AMERICAN GARDENER

Types of blueberries vary far more widely than the uniform blue containers at a grocery store suggest, spanning 4 distinct species groups bred for entirely different climates, from the humid lowlands of Florida to the sub-zero winters of Minnesota. Nearly every commercial and backyard variety grown today traces back to a single collaboration: in 1911, … Read more

Watering an indoor bonsai tree sounds simple, but getting the timing and amount right can make the difference between healthy growth and stressed roots. Bonsai are grown in small, often shallow containers, which means they have a limited amount of soil available to hold water. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) notes that bonsai containers restrict … Read more

Key Takeaways: What the major types are, how they differ, what each is used for, and where sorghum is grown. Sorghum is one of those crops that can look deceptively simple from a distance. It resembles corn in some ways, but instead of producing large ears, it develops grain clusters on the tops of tall … Read more

Red-berried shrubs are some of the easiest plants to notice in a garden, especially when the rest of the landscape starts losing its color. In my experience, a shrub covered with bright red fruit can completely change the look of a border or backyard during autumn and winter. The berries also tend to attract birds, … Read more

A shady backyard does not have to mean giving up on berries. Although many of the most popular fruit crops produce their largest harvests in full sun, several berry-producing shrubs can tolerate partial shade, woodland conditions, or filtered light. Currants and gooseberries are particularly well suited to shade, while serviceberries, elderberries, chokeberries, and some native … Read more

Heirloom tomatoes have a way of making an ordinary vegetable garden feel much more interesting. Unlike the uniform supermarket tomatoes that are usually selected for firmness, shelf life, and shipping ability, heirlooms come in an astonishing range of colors, shapes, sizes, textures, and flavors. A single garden bed can contain tomatoes that are pink, purple, … Read more

Thorny berry bushes have a special place in the garden. They can produce delicious fruit while also creating dense, protective growth that can provide shelter for birds and other wildlife. Some are traditional backyard fruit crops, while others are native shrubs valued more for wildlife and ornamental interest. Not every berry-producing shrub has true thorns. … Read more

Growing huckleberries successfully starts below the surface. These distinctive berry plants are adapted to woodland environments where the soil is often acidic, rich in organic material, moist but not waterlogged, and naturally well aerated. Trying to grow them in ordinary garden soil without considering these conditions can result in weak growth and poor fruit production. … Read more

Growing berry bushes in a backyard can turn an ordinary garden into a productive edible landscape. Unlike many fruit trees, berry bushes generally require less space and can be incorporated into borders, hedges, raised beds, or dedicated fruit gardens. University extension services recommend many small fruits for home gardens, including blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants, gooseberries, … Read more

Huckleberries are woodland-adapted plants that look especially natural when grown alongside other species that enjoy similar conditions. Rather than treating a huckleberry as an isolated shrub, you can build a layered planting around it using trees, shrubs, ferns, ground covers, and flowering natives. The best companion plants depend on the huckleberry species. Red huckleberry (Vaccinium … Read more