Check out all our blog posts on Outdoor gardening.
After a summer rain, I always stop beside my backyard lotus tub for a minute. The big, round lotus leaves do not stay wet like hostas, squash, or the herbs in my container garden. Instead, raindrops sit on top like tiny glass marbles, then roll away at the lightest breeze. That dramatic water-shedding trick is … Read more >>
A dry July week can make a backyard garden feel like a thirsty child. I have stood beside a drooping perennial bed, watched the soil pull away from the edges of containers, and wished I had saved the perfectly usable water that went down the bathroom drain that morning. That is where bathroom water reuse … Read more >>
A small autoflowering plant can look ready to harvest before you have even decided whether you want seeds. I have had this happen in a sunny backyard bed, where one fast-finishing plant was covered in mature flowers while the rest of the garden still needed weekly feeding and watering. Saving seed from autoflowers takes a … Read more >>
I remember the first time I tried growing a lotus (an aquatic perennial known for its round leaves and showy blooms), I made a huge mess dragging heavy pots of muddy clay soil across my patio. My neighbor watched me struggle and asked why I didn’t just skip the soil altogether. That question sent me … Read more >>
I still remember the first summer I grew a lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) in a half-barrel on my patio here in zone 7. The leaves shot up beautifully, tall and round like little green umbrellas, but week after week, no flower buds ever showed up. I kept waiting, convinced it just needed “more time.” Turns out, … Read more >>
I still remember the first time I tried starting lotus seeds in an old plastic tub on my back patio. I’d read that lotus were “easy” to grow from seed, tossed a handful of rock-hard seeds into water, and waited three weeks for absolutely nothing to happen. Turns out lotus seeds have a coat so … Read more >>
As someone who’s been cultivating oyster plants (Tradescantia spathacea) in my garden for over a decade, I’m often asked about their watering needs. The short answer? No, oyster plants don’t need excessive amounts of water, but they do require consistent, moderate moisture to thrive. Let me share everything I’ve learned about properly watering these beautiful … Read more >>
You really don’t need a giant yard to enjoy fresh herbs at home. Even a small balcony gives you enough space to grow a few pots and totally upgrade your cooking. With the right setup and a bit of care, anyone can have a lush balcony herb garden in just 30 days. Herbs grow fast … Read more >>
Introduction Ginger, Zingiber officinale, is a tropical plant from Southeast Asia. The part we cook with is the rhizome, a thick underground stem packed with flavor and compounds such as gingerol that support digestion and give ginger its familiar warmth. It might look exotic on the plate, yet the plant is surprisingly relaxed as long … Read more >>
The first time a basil plant starts showing brown, crispy, or blackened leaves, it can feel like a small kitchen disaster. One week the pot is lush and green on the windowsill, and the next it looks tired, patchy, and far from pesto-ready. The good news: brown basil leaves are a warning sign, not a … Read more >>
