Home for the Harvest - Gardening - Mary Jane Howie
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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.

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learn to grow things

  • How to grow roses

    How to grow roses

    Growing roses offers the dual reward of vibrant blooms paired with lovely fragrances. But these plants are often intimidating to…

  • How to grow basil

    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…

  • How to grow peonies

    How to grow peonies

    Peony plants are a beautiful and fragrant addition to any garden. They can thrive for many years in your yard…

  • How to grow lettuce

    How to grow lettuce

    Lettuce can be grown in an outdoor garden, in pots on the patio, or even indoors in a hydroponic system.…

  • How to grow strawberries

    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…

  • How to grow tomatoes

    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…

  • 21 stocking stuffers for gardeners

    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…

  • Seed starting supplies checklist

    Seed starting supplies checklist

    Every supply you need to start seeds indoors, from trays and seed starting mix to heat mats and grow lights,…

  • Gifts for new gardeners

    Gifts for new gardeners

    The best gifts for someone starting their first garden: a few good tools, seeds that cannot fail, a book worth…

  • Best seed starting kits

    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…

  • Best grow lights for seedlings

    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…

  • Best electric composters for the kitchen

    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…

  • Native plants vs. garden cultivars for pollinators

    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…

  • Pruning roses in March

    Pruning roses in March

    March is a common time to prune roses. But timing is not strictly tied to the calendar. Prune when the…

  • Early spring lawn care

    Early spring lawn care

    Early spring lawn care is about recovery and preparation. Winter can make your turf grass compacted, matted, and low in…

  • March gardening tips

    March gardening tips

    March is the month to reset the garden. The main job is to match your timing to the weather instead…

  • Low-maintenance plants for full sun

    Low-maintenance plants for full sun

    Low maintenance plants for full sun are the ones that stay healthy and presentable with basic care once they are…

  • Mexican Purple garlic

    Mexican Purple garlic

    Mexican Purple garlic is a purple-striped garlic with a hot, spicy bite when raw and a sweet, mellow flavor when…

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