Winter Ideas, Tips & Guides

The house was full of squash, in fact, that year–from my desk, where they sit, expectant, beside my laptop (below) to the entire mudroom (bottom of page), where horse-collar-shaped oddities like ‘Tromboncino’ join the smaller ‘Butternut’ types.I made up this recipe at freezer-emptying time in early summer, when I found two containers of roasted, mashed winter squash in my deep-freeze, and needed the room for incoming garden-fresh goodies. It is based on a soup with a coconut undertone and I

Soon my new friend Andre was living in Nebraska with the future Mrs. Andre, and eventually they moved to South Dakota (despite being forewarned that winter never kids around there). A run of the Mount Rushmore State’s doozies has apparently left an impression on Andre, the dimensions of which he has summed up with a series of at once empathic and totally mad doodles–gardening cartoons that I hope you love as much as I do.To mark more than a decade of knowing Andre, I thought it might be fun to reprise some of them–just in time for the day that winter is officially supposed to be dispatched. Happy spring? Well, maybe.winter doodles, by andre jordanBAD WINTER: I miss the migrant birds

It also takes some experimentation, since our modern homes tend to lack just the perfect place. (Oh, to have a root cellar!) But knowing the basics helps us do the best job we can–and also to grow crops we are capable of storing, or only to grow enough for a shorter period in storage. How to stash homegrown garden vegetables (and which ones, including winter squash, to cure first in a warmer spot for best results):temperature and humidityMANY VEGETABLES prefer to be stored surprisingly cold, at 32 to 38 degrees F.  Notable exceptions: sweet potatoes (55-60 degrees), and pumpkins and winter squash (50-55, after a week or two curing even warmer).Many also like it humid (root vegetables and potatoes, for instance—like 90 percent or thereabouts), b

TIME FOR A LESSON in winter sowing—sowing seeds in fall and early winter outside in a protected spot, a sort of easy DIY home nursery for making more plants. What we’ll learn to propagate that way are specifically seeds of native plants—both meadow perennials, like asters and Joe Pye weed, and also various shrubs and even trees.

My guest is Kathy Tracey, co-owner with her husband, Chris, of Avant Gardens Nursery in Dartmouth, Mass., a source for exceptional plants in person and by mail. They’re also known for their design services and popular how-to classes, including lots of botanical crafty ones.Get her year-round tips for growing amaryllis and reblooming them; for making cut branches last indoors; and even some of her recommended houseplants that don’t sulk in winter heating season.Read along as you listen to the Dec. 19, 2022 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) or Spotify or Stitcher (and browse my archive of podcasts here).botanical winter decor, with kathy traceyMargaret

Winter brings short days, fluctuating cold temperatures, low humidity, and limited sunlight, making it tough for indoor plants to grow. Here are some essential steps that you can take on toKeep Houseplants Alive in Winters.

Hardy shrubs that bloom in winter are a wonderful investment, performing year after year to cheer the dark, gloomy, winter days. Winter flowers can be a lifeline for bees and other pollinators during mild spells, and most of the plants on our list are pollinator friendly. Some have a compact growing habit and are perfect for pots to brighten patios and soil-less spots, while others grow large and need to be sited in garden borders or as single specimens. While most of our chosen winter-flowering shrubs are tough and hardy to grow in the UK, there are several that need nurturing in a sunny spot, protected from cold winds. As always, choosing the right plant for the right place is key to success.

Brussels sprouts are a healthy vegetable. They are a great source of vitamin K, vitamin C, folate, and dietary fiber. However, their flavor reputation is notoriously bad. Brussels sprouts often find their way onto “most hated vegetable” lists. A veggie rarely eaten and often derided only a decade or two ago has now found its way onto trendy restaurant menus as a signature side or a featured appetizer. It turns out we were cooking them all wrong. Boiled-to-death Brussels sprouts slathered with processed cheese (yuck!) of my youth have given way to roasted, braised, and grilled dishes, some bacon wrapped or with a balsamic glaze (yum!). Brussels sprouts are now one of my family’s favorite dishes! So naturally, I wanted to try my hand at growing them.

Just because summer’s over doesn’t mean tending your garden is finished for the year.There’s still some work to be done, and t

Planning to grow something in your room for the colder months? Here are the Best Indoor Herbs that Can Thrive on Winter Windowsill!

It seems strange, I know, to talk of growing winter crops for the polytunnel or glasshouse, smack-bang in the middle of a very sultry Irish summer. But the simple truth is that the secret to making the best, and most productive use, of these valuable covered growing spaces throughout the year has always been to plan and propagate very far ahead.

