With the gardening season fresh upon us, these helpful resources may come in handy now. Here are free gardening tips for growing foods — from arugula to winter squash — as well as ornamental plants. You’ll find recipes for using edible flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables in your kitchen.  There is advice for the best burning woods for fires, and an invigorating bath oil infused with aromatic pine needles, plus more…

These resources will get your garden, food and seasonal lifestyle off to a good start.

Recently, I realized that many Seasonal Wisdom readers weren’t aware of the gardening and food articles I’ve been writing as one of eight members of the Fiskars National Garden Authors Team.

These articles address the same types of organic gardening tips, healthy lifestyle projects and food recipes that we do at Seasonal Wisdom.  Below are stories organized by various topics to make them easier to find.

I hope you enjoy these gardening tips, healthy recipes and seasonal lifestyle resources. And – as always – let us know what you think! Happy gardening…

Growing Plants from Seeds

Six Questions to Ask Before Buying Seeds

Easy Plants to Grow from Seeds Sown Outdoors

Growing Poppies from Seeds

Growing Edible and Ornamental Plants 

Arugula

Begonias Indoors

Bromeliads

Chive, Rose and Viola Flowers to Eat

Fabulous Plants with Fall Flowers

Fall Foliage Plants for Containers

Heirloom Vegetables (4)

Ivy Indoors

Peace Lilies

Salad Greens

Six Xeric Plants (herbs and flowers)

Winter Squash

Seasonal Recipes and Food Advice 

Arugula Pistachio Pesto with Asiago Cheese

Delicious Flavored Butters

Fall Fruit Cobbler

Freeze it! Quick Tips for Freezing Foods

Fun Ways to Freeze Flowers and Herbs

Fruit Liquors

Garden-Fresh Recipes for Kids

Healthy Sauteed Greens

Herbal Infused Honeys

Hungarian Apple Soup

Stuffed Acorn Squash

Three Ways to Serve Peppers

General Gardening Tips

Compost This, Not That

Gardener’s Winter Survival Guide

Getting in Shape for Gardening

Help a Hungry Neighbor, Share Your Harvest

How to Read a Fertilizer Label

New Year’s Resolutions for Gardeners

Seven Ways to Save Water in Garden

Ten Holiday Gifts for Gardeners

The Language of Flowers

Thomas Jefferson and Why Garden Journals Matter

Unusual and Fun Container Garden Ideas

Miscellaneous Resources

Best Burning Woods for Fires

Christmas Tree-Infused Bath Oil (beauty recipe)

Making Place Cards for Thanksgiving

The post Free Gardening Tips, Food Recipes and More appeared first on Seasonal Wisdom.

Garden fountains made a big splash at the 2013 Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle recently. That’s why Seasonal Wisdom is delighted to announce a special drawing with SerenityHealth.com, just as the gardening season begins in earnest.

Here’s your chance to win a Flower of France Solar Outdoor Wall Fountain, valued at approximately $225. But hurry! This giveaway ends at midnight on Friday, May 3, 2013. This giveaway is over. Congratulations to Jennifer of Winter Park, Florida for winning.

The Prize: Imagine sitting in the garden enjoying the soft sounds of your solar-powered garden fountain.  When placed in a sunny spot and the battery is fully charged, this Flower of France Solar Outdoor Fountain by Serenity Health will flow for four hours without electricity.

The fountain is also convenient for small or urban gardens too.  Depending on your needs, this fountain can be hung from a wall, or set on the floor of your deck, patio or any level ground against a wall.

Plus, you can power the fountain with solar energy or the convenient on/off battery back-up source. Measuring 29.6 inches high by 18.6 inches wide and 11.2 inches deep, this attractive fountain has a one year manufacturer’s warranty.

With all these great features, you can see why Seasonal Wisdom was so excited when the Serenity Health folks approached me about hosting a giveaway of this cool product.

Enter to Win

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This prize package was provided at no charge to Seasonal Wisdom. However, I was not paid to run this promotion, and my opinions are strictly my own.

Good luck everyone! Don’t forget to enter before midnight on Friday, May 3, 2013.

Please note this giveaway is only available to U.S. residents. Don’t forget to check your spam folders, in case you win! This giveaway is now over. Congratulations to Jennifer from Winter Park, Florida for winning.

