Author: National Garden Bureau

Originally appeared at National Gardening Bureau From seed to harvest, learn the secrets to growing a bumper crop of delicious summer and winter squash. Summer and winter squash are crops that offer huge payback. They’re both easy to grow, fairly low maintenance, and there are so many delicious varieties to try. Summer squash plants yield tender […]

Originally appeared at National Gardening Bureau Are Your Hydrangeas Blooming? Every gardener I talk to, especially in the northeast and New England, is doing a happy dance this season: their hydrangeas are in full bloom. Despite temperature fluctuations, the sudden freezing temperatures of November 2019, and the wacky late spring weather we had (hailstorms, sub-freezing […]

Originally appeared at National Gardening Bureau Summer Maintenance Tips for Your Victory Garden 2.0 “When the pandemic hit, I decided to plant a vegetable garden.” I’ve heard this from consultation clients and Plantrama listeners for the past three months, and my response is always the same. “Congratulations! You made a terrific choice.” I recognize that the […]

Originally appeared at National Gardening Bureau and All-America Selections. The key to a high-yielding raised bed vegetable garden is to grow healthy plants. Vegetable plants that are provided with plenty of sun, consistent moisture, and a steady supply of nutrients are more likely to produce a heavy crop. The great thing about gardening in raised […]

Originally appeared at National Gardening Bureau. Growing watermelon can be done successfully in all parts of the country. For those gardeners in northern or cooler climates, where hot days may not be long enough, choose an earlier-to-mature variety like AAS Winners ‘Shiny Boy’, ‘Golden Crown’, or ‘Yellow Baby’ that all mature in 70-75 days. For […]

Originally appeared at National Gardening Bureau. Bee-friendly and Butterfly-friendly plants continue to pique the interest of gardeners… whether they’re edible growers hoping to lure pollinators to boost the veggie harvest, ornamental gardeners who adore the interest butterflies and bees provide to the landscape or naturalists who wish to help feed and protect bees and butterflies. Fortunately, […]

Originally appeared at National Gardening Bureau. 1. Do strawberries attract bees? Strawberries NEED bees and bumblebees! And the strawberry blossoms are a real treat for them. Planting a strawberry plant contributes greatly to biodiversity. 2. Can you explain the different types of strawberries like June bearing, ever-bearing, and which is better for the garden?? June […]

Originally appeared at National Gardening Bureau. Wildflowers are one of Mother Nature’s loveliest gifts and a perfect addition to your Victory Garden 2.0. Their changing panorama of colors, shapes, sizes, and heights provides delight throughout the seasons. Wildflowers can be used anywhere. In the home landscape, they are ideal for creating colorful beds and borders, […]

Originally appeared at National Gardening Bureau. 1. I started bell pepper seeds indoors and they looked great. Hardened them off and transitioned outside. Still great, just zero growth in 3 weeks. Is that normal? Peppers thrive in warm weather and really struggle under cool, wet conditions. If the soil temperatures are too cool and/or too […]

Originally appeared at National Gardening Bureau. 1. Plant for a succession of blooms throughout the growing season. Different pollinator species emerge at various times of the year and have different lifespans and periods of activity. Create an ongoing pollinator buffet throughout the growing season by planting a succession of overlapping blooms. 2. Include some native plants […]