Renee's Blog

Tomato Types: Determinate, Semi-Indeterminate or Indeterminate?

Tomato Types: Determinate, Semi-Indeterminate or Indeterminate?

Tomato Vines Have Several Growth Habits: Indeterminate tomato vines continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season until killed by frost or cold, wet weather. They require sturdy, tall stakes or cages for support.

Tomato Types: Determinate, Semi-Indeterminate or Indeterminate?

Tomato Vines Have Several Growth Habits: Indeterminate tomato vines continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season until killed by frost or cold, wet weather. They require sturdy, tall stakes or cages for support.

Orange Poppy Seed Cake

Orange Poppy Seed Cake

Plant poppies soon so you can harvest aromatic fresh poppy seed to make and enjoy this moist and delicious cake. Perfect with tea or coffee for an afternoon break or lunch box snack.Cake Ingredients: 1 cup flour, sifted 1 tsp...

Orange Poppy Seed Cake

Plant poppies soon so you can harvest aromatic fresh poppy seed to make and enjoy this moist and delicious cake. Perfect with tea or coffee for an afternoon break or lunch box snack.Cake Ingredients: 1 cup flour, sifted 1 tsp...

Lavender Shortbread

Lavender Shortbread

These rich but not too sweet shortbread cookies have just a hint of sweet lavender fragrance and flavor. They are perfect to serve with tea, milk or lemonade. I make several batches to divide up and tuck into pretty decorative...

Lavender Shortbread

These rich but not too sweet shortbread cookies have just a hint of sweet lavender fragrance and flavor. They are perfect to serve with tea, milk or lemonade. I make several batches to divide up and tuck into pretty decorative...

Pizza Santa Fe Style

Pizza Santa Fe Style

All the Southwestern flavors in a beautiful quick-to-fix summer pizza treat. One 12 inch pizza crust, ready to bake Sauce: 1 1/2 cups lightly packed cilantro leaves 1/2 cups lightly packed parsley leaves 2 cloves garlic 1 jalapeño chile, halved...

Pizza Santa Fe Style

All the Southwestern flavors in a beautiful quick-to-fix summer pizza treat. One 12 inch pizza crust, ready to bake Sauce: 1 1/2 cups lightly packed cilantro leaves 1/2 cups lightly packed parsley leaves 2 cloves garlic 1 jalapeño chile, halved...

Pumpkin Cobbler

Pumpkin Cobbler

Everyone who tries this delicious dessert likes it better than ordinary pumpkin pie. The crust mixture rises to the top during baking to form a rich topping.Filling: 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup evaporated milk 3 cups cooked mashed pumpkin or...

Pumpkin Cobbler

Everyone who tries this delicious dessert likes it better than ordinary pumpkin pie. The crust mixture rises to the top during baking to form a rich topping.Filling: 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup evaporated milk 3 cups cooked mashed pumpkin or...

Fresh Tomato Corn Soup

Fresh Tomato Corn Soup

The combined flavors of fresh sweet corn, tomatoes and herbs are unbeatable in this simple, light soup. 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 11/2 cups chopped onions 2 pounds fresh tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped 11/2 tablespoons...

Fresh Tomato Corn Soup

The combined flavors of fresh sweet corn, tomatoes and herbs are unbeatable in this simple, light soup. 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 11/2 cups chopped onions 2 pounds fresh tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped 11/2 tablespoons...

Tomato and Red Lentil Soup

Tomato and Red Lentil Soup

Even though spring is clearly on its way, there are still a lot of chilly, windy days that call for enjoying some warming soup. Here is an unusual and delicious soup recipe from my newest cookbook.I originally served this soup...

Tomato and Red Lentil Soup

Even though spring is clearly on its way, there are still a lot of chilly, windy days that call for enjoying some warming soup. Here is an unusual and delicious soup recipe from my newest cookbook.I originally served this soup...

Fresh Kale Salad With Peanut And Lime Dressing

Fresh Kale Salad With Peanut And Lime Dressing

A surefire crowd pleaser! The lively dressing showcases nutritious, crunchy fresh kale in an especially tasty and colorful salad. A fine first course or appetizing lunch dish. 1 large bunch kale, center ribs removed, leaves cut into very thin ribbons...

