Summer is the season for gardening, and it’s also the time to read the best new gardening books. There’s something delightful about finding a comfortable spot outdoors and reading a great book. It’s one of the joys that makes summer special. This year we have a bountiful crop of great new gardening books for summer reading. So, pour a cold glass of lemonade, pull up a chair and get lost in the best new gardening books this summer. Mini Meadows: Grow a Little Patch of Colorful Flowers Anywhere around Your Yard What makes a book one of the best new gardening books for summer reading? In Mini Meadows by Mike Lizotte, it’s taking a familiar topic and putting a completely new spin on it. Mike Lizotte wants you to rethink what a meadow is. Most people hear the word meadow and picture a large, grassy expanse of land sprinkled with wildflowers. That’s one kind of meadow, to be sure. But according to Lizotte, a meadow can be any size of flower garden that is informal in … [Read more...] about Best New Gardening Books for Summer Reading
Top 10 Vegetables for Container Gardening
Container gardens can be an oasis of beauty on a deck, balcony or patio. Even container vegetable gardens can be beautiful. But most gardeners who grow vegetables in containers don’t do it for the beauty. They’re in it for the tasty vine-ripened tomatoes, the spicy hot peppers, the crunchy radishes and the tender salad greens. If you’ve never tried container gardening before, you’re missing out on a great way to learn about gardening. And if you have grown vegetables in containers, you might be surprised at the new varieties of veggies that have recently been introduced with container gardening in mind. Whether you are a newbie to gardening or a Master Gardener, now is a great time to grow a container garden full of edible plants. My list of the Top 10 Container Garden Vegetables is below, along with descriptions, photos and a link to where you can buy the seeds. If you want to read more about container gardening, read Tips for Growing Successful Container Gardens. Start … [Read more...] about Top 10 Vegetables for Container Gardening
Easy-to-Grow Houseplants for Beginners
Easy-to grow-houseplants are more popular than ever. Even people who have never grown plants are adding houseplants to their indoor spaces. These new houseplant growers would never call themselves “gardeners,” yet they are going crazy over indoor plants. Why are easy-to-grow houseplants trending? Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, whose website at TheHouseplantGuru.com is a great source of information and inspiration about indoor plants, says houseplants nourish the body and the soul. “So many studies have been done that show the benefits houseplants have in the home and the workplace,” said Steinkopf. “Plants clean the air, they make people feel happier and actually lower their blood pressure. In office environments, plants also reduce the occurrence of sick days. What more could we ask for?” Expert Advice on Easy-to-Grow Houseplants Lisa Eldred Steinkopf (Twitter handle: @TheHouseplantGuru) says that anyone can successfully grow houseplants. “Growing a plant successfully is … [Read more...] about Easy-to-Grow Houseplants for Beginners
New Plants and Garden Products Win 2019 Green Thumb Awards
Six of the best new ornamental plants, garden products and edible plants have won 2019 Green Thumb Awards presented by the Direct Gardening Association (DirectGardeningAssociation.com). Honored in the Ornamental Seeds, Bulbs and Plants division were: Illuminati Tiny Tower Mock Orange from Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs. Peppy Le Pom Ornamental Pomegranate from Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs. Honored in the Gardening Tools and Accessories division were: Vertex Lifetime Tomato Cage from Gardener’s Supply Co. Bamboo Home LED Grow Light Garden from Gardener’s Supply Co. Honored in the Edible Plants division were: Wood Prairie Organic Colossal Potato Collection from Wood Prairie Family Farm. Tomato Purple Boy Hybrid from Park Seed. Winners of the 2019 Green Thumb Awards were chosen by an independent panel of garden writers and editors. The winning products were selected based on their uniqueness, technological innovation, ability to … [Read more...] about New Plants and Garden Products Win 2019 Green Thumb Awards
Great Summer Zucchini Recipes (Part 1)
What do you do with all the zucchini ripening in your garden? That’s a good question for backyard gardeners every summer. So the editors at Home, Garden and Homestead are on a quest to find the greatest, tastiest, and easiest recipes that use those delectable green zucchini squash that keep coming and coming. Zucchini is a popular backyard vegetable for many reasons. It’s easy to grow—even for beginners. Most insect pests (except maybe squash bugs) leave the hardy plants alone. And once the plants get into full production mode, the dark green fruits grow quickly and prolifically. That’s why you have to be ready with some go-to recipes to put all the zucchini from your garden to good use. Here’s the first zucchini recipe in a continuing series. This hearty zucchini and pasta dinner has been a favorite in my family for years. Italian Zucchini Pasta Ingredients 4-5 fresh zucchini, sliced 1 can (15 ounces) stewed or diced tomatoes 1-2 fresh tomatoes, diced 1 … [Read more...] about Great Summer Zucchini Recipes (Part 1)
