AMERICAN GARDENER

Strawberries are forgiving enough that they’ll grow in a wide range of home gardens, but the difference between a patch that limps along with small, sparse fruit and one that produces baskets of sweet, plump berries almost always comes down to conditions. Sunlight, soil, temperature, water, and even the layout of the planting site all … Read more

A productive strawberry patch depends on more than sunlight and water. Like most fruiting plants, strawberries pull a steady supply of nutrients from the soil in order to build healthy foliage, develop strong root systems, and set sweet, well-formed fruit. Without the right feeding routine, plants can still survive and even produce a modest crop, … Read more

Few things in the garden bring as much satisfaction as walking outside and picking a handful of sun-warmed, ripe fruit straight off the plant. They’re compact enough to tuck into a small garden bed, a raised bed, or even a hanging basket on a balcony, and they reward even first-time growers with a harvest that … Read more

Roses are famous for their beauty, but that beauty takes fuel. A rose bush that pushes out lush foliage, thick canes, and wave after wave of blooms is drawing heavily on the soil around it, and if that soil isn’t replenished, the plant’s performance drops off fast. Fertilizing is one of the simplest ways to … Read more

Few plants carry the cultural and horticultural weight that roses do. Grown across nearly every temperate and subtropical region of the world, they have earned a place in gardens not only for their flowers but for the sheer range of forms they take, from compact miniature shrubs tucked into container gardens to sprawling climbers that … Read more

Roses are among the most beloved flowering shrubs grown across the world, prized for their fragrant blooms, wide range of colors, and timeless association with beauty and romance. Belonging to the genus Rosa, these woody perennials come in thousands of cultivated varieties, from compact miniature roses suited to container gardens to sprawling climbers that can … Read more

Knowing the best time to pick limes is one of the most important skills a home citrus grower can develop, because unlike many other fruits, limes give few obvious visual cues when they are ready for harvest. A ripe apple turns red, a ripe banana turns yellow, but a lime often stays green even at … Read more

Few citrus fruits carry as much culinary identity as the small, thin-skinned lime that gave its name to one of the most beloved desserts in American cooking. Smaller than the common Persian lime found in most grocery stores, this fruit is prized for a floral, tart flavor that is more intense and slightly more bitter … Read more

The key lime tree (Citrus aurantiifolia) is a small, thorny citrus variety prized for its intensely aromatic, tangy fruit that’s smaller and more acidic than the common Persian lime. Native to Southeast Asia and later spread through the Caribbean and Florida, it’s the classic ingredient behind key lime pie and countless tropical cuisines. The tree … Read more

The key lime tree (Citrus aurantiifolia) is a small, thorny citrus variety prized for its intensely aromatic, tangy fruit that’s smaller and more acidic than the common Persian lime. Native to Southeast Asia and later spread through the Caribbean and Florida, it’s the classic ingredient behind key lime pie and countless tropical cuisines. The tree … Read more