Table of Contents Today we’re profiling a new type of LED light to come on the market from The Green Sunshine Company. The owner, Dan, reached out to me and we got on the phone to talk about the tech. He actually helped me understand plant biology and lighting at a deeper level, which prompted me to write this piece today. He even showed me some interesting results in his HPS vs....
People have been growing collard greens for centuries on every continent. They are known as a staple in the US south. Tour any kitchen garden in the south, and you’ll find collard greens growing there. They are delectable, just as much as their vegetable counterpart kale, which has gained popularity in the US in recent years. Table of Contents It’s a wonder they’re so popular because they tend to attract a lot of pests....
Do you have a passion for tropical treats and funky flowers? If so, then passion fruit vine is the perfect choice for you! This is a fast-growing climber that will add intrigue to your garden and flavor to your dinner table. Passionfruit vines are not for the faint of heart. These are vigorous plants that will climb to the treetops and explode in colorful blossoms and plentiful fruit. Even though they’re easy to grow, these plants need lots of water, nutrients, and pruning....
Lettuce is the crop of choice for both experienced and beginner garden enthusiasts. A quick-growing plant that can be eaten during almost any of its life stages, and available in hundreds of varieties, this vegetable is everywhere! But just like any other plant, lettuce goes through a life cycle. It starts as a seed, developing leaves, putting out a flower stalk to get pollinated, and then producing seed and dying. This natural process can mystify some, until now....
Table of Contents If you’re like me, storing seeds is a necessity. You may have particular flowers that you grow every year like geraniums, or a favorite kind of kale or watermelon that you love the taste of. But knowing how to store seeds is incredibly important, as poorly-stored seeds won’t germinate. No matter if the seeds are large or small, these seed storage tips will help you keep your seeds viable for long periods of time....
Looking for the perfect plant to provide a new shade of beauty in each season? Look no further than kaleidoscope abelia. Table of Contents This particular cultivar of Abelia x grandifolia is a true delight. Each season its foliage shifts and changes to a new vibrant hue. From late spring into the fall, it’s awash in flowers. And best of all, it can tolerate compact spaces as well as open beds!...
If you’re like me, you’ve spent hours upon hours raking your yard. Raking leaves is a combination of proper technique and the right equipment…and for a while, I didn’t have the right equipment. Table of Contents This article explores what you need to know about raking leaves: the proper leaf raking techniques along with the best types of leaf and garden rakes. If you just want those recommendations, here they are:...
Here are a selection of plants that are simple to grow in your garden that can be beneficial to your health and prove just as useful as the synthetic products most of us tend to stock in our medicine cabinets: Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) Chamomile looks pretty in the garden, tastes mild but pleasant when utilised in teas, can be enjoyed by both adults and children alike, and has a myriad of health benefits....
With such a wide array of options to choose from, and only small differences in how they look, it’s tempting to just purchase the cheapest garden hose you can find. Table of Contents However, garden hoses have many small differences that have a huge impact on how easy the hose will be to use and how long it is going to last. The best garden hoses on the market will last for five to 10 years....
To me, greenhouses have always been a sign of a committed gardener. After all, they’re designed to squeeze more growing time out of the year. However, greenhouses usually take up a lot of precious gardening space (and money!). But, what if I told you that you can build greenhouses right on top of your raised beds? With a raised bed greenhouse, you’ll get an extended growing season and happier crops while also saving space!...
Senecio serpens is a popular filler plant that jazzes up any garden. The cylindrical leaves are dusted with blue-grey “chalk,” ergo the name Chalksticks. They stick straight up in the air while the plant grows wide. It practically gives the appearance of a sparse shag rug. Table of Contents Originally from South Africa, Chalksticks is easy to grow and maintain. With the steps we outline below, your succulent will be flourishing in no time....
Hummingbirds are wonderful garden-dwellers. Not only are they adorably cute with their super-fast blur of wings and tiny bodies, but they can be great pollinators. Often, we want to encourage them to stay by buying the best hummingbird feeder we can find and providing extra food. Table of Contents But what really works to draw hummingbirds? Do you know where to place a hummingbird feeder for the best chance of drawing birds?...
As gardeners, we all would adore there to be a quick-fix methodology for keeping our plants happy. Some turn to the contents of their home to try to do that, and one thing most of us have in the house is aspirin. After all, aspirin helps us; won’t aspirin for plants help your plants, too? Table of Contents While there’s still a lot of studies required to determine if it’s actually viable, early information seems to indicate that yes, there’s some validity to this claim....
Jelly Beans. Pork and Beans. What sounds like a delicious meal plus dessert is actually a succulent! Sedum rubrotinctum is a lively plant that requires little more care than a rock. It’s perfect for neglectful gardeners. Table of Contents Sedum rubrotinctum’s leaves resemble beans – jelly or otherwise. These plump beans are green, but turn red on the tips when given full sun. The red tips are actually a sign of minor stress....
Once you’ve made your cuttings, planted them, and watered them, they need to go under lighting. I like to use a 4′ T5 fluorescent light setup so I can control how much light they get and for how long, but you can also grow outdoors if you like – it’ll just be less consistent. To make sure your cuttings will root properly, you need to control the temperature in the bottom of your container....
Growing your own alfalfa is an easy and fun project. Alfalfa hay is ideal for livestock, and you can provide rotational grazing in the fields throughout the year. Most of us know about alfalfa sprouts, which are yummy and nutritious, but we rarely think about growing alfalfa as a cover crop or to provide nutrients to the dirt, or as fodder for cattle, horses, and sheep. Table of Contents The purple blooms on this plant are well-loved by pollinators and alfalfa tea is popular with many folks because of its high vitamin content....
Do you enjoy growing tropical plants? Maybe you’ve never grown tropicals but you’d like to try. The jackfruit tree could be your first foray. This fruit tree from Southeast Asia is widely cultivated for its plentiful fruits and sturdy wood. With the right conditions, you can grow jackfruit too! Table of Contents The jackfruit is the national fruit of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It’s also a state fruit in several countries in tropical Asia....
Potatoes are a staple food in many places around the world. This starchy tuber can be fried, mashed, baked, roasted, or grilled to create various dishes. Potatoes are highly recommended if you’re growing your own food because they’re easy to grow and store over winter. Fortunately for gardeners, there are many potato companion plants that are good to grow with potatoes that will help make your experience more enjoyable. Table of Contents...
Coco coir is an increasingly popular type of hydroponic growing medium — and for good reason. There are a whole host of benefits to growing with coconut coir that you can and should take advantage of if you’re new to hydroponics. Table of Contents There isn’t a good, comprehensive guide to coconut coir out there… until now. In this guide, you’ll get just about everything you need to know about coco coir: what it is, its pros and cons, and the best brands to use....
Also known as Chinese parsley or Coriandrum sativum, cilantro is one of the most widely used herbs in the world. Fresh and zesty, cilantro can add a punch of flavor to your recipes. It is used abundantly in Mexican, Middle Eastern, Indian, Mediterranean, Chinese, African, and even Scandinavian cuisines. It’s even grown as cilantro microgreens! Table of Contents Most people prefer using fresh cilantro as the herb itself does not have a very long shelf life, and it loses flavor and aroma when dried....
