Gardening

Heirloom Brandywine Tomatoes

Heirloom Brandywine Tomatoes

The heirlooms are finally here. Every year I plant several different heirloom tomato plants. This year they went in the ground early, grew lush and green, set lots of tomatoes, and then everything stopped. I don't have hardly any ripe tomatoes and now many of the...

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Cucumber Plants

Cucumber Plants

Cucumbers are taking over the garden! This year I planted several different kinds of cucumbers. In fact, I just used leftover seed from last year and the year before, not really sure if they would germinate and grow. No fear - they are growing like wildfire. Good...

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Are Hybrid and GMO Seeds the Same?

What is the difference between hybrid seeds for my garden and GMO seeds? What Are Hybrid Seeds? Hybrids are plants that better than either of their parents. For example, the Jonagold apple is a sweet and crisp like its Golden Delicious parent, but with a touch of...

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5 Tips for Growing a Garden in a Drought Year

5 Tips for Growing a Garden in a Drought Year

Even in a drought year, it is still possible to grow a lush, low water garden. The Mid-Columbia region in eastern Washington is home to commercial fruit orchards, large and small vineyards, acres of potatoes, carrots, asparagus, and onions, and legions of backyard...

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5 Reasons to Plant a Backyard Garden This Year

5 Reasons to Plant a Backyard Garden This Year

Grow your own food in a backyard vegetable garden. It's time to plan our backyard garden. Yes, even those of you who are still snowed in to the eaves! Spring will be here sooner or later, and the best way to welcome spring is to lovingly plant seeds in the ground. If...

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5 Great Gifts for Garden Enthusiasts

5 Great Gifts for Garden Enthusiasts

Is there a gardener on your list who is suffering from off-season withdrawal? I know just how they feel. Already I yearn to dig in the earth, plant green seedlings, and plan my dinner based on what is ripe in the garden. Sadly the earth is frozen, seedlings wouldn't...

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7 Lessons From My Garden

7 Lessons From My Garden

Are you a long-time gardener? Me too. Like me, you might consider yourself an expert. After all, isn't that what an expert is - someone who practices the same thing over and over?  So you might think that I would have this backyard gardening thing down. But expert or...

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Portland Farmers’ Market

Portland Farmers’ Market

Last weekend we made our summer trek to one of my favorite cities - Portland, Oregon. As usual we had a wonderful time, visiting old haunts like Powell's Bookstore and the Saturday Market and a new-to-us venue, the PSU Farmers' Market. What a charming event! The...

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Backyard Peach Tree

Backyard Peach Tree

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing. John Keats My Red Haven Peach tree ready to be...

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the confident canner