Gardening is a journey. It takes years to build up enough knowledge and experience to get consistently good harvests. In the beginning of our journey we might make mistakes with our garden and not even realize it. Even with some gardening experience under our belts, it’s easy to still make ’newbie’ mistakes when we forget (or ignore) gardening fundamentals. So what are some common gardening pitfalls, and how can we avoid them?...

Fall has firmly arrived in the desert Southwest, and it’s wonderful. Although our daytime highs still linger in the high 80s, mornings are cool again, and the dew has returned. With shorter days and lower UV, it’s the perfect time to start cold-season crops and work in the garden all day without drying out. Here’s what’s happening in my garden right now. Crops I only have two things in the ground at the moment: corn (Zea mays) and my loofah....

Okay, I know, most of us gardeners have a bit of a complicated relationship with frost. She’s that unpredictable guest who sometimes arrives too early, breaks our hearts, and messes up our crops. But like every good story, this one has two sides. I feel like she’s been getting a bad rep and honestly, she deserves some love. So here’s my little attempt to get you just as excited about frost as I am....

As the gardening season hits peak production, and soon thereafter starts to wind down, the main dilemma facing gardeners can turn from “how do I keep my plants healthy?” and “how can I keep all these weeds at bay?” to “how am I going to use up all this produce?!” If you’re like us this means you’re often searching for inspirational recipes and cooking methods to use up what you’ve grown....

The autumn season signals a time of preparing. Many of us make sure to get the most out of our gardens by making jams, pickled veggies, sauces, and more. If you’ve been growing plants for herbal use, fall means it’s time to harvest and dry the roots. When to Harvest Roots The best time to harvest roots is in the fall when your plant has stopped producing flowers and leaves and has started dying back....

The end of October is fast approaching and with it the end of the 2025 gardening season here in Huron County, Ontario. After a couple frost warnings and light frosts, last night we had the first hard frost of the fall. Part of me wishes we still had several more warm, sunny months to keep on growing and part of me is ready to cozy up indoors by the fire and start planning for next season!...

Once rhubarb is established, it requires surprisingly little maintenance, though a few simple techniques can greatly improve both yield and flavor. In part 3 of this series, we’ll cover how to care for rhubarb, including how to divide it, how to harvest it, and a couple of other tips. Overwintering Rhubarb In temperate climates, rhubarb generally survives the winter on its own. In fact, the plant needs around 500 hours (around 7 weeks) at 40°F (4 °C) or below to trigger healthy new growth in spring....

Although rhubarb prefers temperate environments, it can be grown outside its ideal temperature range with some care. With additional winter prep in colder climates and careful planning for summer in hot regions, rhubarb can thrive almost anywhere. More so than in temperate climates, it’s vital to watch the weather. Extreme heat spells or cold snaps require forethought to protect your plants, and site selection is even more important. These tips cover key points for hot and cold climates, and how you can grow rhubarb successfully....

Rhubarb is a hardy perennial. It’s easy to plant, care for, and harvest. With so many varieties out there, it can be overwhelming to pick the right one, and then choose a good place to plant it. In the first part of this series, we’ll discuss popular varieties and go over how best to plant rhubarb. Popular Varieties There are dozens of rhubarb cultivars, each created for different reasons. Some grow more quickly, others are sweeter, and some are suited to more challenging environments....