Gurney’s Seed and Nursery Blog

I know a lot of gardeners who do everything that can possibly be done to grow the perfect strawberries, and still fall short. Sometimes, it’s not what you do but what you don’t do that makes the difference! You might’ve invested in the costliest variety, used the most popular fertilizers and employed the most effective irrigation technique, it can all account for little if you’ve overlooked some key points. Here’s what you shouldn’t do when growing strawberry plants.

Drying food is a long-established and time-honored method for preserving fruits and vegetables. The basic premise is simple: small pieces of food are placed out in the sun and warm, dry air passing over, under and around the food pulls the moisture from it. Ovens and commercial drying equipment are meant to mimic this natural process.

In terms of grower satisfaction, it’s hard to beat herbs. If you have limited time and space, herbs give you more for less than anything else you can grow. Just one or two leaves of the right herb can completely transform a salad, pasta dish or stew. Best of all, they are easy to grow and immune to most pests.

Time to dust off the wheelbarrow and get the mower started – it’s officially spring again! But with a new season filled with such promise – and so much to do in the garden – where in the world do you start?

If you’re like me, you can’t wait to harvest your strawberries. I believe no garden is complete without a crop of them. The strawberry is one of the best all-around fruits you can grow. What I like best about strawberries is they are the first bloomers of the spring. Can you imagine a better looking, more versatile fruit popping up first in your garden?

You likely heard it from your mother when you were a child: “Eat your greens! They’re good for you!” At the time, you probably tried to hide your greens under the mashed potatoes or scrape them off the plate and onto the floor in hopes the dog would eat them. But if only we listened to our parents!

To sprout, most seeds prefer a temperature between 70 and 85 degrees (for specific temperatures, see the back of your seed packet). Seeds can be kept in any place that offers warmth. Windowsills can also work, but be sure to check them for drafts that could potentially end your seedling’s short life.

Hey fellow gardeners! We know there’s probably still some snow on your ground, as winter is hitting the U.S. pretty hard this year. But despite all the winter storms, snow and ice, we thought we’d brighten the mood with some talk of spring and what’s to come! Soon your gardens will be green, your flowers will be blooming, and your vegetables and fruits will be producing delicious treats.

Blackberry plants are perennials with a biennial growing and fruiting pattern that provide a bounty of sweet and juicy fresh fruits year after year. Apache Blackberry, a thornless erect variety, yields firm, large mouth-watering fruits.

Indigenous to South America, the peanut is a member of the legume family; it’s not a nut like its name may suggest. It’s one of most widely grown crops in the world because of its flavorful, edible seed. It can be grown indoors or out, depending on the growing season; a longer season is better for outdoor growth, while a shorter season lends itself to indoor growth.