Fresh Kale Salad With Peanut And Lime Dressing

A surefire crowd pleaser! The lively dressing showcases nutritious, crunchy fresh kale in an especially tasty and colorful salad. A fine first course or appetizing lunch dish. 1 large bunch kale, center ribs removed, leaves cut into very thin ribbons...

How To Grow and Harvest Saffron

How To Grow and Harvest Saffron

Lindsay shows you how to plant, grow and harvest saffron, the world's most expensive spice! Easy to grow in the garden or containers, this fall blooming flower yields brilliant orange-red stigmas that are the source of the aromatic and exotic...

How To Grow and Harvest Saffron

Lindsay shows you how to plant, grow and harvest saffron, the world's most expensive spice! Easy to grow in the garden or containers, this fall blooming flower yields brilliant orange-red stigmas that are the source of the aromatic and exotic...

Growing Alpine Strawberries From Seed

Growing Alpine Strawberries From Seed

Step-by-step instructions on how to start and grow petite Alpine strawberries from seed. You'll have lots of very attractive mounding perennial plants that yield scrumptious, jewel-like red little berries with exquisite sweet flavor all season, year after year.

Growing Alpine Strawberries From Seed

Step-by-step instructions on how to start and grow petite Alpine strawberries from seed. You'll have lots of very attractive mounding perennial plants that yield scrumptious, jewel-like red little berries with exquisite sweet flavor all season, year after year.

Growing Leeks From Seed

Growing Leeks From Seed

The best techniques for starting leeks from seed and transplanting seedlings properly. Follow Lindsay's directions to grow vigorous leeks into big, tall plants with tender and juicy white stalks, that can be harvested over a long period and enjoyed in...

Growing Leeks From Seed

The best techniques for starting leeks from seed and transplanting seedlings properly. Follow Lindsay's directions to grow vigorous leeks into big, tall plants with tender and juicy white stalks, that can be harvested over a long period and enjoyed in...

Grow Dahlias From Seed

Grow Dahlias From Seed

Easily start dahlias from seed by either sowing directly into the garden (mild climates) or starting seeds early indoors for later transplant (cold winter climates). Lindsay shows you exactly how to use both methods and then how to prepare your...

Grow Dahlias From Seed

Easily start dahlias from seed by either sowing directly into the garden (mild climates) or starting seeds early indoors for later transplant (cold winter climates). Lindsay shows you exactly how to use both methods and then how to prepare your...

Plant, Grow and Harvest Great Garlic

Plant, Grow and Harvest Great Garlic

Lindsay explains all the steps involved in planting, growing, and harvesting big, juicy heads of plump garlic cloves. She shows how to break up the planting garlic heads into individual cloves, prepare the garden bed, plant the cloves and how...

Plant, Grow and Harvest Great Garlic

Lindsay explains all the steps involved in planting, growing, and harvesting big, juicy heads of plump garlic cloves. She shows how to break up the planting garlic heads into individual cloves, prepare the garden bed, plant the cloves and how...

Growing Yard Long Noodle King Beans

Growing Yard Long Noodle King Beans

Lindsay demos how to sow and grow our weather-tolerant Yard Long Asian bean variety 'Noodle King.' She shows you exactly how to train the vigorous vines to climb a trellis, where the climbing vines bear amazingly long, slender beans, so...

Growing Yard Long Noodle King Beans

Lindsay demos how to sow and grow our weather-tolerant Yard Long Asian bean variety 'Noodle King.' She shows you exactly how to train the vigorous vines to climb a trellis, where the climbing vines bear amazingly long, slender beans, so...

Growing Incredible Escalator Climbing Zucchini

Growing Incredible Escalator Climbing Zucchini

How to sow, grow, and train these unique climbing squash vines up a trellis where they will produce an abundance of luscious, tender-fleshed zucchini. Climbing escalator vines yield abundant harvests of delicious deep green zucchinis you can find and pick...

Growing Incredible Escalator Climbing Zucchini

How to sow, grow, and train these unique climbing squash vines up a trellis where they will produce an abundance of luscious, tender-fleshed zucchini. Climbing escalator vines yield abundant harvests of delicious deep green zucchinis you can find and pick...

