Welcome to Home for the Harvest!
This is a gardening website created by Certified Master Gardener Mary Jane Howie. Whether you’re growing vegetables, flowers, or houseplants, you’ll find practical tips and helpful resources here. If you just want to grow things, you’re in the right place.
learn to grow things
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How to grow roses
Growing roses offers the dual reward of vibrant blooms paired with lovely fragrances. But these plants are often intimidating to…
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How to grow basil
Basil plants need a full day of direct sun and well-draining soil for the strongest possible growth. Pinch the stems…
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How to grow peonies
Peony plants are a beautiful and fragrant addition to any garden. They can thrive for many years in your yard…
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How to grow lettuce
Lettuce can be grown in an outdoor garden, in pots on the patio, or even indoors in a hydroponic system.…
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How to grow strawberries
Strawberries are perennial fruiting plants that can be grown from seeds, bare-root plants, or potted strawberry plants from the garden…
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How to grow tomatoes
Tomatoes are the highlight of the garden! Here’s everything you need to know about how to grow tomatoes, including which…
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How to protect young trees from winter damage
Wrap the trunk against sunscald, guard it against mice and rabbits, and water before the freeze. Here is how to…
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When to plant garlic: the fall planting window by zone
Plant garlic in fall, about four to six weeks before the ground freezes. Here is the window by zone, what…
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What temperature to cover plants for frost
Cover tender plants when the forecast low hits 36°F (2°C) on a clear, calm night. Here is which plants need…
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How to clean and store garden tools for winter
A step-by-step routine to clean, de-rust, sharpen, oil, and store garden tools, hoses, and pots before winter so they work…
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21 stocking stuffers for gardeners
Small gifts gardeners use every week, from pruning snips and a leather holster to seed packets, plant labels, and a…
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Seed starting supplies checklist
Every supply you need to start seeds indoors, from trays and seed starting mix to heat mats and grow lights,…
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Gifts for new gardeners
The best gifts for someone starting their first garden: a few good tools, seeds that cannot fail, a book worth…
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Best seed starting kits
The best seed starting kits for beginners and busy gardeners, from a self-watering tray to an all-in-one dome with a…
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Best grow lights for seedlings
The best grow lights for starting seeds indoors, from a single clip-on lamp to a full shelf setup, with the…
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Best electric composters for the kitchen
Electric kitchen composters compared, including Lomi, the FoodCycler Eco 3, and Reencle, with what each one makes, how loud it…
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Native plants vs. garden cultivars for pollinators
Many gardeners want two things at once. They want a garden that looks beautiful, and they want a garden that…
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Pruning roses in March
March is a common time to prune roses. But timing is not strictly tied to the calendar. Prune when the…
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