December is the quietest month in the garden, a time for reflection, planning, and protecting what you have. In most zones, growth slows dramatically, frost is likely, and sowing is limited. But in mild climates, winter greens can still be planted, and soil preparation now will give you a head start in spring. This month…
Rutabaga is a cool-weather crop. Sow rutabaga seed in late winter or very early spring for an early summer harvest. Direct sow seed in the garden 16 to 10 weeks before the last frost in spring. In warm regions, it’s best to sow rutabaga in mid-summer for a fall and winter harvest and use. Plant…
Sweet potatoes are a warm-weather crop. They require a long, hot growing season. Sweet potatoes are grown from rooted cuttings, called “slips” or “draws”. Slips are best started indoors from sweet potato tubers. Slips stated indoors take about 12 weeks to reach transplant size. Transplant sweet potato slips into the garden after all danger of…
Seed catalogs and seed packets often list short codes after a variety name—such as V, F1, or PM. These codes tell you what diseases the variety can tolerate, resist, or avoid. Understanding them helps you choose crops that will thrive in a regenerative garden with fewer inputs and better long-term health. What “Resistance” Really Means…
November is the month when the garden settles into winter mode. In most regions, planting slows or stops altogether, and the focus turns to protecting crops, caring for soil, and harvesting what remains. In mild climates, however, November is still an active planting window for cool-season vegetables that will mature through winter and early spring….
Starting vegetables from seed is one of the most rewarding and cost-effective ways to grow a productive garden. With the right timing, tools, and know-how, you can raise strong, healthy seedlings indoors or sow directly outdoors for vigorous plants all season long. After more than 30 years of starting seeds year-round in Sonoma Valley—indoors under…
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