Journal

Growing Hops for Homebrewers in the MidwestGrowing hops for homebrewers in the Midwest combines seasonal planning, sturdy support and careful harvesting. These vigorous perennial vines can produce…
How to plant a windbreak for a home fieldA well-planned windbreak can make a home field more productive, comfortable and resilient. Rows of trees and shrubs slow damaging gusts, reduce soil loss,…
Best Tasting Strawberry Varieties for Indiana GardensThe sweetest strawberries are usually the ones picked fully ripe, while the fruit is still firm enough to handle. For Indiana growers, that means choosing…
Ripen Green Tomatoes Before the Season EndsWhen tomato plants are still carrying firm green fruit as summer fades, there is no need to leave the crop to chance. A sudden cold snap, heavy rain or…
Growing Shallots for the Chef’s GardenA well-planned shallot bed gives the kitchen more than a dependable onion substitute. These small bulbs bring a refined sweetness, gentle garlic notes and a…
How to control fungus gnats in houseplantsFungus gnats are tiny black flies that hover around pot plants, windowsills and indoor growing areas. The adults are irritating, but the larvae living in damp…
Six Annuals That Bloom Until Hard FrostA long season of colour can make a garden feel generous well after spring bulbs have faded. The right annual flowers keep producing buds through warm…
Climbing hydrangeas for shaded fences in Australian gardensA shaded fence can be difficult to soften, particularly when the planting strip is narrow, dry and overlooked by neighbouring properties. Climbing hydrangeas…
How to grow kohlrabi in spring and fallKohlrabi is a fast-growing brassica with a crisp, mild stem that tastes somewhere between broccoli stalk and sweet turnip. It suits a home vegie patch, raised…
Taming overgrown lilac bushes for healthier floweringAn overgrown lilac can look like a tangled thicket, with tall bare stems, crowded branches and flowers appearing only at the outer edges. The shrub may still…