How To Grow a Tomato in a Container

Tomato in simple container

I love eating tomatoes from the summer garden, but it took me awhile to come around. I used to HATE raw tomatoes. Blech! I pushed the bland, watery wedges to the edge of my salads and peeled the red, round slices off hamburgers. I just didn’t get it. Then, I grew my own tomatoes…

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Gardening Tasks To Do in May

Spring is here, flowers are blooming, and it’s time to plant veggies! To help you enjoy your garden more than ever this year, here are reminders and recommendations for May garden tasks​.

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Gardening Tasks To Do in April

The joy of seeds sprouting in trays and garden beds. The colors popping from tulips and redbuds and cherries. The vibrant green of tiny tree leaves. The return of butterflies and bees. Spring is here and our gardens are full of potential. Here are reminders and suggestions for April garden tasks.

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How to Start an Easy Potato Bed

When we see the yellow of dandelions and daffodils, it’s almost time to start potatoes. (That’s about St. Patrick’s Day in Western North Carolina’s Zone 7.) We needed a quick way to plant that was easy enough for kids to help.

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Gardening Tasks To Do in March

March Madness is here!   Trees are budding, birds are singing, and signs of new life are everywhere — that means it’s game time for gardeners.  We’ll be focused on soil and bed prep, planting cool-season crops, and setting up areas to nurture wildlife visitors this month. What tasks and “get-to-do’s” top your list this…

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7 Favorites for Spring Planting (and Eating!)

Colby and boys planting in early spring

“Plant as soon as the soil can be worked.” Reading instructions on a seed packet, these words make me smile in late winter and early spring. When we get sunny weekends, I can hardly wait to get out into the garden. If you’ve still got frosts ahead, but you have the same itch to plant something…

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Get a Preview of Spring by Forcing Blooms Indoors

Tired of winter? Bring in cuttings from your favorite spring-blooming shrubs and trees and enjoy watching the flowers unfurl. Here’s how to get an exclusive preview of the coming season. (Prefer to read? Scroll down for the “how to” and list of plants you can try.) Just a few days ago, these beautiful forsythia blooms…

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Gardening Tasks To Do in February

Relish a few more restful weeks and turn your garden daydreams into a concrete plan. Feeling tempted to plant seeds early so the fresh new green can chase away the winter blues? You’ll find a couple resources for setting up a growing area and deciding when to plant. Plus you’ll find reminders for tasks best…

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