As the seasons progress there are several uses for a cold frame. • Start cool-temperature spring vegetable seeds and seedlings in late winter. • Start summer warm-temperature vegetable seeds and seedlings beginning in early- or mid-spring. • Start fall and winter crops under shade cover (replace the frame’s glass or plastic sash with framed shade
Watermelons are easy to grow from seed. They simply require warm soil, a long warm growing season, plenty of space, and plenty of water. Watermelons with red flesh are most common, but there are also watermelons with white, yellow, orange, and pink flesh. Here is our guide to growing watermelons from seed. We also give
The watermelon is a tender, warm-weather annual. Watermelons along with muskmelons and cantaloupes are sometimes called summer melons. They thrive in hot weather. Watermelons are easy to grow. They need plenty of sun, nutrient-rich soil, and plenty of water. Get watermelon started in the home garden after all danger of frost has passed and your
Okra plant with pods Okra is a tender, heat-loving annual best grown in very warm climates. It is grown for the peculiar, mucilaginous taste of its immature pods, commonly called gumbo. Okra is primarily a tropical crop, but it can be grown where cucumbers or tomatoes are hardy. To produce the best, crop, however, it
Okra seedlings Okra is easily grown from seed. Okra is a tender, warm-weather annual that requires midsummer warmth and almost tropical heat for the best growth. Okra is native to northern Africa and is a favorite among southern gardeners in the United States. Plant okra directly in the garden a few weeks after all danger
Mint is one of the most popular herbs. There are many mints for the gardener and cook to choose from spearmint, peppermint, apple mint, pennyroyal, lemon mint, pineapple mint, and ginger mint to name a few. Cooks prefer spearmint for most savory dishes; it’s less overpowering than other mints such as peppermint which is very
Potting up herbs for indoor winter growing Pot up herbs for fragrant, fresh green leaves indoors in winter. Herbs set on a sunny window sill through the winter can be used at any time. Herbs easy to grow in pots indoors include anise, basil, bergamot, borage, calendula, caraway, chamomile, chervil, chives, coriander, dill, lemon balm
Basil is easy to grow in warm sunny conditions. It is also easy to grow indoors. Basil is as aromatic in the kitchen as it is in the garden. Cooks around the world turn to basil. It is perhaps most popular in Mediterranean and Asian dishes. It is a great addition to most vegetable, fish
Vegetable garden season extension is a term used for growing vegetables outside of the natural growing season—that is during winter, early spring, or autumn spring when outdoor temperatures are too cold for most plants. To extend the season, plants must be protected by covers small or large. When soil and air temperatures fall below minimum
A cold frame—a low, bottomless box with a clear glass or plastic top, that is set on the ground or over a sunken bed—can extend the growing season by 1 to 3 months. Cold frames can be used for year-round gardening: • Spring: Use the frame to start seeds early and harden off seedlings. •
