Monthly Archives: April 2012

1 Million People Want to Know

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I grow my own fruits and vegetables for all sorts of reasons. Growing food is fun, rewarding, saves money, and adds amazing taste and beauty into my life. And, for health concerns, I know exactly where my food came from and what went into producing it. So how come I can't have the right to know what's in the food I buy in the store? That's the goal of the Just Label It campaign, which last month submitted a record-breaking 1.1 million signatures to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in favor Read more [...]

Marigolds Keep Aphids Away

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For more information, read the article Controlling Aphids. Recently, I was growing some basil in our testing lab. When I came in after the weekend, I noticed that the plants in several of our containers were infested with aphids, but the basil that I had planted in a windowbox with marigolds were aphid-free. I had always heard that marigolds repel aphids, but now I know it first-hand to be true.—Deborah Miuccio, Gardener's Supply Read more [...]

Four Makeovers for Your Porch

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Before: A great porch makes a canvas for furniture, comfortable cushions and accessories. Looking to breathe new life into your porch or patio? We've created four makeovers that show you how to expand your outdoor living space, create a welcoming setting for summer entertaining and add curb appeal — without spending a fortune! SlideshowColorful cushions and accents transform ho-hum into Wow! See all four makeovers.Start your makeover by mixing and matching colorful cushions to spruce up existing Read more [...]

The Sustainable Bouquet

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Dahlias grown by Dan Pearson of Dan's Dahlias in Oakville, WA. Here, they await pick-up from the buyer at the Seattle Wholesale Grower's Market. Photo: David E. PerrySan Francisco's Baylor Chapman created this boutonniere with foliage from fuzzy lamb's ear, forget-me-not blooms and the fruit and leaves of an alpine strawberry. Photo: David E. PerryWe're swooning over the glorious photos in Debra Prinzing's new book, The 50 Mile Bouquet: Seasonal, Local and Sustainable Flowers (St. Lynn's Press, 2012), Read more [...]

Secret to Tomato Success: Coir

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Tomato Success Kits are lined up to test coir-based planting mixes against traditional planting mixes. Results from our gardens — and from the gardens of testers across the nation — show that our new Eco-co™ Coir is an outstanding addition to container soil mixes. Tomato plants grown in a coir-peat test mix (above left) are more vigorous than plants grown in a traditional peat-based mix (right). The harvest was larger, too. Our Tomato Success Kit has been a favorite for years because Read more [...]

Gardening in Hawaii

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Ann Watson, HawaiiEven though it snowed last week here in northern Vermont, we know the spring planting season is well under way in many parts of the country. One of our customers, who also happens to be a product tester for us, is lucky enough to garden year-round. Ann Watson, from Laie, Hawaii, is also an inspiration. Here is her story: "I have always tried to have a garden wherever I have lived. But after my stroke in 2001, I asked myself how I could continue gardening. At that time, I was paralyzed Read more [...]