See more gorgeous garden fountain ideas from the Northwest Flower & Garden Show.

The post Win a Solar-Powered Garden Fountain! appeared first on Seasonal Wisdom.

Looking for a garden design that provides plenty of outdoor places to escape for the entire family? Take an armchair tour of this award-winning Urban Castaways garden design from the 2013 Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle.

From a soothing waterfall to sophisticated spots for adults to a fun play area for kids, this versatile garden has it all. Even an outhouse!

Imagine yourself shaded from the summer sun with this cool pergola, while you enjoy a book out by the soothing water feature. In the near distance, you can hear the kids playing happily … but it may feel like a million miles away. Click on photos to make larger.

This fun garden was built by Dakara Landscape Design, Green Touch General Contractor and Moon Shadows Landscape Lighting. It was awarded a Silver Medal at the Northwest Flower and Garden show, which is the nation’s second largest show of its type.

Inspired by the movie “Castaway” with Tom Hanks, this garden has plenty of things to do if you find yourself marooned here.

To the right of the pergola is a nice sized play area for kids. Featured are:

• A table and chairs made from an old tree
• A sandbox made from a rowboat
• A teeter totter made from a boat oar

In the background is a comfy hammock for a sunny afternoon.

With so many fun outdoor options, it’ll be easier to keep the kids in the garden – not stuck inside in front of the TV.  Why kids should garden.  And expert gift advice for getting kids to garden.

An absolutely adorable outhouse completes the castaways experience.  I’m not sure how the owners are supposed to use that bell. But maybe it means, “Hurry up and enjoy this gorgeous weather.”

Learn more about the Northwest Flower and Garden Show.

More! See clever ideas from the show about using water features and naturalistic styles in the garden.

The post A Garden Hideaway Design for the Entire Family appeared first on Seasonal Wisdom.

From traditional garden fountains to contemporary styles, such as this one above, water treatments were making a splash at the 2013 Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle recently.

Regardless of your design style, you’ll find a good mix of fountains in this post. Come take a look and see for yourself…

My favorite parts of attending the 2013 Northwest Flower and Garden Show – besides giving a talk on vertical gardening – included hearing all the other great talks and visiting the amazing demonstration gardens.

Nearly every garden had a water treatment of some type, each different in its own way. For example, this contemporary fountain came from the California Dreaming garden, designed by Under the Arbor Landscape Design. The cool fountain wall itself came from Falling Water Designs.

Don’t you think it would make a great privacy wall for a contempory home or restaurant? (Click on photos to enlarge them.)

This charming garden features tulips, azaleas, primroses, daffodils and other romantic spring flowers. The traditional, two-tiered fountain here is closely linked to the feminine style of this garden.

This Pillow Talk garden, designed by Wight’s Home and Garden, is inspired by the popular 1959 movie with Doris Day and Rock Hudson. The pastel-colored, wildly-romantic garden would have been owned by Doris Day.

Next door is Rock Hudson’s garden. Notice how the warm neutral colors in his office are spotlighted by the crisp, sophisticated garden design in white and green.

Naturally, “his” fountain is more modern and streamlined. (We are talking about 1959 stereotypes, after all.) Wicker and metal adorn his contemporary fountain, while a planter box grows yarrow on top.

A closer look at his serene gardens shows white hyacinths, tulips and other flowers growing wildly together.

Over at the Beach Garden designed by Plantswoman Design, two striking water columns by the garden shed are uplit and surrounded by spring flowers.

Near the bottom of the water treatment are spring flowering plants, including Narcissus ‘Barret Browning’ and Helleborus Winter Jewel Series.

Prefer to “boogie down” in your garden? This Disco Fever garden by Susan Browne and Issaquah Landscaping may just give you a “Saturday Night Fever.”

The formal stone pond has two dazzling disco balls that will have you lusting after leisure suits and bell bottoms.

To get you in the mood, the outside floor tiles change colors in tune with the music. This makes this Seventies Retro garden an ideal place to “get down” and have a little fun.

A small demonstration garden by Molbak’s Garden and Home was one of my favorites.  Along with this classic lion fountain, there are wonderful plants in hot orange, black, lime green and salmon pink.

