When Martha Stewart needs advice about how to grow edible houseplants and potted fruit trees, she visits Logee’s Greenhouses in Danielson, Connecticut. The owners of Logee’s, Byron Martin and Laurelynn Martin, are experts on how to grow all kinds of fruiting, tropical, and rare plants. Their latest book, Edible Houseplants, is a guide to growing 46 edible and fruit-bearing plants inside a home, a greenhouse, or on a sunny patio. The plants featured in the book include citrus trees such as lemon, lime, and grapefruit. They also include advice on growing mangos, bananas, figs, guavas, vanilla vine, black pepper plant, and much more. The book contains colorful photos of each type of plant, along with complete guidelines for growing the plants. “Because of the Martins, I now grow my own oranges, lemons, grapefruits, limes, carambolas, coffee beans, calamondins, papayas, vanilla, passion fruit, figs, and guavas,” said home maven Martha Stewart. “I rely on them for advice about the … [Read more...] about Grow Edible Houseplants and Potted Fruit Trees
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Eat Your Weeds
Common weeds that are good to eat include purslane, lambsquarter, dandelion, wild amaranth., and plantain. Our gardens are at their biggest and best in summer. Unfortunately, that’s the case with our weeds too. Most gardeners will rip these weeds out of the ground and into the trash can as soon as they see them, but consider this: some of those weeds might secretly be a delicious superfood! And harvesting them for food means less waste, less work, and a more eco-friendly garden. It used to be common to eat many of these weeds, but the knowledge was lost in the past couple generations. Today, “urban foraging” is making a comeback, as more savvy gardeners come to realize the waste of perfectly good food. Common Weeds that are Good to Eat You might be surprised at how many of those weeds infiltrating your garden beds are edible. These are some very common edible weeds that you probably have in your garden right now, and all of them put spinach to shame with their … [Read more...] about Eat Your Weeds
How to Grow Swiss Chard
Grow Swiss chard in your garden and enjoy fresh greens throughout the summer. Swiss chard is a versatile and nutritious vegetable that can be grown easily in a home garden. With its colorful stems and large, tender leaves, Swiss chard is a delicious and beautiful addition to any garden. This versatile plant can be used in a variety of dishes, including salads, soups, and stir-fries. Here are some tips on how to grow Swiss chard, along with descriptions of some popular varieties. Grow Swiss Chard: Introduction Swiss chard can be grown in most regions and is best planted in the spring or fall. It prefers well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Swiss chard can be grown in full sun or partial shade, but it does best with at least six hours of sunlight per day. To plant Swiss chard, sow seeds directly into the soil, about ½ inch deep and 2-3 inches apart. Cover the seeds with soil and water gently. Swiss chard seeds usually germinate within 7-14 days, depending on … [Read more...] about How to Grow Swiss Chard
Backyard Retreat: How to Choose the Right Plants
A backyard retreat is a special place where you can relax and escape the stress of the day. One of the best ways to create a backyard retreat is to choose the right plants. One of the most effective ways for many people to relax and find their happy place is by gardening. Growing herbs and vegetables has many therapeutic benefits that can help you find your center, recharge, and feel better. Few things can be as relaxing and tranquil as gardening. Growing plants and being surrounded by plants helps one practice patience and enjoy the moment. Gardening doesn't require a lot of space to have an impact. A small garden space, a back deck or a balcony makes a great backyard retreat. You can get the benefits of having a relaxing and tranquil garden almost anywhere. Planting and growing herbs, like the ones listed below, will get your new garden off to a good start. Editor’s Note: This story is a companion piece to Create a Stress Reducing Outdoor Retreat. So please read that story, … [Read more...] about Backyard Retreat: How to Choose the Right Plants
Grow Glass Gem Corn for a Colorful Harvest
Want to grow Glass Gem Corn? If you are looking for the most colorful corn variety of all time, Glass Gem Corn is it. What exactly is Glass Gem Corn? Think of it as Indian corn on steroids. Or LSD. Or both. But it grows like other common corn varieties. So, if you’ve grown yellow corn or sweet corn or white corn, you can grow Glass Gem Corn. (Don’t worry, I will give you some basic tips about how to grow corn below.) Why grow colorful Glass Gem Corn seeds? Well, the dried kernels make great popcorn. You can grind the kernels into a multi-colored cornmeal. Or you can grow it for a showy fall decoration. (The kernels are simply too hard to eat them off the cob.) How Glass Gem Corn was Born We wouldn’t have glass gem corn today if it weren’t for the efforts of two men—Carl Barnes and Greg Schoen. So, my hat is off for both gentlemen and their love for colorful corn. Carl Barnes, a part-Cherokee farmer in Oklahoma, began gathering heirloom corn seed varieties as an homage … [Read more...] about Grow Glass Gem Corn for a Colorful Harvest
