your soil with fertilizers o... -
The Fall Garden Basics By Ashleigh Smith With the approach of fall, it may seem like the garden is about done for the season. Don’t stop now! Many people mistakenly think the arrival of fall means you have to stop growing. Really it is the perfect “second spring.” With cooling temperatures, y...
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The High Humidity Vegetable Garden
The High Humidity Vegetable Garden By Ashleigh Smith Gardening in high-heat and high-humidity areas can bring a special set of challenges related to plant growth, diseases, and pest control. Gardeners throughout the Southern U.S. are especially familiar with how tricky it can be to successfully... -
The Last Frost Dates of Spring
The Last Frost Dates of Spring By David Bernal Similar to the USDA hardiness zones map which helps growers anticipate the minimum annual temperature in their region, the annual frost dates easily help catalog the first and last 32°F days of the year. These first and last frost days of the yea... -
The Master Communicators By Jordan Freytag Flowers are among nature’s most important, beautiful, complex, and symbolic creations. They are like antennae that transmit messages to the natural world through colors and patterns, and fragrances that let the insects and birds know where the nectar i...
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The Power of Flowers By Jordan Freytag The Power of Flowers I'm sure we've all seen the positive influence flowers can have in our surroundings and communities. We’ve noticed the profound change that can happen to the community when hanging baskets and box planters of flowers are used to decor...
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Tips for Encouraging Kids to Garden!
Tips for Encouraging Kids to Garden! By Jordan Freytag Tips for Encouraging Kids to Garden! Teaching children about gardening not only will increase their knowledge about plant biology and the Earth but will increase their self-esteem and self-confidence. At times, it can become a difficult ta... -
Gardening Starter Guide | Tips for Growing Gardens Getting Started Topics Gardening is a very big topic. This getting started guide will give you some introductory ideas and links to resources on our website and on other websites that we believe will be helpful to you as a new gardener. What’s...
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Tips On How And When To Weed For A Better Garden
Tips On How And When To Weed For A Better Garden By Erica Groneman Weeds. These tiny (and big) living things can cause any gardener grief. What is to be done? Can anything good come of weeds, and how do we get rid of them? You may be surprised that weeds can be beneficial. Weeds can tell you m... -
To Bolt or Not to Bolt . . . How to Prevent it!
To Bolt or Not to Bolt . . . How to Prevent it! By Jordan Freytag Bolting is the event when a plant sets to flowering and starts going to seed early due to heat/sun exposure. It is the plant's last-ditch effort to preserve itself before it dies, most commonly occurring with annuals. Instead of ... -
Tomatillos By Ashleigh Smith Tomatillos are not tomatoes, though they do have similar appearances. To make matters more confusing, other common names tomatillo goes by are the Mexican Husk Tomato and Mexican Tomato. Their main difference in look is the green, papery husk. Like tomatoes, they c...
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Types of Corn Explained! By David Bernal Even though the 4th of July is already behind us and summer is in full swing, there is still plenty of time to get all your favorite varieties of corn planted for a late season harvest. Most varieties of corn are ready to harvest at about 3 months and ca...
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Types of Lettuce and Salad Greens
Types of Lettuce and Salad Greens By Ashleigh Smith Salad Greens are one category of vegetables that everyone has heard of, but rarely understand. When you think of a salad do you simply think of a bowl with some chopped up iceberg or green leaf lettuce? Yeah, I thought that way too until I lea... -
Types Of Peppers To Grow In Your Home Garden Both Hot And Mild
Types Of Peppers To Grow In Your Home Garden Both Hot And Mild By Erica Groneman Peppers are amazing. They can be eaten plain as a snack, in stir fry, soups, stews, chili, salads, enchiladas, omelettes, salsa, as toppings, stuffed--you name it. They can be sweet or burn-your-mouth-off spicy. Th... -
Vegetable Gardening In Small Spaces
Vegetable Gardening In Small Spaces By Erica Groneman Gardening in small spaces might seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. My first home was a little townhome with a tiny backyard consisting of a cement slab and small rectangular plots around it, and a tiny shed on one side. Even in this t... -
Vegetables That Will Grow in the Shade You may find yourself with fluctuating amounts of sunlight throughout your yard for a number of reasons. Don’t worry, you can still have a great summer garden. Shaded areas can actually help you extend your gardening season as it provides cooler temperature...