From orange bromeliads to black mondo grass and lime-green asparagus ferns, this little garden bursts with life and good cheer. Even on a cloudy Seattle day, you can’t help but smile when seeing it.

The Renewal: Enchanted April in the Northwest garden features this attractive, space-saving water feature made of glass and iron. A planter, bursting with leafy plants, sits on top.

Designed by Jim Honold, Home and Garden Art, the garden is “fenced in” with a playful fence topped with glass spheres.

At the western part of It’s All In The Movies garden sits this simple rock fountain, which looks like it has been here forever.

All you need is a nice firepit under the stars and some comfy chairs for lounging, with maybe a couple horses grazing in a nearby pasture.

No doubt John Wayne would feel right at home in this garden created by the Washington Association of Landscape Professionals.

Looking for something more naturalistic? How about a real “river” running through your property?

This four-season garden – appropriately named A River Runs Through It – was created by Evergreen Landscaping and Ponds.

The animals aren’t real in this photo, but the garden looks like the perfect setting for outdoor enthusiasts. It reminds us how Mother Nature can be a great inspiration for our home gardens.

 Want More?

Don’t forget to read my trend report on how rocks, wood and innovative plants starred at the 2013 Northwest Garden and Flower Show. The above rock fountain was created by Butchart Gardens.

Also, don’t miss my upcoming show report with creative garden designs for your own home. Coming soon!

Meanwhile, how are you using water features to add excitement in your garden?

All photos and content copyright Seasonal Wisdom.

The post Fountains Make Splash at 2013 Northwest Flower and Garden Show appeared first on Seasonal Wisdom.

Rocks, natural woods and plants with four-season appeal played starring roles at the recent 2013 Northwest Flower & Garden Show.  This Asian-inspired garden was just one of several naturalistic demonstration gardens that helped visitors forget they were indoors on a chilly February day in Seattle.

Find garden ideas for your home by seeing how these talented landscape designers used stones, woods, evergreens and other natural elements to create a wide variety of garden spaces. Take a tour …

At the 2013 Northwest Flower and Garden Show, I was delighted to speak on vertical gardening, as well as enjoy all the great demonstration gardens and presentations. Here are several clever uses of rocks, natural woods and plantings from the show.

The quiet beauty of this IP Man garden, designed by Iftikhar Ahmed of TreeLine Designz International, creates a Zen-like setting worthy of a legendary martial arts master.  (Click on photos to enlarge them.) 

Bonsai, bamboo and even tulips are combined with rocks, boulders and stones to create a serene place for meditation and quiet conversation.

A living roof adorns the master’s wooden building, while stone benches provide seating for contemplation. A giant boulder adds a dramatic focal point, especially when uplit at night.

Conifers, bamboos and bonsais bring different shades of green and gold to the four-season garden.  A variety of decorative art compliment the Asian design.

From pots and sculptures to boulders and bonsais, each item is placed to provide the best view from different spots in the garden.

Rare, wild and little-seen plant species are treasured and protected in The Lost Gardener, an exotic garden design by RHR Horticulture – Landwave Gardens.

Rocks and boulders of all sizes create a wild, natural setting reminiscent of movies like Jurassic Park and Raiders of the Last Ark.

A contemporary garden wall is created with large slabs of rock in gray-purple and mauve.  Shrubs and plants with four-season interest soften the overall effect.

Even the light fixtures look like giant, uncut crystals. Don’t you think?

Behind that cool privacy wall is a cozy wine garden.

A trio of majestic boulders create a focal point with smaller boulders underneath, and evergreens and shrubs scattered around.  Giant slabs of wood make tables well suited in this nature-based wine bar, while square wooden chairs add a modern touch to the overall look.

Bergenia ‘Abendglut’ and other beach-hardy plants snuggle up to boulders, rocks and driftwood in this private Beach Garden designed by Plantswoman Design.

Although this garden was created in just a few days, these succulents look like they have grown next to these massive boulders for years.

A giant rock becomes the inspiration for this fountain by Butchart Gardens. The natural setting makes it hard to believe this pretty little garden is located inside a busy convention center.

Speaking of fountains, I spotted lots of diverse ones at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show this year. I’ll share those with you next … And I found a bunch of clever design ideas that will help you create great outdoor spaces at home. I’ll share those soon too.

