How to Grow- PEACHES

Peach trees really aren't that hard to grow. The hardest part may be having enough patience to wait for those first peaches!

If you're reading this, you've probably already looked at several articles about growing peaches. If you're anything like me, you've probably read so much about soil, chill hours, pruning, diseases, fertilizer, and planting techniques that growing a peach tree suddenly sounds much harder than it needs to be.

Don't let all of that overwhelm you.

We have grown apples, plums, and peaches here on our homestead, and I've learned that sometimes the best thing you can do is plant the tree, take reasonable care of it, and see what happens.

Looking for an easy way to dress up fall cupcakes? You don’t need anything fancy! I decorated these with a few freeze-dried cranberries and blueberries, homemade fondant fall leaves, and little sprigs of fresh rosemary. Simple touches can turn an ordinary cupcake into something perfect for fall. 🍁

And the best part—you can mix and match whatever you have on hand. Pecans, walnuts, fall sprinkles, or other dried fruits would be pretty too.

 

How to Grow - SQUASH AND ZUCCHINI

Squash is one of those vegetables that can give you an amazing harvest from just a few plants. In fact, if you've ever grown zucchini, you probably know that a couple of healthy plants can sometimes produce more squash than you know what to do with!

There are lots of different varieties, but growing them doesn't have to be complicated. Give squash plenty of sunshine, room to grow, regular water, and a little fertilizer, and you're off to a good start.

How To Grow - TOOTHACHE PLANT

 

The first time I grew a toothache plant was in 2021, and I'll be completely honest—I didn't buy the seeds because of its traditional uses.

I bought them because I thought the flowers looked cool.

The unusual little yellow and red blooms reminded me of eyeballs, so around here I've always called it my eyeball plant.

I purchased seeds for Bullseye Toothache Plant, and once I started growing it, I discovered there was a lot more to this strange little plant than its appearance.

Best of all, it was incredibly easy to grow.

PLANTING, GROWING, & HARVESTING - PINEAPPLES

 

I never thought I would say this, but growing a pineapple is surprisingly easy.

Yep, that tropical fruit you probably assumed could only be grown somewhere warm and sunny year-round can be grown almost anywhere. If your winters are too cold, simply grow your pineapple in a pot, treat it like a houseplant during the winter, and move it back outside when the weather warms up.

Even better, you don't necessarily have to buy a pineapple plant. You can start one from the top of a pineapple from the grocery store.

And don't worry—I'm not going to make this complicated.

How to Grow - CUCUMBERS

 Cucumbers are one of those vegetables that can make you feel like a successful gardener pretty quickly. Once the weather warms up, the vines grow fast and it doesn't take long before you're searching through the leaves for cucumbers.

They're also easy enough for a beginning gardener. Give them warm weather, sunshine, plenty of water, and somewhere to grow, and they'll do most of the work themselves.

Whether you want cucumbers for salads, fresh eating, or homemade pickles, here's what you really need to know.