The FDA actually regulates what’s included in each! Were talking about whats inside the glass jars that are nearly ubiquitous in American refrigerators: Fruit spreads. Theyre apantry staplein many households, however, theyre highly misunderstood. Credit:Jason Donnelly Whats the Difference Between Jam, Jelly, and Preserves? Turns out, there are some major differenceswhich are regulated by the FDA. Grapes, plums, and apples are usuallyhigh enough in pectinto gel on their own. Jam contains the fruit, seeds and all....

These asparagus harvesting tips will ensure you pick the best spears. You might be eager to start harvesting asparagus as soon as it pops up from the soil in spring. With the right techniques and timing, your plants will stay healthy and productive from year to year. Credit:Getty Images / dulezidar So how long after planting do you have to wait until you get your first harvest? Leave your asparagus plants alone the first year after planting so they can get established....

However, when and how to harvest dill depends on what you want to use it for. Its leaves, flowers, and seeds are all edible and tasty. Enjoy each of these parts of the plant with this simple harvesting guide. Credit:Scharfsinn86 / Getty Images Plus get tips onstoring your freshly picked dillcorrectly. Generally speaking, dill is a cut-and-come-again herb thats harvested little by little as needed for recipes. Compared to many other herbs,dill is a fast grower....

Use these tips for harvesting kale at its best. Methods for How to Harvest Kale There are two differentways to pick kale. One is to snap off individual leaves from the stem as needed. Credit: Marty Baldwin Or usepruning shearsto snip off the leaf close to the stem. The other method for how to harvest kale is to pull up the whole plant. This is best when you need a lot of kale for a recipe....

Use these tips for harvesting and drying lavender at the right time. Now it’s time to figure out how to harvest lavender from your garden at the best time. Use this guide to harvest and dry lavender for the best flower color and scent. Credit:Helen Norman When to Harvest Lavender Time your lavender harvest based on how you plan to use the herb. To harvestlavender for tea, pick the flowers before they fully open....

These tips on when and how to harvest oregano will ensure you pick the tastiest leaves. The tips below will help you harvest the best-tasting oregano for drying or fresh eating. When to Harvest Oregano As acut-and-come-again herb, oregano can be harvested throughout the year as needed. Credit:Marty Baldwin Then, plan to harvest a larger quantity of oregano for drying or freezing just before the plant flowers. For peak flavor, harvest oregano plants in early morning, immediately before the plant flowers....

Harvesting culinary sage for the kitchen is simple with these tips. Denny Schrock If youregrowing culinary sage, chances are you want to use it in the kitchen. Here’s how to harvest sage including a few helpful tips to guide you. Credit:Denny Schrock Many sage plants, likeRussian sage, are intended to be ornamental. Theharvesting methodshere work equally well for all types of culinary sage. When harvesting sage, use scissorsor a sharp thumbnail and forefingerand take one leaf at a time....

Learn how to harvest thyme regularly to keep your plants fresh and prevent them from becoming woody. Thyme is a woody-stemmed herb from the Mediterranean region that lends big flavor to foods with its tiny leaves. Knowing how to harvestthymecorrectly is important to prevent too much woodiness. Credit:Scott Little Harvesting thyme throughout the season provides your kitchen with all the fresh thyme you need for yourfavorite recipes. This enhances the flavor of thyme leaves and helps ensure the fresh thyme dries quickly....

Propagating African violets is an easy way to multiply your collection for free. All you need is a single leaf to grow whole new plants. And before long, your propagated African violets will begin producing flowers of their own. Credit:Bob Stefko Giving to friends is why I propagate some of my favorite plants. Its joyful to give them away to people who will appreciate them," she adds. However, the best time is during the spring and summer....

Leaving out suet for birds helps woodpeckers, chickadees, and other insect-eating birds power through cold weather. It takes lots of energy forwild birds to stay warm in winter. Gwendolyn Causeris an environmental educator with Audubon Vermont. Credit: Courtesy of Walmart Aimee Tomchoserved as a conservation biologist with Audubon North Carolina, and is now with the American Forest Foundation. Which Birds Does Suet Attract? While many birds are attracted to this high-energy food source, some are regular visitors to feeders containing suet....

Use these tips for pruning blueberry bushes to keep your plants healthy and productive. Blueberries are among the easiest, tastiestfruits you’ve got the option to grow in your backyard. These multi-stemmed, deciduous shrubs grow to different heights depending on the key in. Credit: Robert Cardillo Blueberries produce their best fruit on growth from the previous season (one year old wood). Older stems produce less fruit and its usually smaller. When Should You Prune Blueberries?...

Find out how to prune fruit trees properly, plus tips for timing your pruning right. Liz West Sure, unpruned fruit trees can still produce a crop. Why Prune Fruit Trees? Credit:Liz West If you favor a morelaissez-faireapproach to gardening, you may be wondering why you should botherpruning fruit trees. The primary reason is to control the size and shape of a tree. This goes beyond removing lower branches to make mowing around the trunks easier....

Regularly pruning lavender will help you grow healthier, fuller plants. Knowing how to prunelavenderis an important part of keeping this plant healthy and looking its best. This guide will help you time your pruning efforts appropriately and make the best cuts. Credit:John Granen John Granen Why Prune Lavender? Lavender plants often won’t grow when they are cut back into their woody sections. Whengrowing lavender as a houseplant, a single pruning in spring is usually sufficient....