How are you using rocks, woods and plants with four-season interest in your garden?

See garden trends from 2012 Northwest Flower & Garden Show.

 All photos and content copyright Seasonal Wisdom.

The post Naturalistic Garden Trends at 2013 Northwest Flower and Garden Show appeared first on Seasonal Wisdom.

Baby, it’s cold outside. As I make up this Slow-Cooker Frosty Day Stew, the day’s high temperature will stay below 20 degrees F.  With hardy vegetables like purple potatoes, baby turnips, mushrooms and kale, this Frosty Day stew will take the chill off the cold weather until spring finally arrives.

Best of all, this healthy and delicious stew could not be easier to make, and you can forget about the meal while it cooks slowly for hours, filling your home with wonderful smells.

This Seasonal Wisdom Slow-Cooker Frosty Day Stew recipe is easily adaptable, so you can use fresh vegetables and spices available seasonally and locally.  Purple potatoes, orange carrots, green celery, white turnips and multi-colored kale allow this meal to be a colorful one, and that’s a good thing says Everyday Health.

Each of these colors has different nutrients and phytochemicals to keep you healthy. By eating a rainbow of colors with your meals, you can ensure you’re eating different types of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Today, I focused on winter vegetables, but this stew could be modified easily with warmer weather foods like tomatoes, eggplants and squashes. I also featured local grass-fed beef, grown from a nearby rancher.

Pasture-raised animals have lower saturated fat, cholesterol and calories than ordinary feedlot animals. At the same time, these grass-fed animals are higher in vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin E and healthy fats such as the omega-3 fatty acids. Find local grass-fed beef at Eat Wild. This beef can be replaced with lamb, pork or chicken. Or, it can be left out completely for a vegetarian meal.

Slow-Cooker Frosty Day Stew

Ingredients:

4 potatoes, chopped (I used purple potatoes)

3 carrots, sliced

3 celery stalks, sliced

1 medium sized yellow onion, chopped

2 to 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or smashed

6 little white turnips, chopped

8 crimini mushrooms, chopped

Big bunch of kale, destemmed and chopped

1 ½ pounds of stew meat, cut in small pieces (I used local grass-fed beef)

1 cup of red wine

3 cups of stock (I used beef stock, but vegetable stock works too)

2 teaspoons of mixed Italian herbs

1 teaspoon cumin

Salt and pepper to taste

1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil

Directions:

1)      Mix meat with half the Italian herbs, half the cumin, and salt and pepper.

2)      Heat olive oil to medium in a frying pan, and brown meat pieces slowly on each side with a little onion. Grass-fed beef cooks faster, so use a slightly lower temperature and be careful not to overcook. Brown meat in a single layer, in batches for best results. Set aside browned meat.

3)      In the crockpot layer remaining onion, garlic, potatoes, carrots, celery, turnips and mushrooms. Add remaining Italian herbs, cumin and salt and pepper. Slowly pour the wine and stock into the crockpot.

4)      Add the browned meat on top. Top completely with the kale.

5)      Cook stew covered in a crock pot for at least 4 to 5 hours on high, and 2 to 3 hours on low. You should be able to cut the beef with a spoon, and the aroma should be making everyone in the house starving.  You can also cook this stew on low all day long, so it’s ready when you come home from work.

Serving Size: You’ll have enough for leftovers for two people, or just enough for a warm meal for four.

Enjoy this recipe, and feel free to experiment with the vegetables and spices. Be sure to let me know how it turns out for you. Bon Appetit!

The post Recipe: Slow-Cooker Frosty Day Stew appeared first on Seasonal Wisdom.

From simple trellises to spectacular living walls, vertical gardening solutions are the subject of Seasonal Wisdom’s upcoming talk at the 2013 Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle, Washington.  This stunning design by Jason Doran of WGLandscape.com – created for his chicken coop! – is just one of the amazing garden ideas you’ll hear about during my talk.

