HOW DOES YOUR (PEPPER) GARDEN GROW? Are there healthy green plants, but no fruit? Or maybe fruit with shrunken, dark ends? Need an overall refresher course on growing Capsicum? This page on peppers has answers and links about all that–plus tactics for freezing any excess harvest for offseason use, and how I roast sweet peppers for use now (or to tuck into the freezer, too, all sugary and wonderful, a treat to brighten winter days).
THE LECTURE that he’s been giving for a number of years is not-so-subtly called “Kill Your Lawn.” Ecological horticulturist Dan Jaffe Wilder knows that starting over and creating an entire native habitat instead of a lawn isn’t for everyone. But Dan just wants to grab our attention and get us to start to make some changes at least in the way we care for the turfgrass we do want in our landscapes. And maybe give up a little square footage of it to some other kind of more diverse planting, too, like the wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana, inset). Alternative, more eco-focused styles of lawn care, along with some lawn alternatives is what he and I talked about on the podcast. Dan is Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation in Wales, Massachusetts, and its 8,000-acre sanctuary. He’s also co-author with Mark Richardson of the book “Native Plants for New England Gardens.”
(Stream it below, read the illustrated transcript or subscribe free.)
Not many peppers on my plants yet.
I just picked the first one in fact and it was rather small and all curled up on itself like a spiral.
Any ideas why that might happen?
Dear Margaret, I finally have a moment to write and tell you how much I have learned from you, not only about gardening but life. I listen to your pod casts while I run, garden and walk the dog. My morning run is a moving meditation and yoga combined with the best garden advice. I am happy to say that I often am thinking the same as you are you. It makes me chuckle and enjoy my run even more. One of lessons I try to practice daily is to be grateful for the past, no matter how difficult, so I can learn what to do in the future. Words for life in the garden are easily substituted for words for living .I could go on and on. But will just say thank you, for the joy and pleasure you and your website have added to my life. I was lucky to find a used copy of your book, A way to Garden on amazon, if anyone else is looking.
Frani
Hi, Frani, and bless you for sending this very kind note today of all days. Was having a bit of a “HELP! IT’S ALL TOO MUCH!” moment with the heat, dry conditions, too many chores, all of it. You are very kind. I think you will like the new book THE BACKYARD PARABLES coming in January…just finishing the proofs now. Exciting.