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Vertical Home Gardening By Ashleigh Smith If you have never tried vertical gardening before, make this your year to try something new. Vertical gardening is a growing method that is becoming more and more popular to make the most out of small growing spaces. Its principles can be used for both ...
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Viola Flowers - Pansy Growing Guide
Viola Flowers - Pansy Growing Guide By Ashleigh Smith About Pansies and Violas The pansy has been a popular flower for use in flower gardens, containers, and culinary purposes for centuries. They were first brought to North America by Europeans in the 1800s, though the popular hybrids we have ... -
Watering Early During the Summer Months will Prevent Mildew
Watering Early During the Summer Months will Prevent Mildew By Jordan Freytag The best time to water is in the morning but, if you water in the afternoon, allow enough time for foliage to dry out before sunset. Why: This reduces the risk of mildew and other fungi attacking leaves. Mildew is no... -
Watermelons - More Than A Fruit
Watermelons - More Than A Fruit By Ashleigh Smith Did you know that watermelons aren’t just a fruit? They are actually vegetables as well, closely related to pumpkins and squash. They are considered fruits not because of their sweet taste, but because they carry their seeds. Botanically they ar... -
Water Wise Gardening By Ashleigh Smith What is water-wise gardening? It is the practice of gardening with materials that can handle increasing temperatures and lower water requirements in response to the continuing strain on water availability. However, water-wise gardening is not the replacem...
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What Are Essential Plant Nutrients And How Are They Used?
What Are Essential Plant Nutrients And How Are They Used? By Ashleigh Smith Did you know that plants require 17 essential nutrients for growth? These Nutrients Are: Macronutrients Carbon (C) - Macronutrients provided by air Hydrogen (H) - Macronutrients provided by water/air Oxygen (O) - Mac... -
What are Hearts of Palm? By Ashleigh Smith You may have heard of a hearts of palm or seen it on a menu, but what is it? Hearts of palm is the vegetable that comes from the butt of some palm trees. You can’t harvest it from every palm, but Coconut, Jucara, Acai, Palmetto, and Peach Palms are the...
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What Are The Best Flowers To Plant In Your Vegetable Garden?
What Are The Best Flowers To Plant In Your Vegetable Garden? By Erica Groneman Increase Fruit and Vegetable Production Did you know that planting flowers in your vegetable garden will help increase fruit and vegetable production? It’s true. Some flowers and vegetables have a symbiotic relation... -
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Using Raised Vegetable Garden Beds?
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Using Raised Vegetable Garden Beds? By Erica Groneman If you’re a home gardener, you’ve probably seen or heard about raised garden beds. What’s the hype? What are the pros and cons of raised beds? What will work best for you? Let’s take a look. First of all, what ... -
What are the USDA Hardiness Zones?
USDA Hardiness Zones What Are The USDA Hardiness Zones? The USDA Hardiness Zone map is a climate survey completed in 2012 compiling the averageminimum extreme temperature in more than 60 cities throughout the country including outlier states Alaska and Puerto Rico. The average extreme minimum... -
What Are Wicking Beds? By Erica Groneman What Is A Wicking Bed? I was recently introduced to a new (to me) kind of garden: wicking beds. Maybe you’ve seen these before, or even have one or two in your garden. Similar to a self-watering pot, wicking beds remind me of how to water microgreens, b...
