Iowa hardiness zone map
Part of successfully growing a garden is knowing your USDA hardiness planting zone. USDA plant hardiness zones are the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at any given location. Some plants are able to survive outside of their hardiness zone, but can only survive for one...
Part of successfully growing a garden is knowing your USDA hardiness planting zone. USDA plant hardiness zones are the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at any given location. Some plants are able to survive outside of their hardiness zone, but can only survive for one...
Part of successfully growing a garden is knowing your USDA hardiness planting zone. USDA plant hardiness zones are the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at any given location. Some plants are able to survive outside of their hardiness zone, but can only survive for one...
Backyard chicken keeping is an increasingly popular hobby that is experiencing a resurgence, and along with it is backyard duck keeping. More and more cities are rolling back ordinances that prevent keeping ducks on your property, leading to an uptick in interest. There are numerous types of ducks to choose from. One of those breeds...
Hatching eggs in an incubator at home is one of the most addictive parts of the backyard farming hobby. There are few things more satisfying than watching new life spring forth from the eggs you’ve been carefully incubating for weeks. One type of bird you can hatch and raise yourself is emus. Emus are an...
The Siberian Wallflower’s beautiful orange, nectar-rich flowers are a vital spring source of food for butterflies and bees. It is a compact plant that grows just 10-18″ tall, making it ideal for a massed planting or floral border where it won’t be overshadowed by larger plants. Combine it with other brightly colored flowers in blue,...
Since the Blue porterweed is a low-growing native of South Florida that produces little blue blooms almost all year, it is a good choice for enticing pollinators. It’s also an excellent groundcover. Blue porterweed is a short, spreading shrub with a delicate appearance. However, some may be surprised that this natural plant of the tropical...
Verbena brasiliensis, sometimes known as Brazilian Verbena or Brazilian vervain, is a flowering plant in the vervain family (Verbenaceae). Annual Verbenas have vibrant, powerful, and flexible blooms. They are ideal for spicing up the summer garden. It blooms all season, with small clusters full of brilliantly colored flowers. Verbena looks as beautiful in home garden...
Cosmos are freely blooming annuals that may be grown by spreading some seeds in the garden after any frost threat has gone. This traditional cottage garden blooms mature in around two months. Cosmos may take longer to germinate, but it blooms immediately and continues to flower into the fall. All summer, the flowers perch atop...
Growing potatoes is a cinch, really. It is not hard to get a perfect crop of potatoes every time if you know how to grow them and when to dig them up. Harvesting potatoes can be a little bit tricky, though. Knowing exactly when to harvest potatoes can mean the difference between underdeveloped potatoes or...
The blossoms of May Night Salvia are recognized for their vibrant color. They are also prized for attracting a variety of colorful fauna to the area. May Night Salvia is only one of many plants in the fascinating genus that has something unique to offer growers with a wide range of preferences. In 1997, it...
