Plums are a diverse group of fruiting trees. Plums can be found in most temperate regions of the world. There is a wide range of tree sizes, forms, colors, and flavors. European plums are blue and widely grown. Japanese plums are red and very popular. Native American plums are small and tart. Damson plums are
Quince fruit looks like a fuzzy-skinned cross between an apple and a squat pear. Quince is an autumn fruit. The quince plant is a large bush, as large as 10 feet tall and 10 feet wide. A ripe quince has a yellow skin with hints of green. The flesh is yellowish-white, with small seeds, like
Raspberries are perhaps the most delicate fruit. This makes them a good choice for home growing and fresh picking. Just harvested raspberries quickly pass from ripe to overripe. It is difficult to find them just right at the market; they should be eaten within a day or two of picking, otherwise, they should be frozen
Strawberries are the earliest fruit to harvest in spring. Strawberries also come to harvest in summer and fall, and in winter as well in many regions—if you plant the right varieties. Strawberries are easy to grow but they do require some attention to ensure a bountiful crop. Choose cultivars that grow well in your region.
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
