AMERICAN GARDENER

Growing vegetables in full sun is the foundation of productive food gardening, as the vast majority of edible crops evolved in open, sun-drenched environments where light energy is abundant and readily available. Full sun is generally defined as a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight per day, though many of the most productive vegetable … Read more

Growing vegetables in greenhouses has become one of the most productive and reliable methods of food production available to both commercial growers and home gardeners worldwide. Greenhouses extend the growing season significantly, allowing crops to be cultivated year-round in climates where outdoor growing would otherwise be limited to just a few months. The global greenhouse … Read more

Companion planting is the practice of growing different plant species in close proximity to one another so that each benefits from the presence of the other, creating a mutually supportive growing environment. This ancient agricultural technique has been practiced for thousands of years across diverse cultures, from the Native American Three Sisters planting of corn, … Read more

Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a fascinating and versatile flowering plant belonging to the family Onagraceae, native to North America but now naturalized across Europe, Asia, and beyond. With over 145 recognized species within the Oenothera genus, evening primrose encompasses a wide range of forms, from low-growing groundcovers to tall, upright biennials reaching 6 feet … Read more

Marigold is one of the most widely grown and instantly recognizable flowering plants in the world, belonging to the genus Tagetes within the daisy family Asteraceae. With over 50 recognized species and thousands of cultivated varieties, marigolds are grown commercially and ornamentally across more than 90 countries worldwide. Global marigold production is enormous, with India … Read more

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) is one of the most visually dramatic and instantly recognizable flowering plants in the world, belonging to the family Strelitziaceae, native to the coastal areas of eastern South Africa. Named after Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the plant has become a global symbol of tropical elegance and exotic beauty. With millions … Read more

Alstroemeria, commonly known as the Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Alstroemeriaceae, native to South America, particularly the Andean regions of Chile, Brazil, and Peru. With approximately 120 known species and thousands of cultivated hybrids, alstroemeria has become one of the most commercially significant cut … Read more

Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium, formerly Lilium tigrinum) is a striking and widely recognized flowering bulb plant belonging to the lily family Liliaceae, native to China, Japan, Korea, and parts of eastern Siberia. It is one of the most widely grown ornamental lilies in the world, cultivated across temperate gardens on every inhabited continent. With millions … Read more

Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium, formerly Lilium tigrinum) is a striking and widely recognized flowering bulb plant belonging to the lily family Liliaceae, native to China, Japan, Korea, and parts of eastern Siberia. It is one of the most widely grown ornamental lilies in the world, cultivated across temperate gardens on every inhabited continent. With millions … Read more