Carol J. Michel

1 month ago | birdsandblooms.com | Carol J. Michel

If you’re the kind of gardener who likes to get out early in the spring to start growing vegetables well before your last frost, you’ll likely love growing peas. Peas prefer cool weather! I was reminded of just how early peas can be sown when I found an old seed packet on which my dad had written, “sown March 16.” His frost-free date was generally May 10. Types of Peas to GrowTMB StudioSugar snap peasThere are three main types of peas to grow for eating.

1 month ago | birdsandblooms.com | Carol J. Michel

There was a time when rhubarb could be found growing on the corner of almost every backyard vegetable garden. Even if an old garden plot has long since been abandoned, you still might find rhubarb growing and thriving there. Curious about how to grow rhubarb? Here’s what you need to know. What Is Rhubarb? Ball Horticultural CompanyRhubarb is sometimes known as pie plant. Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable that will live for years in a garden.

2 months ago | birdsandblooms.com | Carol J. Michel

When I was young, I asked my father why he didn’t grow sweet corn in his garden. He answered that you need a big garden to grow corn. Later, when I had my own vegetable garden, I proved growing sweet corn in a smaller space is doable, once you understand some basic requirements. Here’s what you need to know. How to Plant Sweet Cornkzww/ShutterstockKernels of sweet cornAll corn varieties, including sweet and ornamental corn, need the same growing conditions to thrive. Choose a location in full sun.

2 months ago | birdsandblooms.com | Carol J. Michel

I have a small cookbook with just zucchini squash recipes. It comes in handy on those summer days when my kitchen counter is covered with zucchini and other squashes I’ve harvested from my garden. How do I end up with so much squash? Because every spring I forget that growing squash is easy, and how much squash one plant can produce.

2 months ago | birdsandblooms.com | Carol J. Michel

Many people would be surprised to discover a homegrown cucumber isn’t like the cucumbers sold in the grocery store. A homegrown garden cucumber will beat a store-bought veggie for taste every time. Plus, homegrown cucumbers are less watery and aren’t coated with the wax that is applied to protect store-bought varieties for shipping. Makes you want to learn how to grow your own cucumbers, doesn’t it?