How to Harvest Kale (+ Kale Chips Recipe)

Once you have decided on the best position for your vegetable plot and how you are going to grow them, be it in raised beds, containers or on open ground, there are a few jobs you need to do before you can start growing. The amount of preparation you will need to do will depend on the type of vegetable plot you want to create. A plot of raised beds for example will require a bit more preparation as the beds will need to be constructed. But even if you are developing an existing plot, good preparation is the key to getting the best out your vegetables.

February is not only the month for love but also a little known National Celebration called Plant the Seeds of Greatness. February is also the month when many gardeners, including myself, will start their seeds.

If you have an outdoor deck that has seen better days, you may want to put the time and effort into refinishing it on your own, rather than replacing it. Deck refinishing can be a fairly straightforward process, and the end result can be a beautiful addition to any home. There are several steps to take when going about a wood deck refinishing, from inspection of the deck to the final staining and sealing.

Freshly picked culinary herbs add flavour to food and many are delicious additions to salads. Edible herb flowers such as pot marigold, nasturtium and rosemary can also be added to the salad bowl. Many culinary herbs are rich in vitamins and minerals and when freshly picked and eaten raw they can form part of a well-balanced diet. Raw herbs can also be used to add flavour to oils and vinegars for cooking and for salads.

There is always something new coming out; giving the older ways and products a run for their money. If composting is your cup of tea, you may consider adding some of the new innovation into your composting portfolio. There are a number of new techniques a compost-person can insert into their routine, including bokashi composting; a Japanese import that flips the regular composting process upside down.

An instant hedge makes the perfect addition to any garden and is ideal for people who are creating a garden from scratch or redesigning their garden and want immediate results. The great thing about these hedges is that have already been grown, which means that they create an impact as soon as they are planted. Instant hedges make an excellent addition to a garden for a number of different reasons.

Humans have been cultivating and enjoying melons for over 4000 years! These delicious fruits are thought to have originated in the hot valleys of southwest Asia, but can now be grown just about anywhere with long, warm summers. All melons are part of the Cucurbitaceae family which is subdivided into hundreds of genera including cucumbers, gourds, pumpkins, and squash.

Are you looking to get your kids into vegetable gardening? If so here is a great activity I do with my own sons and they absolutely loved it. It’s fun for them, easy for you and not messy. Best of all it will get kids of all ages excited about growing their own fruits and veggies!

Gardening the hydroponic way produces the tastiest and plumpest strawberries. This can be the best system of growing strawberries if the right set up is used. Strawberries do not like wet feet so using a suitable hydroponic system provides the best environment for growing conditions.

How many times have you visited someone’s home and thought, “this place looks familiar.” From the standard granite and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, to the tried and true beige Pottery Barn sofa, our homes can easily turn into boring look-alikes devoid of any unique, differentiating design elements.

Gardening for health and fun can open a new world for you and your family. Whether you are driven by concern for the health of your family or you want to lower your food bill organic gardening is the way to go.

Do you want to learn how to plant peas? The secret to planting peas is in the preparation. Peas are real tasty, but they lose quality fast in the heat of the summer. So, it is ideal to get an early start when you are planting peas.