A new porch for the new year! See how I gave our front porch a simple winter refresh with some help from my friends at The Home Depot.

Whether they’re charming, compact millifloras in pastel shades, spreading varieties that cascade over a hill, or grandifloras with three-inch blooms in bold purple, all Petunia species belong to the nightshade family and are native to South America, in regions with hot and humid weather.While you’ll find more selections of the modern hyb

When you start growing dahlias, it’s impossible not to fall in love with their remarkable flowers.These tender perennials are easy to

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Taking the effort to clean up the vegetable garde

On January 22nd the sun was shining, it felt just right to shove the camera in my pocket and go for a walkabout.

Somehow, miraculously (and thankfully) seed starting season is just about here once again. Perhaps in no other year (or years?) has thinking about starting a garden ever been more essential.

Hellebores are an evergreen perennial from the genus Helleborus; they are also known as Christmas rose, lenten rose, or winter rose. They can bloom in the freezing months of winter due to their deep rooting system. Hellebore flowers come in many shades of. pink, yellow, purple and white, even green.

It’s that time of year already, in which I am compelled to pull up old photos of the garden. Does it seem earlier than usual?

Here are some nifty DIY Mini Indoor Greenhouses that are perfect for small spaces to grow your favorite houseplants without worrying about the cold!

By Scott Davis

One of my favorite garden gifts to eat during the cold season is winter squash.Easily stored in a root cellar or colder

When you plant a crop like zucchini, it’s all about savoring the moment, and enjoying summer’s bounty. Growing winter squash on the other hand – that shows you’re thinking ahead.So, treat your future self to a feas

If outdoor gardening is restricted due to cold weather, these Indoor Winter Gardening Projects for December will keep your love for gardening going.

If you are suddenly feeling anxious, tired, sad, or lacking energy, well, don’t worry; cold months are coming! Welcome Winter with these Colorful Houseplants to lift your spirits and eliminate the winter melancholy.

Welcome to another edition of Urban Gardening News!

Learning how to grow winter squash at home is a great way to add variety to your garden and it’s easier than you might think.

These Winter Flowering Shrubs with their unusual textures, foliage, colors, fragrance, and flowers can beautify your garden. Some even decorate themselves with bright and vibrant berries.

I went to an event at Dixter on a decidedly wet and blustery day – and braved the weather for long enough to see how the garden was looking ‘off-season’. The answer, unsurprisingly, is that even on a miserable winter’s day it looked remarkably good. The shrubs and trees give the borders structure that sustains them with their many textures and shapes. Even the tropical g

With rumours of (the probably temporary) arrival of cold weather, I decided that it was time to tuck up my evergreen agapanthus – Agapanthus africanus. The weather has been so mild that any frost could do quite a lot of damage since many plants have continued growing lost past their usual season. Most will have to take their chances but the large pots of agapanthus have now had a deep mulch of Strulch www.strulch.co.uk – the wonderful mineralised straw mulch which will hold air and insulate the plants – and protected with fleece covers that will keep them cosy from now until spring. They may not be very decorative, but the pots are far too big to move undercover, and it’s better than losing the plants. The lime tree

Winter Light at Waddesdon Sometimes when I go to a far flung event I’m a bit like one of those gymkhana ponies that comes to a halt in front of one jump after another. Each change of transport has me tempted to bolt back to my stable and quietly munch some hay.

When it comes to gardening it’s often the flowers that grab the attention and almost everyone seems to overlook the foliage. But leaves are the back room boys, the unsung heroes who do all the hard work and let some pretty blossom take all the credit. Ironically, if we gave foliage as much attention as we afford flowers our gardens would probably be a whole lot better. In winter of course, due to the absence of dazzling floral displays, we have a little more time to consider shapes and forms, colours and textures of leaves. I barely notice th

Why anyone would visit a garden in the winter is a bit of a mystery to the non-enthusiast, but for those in the know it provides the perfect opportunity to see the bones of the garden. Ok, you do need to wrap up in your warmest clothes and wear waterproof footwear, but it does allow you to see how the experts maintain, protect and prepare for the coming season. Which is why I went along to Great Dixter’s Winter Open Weekend. The snowdrops were

Today’s view including Titus,  the Snow Leopard.

Porch Decor is a great way to change the vibe of any home. These Fabulous Winter Porch Décor Ideas are exactly what you need to give your home a makeover, so everyone is pulled to pay a visit.

Check out the Best Flowering Houseplants You Can Grow Indoors All Winter and keep your rooms decked up with colorful blooms in the colder months.