Master Gardener sharing garden inspiration and helpful tips for growing your own garden.
Companion planting folklore has existed for centuries. Although modern research often validates the effectiveness of some companionships, we don’t understand all the reasons why it works. Effective organic gardening techniques often implement many types of companion planting. This article covers the benefits of companion planting, and provides practical suggestions for how to implement companion planting […] Read more…
Learn how to grow garlic chives with these 5 tips and add some to your garden this season. Garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) are an easy addition to the garden. If you live in zones 4-9, find a spot for this reliable perennial herb in your garden and it will come back year after year. A relative […] Read more…
On a whim, I picked up a 6 pack of lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) at a local nursery several years ago. It was worth a try to see if they would survive the incredibly hot summers here in the low desert of Arizona. I wasn’t sure how to grow lisianthus, and was shocked when they grew […] Read more…
When I first saw the gorgeous blooms on ranunculus flowers, I didn’t think it was possible to grow them here in the low desert of Arizona. I’m glad I was wrong. Learning how to grow ranunculus is easier than you think. The stunning rose-like blooms with tissue-thin petals almost don’t look real. Ranunculus blooms come […] Read more…
Looking for a flower that doesn’t mind the heat? Tithonia (also known as Mexican sunflower) is a drought-tolerant and heat-loving annual plant native to Mexico and Central America. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love the bright blooms. Tall branching plants bloom for several months (right up until frost), and make an excellent cut flower. Learn how […] Read more…
As a low desert gardener, it’s exciting to learn how to grow a crop that I already use, is good for you, and grows well in warm climates. Ginger definitely qualifies on all three accounts. Learning how to grow ginger is easy, and growing it is even simpler (especially if you live in a warm […] Read more…
Leeks look like an overgrown green onion with a long white body and thick overlapping leaves. Learn how to grow leeks, an easy-to-grow relative of the onion that has a milder taste and is grown for the thick white edible stalk. Leeks can grow up to 3 feet tall. Leeks are a frost-tolerant vegetable that […] Read more…
Starting garden vegetables from seed has several advantages, but learning how to start seeds indoors can be overwhelming. I tried and failed several times trying to start seeds indoors. Each failure taught me something new. Learn from my mistakes and avoid making the same ones. This article outlines the steps of how to start seeds indoors, […] Read more…
If you would like to add more fruit to your garden, learning how to grow ground cherries is a simple way to do it. Although most modern gardeners have never heard of them, ground cherries are a delicious husked fruit with a unique flavor similar to a cross between pineapple, strawberries, and citrus with a tropical […] Read more…
Would you like to grow something unique? Learn how to grow toothache plant. Spilanthes is a heat-loving flower commonly called “toothache plant” due to the numbing sensation experienced after eating the leaves or flowers. Toothache plant contains a natural analgesic within its spicy and slightly bitter-tasting leaves and blooms. Learn how to grow toothache plant with these […] Read more…