There’s also a chance to win 10 Fiskars garden tools and the new Vertical Vegetable Gardening book from Chris McLaughlin! Even if you can’t come to the show, you’ll find vertical gardening resources in this post that will help you grow up…

The 2013 Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Feb. 20-24, 2013, is the nation’s second largest garden show. It’s a a wonderful visual and aromatic treat during winter’s dormant time.  To celebrate its 25^th anniversary, the show will feature a Hollywood theme this year. I can’t wait to see it!

Located at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, the Northwest Flower & Garden Show is packed with more than 300 exhibitors and the largest roster of garden speakers in the world.

Along with “yours truly,” you’ll find a wide variety of talented speakers, ranging from Leaf Magazine co-founder Susan Cohan to best-selling book author Amy Stewart .

Plus, the display gardens are wonderful. See for yourself in this Seasonal Wisdom post about garden trends I spotted at the 2012 Northwest Flower & Garden Show.  This post was one of the most popular on Seasonal Wisdom last year.

Vertical gardening solutions are highlighted in this story too. An example is the above Ravenna Gardens 2012 display with ultra-modern wall bubble terrariums, colorful mosses and air plants.

California home using WoollyPocket.com

In my talk – Up in the Air! Vertical Gardening Solutions – Feb. 21, 2013; 10:45 AM; Hood Room; you’ll hear about:

• Noteworthy vertical gardens across the world (including several in the Seattle area)
• Expert tips on vertical gardening from well-known garden designers and book authors
• Easy DIY ideas, as well as a variety of retail options for ornamental or edible gardens
• Advice for growing healthy vertical gardens, including challenges and opportunities

Can’t attend the show? You can still learn about vertical gardening:

• Vertical gardening guest post by Seasonal Wisdom for Bing
• Living walls guest post by Robin Horton of Urban Gardens
• Garden Up! Book review

Vertical succulent wall by Butchart Gardens for 2012 show

Enter to win! As one of Fiskars national garden authors, I’ll be hosting a giveaway of TEN Fiskars® tools during my talk, which are great for vertical gardening.

Some of the tools include the PowerGear® UltraBlade® Bypass Pruners ($29.99).

And, the PowerGear® UltraBlade® Anvil Lopper ($42.99).

Plus, I’ll be giving away a copy of the new book called Vertical Vegetable Gardening by my friend Chris McLaughlin. It features practical growing tips and inexpensive DIY ideas for growing vegetables in vertical spaces.

At my talk, you’ll hear how Chris built that spice rack for veggies, herbs and strawberries on the cover of her book. More information can be found at her popular blog – A Suburban Farmer.

Hope to see you at the 2013 Northwest Flower & Garden Show on Feb. 21, 2013 at 10:45 AM!

Check back here for more vertical gardening information in upcoming months. What’s your favorite ways to grow up in the garden?

Disclosure: All prizes were provided at no charge, which allows me to pass them on to the lucky gardeners who will win the random drawing during my talk at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show. Good luck all!

The post Vertical Gardens Talk at 2013 Northwest Flower & Garden Show appeared first on Seasonal Wisdom.

Growing and harvesting vegetables all four seasons of the year is only a dream for many cold climate gardeners. And that’s exactly what Niki Jabbour of Nova Scotia, Canada is trying to change.

Her book, The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener (Storey Publishing) proves you can grow your own food, 365 days of the year, no matter where you live. After all, her garden is “perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean in the Great White North,” as she writes in her book. And just look at the greens she’s growing in December!

Seasonal Wisdom sat down with Niki to get more advice on four-season vegetable gardening, and learn about her award-winning book. Enter to win a free copy of this book by midnight on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013. Congratulations to Sarah from Texas for winning this book!

The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener  caught my eye the minute I heard about this book. Excuse the pun, but I was really hungry for information on growing food in my own winter garden.

It’s no secret that Seasonal Wisdom is a fan of local and homegrown foods. So, imagine being able to eat locally and seasonally from your own garden in a cold climate like Canada? Needless to say, I was intrigued.

Over the last year, Niki and I have become friends through social media tools like Twitter and Facebook, as well as our garden writing community. And I even helped her a bit with her next book.  But first things first … let’s get back to the idea of four-season food gardening and this great book that you could win.

The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener taught me a lot about how the growing season can be extended from an early jump start in the spring to fall planning for winter harvests.  Even after all these years of vegetable gardening, I find this book is one of those garden resources I’ll reach for again and again.