Sowing, Growing And Harvesting Delicious Pak Choi

Sowing, Growing And Harvesting Delicious Pak Choi

Lindsay Del Carlo demonstrates step-by-step how to successfully sow, thin, grow and harvest plump, juicy Pak Choi – an easy, great tasting, and highly nutritious veggie to grow in spring and when the weather cools at summer's end for abundant fall...

Sowing, Growing And Harvesting Delicious Pak Choi

Lindsay Del Carlo demonstrates step-by-step how to successfully sow, thin, grow and harvest plump, juicy Pak Choi – an easy, great tasting, and highly nutritious veggie to grow in spring and when the weather cools at summer's end for abundant fall...

Pinching Basil to Promote Long Harvests

Pinching Basil to Promote Long Harvests

Everyone loves basil (we carry 13 varieties) for its wonderful flavor and fragrance. Each season we look forward to growing an abundance of basil in our trial garden to use in everyday cooking, delicious fresh pesto sauce and aromatic herbal...

Pinching Basil to Promote Long Harvests

Everyone loves basil (we carry 13 varieties) for its wonderful flavor and fragrance. Each season we look forward to growing an abundance of basil in our trial garden to use in everyday cooking, delicious fresh pesto sauce and aromatic herbal...

Growing Great Crafter's Gourds

Growing Great Crafter's Gourds

Growing Crafter’s Gourds is both easy and rewarding if you follow some simple guidelines. Gourds need full sun and fertile soil, hot weather and a long growing season to reach full maturity. They are vining plants that look great twining...

Growing Great Crafter's Gourds

Growing Crafter’s Gourds is both easy and rewarding if you follow some simple guidelines. Gourds need full sun and fertile soil, hot weather and a long growing season to reach full maturity. They are vining plants that look great twining...

Organic Garden Management: Part 1

Organic Garden Management: Part 1

Many of our newer gardening customers want to garden organically, so I've asked our Trial Garden manager Lindsay Del Carlo to write the next few blog posts to share our own organic gardening techniques. Here is the first post focusing...

Organic Garden Management: Part 1

Many of our newer gardening customers want to garden organically, so I've asked our Trial Garden manager Lindsay Del Carlo to write the next few blog posts to share our own organic gardening techniques. Here is the first post focusing...

Organic Garden Management: Part 2

Organic Garden Management: Part 2

Many of our newer gardening customers want to garden organically, so I've asked our Trial Garden manager Lindsay Del Carlo to write the next few blog posts to share our own organic gardening techniques. Here is the second post focusing...

Organic Garden Management: Part 2

Many of our newer gardening customers want to garden organically, so I've asked our Trial Garden manager Lindsay Del Carlo to write the next few blog posts to share our own organic gardening techniques. Here is the second post focusing...

How To Grow Cilantro For Longer Harvesting

How To Grow Cilantro For Longer Harvesting

A step-by-step demo from Lindsay on how to grow cilantro from seed for the best and longest harvests of this indispensable leafy kitchen garden favorite.

How To Grow Cilantro For Longer Harvesting

A step-by-step demo from Lindsay on how to grow cilantro from seed for the best and longest harvests of this indispensable leafy kitchen garden favorite.

How To Grow Golden California Poppies

How To Grow Golden California Poppies

Lindsay shows how to sow and grow a long-blooming carpet of dancing California Poppies.

How To Grow Golden California Poppies

Lindsay shows how to sow and grow a long-blooming carpet of dancing California Poppies.

Grow Big, Beautiful Zinnias From Seed

Grow Big, Beautiful Zinnias From Seed

Lindsay demonstrates planting, thinning, growing and picking perfect zinnias from seed.

Grow Big, Beautiful Zinnias From Seed

Lindsay demonstrates planting, thinning, growing and picking perfect zinnias from seed.

Growing Your Carefree Sunflower Garden

Growing Your Carefree Sunflower Garden

How to prepare the soil bed, sow and grow our carefree heirloom sunflower mix to give you armfuls of bouquets, feed bees and butterflies and produce oil-rich seeds to sustain songbirds.

Growing Your Carefree Sunflower Garden

How to prepare the soil bed, sow and grow our carefree heirloom sunflower mix to give you armfuls of bouquets, feed bees and butterflies and produce oil-rich seeds to sustain songbirds.

How And Why To Plant Cover Crop

How And Why To Plant Cover Crop

We explain growing a cover crop to enrich and protect your soil, and demonstrate how to sow our Cover Crop Scatter Garden Seeds in a raised garden bed for best results.

