Dean Schoeppner Growing carrots from seed is something even beginning gardeners can do successfully. These simple tips will help you grow your own carrots from seed and enjoy your best harvest yet. Know When to Plant Carrots arecool-season vegetablesthat grow best when temperatures are between 50F and 75F. Credit:Dean Schoeppner If you want to extend the harvest further,succession plant carrot seedsat four-week intervals from spring through midsummer. Prep the planting spot by tilling the soil to a depth of 10 to 12 inches....

It just takes a little more work than garden-planted tomatoes because of the limited access to water and nutrients. Give your potted tomato plants some extra care, and theyll richly reward you with handfuls of sun-ripened fruit. These 10 tips will guide you togrowing tomatoesin pots successfully. Credit: Adam Albright Dont be fooled by the size of a planta small tomato plant can produce loads of fruit. There are many patio-jot down tomato varieties, and dozens more coming onto the market every season....

Banish germs and bacteria by refreshing these everyday bathroom items. Be honest: When’s the last time you looked at your exhaust fan? And how often should you replace bathroom rugs? Credit: Ann VanderWiel Wilde Our list of most-forgotten cleaning tasks will have your space sparkling from top to bottom. Hairbrushes and Combs Your hairbrush harbors a lot more than just hair. Pull excess hair out of your brushes daily, and shampoo your hairbrush at least once a month....

Give dated exterior brick a curb appeal-boosting refresh with these expert-recommended paint colors. We turned to paint industry experts to get their professional insight and go-toexterior paint colorsfor brick. “This light neutral off-white instantly revitalizes the look of colored brick,” Yeo says. Credit:Courtesy of Valspar A hint of cool blue undertone gives this mid-tone steely gray hue a fresh and alluring quality. Paint color:Stonehenge Greige by Glidden Credit:Courtesy of Behr...

Put that fresh produce to good use! to showcase fresh fruits, veggies, honey, and herbs. Thanks to all the fresh veggies and herbs, even store-bought salmon gets an upgrade in thissheet-pan dinner. Credit: Carson Downing Watermelon Margarita Farmers market ingredients featured:Watermelon, limes Bottoms up! Celebrate the sweetness of summer with a lip-smacking batch of icy-cold watermelon margs. (Don’t forget to salt the rim!) Credit: Blaine Moats Classic Potato Salad Jacob Fox....

Create a dreamy farmhouse landscape with these design tips and ideas. Farmhouses are the quintessential symbol ofAmericana with their traditional, sometimes rustic, charmand timeless aesthetic. Instead, use wood, rock, and rustic metals where necessary. Credit: Helen Norman Keep It Simple Farmhouses are all about keeping things simple, useful, and without much fuss. Who has time for finicky landscapes when you work from sun up to sun down? Think Locally In the days of old, farmhouses were constructed with materials from the surrounding area....

These are the easiest fruits to grow that can give you a speedy harvest. They want fruit fast. By planting these fast-growing fruits and veggies, eating the plants you sow is easy. Credit:BHG / Nez Riaz Most blueberries need another variety near them that’s blooming at the same time to bear lots of fruit. Blueberry plants can even be grown in containers. Among the most popular fast-growing fruit trees, peaches are vigorous producers of plump, delicious fruits....

With these festive and tasty potluck recipes, you are ready to attend any holiday gathering. Here are crowd-pleasing recipes that taste as good as they look. Opt for green apples to pair with the ruby red dried tart cherries. Credit: Andy Lyons The robust and savory chutney will match the seasonal color scheme. Test Kitchen Tip: This recipe makes seven half-pints. Enjoy one at the soiree, then send guests home with a jar each as afood gift....

Grant Webster St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect excuse to party in the middle of March. There’s no better time to sip a green drink. Lucky for you, we gathered our best nonalcoholic drinks. Credit:Grant Webster St. Patrick’s Day cocktail. Classic Margaritas Where there are margaritas, there’s a party. A pitcher of classic lime margaritas will bring a little green to your St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Credit: Carson Downing Pick Triple Sec or another liqueur of your choice....

The following indoor and outdoor storage ideas for firewood will help you stay organized and prepared this winter. Buy orrepurpose a basketas big or as small as you should probably fit your collection of firewood. Place the basket of logs at the foot of your fireplace for an aesthetically pleasing yet functional solution. Credit:Anthony Masterson Use the very bottom shelf to stack firewood. Add a basket next to the fireplace for any overflow....

Add whimsical beauty to your landscape when spring arrives with these flowering trees and shrubs. To create acharming landscapein your own yard, consider planting a variety of these stunning flowering trees and shrubs. Its tiny but numerous rosy pink flowers line the branches before heart-shaped leaves appear. Credit: Denny Schrock The magnificent flowering tree also bears cone-like fruit in the fall. Its eye-catching early-spring blooms can be a snowy white or soft pink....

Everyone stores their groceries differently, and sometimes that sparks debate over where you should keep specific groceries. For example,should butter go in the fridgeor on the counter? And do you store your nuts in a container in the cupboard or the refrigerator? Credit: Jacob Fox The same is true for natural nut butters, like organic peanut butter. As the name suggests, whole grain flour is made fromwhole wheat grainsincluding bran, germ, and endosperm....

Dress it up with all the s’mores essentialsmarshmallows, graham crackers, and melted chocolate. Flag Cake The Fourth of July just isn’t complete without aflag cake! Berry Trifle Zero special equipment is required for this terrific Fourth of July trifle. Credit: Adam Albright Finish with sweet fresh fruit. Simply decorate with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. (Try our three Test Kitchen secrets forextending the life of your fresh fruit.) Credit: Matthew Clark...