Winner of the 2012 American Horticultural Society Book Award, the 247-page book is packed with gorgeous four-color photography, as well as practical and inexpensive ways to grow vegetables all four seasons.

From getting an early start in spring to picking vegetables in winter, Niki walks you through a calendar that makes these ongoing harvests possible.

Part 1 explains how to stretch the growing season effectively using everything from cloches to row covers and homemade hoop tunnels, such as the uncovered frame shown in the garden above. There’s also great advice on intensive planting, prepping the soil and designing effective gardens.

Part 2 describes how to grow a wide variety of different vegetables and herbs. Plus, Niki provides a helpful planting schedule for each crop, as well as her favorite varieties.

You can even learn how to make a mini hoop tunnel similar to these covered with plastic.

When winter comes, the mini hoop tunnels can be used to grow a wide variety of taller vegetables, such as kale and leeks.

Niki gives great tips for succession planting and interplanting, so you can fit more in your garden spaces. She even tells you how to make these attractive cold frames, shown in early-spring.

In winter, these cold frames are still packed with a wide variety of foods. Can you imagine how nice it must be to harvest spicy greens, kales and lettuces, even in the snow?

Conversation with the Author

Niki recently sat down with me to discuss the book and all-year gardening. Here’s what she had to share:

1) What inspired you to write a book about four season gardening?

Answer:I grew up with a veggie garden, but it was a typical short season garden that gave us only a few months of homegrown harvest – peas, tomatoes, carrots, beets, corn and my favorite – yellow beans! Over the years I’ve had fun experimenting with countless crops, pushing my season to extend for as long as possible. Now, we are able to enjoy a year-round harvest and I wanted to share my successes – and failures! – with other gardeners.

2) Why do you think more gardeners don’t grow vegetables all year long?

Answer: I don’t think a lot of gardeners know about the wide range of cold tolerant veggies and herbs that can be harvested all winter long. When the frost arrives in autumn, many gardeners are tired and happy to hang up those gardening gloves until the following spring. Yet the truth is that a winter garden is very little work.

The only thing I do from Dec through Feb is harvest! There is no weeding or watering, and I don’t have to fight the deer or slugs like I do in spring, summer and autumn!

Mizuna and mustard plants

3) What misconceptions about four season gardening did you want to clear up?

Answer: People often ask me what food crops could possibly be grown in winter and most think it’s just kale. But, really there are dozens of cold tolerant veggies that can be harvested in winter. I had never heard of – much less tasted – most of these vegetables until I grew them myself.  Edibles like mache, mizuna, tatsoi, celeriac were all new to me, but have since become family favorites.

I still love kale though, which is incredibly cold tolerant and we grow about six types each winter. My top pick for flavour and tenderness is dinosaur kale, which is also called black or Tuscan kale. It’s just outstanding!

I like to have a steady supply of both baby kale and mature kale. The mature leaves are used for kale chips and in soups, wraps, burritos and more, but the baby leaves are perfect for tender salads. I’m making myself hungry!

4) What are some of the wonderful things growing in your garden in early-February?

Answer:  If I walked up to the cold frames right now, there would be delicious frilly endive, spinach, Swiss chard, leeks, scallions, ‘Winter Density’ lettuce, arugula, mache, tatsoi, pak choi, mustards, mizuna, carrots, celeriac, beets,  and kale. We generally have between 25 to 30 types of winter veggies.

Carrots are definitely the top cold season crop for the kids, but I love all the salad greens.

5) What would you like readers to know about four season gardening and your book?

Answer:  I really want to encourage gardeners to move outside their comfort zone both in terms of gardening techniques (with a cold frame, for example) and with variety selection.

Who knows? You may find new favorite foods to grow! Growing into winter is really very easy, but does require some advance planning as most of winter crops are planted in late summer and early autumn.

Season extending doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive either. Many of our devices are made from recycled materials, but even a simple row cover or cloche can be used to extend the harvest for several weeks in spring or autumn.

Win a Copy of The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener!

Seasonal Wisdom readers can win a copy of this award-winning book. Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck everyone. Don’t forget to enter by midnight on Feb. 5, 2013! And PLEASE check your spam folders so we can alert the winner quickly.  This giveaway is now over. Congratulations to Sarah from Texas for winning.

