Why Homegrown Lettuce Is Bitter and How to Prevent It

Sometimes slow and steady does not win the race. Like all those little kid gardeners, there are occasions when even the adults tire of waiting long periods to see sprouts, or taste the fruits (or should I say greens?) of their labor.That’s where fast-growing vegetables and herbs can really co

Pruning zucchini puts me in mind of the catchy seven beats that tap out “Shave and a haircut…” and then the response, “Two bits!”The knocking pattern for gags origi

Most cucumbers you grow in the garden make it obvious if they’re ailing. The leaves of Cucumis sativus plants get spots, perhaps, the fruits have holes, or both turn yellow or start shriveling.But “hollow heart” cucumbers don’t reall

You know the phrase, “an iron fist in the velvet glove”? Scholars like to quibble over who uttered it first, with Napoleon as the leading candidate.Me, I’d argue only that they could have been talking about olea

In a world full of cell phone-camera-alarm clocks, slow cooker-air fryer-Instant Pots, and convertible cargo shorts-pants, I appreciate the anacampseros succulent.This compact plant does one job for us gardeners, and it does i

I like to think of the many types of Sempervivumas “Stayin’ Alive” plants.No, it’s nothing to do with disco. Rat

Flaming Katy, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, is like a warm smile among succulents.Also known as florist’s kalanchoe, Christmas kalanchoe,

Also known as houseleeks, Sempervivum varieties nicknamed “hens and chicks” are already easy to care for, and readily produce offsets to share or add to your own garden beds, container gardens, or terrariums.Is it too much to expect them to bloom, too?

Along with robins, daffodils, and cool breezes, why not add homegrown onions to your list of things to look forward to this spring?Spring onions, Allium cepa, are easy to grow

When you hear of a houseplant that’s nearly impossible to kill, you probably think of something that looks like a stick or is made out of plastic.But pothos, Epipremnum aureum, is not just easy to keep al

If you’re a “Here We Come A-wassailing,” Yule log, Tiny Tim, and plum pudding-type of holiday reveler, have I got the holly for you to grow at home!English, aka common, holly (Ilex aquifolium) is native to Europe, no

Growing vegetables involves an element of mystery, but not always a positive one.Case in point: When zucchini drop their blossoms