Blog

Learn About Growing & Harvesting Tomatillos with Maria Bertucci     Tomatillos:  Tomatillos are great plant to grow if you like plants that are easy, disease resistant and very productive. There are three kinds generally available, green, purple and a little yellow one called a pineapple tomatillo. The pineapple tomatillo is very sweet and small, tastes great fresh and if...

Learn About Growing & Harvesting Corn with Maria Bertucci     Types of Corn:  Corn is an ancient staple food that originated in South America. It has been extensively bred and selected to become the juicy super-sweet kernels we are used to today; but there are also many truly ancient heirloom varieties still being preserved and grown by collectors all...

Learn About Growing & Harvesting Cucumbers & Melons with Maria Bertucci     Melons and Cucumbers:  Cucumbers are native to India and have been grown for food for over 3000 years. There are many types of cucumber available to grow these days; the most common two being pickling types or the smooth skinned English cucumbers for fresh eating. A favorite...

Learn About Growing & Harvesting Peppers with Maria Bertucci     Types of Peppers:  Peppers are another beloved summer garden staple that is grown very similarly to tomatoes once the danger of frost is past. The varieties available to us these days are stunning, in number, flavor, beauty, vigor and heat! New breeding has created ever spicier types and competitions...

Learn About Growing & Harvesting Tomatoes with Maria Bertucci     Why You Should Grow Tomatoes:  Tomatoes are the glory of the summer garden and while all fresh homegrown food tastes beautiful, homegrown summer tomatoes are an incomparable flavor experience. Even if you don’t have a garden, a cherry tomato plant tucked into a pot on the front porch or...

Learn About Growing & Harvesting Herbs with Maria Bertucci     Incorporating Herbs into Your Garden:  Herbs are a fascinating class of plants and one of the most useful. Most of them take up very little space and make an enormous difference in our kitchens. For growing purposes, I like to think of herbs in two groups; the tough, drought tolerant,...

Learn About Growing & Harvesting Potatoes in the Pacific Northwest     Growing potatoes in the Pacific Northwest is easy and rewarding. Potatoes are not only versatile in the kitchen, but are a ton of fun to grow in your own garden. There are many types of potatoes to try, if you only have a small space to dedicate to them,...

Learn About Growing & Harvesting Rhubarb from Maria Bertucci     Rhubarb is one of my favorite plants to grow and harvest in the Pacific Northwest. And let me tell you, there's nothing quite like the taste of homegrown rhubarb in a pie or jam. Trust me, once you start growing and cooking with rhubarb, you'll be hooked. Growing Rhubarb: ...

Learn About Cold Weather Veggies from Maria Bertucci     Many vegetables benefit from getting started in very early spring when the weather is cooler. Many more can be started after the summer solstice in order to hold them to harvest slowly throughout the fall, winter and earliest spring.  Here in the PNW we are lucky enough to have pretty mild...

Plant and enjoy the beauty of container gardens now. Then refresh! After a season, remove the plants from the containers and plant the tree, shrubs and perennials in the landscape and fill the container gardens with summer color!

Winter Hummingbird Food and Plant Options for the Pacific Northwest As gardeners in the Pacific Northwest, we know firsthand how important it is to provide food and shelter for our beloved hummingbirds during the winter months. These tiny birds are a joy to watch as they flit from flower to flower, and we can do our part to help them...

Let’s talk about one of the most beautiful and beloved plants in the Pacific Northwest, the camellia! Not only are they beautiful and low-maintenance, they’re also perfectly suited for our climate. Read on to find out more about why camellias make such great garden additions here in the PNW and how to care for them. Why Camellias Love the PNW...

Winter may be cold and dreary, but it doesn't have to be boring! Living in the Pacific Northwest, I've discovered the joy of planting hellebores, also known as the Lenten or Christmas Rose depending on bloom time.

Create space in the garden for winter blooms and color. Add foliage to light up and silhouette the grey Pacific Northwest Skies. Sasanqua Camellias brighten up winter days with showy flower during December and January. Season fragrances from Daphne and Dawn Viburnum fill the garden with aroma in late winter as textural shrubs and perennials fill the layers around unique...

Fall colors stylize and paint this garden design highlighted with Japanese Maples. Create a woodland walk with natural flagstone through the garden. Finish with a circular seating area with a surface of fine, crushed gravel to create the perfect spot to relax in the garden.   (3) A Japanese Maples Favorites for fall color, choose 3 different verities of Japanese...

When you take your garlic home Open your package immediately and inspect it. If you have any questions or concerns, now is the time to contact us! Leave bags open, and store your garlic in a dark and cool place until you are ready to plant. Don’t store them in plastic or in the refrigerator. Growing   Plant garlic two...

These tropical wonders, with their dinner-plate-sized blooms and tropical appearance, may seem like an impossibility in our perennial landscapes. The truth is, they’re astonishingly easy to grow!

Growing your own citrus can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only do you get a fruit producing tree, but you get intensely fragrant blossoms and an amazing patio plant for the warmer season that becomes a unique houseplant during the winter season. The most common method of growing citrus in PNW is a schedule of 3 seasons outdoors and...