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An Asian pear can look like any other sweet fruit, but needs extra acid for home canning; add 1 tablespoon of bottled lemon juice to every pint jar

Canning Asian pears, requires meticulous attention, especially given their low acidity. To safely prepare these fruits for preservation, it's advisable to add bottled lemon juice to each jar prior to canning. Ensure you select ripe pears and maintain hygiene throughout the canning procedure. This consistent acidity helps mitigate spoilage risks,…

The Economic Times · Oct 8

Why Some Perennials Should Be Left Standing Through Winter

When the first hard frost turns a perennial garden brown, grabbing the pruners can feel like the obvious next step. But those dead-looking coneflowers, asters, and ornamental grasses may still be doing important work long after their flowers disappear. Standing stems can shelter overwintering insects, seed heads can feed birds,…

Frugal Gardening · Oct 5

Using flour straight from the fridge? Let it warm to room temperature first; cold flour can change how baking powder and yeast work once you start baking

Baking success can be compromised when using cold flour directly from the refrigerator. The lower temperature disrupts the work of leavening agents such as yeast and baking powder. For consistent results, it's advised to let refrigerated flour reach room temperature before mixing. Additionally, storing flour in airtight containers ensures its…

The Economic Times · Sep 26

A Practical Guide to August Pruning Mistakes That May Cost You Next Year’s Flowers

August pruning can feel like harmless garden housekeeping, but the wrong cut at the wrong time can remove the flower buds that should open next spring. A shrub can look perfectly healthy after a summer haircut while quietly carrying far fewer blooms for the following season. That makes late-summer pruning…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 31

How to Reuse Rainwater Without Creating a Mosquito Problem

Rainwater can become a wonderfully useful garden resource, but a forgotten bucket of it can also become an open invitation to mosquitoes. A properly designed rain barrel lets gardeners capture roof runoff for watering plants while keeping insects out of the stored water. The trick involves treating rainwater storage as…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 27

Invasive tree of heaven is helping spotted lanternflies spread across US by feeding them its toxic sap; here’s why scientists are using it as a trap

The tree of heaven, an invasive species, facilitates the spread of the spotted lanternfly by providing an abundant source of plant sap. To help control the invasive insect, scientists and land managers use selected tree-of-heaven specimens as trap trees. However, removing the invasive tree remains essential, as it can crowd…

The Economic Times · Aug 26

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