Melons—Cucumis melo—have delighted gardeners since antiquity, with wild ancestors hailing from Africa and Southwest Asia before spreading worldwide! I know how tempting it is to envision crisp cantaloupes and juicy watermelons spilling over your harvest basket, but a few missteps can leave you with underwhelming fruits. Whether you’re a first-time melon enthusiast or a seasoned...

I still remember the first time I bit into a sun-warmed fig fresh off the tree—what a revelation! Yet I also know how heartbreaking it can be to nurture a stately fig tree only to end up with small, scarce fruit. Whether you’re a first-time fig grower or a seasoned arborist, I’m here to share...

Parsnips are one of those classic root vegetables that bring a sweet, nutty twist to soups, roasts, and mash. Native to Eurasia and valued since Roman times, these hardy biennials thrive in cool seasons and develop their signature flavor after a touch of frost. They aren’t invasive, but they do demand specific conditions—deep, loose soil,...

There’s something downright magical about harvesting peaches from your own tree. If you’ve been waiting all season, fussing over pests, battling birds, and keeping your peach tree watered just right, you know the anticipation can be overwhelming. But here’s the tricky part: peaches don’t ripen well after picking like some other fruits do. If you...

Chives are one of those herbs that quietly become essential in the garden. Whether you’re sprinkling them fresh over scrambled eggs or letting their globe-like purple blooms dance in the breeze, a full, bushy patch of chives is a joy to have. But it’s such a disappointment when they come in sparse, floppy, or weak!...

Carrots are one of those crops that seem simple on the surface but can be surprisingly tricky to grow well. If you’ve ever pulled up stubby roots, lost seedlings to weeds, or had your crop demolished by carrot rust flies, you know the struggle is real. That’s exactly why I rely on companion planting to...

Beets are such a rewarding root crop—nutritious, earthy-sweet, and beautiful both above and below ground. But if you’ve ever struggled with stunted roots, tough greens, or persistent leaf miners, you’re not alone. Companion planting has completely transformed the way I grow beets. With the right allies around them, they grow bigger, taste better, and suffer...

Spinach is such a rewarding crop to grow—fast, nutritious, and so incredibly versatile in the kitchen—but it can also be finicky. If your spinach has ever bolted too soon, been riddled with leaf miners, or struggled in poor soil, you’re not alone. One of the best ways to give it a boost is by surrounding...

There’s something magical about the first bite into a sun-warmed peach from your own tree. When the juice drips down your chin and the sweetness fills your senses—it’s like summer itself grew right in your backyard. But let’s be honest: growing perfect peaches can be frustrating without the right know-how. If you’ve struggled with tiny...

There’s nothing quite like the moment you pluck a perfectly ripe orange from your own tree—still warm from the sun, glowing golden, and brimming with juice. But let’s be honest, growing sweet, plump oranges can be a bit tricky if you’re not giving them exactly what they need. I’ve had years where my oranges were...

Radishes are some of the speediest crops in the garden—quick to grow, satisfying to harvest, and fantastic for improving the soil in tight planting schedules. But despite how easy they are to grow, radishes can still fall prey to pests like flea beetles and root maggots. They also tend to do best when planted alongside...

Raspberries are such a joy to grow, but like many plants, they really thrive when they’ve got the right companions. Whether you’re dealing with pest issues, hoping to boost pollination, or just looking to improve soil health, certain plants can make a world of difference. I remember when I first started growing raspberries—I thought sunlight...