Gardening
Gardening News and Tips
Welcome to our gardening news and tips page! A sanctuary for all avid gardeners and plant enthusiasts, where the passion for greenery finds a shared community. Whether you have a sprawling backyard garden or a cozy indoor oasis, we are here to provide you with knowledge, inspiration, and practical advice to help you create and maintain a flourishing green space. Join us as we explore the wonders of gardening together, offering tips that cater to every level of experience, from the novice to the expert. Our goal is to make gardening accessible and enjoyable for everyone, transforming your green spaces into sources of beauty and relaxation.
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Basil
Basil is a wonderful herb with aromatic leaves. This compact plant is incredibly versatile, growing outside in the ground, in containers, or on a bright kitchen windowsill. You may start seeds indoors or grow from small pots. Learn the secrets to planting, growing, and harvesting basil.
About Basil
Basil is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and one of the most popular culinary herbs. It’s a warm-weather annual that can be planted outdoors once temperatures are consistently above 50°F.
Basil is not usually seeded directly into the soil; typically, gardeners transplant small starter plants purchased at a nursery. Or, they may start the seeds themselves indoors under grow lights.
Common or sweet basil, Ocimum basilicum, is the most common basil; other types include purple basil (less sweet than common basil), lemon basil (lemon flavor), and Thai basil (licorice flavor) (Read More at Almanac.com)
Planting, Growing, Pruning, and Harvesting Blueberries
Get inspired and transform your green spaces with garden plans taken right from Fine Gardening’s most popular featured gardens. https://t.co/oFNpeKB3hv
— Fine Gardening (@finegardening) April 18, 2024
Put down the petunias in favor of one of these heavily blooming, colorful cultivars: https://t.co/xkl2Cx5rMt
— Fine Gardening (@finegardening) April 14, 2024
Dig in the Dirt! Soil Preparation: How Do You Prepare Garden Soil for Planting?
Tips for Improving Your Garden’s Soil Quality
If your plants don’t thrive, the answer is often in the soil. Healthy garden soil makes healthy plants that are less vulnerable to pests.
The good news? You can improve your soil! Here is a 3-step quick fix to healthy soil and a guide on soil health for those who wish to “dig deeper.”
Three Easy Steps for Soil Preparation
The last thing we want to do is overwhelm the beginner gardener! If you do nothing else, here are three basic steps you can do before planting.
- Clear out rocks and debris: To dig up grass, use a spade to cut the sod into small squares and pry from the planting area with the end of the spade.
- Loosen the soil: If it’s your very first garden, loosen the soil to a depth of at least 8 inches (12 is better) so that roots can reach down.