Robin Sweetser

United States

Author at New Hampshire Home

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Articles

Here We Grow Again: Get Ready for Spring Planting with the Old Farmer's Almanac

1 month ago | nhmagazine.com | Elisa Verdi |Robin Sweetser

It is tempting to get outside on a nice day and start digging as soon as the ground has thawed, but don’t. Never step in or work wet soil; it compacts easily, ruining its structure. To tell if it is ready, take the Cake Test: • Try to squeeze a handful of soil into a ball. • If it crumbles easily (like cake crumbs) it is good to go. • If it stays in a ball, wait a few more days.
New Hampshire Home

2 months ago | nhhomemagazine.com | Robin Sweetser |Kendal Bush

Though they love all four seasons in New Hampshire, Robin and Larry Turnbaugh of Chesterfield eagerly await the arrival of spring. “It really is my favorite time of year,” says Robin. Their home sits high on a bluff looking east over Spofford Lake toward Mount Monadnock. They purchased this as a second home when they were living in Boston and have been year-round residents for the past 12 years. Here they get to witness spring and fall migrations of birds that stop by the lake during their flights.
When to Plant Peas

Dec 31, 2024 | almanac.com | Robin Sweetser

When to plant garden peas? “Plant peas as soon as the ground can be worked” is a popular saying in the gardening world. Unfortunately, in my garden, that means mid- to late March! However, our fortunate southern friends can often start planting in January and February. Wherever you live, see my pea-planting tips. When to Plant PeasGarden peas (Pisum sativum L.) are cool-season crops that cannot withstand the heat and humidity of summer, but they CAN tolerate frosts and light freezes.
A Plant Lover’s Garden

Dec 18, 2024 | nhhomemagazine.com | Robin Sweetser

For true plant lovers, the garden is never done. There is always a new variety to add, a different combination to try, or an area of the design to tweak. Now that the garden may lie under a blanket of snow and the holiday hubbub has passed, Carolyn Hager of New London is thinking about next year’s garden and the changes she’d like to make. “I’m always looking in magazines and catalogs for something new and different,” she says.
The Best Full-Sun Perennial Flowers for Your Garden

Dec 5, 2024 | almanac.com | Robin Sweetser

The Almanac Garden Planner - Use It Free for 7 Days!Plan your 2025 garden with our award-winning Garden Planner. If you are blessed with a garden that gets full sun, rejoice! Your place is perfect for perennial flowers that thrive in sunny spots. I’ve narrowed my list down to 20 favorites, with an eye toward American natives, which are perfect for supporting pollinators. Take a look and tell me what you think. What is a “Full Sun Perennial”?
Mulching: How to Mulch Your Garden | Types of Mulch | The Old Farmer's Almanac

Nov 28, 2024 | almanac.com | Robin Sweetser

Mulch is the gardener's friend. In winter, mulch protects bare soil, prevents erosion, and protects plants. In spring, mulch retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and feeds the soil. Learn how and when to mulch plus types of mulch in our mulching guide.
How to Sterilize Soil: Should You Sterilize Your Soil?

Oct 3, 2024 | almanac.com | Robin Sweetser

Subhead How to Sterilize Soil in Oven, Microwave, and Pressure Cooker Become a better gardener! Discover our new Almanac Garden Planner features for 2024. It’s easy, fun, and free to try! There is a lot of buzz out there about sterilizing the soil you use for starting your seedlings and potting them up, especially if you are reusing old soil. See how to sterilize soil in the oven, microwave, or pressure cooker. But let’s also ask ourselves, Is this really necessary?
How To Save Your Pumpkin Seeds for Planting

Aug 29, 2024 | almanac.com | Robin Sweetser

Subhead Saving and Storing Your Pumpkin Seeds to Grow Next Year Become a better gardener! Discover our new Almanac Garden Planner features for 2024. It’s easy, fun, and free to try! You can save seeds from this year’s pumpkins to plant next year! It’s fun to grow your own jack-o’-lanterns. Here’s how to store those seeds this fall and plant in the spring!You also save money by growing your own. Pumpkins are easy enough to grow and require very little pampering.
How to Store Bulbs Over Winter

Aug 28, 2024 | almanac.com | Robin Sweetser

Hi Amanda,It really depends on the variety because some are winter hardy to Zone 8 and possibly even 7b given the right conditions. Given the fact they are growing wild along the river, and if you see them year after year, it is probably likely that they will survive your winter conditions, but nothing is a guarantee because of the variables that come with transplanting and moving to a new growing area. You also want to be careful about digging up plants on property that does not belong to you.
Hawaiian Flowers: 22 of the Most Beautiful Flowers Of Hawaii

Aug 27, 2024 | almanac.com | Robin Sweetser

Subhead See a curated list of Hawaii's tropical flowers Who doesn’t treasure Hawaii? It’s a group of tropical islands filled with a stunning variety of flora and fauna! Say aloha to these 22 tropical beauties! (And, yes, you can grow some of these flowers for your own garden paradise!)Hawaii’s Floral DiversityAbout 1,000 species of plants are native to Hawaii, and about half of those are found nowhere else in the world.