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What can you compost? By Ashleigh Smith As spring is in full swing it is time to consider how you are going to care for your garden throughout the summer and fall. Once you have your garden planted you are tasked with keeping it happy, healthy, and alive through the rest of the season. To help...
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What Can You Do With Zucchini?
What Can You Do With Zucchini? By Erica Groneman It’s hard to talk about the home garden summer harvest without talking about zucchini. Zucchini is so plentiful, did you know August 8th is National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day? Isn’t that amazing! Zucchini has its own holi... -
What Can You Grow In Shady Areas?
What Can You Grow In Shady Areas? By Erica Groneman All vegetables and herbs need at least some sunlight each day to thrive, but if you have a part of your yard or garden that is shaded part or most of the time by a natural or manmade structure, don’t cast that area off as not cultivable. There... -
What is a Parsnip? By Ashleigh Smith Parsnips tend to be forgotten because many people don’t really know what they are or how they can use them. They are actually a root vegetable very similar to carrots with a white cream color. As a member of the Apiaceae family, they are related to carrots, ...
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What Is Chinese Cabbage vs Chinese Broccoli (Chinese Kale)
What Is Chinese Cabbage vs Chinese Broccoli (Chinese Kale) By Ashleigh Smith You may have noticed that we have added many Asian seed varieties to our inventory. As we have been educating ourselves about these seeds we have learned that things can get pretty fuzzy when it comes to the difference... -
What is Compost? By Ashleigh Smith You've heard it time and time again, add compost to your garden for better soil. But what is it? And why should you be adding it to your garden? Compost is a mixture of once living material that is decomposed by organisms like insects and microbes, enabling t...
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What is in Potting Soil Mix? By Ashleigh Smith Soil is something that appears so uniform yet is made up of many different components. Each year, these different components work together with your seeds to produce your flowers, fruits, and vegetables. But what's in it? And why are there so many ...
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What is Jicama? By Ashleigh Smith What is Jicama, and how can you use it? Jicama is a root vegetable also known as the Mexican potato, Chinese turnip, and Mexican Water Chestnut. This root can be used raw or cooked with crunchy but juicy flesh and a nutty flavor. It is most commonly used in Mex...
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What is Organic Gardening? By Ashleigh Smith Organic, sustainable, and natural are a few words that have been floating around for a while. But, what exactly do they mean when it comes to the home garden? There is a lot being said that we are hoping to clarify to help you garden your way. What ...
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What Secrets Are Mushrooms Hiding?
What Secrets Are Mushrooms Hiding? By Jordan Freytag You may not know it, but mushrooms are keeping secrets from you—a hoard of culinary and nutritional secrets. It’s fairly common knowledge that mushrooms are high in protein, making them a perfect meat substitute, and that they tend to add a r... -
What should I grow in my zone?
Every state has one or multiple agriculture extensions. We work closely with ours at Utah State University, and recommend for the best advice you do the same. Many varieties will grow well in most locations. You'll want to take into account frost dates and general length of growing season. To lo... -
What Types of Soil Are There And How To Amend Soil For Your Garden
What Types of Soil Are There And How To Amend Soil For Your Garden By Erica Groneman Soil type is determined by the dominating characteristic of the soil. These characteristics can be grouped into three main categories: clay, sand, and silt soil. However, most soils are a mix of these three soi... -
What Vegetables Can Be Pickled?
What Vegetables Can Be Pickled? by Chelsea Hafer In the world of culinary artistry, pickling stands as a timeless technique that transforms fresh vegetables into tangy, flavorful treats. From the classic crunch of pickled cucumbers to the zest of pickled beets, a wide array of vegetables can un... -
You should know that seeds are a regulated commodity, we shop for the best rates we can find! Our Germination rates are tested by the State and compliant with our State Germination Laws. We do not categorize seed by harvest date, only germ rate. All paper packets come end of year will be on sale...
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When Are Seedlings Ready To Transplant?