Disclosure: This prize was provided at no charge, but my opinions are my own.

Coming soon! Niki has a new book coming out in late 2013, which features dozens of amazing gardeners from North America and the UK, who have shared some of their own ideas for growing food.

The working title for this book is Superstar Food Gardens: 70 Plans From My Favorite Gardeners.

I’m thrilled that Seasonal Wisdom’s kitchen garden design, inspired by Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and other famous Founding Fathers will be featured in Niki’s upcoming book.  I’ll share more information when the book is available. 

Hope this post inspires everyone to keep eating local and seasonal foods, as well as to grow more foods yourself, even in winter. How are you extending your growing season in the vegetable garden?

The post How to Grow Vegetables All Year Long (Even in Winter!) appeared first on Seasonal Wisdom.

Each year, I end up with many more vegetable seeds than I could possible plant in my garden. So, I give them to friends. Or, I save them for the next growing season … or, the next growing season after that.

As a result, some of my seeds are several years old. Should I throw them in the trash? Not necessarily.  To learn more, I did some research. Here’s what I learned about the average shelf lives of common vegetable seeds.

No Clear Answers:  It’s not always easy to know how long a particular type of seed will last, as Margaret Roach points out in this excellent post in A Way to Garden. She features an interesting chart that shows how expert opinions differ on seeds’ shelf lives.

Here are my rough estimates, based on advice from seed sources, gardening books and cooperative extension services. Sources are listed below.

Storage Matters:  The way you store your seeds will determine how long they will stay viable.

Ideally, seeds like to be stored somewhere cool and dry.

Some people store their seeds in a jar in the refrigerator. But the authors of Heirloom Life Gardener, who own Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, recommend that seeds be kept in an airtight container, such as a jar or envelope, in a dark, cool spot where the seeds won’t get any light or moisture.

My set-up isn’t fancy, but I keep my seeds in their packages and store them in this Seed Keeper in a dark, dry room that stays cool in my house. I won the Seed Keeper during a #gardenchat giveaway on Twitter years ago, and it has worked well for me.

What Do They Look Like?  You can often tell whether the seeds are still good by their appearance, according to the Iowa State University Extension.  So, give those seeds a peek before you plant.

Do the seeds usually look round and plump? Then they probably won’t “germinate well if they are pocked or wrinkled,” say these extension agents.

When in Doubt … Test: Still concerned? Give your seeds a germination test.

Select some randomly picked seeds, and spread them across several layers of premoistened paper towels. Keep them in a plastic bag or container somewhere warm. In a couple days, check seeds to see if they have germinated. Repeat every day for a week or so. Here’s how I presprouted seeds for faster growth in the summer, which is one way to help you test your seeds.

So, don’t rush out to throw away those old seeds. Check to see if they may still be viable, and be sure to sow a bit heavier, just in case. What are you planning to grow from seeds this year?

Get Growing: Here’s a Seasonal Wisdom mini-resource guide for growing food from seeds. Let me know if it helps you!

Seed Viability Sources:

 A Way to Garden

Heirloom Life Gardener by the owners of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension

Iowa State University Extension

Colorado State University Extension

The post How Long Will Vegetable Seeds Stay Viable? appeared first on Seasonal Wisdom.

Learn more about edible flowers in this fun new video with Autumn Barr of Peaceful Valley/GrowOrganicCom, who is interviewing me about some of my favorite flowers to eat – and how to use these pretty petals in delicious culinary dishes.

The short video was filmed at the Mother Earth News Fair last summer, and shows several common flowers that have a long tradition in the kitchen and garden. Which ones do you like best?

Remember:  If you don’t win the Edible Flowers-Garden Lovers giveaway, there is still time to order edible flower seeds. So, go grow something yummy. Bon Appetit!

Want to learn more about edible flowers?

Eight of my favorite edible flowers to grow and enjoy. Here are edible flower recipes:

• Calendula Orange Muffins
• Elderflower Fritters
• May Wine with Sweet Woodruff
• Strawberry Semifreddo with Pansies
• Butternut Squash Soup with Nasturtiums

The post Edible Flowers Video appeared first on Seasonal Wisdom.