September can be such a tricky month for gardeners. The weather is changing, the days are getting shorter, and the plants that were thriving in the height of summer might start showing signs of slowing down. But this is also a month full of opportunity! If you prepare your plants properly now, you can set...
Herb Gardening
If you visit a market, you’ll probably see tons of products labeled as ‘organic.’ Everything from pizzas to burritos to bread. But how does all that organic stuff in the grocery store relate to organic gardening?
Truthfully, it doesn’t really. All that stuff, even if it’s organic, is still processed and a far cry from an organic garden.
Organic gardening is a practice that seeks to work with mother nature instead of against her, cultivating a garden ecosystem that bolsters your plants and reduces pest issues naturally.
Organic gardens are nearly always without any kind of synthetic chemical use, be it pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers. Organic gardeners use natural techniques to reduce common problems that gardens experience.
Organic gardeners often plant a diverse array of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. They also use natural solutions, like lady bugs and praying mantises, for getting rid of unwanted insect pests. The objective of a garden shouldn’t be to go scorched earth and destroy all pests, but to reduce their numbers enough that those beings can continue to survive and so can your garden. It’s the natural way to go about growing your own food.
The benefits of organic gardening speak for themselves. When you set up an organic garden, you do a lot of good for the environment and yourself. The fruits and vegetables you grow are healthier for the earth and for you too. And let’s face it, organic produce just seem to taste better than the conventionally grown stuff you find in the store!
The first frost is a turning point in the garden. One day, you’re still enjoying vibrant blooms and baskets of fresh vegetables; the next, tender plants are blackened, and the air smells like winter. That’s why I’ve learned to treat the weeks leading up to frost as precious preparation time. The work you do now...
As summer starts to wind down, it’s tempting to simply enjoy the harvest and ignore what’s happening beneath the surface of your raised beds. But the truth is, this is one of the most important times to invest in them. The care and preparation you give your beds now will not only determine how they...
Late summer is the time when herb gardens truly shine, bursting with fragrant foliage just begging to be snipped and savored. It’s such a bummer when you walk out expecting a bounty only to find limp, sun-scorched stems—so knowing exactly which herbs hit their peak in August makes all the difference! These eleven culinary and...
Late August can feel like a whirlwind in the garden—summer’s heat still lingers, but you can almost taste the promise of cooler days ahead. It’s such a bummer when your once-vibrant herbs start to look a little tired, isn’t it? I know how frustrating it is to see your rosemary’s silvery leaves chalky or your...
When winter’s frost settles in and your tender annuals give up the ghost, it can feel like all life has left the garden. I know how disheartening it is to watch bare beds through snowy months, longing for a hint of greenery! That’s why I’m so excited to share eleven hearty perennial herbs that not...
Getting sick is the worst, especially when you’ve cared for your garden all season! There’s something so empowering about stepping outside and snipping fresh herbs or roots to brew into tea or toss into meals that help keep sniffles at bay. I know how frustrating it is to rely on store-bought supplements—having a living pharmacy...
Late summer’s surge of fragrant herbs can feel overwhelming—one minute you’re harvesting sprigs of basil, oregano, and mint for dinner, the next you’re staring at baskets overflowing with foliage! As a gardener who’s battled wilted herbs and empty spice jars alike, I know that sinking feeling when the season’s bounty slips through your fingers. But...
Late summer’s warmth brings a lush bounty to the herb garden, and there’s nothing more satisfying than knowing your plants are both beautiful and truly useful. If you’ve ever been frustrated watching white-knuckled bugs chew on tender seedlings, take heart—these ten selections thrive in August’s heat and will reward you with potent leaves, flowers, and...
August is the perfect month to get a head start on next year’s garden by propagating plants you love. As daylight begins to shorten and growth slows, many species allocate energy into their roots, making cuttings and divisions especially successful now. I know how frustrating it is to lose a favorite bloom each year—been there!—so...
Fall’s cooler days and cozy kitchens are the perfect backdrop for growing fresh herbs right on your windowsill. Whether you dream of snipping fragrant sprigs for soups, teas, or roasted veggies, these 12 herbs are well-suited to indoor life as daylight wanes. I know how discouraging it can be when outdoor herb beds start to...
Late summer often feels like a gardening crossroads: days are still warm, but plants begin shifting energy from leafy growth toward root development and sometimes even preparing for fall blooms. With soil nutrients often depleted from vigorous spring and early-summer growth, this phase is crucial for replenishing what’s been lost. By adopting targeted fertilizing techniques...