How And Why To Plant Cover Crop

We explain growing a cover crop to enrich and protect your soil, and demonstrate how to sow our Cover Crop Scatter Garden Seeds in a raised garden bed for best results.

Sow and Grow Baby Lettuce in Containers

Sow and Grow Baby Lettuce in Containers

Our easy technique for planting, growing and harvesting baby lettuce in containers for continuous delicious fresh salads.

Sow and Grow Baby Lettuce in Containers

Our easy technique for planting, growing and harvesting baby lettuce in containers for continuous delicious fresh salads.

Growing Trombetta Climbing Summer Squash

Growing Trombetta Climbing Summer Squash

How to grow this Italian heirloom climbing summer squash that tastes like firm-fleshed, nutty-flavored zucchini. Easily vines up any fence or trellis to effortlessly produce curvy elongated fruits to enjoy all season.

Growing Trombetta Climbing Summer Squash

How to grow this Italian heirloom climbing summer squash that tastes like firm-fleshed, nutty-flavored zucchini. Easily vines up any fence or trellis to effortlessly produce curvy elongated fruits to enjoy all season.

Important Tips For Growing Cucumbers

Important Tips For Growing Cucumbers

When you plant is important: wait until the nights are staying at least 50º F (10° C). to start seeds in the garden; too cool and you won’t get successful germination and good growth. It’s wise to cover them with...

Important Tips For Growing Cucumbers

When you plant is important: wait until the nights are staying at least 50º F (10° C). to start seeds in the garden; too cool and you won’t get successful germination and good growth. It’s wise to cover them with...

Grow Healthy, Pest Free Organic Brassicas

Grow Healthy, Pest Free Organic Brassicas

Expert techniques for successfully growing healthy brassicas in your garden.

Grow Healthy, Pest Free Organic Brassicas

Expert techniques for successfully growing healthy brassicas in your garden.

How To Grow Long Keeping Winter Squash

How To Grow Long Keeping Winter Squash

Lindsay shows step by step how to grow long keeping winter squash in your garden.

How To Grow Long Keeping Winter Squash

Lindsay shows step by step how to grow long keeping winter squash in your garden.

How To Grow Watermelon Radish

How To Grow Watermelon Radish

We show you how to plant, tend, harvest and enjoy beautiful, tasty watermelon radishes.

How To Grow Watermelon Radish

We show you how to plant, tend, harvest and enjoy beautiful, tasty watermelon radishes.

Sowing and Growing Beekeeper's Mix

Sowing and Growing Beekeeper's Mix

Go step by step with Lindsay through the process of sowing and growing our beekeeper's flower seed mix to attract, feed and nurture bees and pollinators all summer long.

Sowing and Growing Beekeeper's Mix

Go step by step with Lindsay through the process of sowing and growing our beekeeper's flower seed mix to attract, feed and nurture bees and pollinators all summer long.

Pruning Lavender for Shape and Beauty

Pruning Lavender for Shape and Beauty

All about how to keep lavender plants in shape, so they are reinvigorated, pushing new growth, and stay balanced and beautiful. Shop For Lavender

Pruning Lavender for Shape and Beauty

All about how to keep lavender plants in shape, so they are reinvigorated, pushing new growth, and stay balanced and beautiful. Shop For Lavender

How To Grow Giant Sunflowers

How To Grow Giant Sunflowers

Expert techniques for successfully growing gorgeous giant sunflowers.

How To Grow Giant Sunflowers

Expert techniques for successfully growing gorgeous giant sunflowers.

Preparing And Making Lavender Sachets

Preparing And Making Lavender Sachets

Lindsay shows you how to clean and prepare your lavender and make lovely, fragrant sachets for gifts as well as home use.

Preparing And Making Lavender Sachets

Lindsay shows you how to clean and prepare your lavender and make lovely, fragrant sachets for gifts as well as home use.

Protecting Veggie Beds from Birds, Squirrels & More

Protecting Veggie Beds from Birds, Squirrels & More

Lindsay shares her techniques for creating a bird proof garden bed that also keeps out other creatures.

Protecting Veggie Beds from Birds, Squirrels & More

Lindsay shares her techniques for creating a bird proof garden bed that also keeps out other creatures.