Beets are a cool-weather crop. Beets can again be planted 2 to 3 weeks before the last average frost date in spring or in late summer or early autumn 6 to 8 weeks before the first average frost in autumn. Beets can be grown as a winter crop in mild-winter regions. Beets are biennial plants […] More
Carrots are among the easiest garden vegetables to grow—and the most bountiful–given the right conditions. Carrot culture is very simple. Sow the seeds rather thickly and thin the plants to 3 to 4 inches apart. If the soil is nutrient-rich and loose, there will be no trouble with root development. Remember, young, tender, quick-growing carrots […] More
Kohlrabi is grown for its swollen base which is actually the plant’s stem. The globe-shaped base develops above the ground. Kohlrabi is a good choice for gardens that don’t have deep soils. Kohlrabi is a hardy biennial grown as an annual. Both the globe base and leaves can be eaten. Kohlrabi is a hardy biennial […] More
Swiss chard is a member of the beet family grown for its rosette of large, crinkly green leaves on thick red, white, or rainbow stalks. Plants can grow to 16 inches tall and leaves and stalks can be harvested several times over the course of a season on a cut-and-come-again schedule. Swiss chard can be […] More
You can grow carrots just about any time of the year in raised beds or containers—even in winter with the protection of a plastic tunnel. Carrots are easy to grow; just give them loose, rich soil free of clods and stones and a soil temperature anywhere between 45° and 85°F. Short and finger-size carrots that […] More
Chinese cabbage is a large group of cabbages that can be divided into two categories–heading and non-heading leafy greens. The heading types include Napa cabbage–also called Hakusai, Michili, celery cabbage, and Pe Tsai. The non-heading types include Bok Choy (also called Pac Choi or Pak Choi) and Mei Qing Choi (sometimes called Baby Bok Choy). […] More
Garlic scapes are a culinary treasure and a gardener’s delight, offering a unique flavor and texture that can elevate countless dishes. If you’re new to gardening or have spotted these intriguing green shoots at your local farmers’ market, this guide will help you understand what garlic scapes are, how they grow, when to harvest them, […] More
Reseda–commonly called mignonette–is a sprawling annual usually grown for its spicy-sweet flower fragrance. Mignonette bears small greenish flowers often tinged with copper or yellow. The dense flower spikes become loose and open as they mature. Reseda odorata is a good choice for borders where it can be planted in a mass to get the full […] More
Kochia–commonly called summer cypress or burning bush–is a summer annual grown for its feathery, soft, dense foliage. It is often grown as an accent in a bed or border or as a quick-growing summer hedge. Kochia is bright green when young and through the summer; it turns red as it matures and can be bright […] More
Lisianthus, botanical name Eustoma, produces broad, bell-shaped, satin-textured flowers in shades of blue, rose, pink, purple, and white. Flowers appear in summer on long stalks either singly or in clusters above oblong gray-green leaves. Flowers appear singly or in clusters; they gradually open from slender, furled buds. Flowers appear gray-green foliage in summer and are […] More
Matthiola–commonly called stock–is a short-lived perennial or annual with dense pastel-shaded racemes of four-petaled flowers that are clove-scented from late spring into summer. Matthiola has gray-green lance or lobe-shaped leaves. It is a good choice for beds or cottage gardens. Matthiola grows in full sun to light shade in average to rich, well-drained soil. Matthiola […] More
Tithonia–commonly called Mexican sunflower–produces large, long-stemmed, mostly solitary orange or orange-red flowerheads from late summer to autumn. Deeply veined dark green leaves with serrated edges are hairy on the underside. Tithonia can withstand hot weather and is well suited for hot summer regions and desert gardens. Tithonia can be planted adding height to a mixed […] More
Stephen Albert