Best of all, they’re easy to grow at any time of year, so they’re perfect whether you want greens in a hurry or are starved for something homegrown in the cold months. Alfalfa, Medicago sativa, is an open-pollinated heirloom legume also known as “lucerne.” It’s an impressive cover and forage crop, but it’s important to remember that the fall-planted alfalfa that nurtures your soil or provides mulch for the veggie garden is nothing you’d want to eat....

In this guide, we’ll show you everything you need to know to grow your own American holly at home. Ilex opaca When you think of your favorite winter holiday decorations, do you imagine glossy, pointy holly with bright red berries? I know I do. And if you’ve ever wondered if you could grow this festive shrub at home, I’m here to tell you that you absolutely can. American holly, or Ilex opaca, adds a bright pop of color to your yard or garden in the wintertime – and you can take clippings from it to decorate your home for the holidays....

Whether you fancy heirloom beefsteaks for burger season, bite-sized cherries for snacking, or piquant paste varieties for canning and sauces, they’re all well-adapted to cultivation in pots. Do you have a hankering for the taste of homegrown tomatoes, but lack the real estate for a garden plot? Well, there’s no need for despair. You can have your own tasty crop without the back forty, because technically, a garden isn’t even necessary!...

In this guide, you will learn to manage pests and diseases that are common to the caraway plant by taking preventative measures, recognizing signs of trouble, and controlling an infestation or infection. Caraway, Carum carvi, is an aromatic herb best known for bearing the fruit, or seed, that flavors classic rye bread. Caraway is also easy to grow and is a great addition to the kitchen garden. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

You’ll notice many of the topics covered below tackle full categories of insects rather than a specific species, and that’s because a wide variety of them are happy to make a snack out of these bold beauties. Dahlias have got to be one of the most stunning types of flowers out there. Okay, I might say that about most flowers, but dahlias are special. With row upon row of soft, rounded petals sporting rich colors that emerge from bright green foliage, they’re gorgeous....

Hardy, beautiful and adaptable, ferns are great houseplants that add a lot of appeal indoors. Here’s all you need to know on How to Keep your Ferns Lush and Beautiful! Check out our article on the right fern plant care here How to Keep your Ferns Lush and Beautiful 1. Choose a Right Spot For keeping ferns lush and green, planting location also plays an integral role. Keep the plant away from full sun exposure as it can wither foliage and result in scorched leaves....

While most of the plants absorb carbon dioxide during the daytime, there are some Indoor Plants that Absorb CO2 at Night too! Surprised? Have a look at the best ones you can grow. Check out our article on the most oxygen-producing houseplants here Plants that Absorb CO2 at Night Generally, plants consume CO2 and release oxygen during the day, known as Photosynthesis, and absorb oxygen and emit CO2 during the night that is known as Respiration....

Are you looking for a new garden tote to hold all of your hand gear? One that has the ability to house those odd-sized blades and long-handled tools? And the quality to last more than a single season? Then you’ve come to the right place! We’ve sifted through the many available options online to find those that offer only the best in design, materials, and construction. There’s a Difference in Quality?...

In this article, we’re going to be unlocking the secrets of how and when to harvest arugula, so that you get the tastiest homegrown greens possible for use in salads and other dishes. With regrets to all the lettuce lovers out there, I must proclaim that there is no better base for a salad than freshly grown arugula. I planted the leafy green in my vegetable garden last summer and was surprised by how quickly and easily it grew....

One of the most commonly grown kitchen herbs, it’s a favorite ingredient in recipes ranging from baked goods to savory dishes and smoothies. And of course, it’s renowned as a pretty and practical garnish! Petroselinum crispum Wouldn’t you love to add the flavor of garden-fresh herbs to your hearty cold-weather dishes? Well, there’s no need to rue(!) the arrival of cold weather, because a few of our favorite kitchen seasonings, like parsley, are cold hardy and continue to grow year-round....

Armed with some knowledge about this strange creature, I removed the pot from the plant and scouted the soil, finding pockets of round white eggs around the roots. Otiorhynchus spp. As I waded through bright-leaved hydrangeas that were taller than I was, I came face to face with a plant covered in leaves notched with half-moon chew marks. I dove in, inspecting the foliage for clues about who had caused the damage....

Many wild species and cultivars such as ‘Moonbeam,’ ‘Sun Up,’ and ‘Zagreg’ are suitable for cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9, while newer, more colorful cultivars don’t survive those Zone 4 and 5 winters and are hardy in Zones 6-9. Bright and dainty yet boldly toothed, coreopsis flowers aka tickseed, are a lot prettier than their name suggests. The blooms are so cheerful that the Sunshine State, Florida, designated all Coreopsis species, both annual and perennial, as the state wildflower....

It was brought home to me one afternoon as I looked out my bedroom window to see if I could find any flower buds on my Magnolia campbellii that bloomed so heavily last year. I saw no newer buds but I did notice some of my other plants were taking up much more space than they should and some were getting shaggy. Pruning ornamental shrubs and trees calls for all of the same tools that are used for roses and fruit trees, plus a good pair of hedge shears....

A rare and unique combination of black and white flowers can lift gardens or homes with their dazzling effects. If you want a splash of ruffled magic and grace in your garden, pick your favorite black and white flowers from the given list! While some of the plants have black and white flowers, some carry a dark shade of purple or blue, which makes them appear as black from a distance....

Sleeping with the best mattress is vital for your well-being. You can even relieve aches and pains with the right mattress, waking up happier and healthier thanks to a good night’s sleep. Traditional innerspring mattresses use a steel coil support system with natural or man-made fillings and covers. The greater the number of coils, the more points of support and the better the bed can contour and support the sleeper, usually described as springy Foam mattresses, including polyurethane, memory, or gel foam, usually contour to the body, isolate motion and offer different comfort, feel and heat dissipation features....

What is a Baobab Tree? Baobab is a low maintenance tree and regarded as world’s largest succulent. It can also be grown in pot, baobab bonsai is famous and is particularly well suited for beginners and if you have a large backyard, you can grow it outside. The baobab tree flourishes on poor soils, tolerates heat and has the ability to store large amounts of water, to survive in drought....

Once you figure things out, you’ll be rewarded with what I think is one of the most stunning palms out there. Caryota mitis If you’ve ever been mesmerized by the gently flowing tail of a fish underwater, you’ll love fishtail palms. They have large leaves with a shape reminiscent of the graceful caudal fin of a goldfish or betta fish. But before you rush out and buy one, I’m going to level with you....

It has an elegant bush-like growth pattern that stands out in the garden, and when you brush the leaves, they release their pungent, spicy aroma. Murraya koenigii Have you ever dug into a bowlful of yellow dal from your favorite restaurant and marveled at that subtle, citrusy flavor that maybe you couldn’t quite place? Want to make that herbaceous deliciousness a part of your personal culinary repertoire? Then you should consider growing your own curry leaf tree at home....

The real deal is a combination of soft and exfoliating, with the ability to absorb just enough water and soap to get a good lather going! Luffa aegyptiaca and Luffa acutangular When I was a young girl, we didn’t use washcloths with our baths or showers. We did not have the puffy, plastic mesh scrubbies sold at dollar stores today. We used a loofah sponge, and it wasn’t until I was a grownup that I realized we grew these in our backyard garden!...

This year, arm yourself against these marauding menaces with the knowledge of what to look for, how to prevent them from attacking, and what to do if you find pests on your plants. Broccoli is a satisfying plant to grow. While zucchini is prolific and leafy greens don’t take much effort, broccoli makes you work for it. But when you get it right, you’re rewarded with big, beautiful heads that taste all the better for having grown them yourself....