Use these tips for planting, growing, and harvesting asparagus, a long-lived perennial vegetable. Like most vegetables, homegrown asparagus is rich in nutrients with abundant flavor. If you like filling yourspringtime menuwith these tasty spears, it’s well worth knowing how to grow asparagus. Credit: Marty Baldwin Starting with some essentials, here’s how to grow asparagus successfully in your garden. For example, ‘Jersey Giant’ is a good bet for northern areas with long, cold winters....

Growing basil from seed is an easy, budget-friendly way to enjoy plenty of this herb’s flavorful leaves. Kindra Clineff Growingbasilfrom seed in early spring is a great way to get a jump on your summer garden. However, some researchsuggests thatsoaking basil seedsfor a few hours to overnight can jumpstart germination. Credit:Kindra Clineff So think of soaking an optionbut not essential for growing success. No outdoor space for growing basil plants?...

Always have the fresh scents and flavors of basil on hand by starting the seeds in your home. There’s something refreshing about the summery aroma ofbasilgrowing indoors on a windowsill. When you gently brush the plant, the vibrant scent quickly fills the air. Credit: Kim Cornelison How to Grow Basil Indoors from Seed 1. Plant basil seed at the right time. Basil is one of the easiest herbs togrow from seed....

For gardeners in Northern regions, some plants may feel off-limitsamong them, cacti. In fact, cactus plants are native only to North and South America. Tosuccessfully grow cactiin a cold-winter climate, it’s important to understand how they grow. Credit:Denny Schrock These bumps are where spines, branches, leaves, and flowers will eventually grow on the plant. Below you’re free to find some of the most common care requirements for cold-weather cacti. You should avoid using fine-grain sand, which can gum up the soil instead of adding drainage....

Here’s how to grow catnip indoors and outdoors. Your cat will thank you. Learn how to grow catnip(Nepeta cataria),an easy-to-growperennial herbthat produces tiny white flowers. Credit:Jason Donnelly It grows outdoors or indoors but does best in warm climates with a lot of sunlight. It retains its scent when air-dried and can be stuffed into cat toys or sachets. Some cats may not care for it at all. Where to Plant Catnip Catnip thrives inwell-drained soilandneeds plenty of sunlight....

Learn how to grow cilantro indoors and enjoy the fresh flavors of this herb year-round. So, to keep your supply going year-round,try growing cilantro indoors from seeds. From seeding to harvesting, heres how to grow cilantro indoors successfully. Credit: Edward Gohlich It usually sets seeds (which are known as coriander) in about a month and a half. Plan to sow new seeds every 2 or 3 weeks to keep up your supply offresh cilantro leaves....

Learn how to grow cucumbers in potsfrom compact varieties to long-vine typesand produce a hefty harvest. However, keeping yourcucumber plantshealthy and productive in containers is slightly different from in-ground plants. Instead, choose a variety that includes bush or compact in the name. Credit:Peter Krumhardt Bush Slicer has 3-foot-long vines and 6- to 8-inch-long slicing fruit. Picklebush and Bush Champion are two other excellent varieties for containers. Growing Longer Vines Container-friendly cucumber varieties are most oftenslicing or pickling fruit types....

Learn how to grow aromatic dill for garden beauty, cooking, and bouquets. Plus, discover how to harvest seeds for pickling. Dills soft ferny foliage practically begs you to touch the delicate plant. Credit: Robert Cardillo Dill is hardy in the winter inUSDA Zones 9-11. The delicate foliage adds textural interest to garden beds and borders, especially forcottage gardens. High winds can easily damage dill stalks if they are not staked....

Here’s how to grow dragon fruit from seed so you’re free to enjoy your own plant. Then, use the tips below to help your new dragon fruit plant thrive for many years. Steps to Grow Dragon Fruit from Seed Materials 1. Credit:Esin Deniz / Getty Images Separate seeds from pulp. The first step is to separate the tiny black seeds from the pulp. Next, rinse the pulp and seeds under a faucet and gently begin pressing on the pulp....

Grow dusty miller in containers or the ground with this care guide. Dusty miller is easy to grow and long-lasting. It is awinter-hardy perennial in Zones 7-10. Credit:BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova Otherwise, it’sgrown as an annual. It also works well as afiller for cut flower arrangements. Dusty miller is toxic to pets.The plant is mildly toxic to people as well. Credit:BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova Use it as a background forlow-growing annuals, as an edging plant, or in containers....

Native to North America, this large flowering and fruitful shrubattracts bees, butterflies, and many birds. In June tiny, lemon-scented, white flowers appear and then develop into black fruits in late summer. The fruits have been used in jams, jellies, pie fillings and elderberry wine. Credit:Laurie Black Theflowers are also edible. Find out how to grow elderberry plants in your own yard with this guide to all the basics. This compound deters browsing by deer and other animals....

Learn how to grow eucalyptus for their hardiness, fragrance, and speedy growth. Eucalyptus is grown for its potent essential oils, commonly derived from theE. globulus.These fragrant oils are used to scent perfumes and fragrances. Credit: Denny Schrock ensure there’s plenty of room around it so it can grow big and wide. That’s when a plant releases toxins into the soil so competing plants can’t grow. Choose an area of your home with a south-facing window so the plant can get plenty of sunlight....

Easy-to-grow heathers bring year-round color to gardens in almost any climate. Learn how to choose, plant, and care for flowering heathers and heaths. Although both belong to theEricaceaefamily, they are botanically different and are divided into theCallunagenus and theEricagenus. Credit: Bill Stites For practical purposes, however, they are nearly identical, sharing color, form, and growth habits. Winter hardiness is the only major difference between species. Their leaves are small and scalelike....