HISTORICAL FACTS: 14 - Caught on Camera

What Should You Do When Peaches Ripen All at Once?

Peaches have a spectacular talent for creating a very specific kind of gardening panic: producing a mountain of gorgeous fruit at exactly the same time. One afternoon, the tree looks ordinary, and a few days later, the branches seem to have joined a conspiracy against the household refrigerator. The good…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 14

Can You Grow Mâche Where Summer Lettuce Failed?

Summer lettuce can be a bit of a drama queen. Give it too much heat, let the soil dry out, or ask it to keep producing when the thermometer starts climbing, and suddenly that promising patch of crisp green leaves turns into a bitter, bolting mess. Mâche, also called corn…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 14

7 Frugal Garden Projects to Finish Before Daylight Shrinks

Summer has a sneaky way of making the garden feel endless. Then one afternoon arrives when dinner somehow needs to happen before the sun disappears, and suddenly every unfinished garden chore starts waving from across the yard. Thankfully, several worthwhile projects cost little or nothing, and finishing them now can…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 14

6 Perennials to Divide When the Hottest Weather Begins Easing

The hottest part of summer can make the garden look like it has officially checked out for the season, but late summer brings a useful opportunity: dividing crowded perennials. As temperatures begin to moderate, several established plants can handle division with less stress than they would during a sweltering midsummer…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 13

Should You Remove Lower Leaves From Brussels Sprouts?

Brussels sprouts grow in a wonderfully odd fashion, with little cabbage-like buds tucked into the leaf axils along a tall central stalk. The lower sprouts mature first while newer ones develop higher up, which makes leaf removal more nuanced than grabbing pruning shears and giving the plant a haircut.

Frugal Gardening · Aug 13

8 Ways to Help Young Fruit Trees Through Dry Late-Summer Weeks

Late summer can turn a young fruit tree into a very thirsty little drama queen. While an established apple, pear, peach, or plum may have roots reaching into a larger volume of soil, a recently planted tree still works with a smaller root system, so several hot, rainless days can…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 12

What Can You Do With Empty Grow Bags After Summer Crops Finish?

When summer tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and potatoes finish their garden careers, those floppy grow bags often end up looking like sad little gardening pancakes. Before tossing them into the trash, take a closer look because a quality grow bag can serve the garden for several more seasons, provided you clean…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 12

Should You Cover Freshly Sown Seeds With Burlap?

Freshly sown seeds have a surprisingly difficult job. They need moisture, good contact with the soil, and protection from the kind of downpour that can turn a carefully prepared seedbed into a tiny muddy landslide. A loose piece of burlap can help with all three, making it a useful trick…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 12

5 Garden Crops That Can Double as Attractive Border Plants

A garden border does not have to choose between looking good and putting food on the table. Several edible crops bring enough color, texture, shape, or sheer personality to work beautifully along paths, flower beds, patios, and other highly visible spots.

Frugal Gardening · Aug 12

Could a Cold Frame Be Useful Before Cold Weather Arrives?

A cold frame might look like a glorified box with a window slapped on top, but before cold weather arrives, that humble little structure can become one of the garden’s most useful pieces of equipment. It can protect cool-season vegetables, give seedlings a sheltered transition outdoors, and help keep fresh…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 12