Niki Jabbour's Blog, page 48

Zucchini companion plants for the vegetable garden

Companion planting has been around for generations, but most of the plant partnerships recommended have little basis in actual science. Times are changing though, thanks to an abundance of current research looking at the benefits of partnering certain plants together. My most recent book, Plant Partners: Science-based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden (Storey [&hellip

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New Zealand spinach: Growing this leafy green that’s not really spinach

I first planted New Zealand spinach in one of my raised beds a few years ago and I’ve never had to replant it since. Little seedlings dependably reappear in my garden every year. I didn’t know much about this healthy leafy green until a friend offered me a few extra seedlings she had growing in [&hellip

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Growing loofah gourds: Learn how to grow your own loofah sponges

Loofah sponges are great in the shower and handy in the kitchen, but did you know you can grow them in your garden? A loofah sponge is the fibrous interior of a loofah gourd, which are produced on vining plants that are closely related to cucumbers and squash. Growing loofah gourds isn’t difficult but they [&hellip

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Cattle panel trellis: How to build a DIY vegetable garden arch

Growing vegetables vertically has many benefits. It allows you to grow more food in a given area and makes harvesting so simple. Vertical gardening increases the air circulation around your plants, making them less susceptible to fungal diseases. It also keeps the plants off the ground, distancing them from soil-dwelling pests. And in many cases, [&hellip

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Learn how to grow herbs in containers for healthy plants and convenient harvests

Herbs are low-care plants that add beauty, fragrance, and flavor to the garden. And while it’s fun to design and plant an herb garden, the easiest and quickest way to grow herbs is in containers. Most herbs appreciate the excellent drainage containers offer, but it’s also a convenient way to grow aggressive herbs, like lemon [&hellip

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Parsley growing tips: Harvest this flavourful herb and kitchen staple all year

Parsley is probably the herb I use the most in my cooking. I add it to soups and stews, I snip it into fresh lettuce or quinoa salads, I whip it into salad dressings, and I stir it into pasta dishes. I regularly have a few plants growing at a time. Not only do I [&hellip

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Planting garlic in the spring: How to grow big bulbs from spring-planted garlic

Most gardeners plant garlic in the autumn. There are a couple of reasons for this: 1) Garlic cloves need a cold period to trigger bulb development and 2) Fall planting also gives the cloves time to set roots before winter. When the weather warms in spring the plants can then shoot out of the ground [&hellip

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Blue star fern: Care tips and growing info

Ferns are among the most diverse and beautiful plant groups on the planet. There are hundreds of different species. We often think of ferns as being shade-lovers, and while many are, there are also many others that thrive in full sun. In addition to growing ferns in an outdoor garden, several warm-climate species of ferns [&hellip

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Galvanized raised beds: DIY and no-build options for gardening

Galvanized raised beds have become pretty ubiquitous when it comes to materials used for raised bed gardens. What probably started as a few clever green thumbs using stock tanks (large basins traditionally used to hydrate livestock) as gardens has evolved into a whole industry of garden containers and structures that mimic the design. Aesthetically, raised [&hellip

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Red veined sorrel: Learn how to plant, grow, and harvest red veined sorrel

Red veined sorrel is a knockout in the garden! This edible ornamental forms dense clumps of lime green leaves highlighted by deep red veins. Those leaves can be harvested to add a tart lemony flavor to salads, sandwiches, and soups or used make a tasty pesto. Sorrel is also easy to grow from seed in garden [&hellip

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