When Are Seedlings Ready To Transplant? By Erica Groneman You can start seeds indoors before you are ready to do your outdoor planting. It is most common to do this in the spring, before the last frost. But, you can also start your seeds indoors during the hot summer months in preparation for a... -
When Should You Start Your Seeds Indoors?
When Should You Start Your Seeds Indoors? By Ashleigh Smith When you first start gardening, it can be tricky to know when you should start seeds indoors and when you should directly sow them outdoors. Today we are giving you a breakdown of what techniques should be used with the most common gar... -
When will you get more seed in ?
Seed becomes available as harvests are completed across the globe. For now you can check back with us in a few weeks in regards to any specific varieties and we can look into whether we have it ordered or have an approximate date of arrival. -
Why Are My Leaves Discolored? By Ashleigh Smith Plants aren’t exactly the easiest things to care for. Just like a child can catch a cold or develop a cough for a number of reasons, plants are also susceptible to a number of problems. Some of the most common include nutrient deficiencies that re...
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Why You Should Add Celery To Your Garden
Why You Should Add Celery To Your Garden By Ashleigh Smith Celery is a long standing staple in the kitchen, but doesn’t seem to be very popular for home gardens. Why is this? Celery can be kind of choosey with its growing conditions. It takes a long cool weather season making it important to st... -
Why You Should Grow Pumpkins! By Erica Groneman Fall is synonymous with Pumpkins. Pumpkin patches, pumpkin fests, pumpkins on the porch, pumpkin pie. October just wouldn’t be the same without these winter squashes. By adding pumpkins to your home garden you’re adding versatility, creativity, c...
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Winter Gardening Checklist by Lara Wadsworth Gardening is a lot of work in the spring, summer, and fall. Planting, tending to, and harvesting a garden are very time-consuming yet rewarding tasks. However, when the fall harvest is over, many people just sit and wait for spring to come. Don’t o...
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Winter Gardening in Zones 7, 8, 9, and 10
Winter Gardening in Zones 7, 8, 9, and 10 By Ashleigh Smith October has arrived, and here in the Intermountain West, we are getting ready to clean our gardens and get ready for winter. But that is not the case for the entire country. If you live in a hardiness zone of 8, 9, 10, or 11, you can s... -
Winter Lettuce: The Other Desert Rose
Winter Lettuce: The Other Desert Rose By David Bernal For many of us who don’t live in Arizona, the southwest border town of Yuma is hardly synonymous with lush river valleys and green horizons of lettuce farms. Less than five minutes from the Mexican border, the desert town of Yuma, Arizona ha... -
Winter Rye - An Outstanding Cover Crop
Winter Rye - An Outstanding Cover Crop by Lara Wadsworth Winter Rye is one of the most commonly planted cover crops in many of the northern states. It holds this title for good reason. The numerous benefits of planting Winter Rye undoubtedly outweigh any potential difficulties. This versatile c... -
Winter Vegetables to Grow By Ashleigh Smith If you live in a hardiness zone of 9, 10, 11, or 12 there is a great chance you are able to grow vegetables throughout the winter season. There are several vegetables that can tolerate frost including varieties of beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cau...
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Year-Round Companion Planting for Organic, Pesticide-Free Gardening
Year-Round Companion Planting for Organic, Pesticide-Free Gardening By David Bernal Just as we understand in the animal kingdom how different, unrelated species will mutually benefit one another, whether intentionally or not, so too does the plant kingdom experience the same caliber of harmony ... -
Your First Garden By Ashleigh Smith This may be your first year gardening, and if it is you may find yourself surprised at all of your seed options. We get it, you may be feeling overwhelmed. The good news is we can help you get a good start. For a first time grower, there are a few plants we w...
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What’s the Best Way to Get Started? 1. Your neighbors! They were once starting out just like you. If they are growing something you want to know about ask! Chances are you can grow it too! 2. Your farm supply and feed store. (IFA or similar) These guys usually grow on a larger scale, but that do...