Vegetables

Several years ago I decided to quit starting plants (ornamental and edible) indoors from seed. It was always a great way to appease my impatience for spring's arrival, but a seedling massacre occurred every May, as my attention was diverted to the many garden tasks outdoors needing completion. Inevitably, I'd forget to water, or take [...]

Peas in July! Yes, we are harvesting the last of our peas this week. When you garden in a cold climate, you may grow the same vegetables as those in warmer areas, but you don't follow the same schedule. I thought I'd run through our pea time line to give you an idea of how [...]

A reader contacted Cold Climate Gardening recently to ask: I live in area between Syracuse and Ithaca... near Cortland. I have tomato seeds--many different varieties. When should I start the seedlings to grow in peat pots inside the house? Is it too early? While I am at it...what else should I be starting? Thanks a [...]

Many gardening books for children take what I think of as the art project approach: here's what you need, this is what you do, isn't that cute?, now show it to Grandma. Very few books out there take children--or a child's interest in gardening--seriously. I prefer to regard children as apprentice gardeners, gradually acquiring more [...]

When the days grow shorter, when we've had several freezes (and even a dusting of snow), and when we finally concede it's time to drain the hose and close down the storm windows on the last remaining screens--that's when we begin to harvest the leeks. More northern gardeners should grow leeks. Leeks appreciate cool weather [...]

The subtitle of Grow Organic: Over 250 Tips and Ideas for Growing Flowers, Veggies, Lawns and More by Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser reads "for first-timers and old-timers alike," but I think it excels at helping veteran gardeners who have been using chemical fertilizers and pesticides to make the transition to an organic approach. The [...]

This looks like a bee visiting a corn poppy, but really it's a fly. This comment explains.Perhaps, like me, you've noticed there haven't been as many bees flying around this year. If you're the sort of person who gets nervous around bees, this might even seem like a good thing to you. But perhaps, like [...]

Readers, I'd like your help in answering this email: I live at 8800 ft. in the Rocky Mountains ( yes, we have had snow recently also) and want to garden. I did not get 1 tomato last summer because nights are cold.--although my flowers and herb pots did well. This year I have cut out [...]

Denise Kemp writes: My brother-in-law gave me an artichoke plant this spring that was given to him. He told me that I need to lift the plant in the fall but didn't have any details on whether to take the leaves off or leave it in dirt or newspaper or what so I'm not sure [...]