Ask a Master Gardener: Get ahead by planting seeds indoors

The holidays are over, and we find ourselves in the cold, dark days of mid-winter. As a gardener, you may feel that the planting season is so far away. Don’t worry as you can start many plants indoors by seed soon.

If you’ve purchased perennial plants or started them from seed, you’ve likely seen notations such as “hardy to zone 5” or “USDA Zones 4a-9b” on the package or in the product description.

As we begin a new year, many Vermonters may have lingering questions about their garden’s performance this past year or new questions as they plan to start or improve a garden in 2024.

If you have a gardener in your life and need some help selecting a gift, read on for some ideas that should please even the choosiest of gardeners. 

Those lovely houseplants that clean the air and add beauty to our homes are primarily tropical natives.

Fresh garlic from your garden is hard to beat, and now is the time to get it started for next year. Let’s look at a few tips for a successful garlic crop using science and some practical gardening knowledge.

Every gardener has a fall to-do list to complete: pulling annuals, raking leaves and storing hoses and other garden tools. They aren’t the most exciting tasks, but planning for your spring garden now saves time next year.  

Every year the Middlebury Garden Club gives awards to public and private gardens in Addison County. To be considered, a garden must be able to be seen from the roadside and cannot belong to a current member of the club. 

Emily Johnston, the Public Outreach Coordinator for the Addison County Solid Waste Management District Board, invites homeowners and renters to come to a free workshop hosted by the ACSWMD this fall. Upcoming topics include Backyard Composting, Vermicompo … (read more)

Of all the wildflowers — or weeds, if you prefer — goldenrod (Solidago) is one of the most recognizable. Its plumes of bright yellow flowers atop tall stems bob in the breeze, making its presence hard to miss.

Reap & Sow Farm co-owners Matt Lasser and Josh Fisher have spent the past four years tending to a variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers at their Monkton spread. Now, the duo plans to use their farming expertise to help residents and organizatio … (read more)

If you want to add a touch of architectural interest to your shade garden, look no further than the graceful silhouette of Solomon’s seal. 

One of the great joys and challenges of gardening is seeing creatures inhabit and eat from our gardens. However, in some cases, animals and insects are unwelcome visitors.

Container gardening is a good option if you have limited space or want to be able to alter your environment by moving pots around.

Many home-grown fruits and vegetables require pollination to develop fruit and seeds. Approximately 75% of all food crops grown in the United States depend on bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators.