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The risks of waiting too long to harvest garden vegetables

We sowed. We planted. We watered, watched and waited. And now, beanstalks are reaching for the heavens, tomatoes are getting plump and zucchini are seemingly doubling in size overnight. Timing their harvests is a balancing act, and in many cases you, as gardener, are forced to choose between ...

How to protect your roses from black spot disease

Few garden plants attract as much admiration as roses. They're as beautiful in the garden as they are in a vase, and their flowers are almost universally a symbol of love. Unfortunately, they don't always grow without challenges. Wilting, infestations and infections are not uncommon. And none ...

A soothing cup of herbal tea can begin in your garden

Drink a fragrant cup of herbal tea, and the intoxicating scent of steeped herbs might calm your mind before you even take a sip. Even better is when they come from your own backyard herb garden. Mine includes several ingredients for my daily cup, and they're all easy to grow and ...

5 tomato superstars for a mouthwatering summer harvest

Tomato time is my favorite time. In spring, the anticipation of slicing into a juicy, meaty ball of perfection has me planting more than I should. By midsummer, plumping tomatoes on fragrant vines motivate me. And in late summer, when the payoff arrives here in my zone 7 garden, I'm reminded ...

10 top performing new plants for this season

Every spring brings a new growing season and, for me and other garden communicators, dozens of not-yet-available sample plants sent by breeders and growers. To try them out, I squeeze some into my beds and borders, tuck others into containers, and plant the rest in the Maternity Ward, a ...

Flower gardens endure hot, dry summers better if you choose these plants

When summer temperatures soar, we humans can take shelter indoors. Our garden plants, however, have no such respite. Some may droop, wilt or get crispy, while others may simply refuse to bloom. Although there's not much we can do to counter extreme weather, we can equip our gardens to stand ...