PLANTING, GROWING, & HARVESTING - BLUEBERRIES

 

If you've ever searched for information about growing blueberries, you've probably seen a lot about soil pH, soil amendments, special fertilizers, pruning, chill hours, and different varieties.

It can make growing blueberries sound much more complicated than it really needs to be.

I have six blueberry bushes, and every summer they give me more blueberries than we can eat fresh. I make blueberry jam and jelly, bake with them, and still put several bags in the freezer.

And I really don't fuss over my bushes very much.

I planted them, keep them watered when they need it, fertilize them in the spring, and let them grow.

How to Grow - RADISHES

If you've never grown a vegetable before, radishes are a great place to start.

They're one of the fastest vegetables you can grow from seed, they don't take up much room, and you don't even have to start them indoors. Plant the seeds directly in the garden and, depending on the variety, you could be pulling radishes in about a month.

They're also a great crop for spring and fall when many of our summer vegetables aren't growing yet.

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.