Garden Betty
For people who want to grow more food with less work. đą This is my weekly newsletter loved by 38,000+ subscribersâhere's what one of them had to say: "These are not the regular run-of-the-mill garden-based emails. You actually touch on more unusual tidbits that encourage me to keep growing and learning."
cold stratification and the seeds that need it
When it comes to starting seeds, we know that a few variables have to be present for successful germination: viable seed, consistent moisture, and warmth. Right? Which is why it seems counterintuitive when you find out many seeds actually need COLD to germinate! That's rightâthey won't sprout unless they go through a long enough period of chilling to break dormancy. But it's not just cold that these seeds need. It's a combination of cold and moisture (and time), a process that's also known as...
one little thing you should do when saving tomato seeds
Have you been saving tomato seeds wrong this whole time? Granted, there's no "wrong" way as long as you keep them cool and dry, but there is a better way that improves the germination rate of your tomato seeds next season: fermenting them. Yep, the same type of fermenting that you'd do for sauerkraut or kimchi. Who knew? For most people, saving tomato seeds is as simple as waiting for a ripe tomato and then scraping the seeds out of it. But by adding the simple extra step of fermenting your...
these hardy veggies can survive cold temps 𼜠without a greenhouse
Some gardeners dread the fall and winter, thinking the start of the cool season is the end of their gardens (at least until spring). Not meâI've always loved fall and winter gardening when I lived in zone 10b (and could grow tomatoes through December), and I love it even more now that I live in zone 5 (where many vegetables actually taste better than they do in spring and summer). Very cold winters, in particular, bring out flavors that most people have never experienced if they've always...
how to nurse your soil back to health over winter
I'm still deep in fall cleanup this weekend: collecting seeds from special plants, dividing perennials, and cutting down the last of my summer crops. We had a hard freeze last week, which wiped out the tomatoes and cucumbers (though the strawberries are looking solidâI even see some new flowers). As I'm rooting around in my raised beds, I can tell the soil is a bit tired. I've got weeds sneaking their way into now-empty spaces, the soil level has gone down a couple inches and I grew some BIG...
the easiest crop to grow over winter without a greenhouse
You are planting garlic this season, right? This set-it-and-forget-it crop is one of my favorite things to grow in the garden because it's super easy to get started, very low-maintenance, free of pests, and doesn't need any winter protection other than a layer of mulch. I know some people tend to get burnt out this time of year and can't even think of planting one more thing in the ground, but trust me that you want to add garlic to your fall checklist. As long as the ground isn't frozen...
a great new deal I found that will improve your soil over winter
I typically don't like to send more than one email about Amazon Prime Big Deal Days (which ends tonight at 11:59 pm!) but a new deal just popped up that you should know about: Worx Electric Leaf Mulcher I own this exact leaf mulcher and it's 29% off today, which is less than what I originally bought it for! When I got mine a few years ago, I used it to shred over 50 yard bags of fallen leaves. (Seriously... it was a task!) This mulcher handled the workload with zero problems, and I continue...
⨠my fav Prime Day deals (plus I'm giving away 1k in gift cards)
If you're an Amazon Prime member, you've probably been hearing about Prime Big Deal Days for a couple of weeks now. Well, the day is finally here (actually two days) and Amazon Prime Day deals are live and online from October 7-8 only. If you like to save money, this is why we're friends đ and this is the place to score some great deals that are often better than Black Friday. It can be an overwhelming shopping experience with SO MANY deals happening each day, but I've sorted through them all...
my new book is available for preorder!
Last week I got the long-awaited email from my project manager: the final edits for The Route 66 Cookbook were approved, and the manuscript was on its way to the printer! đ In approximately 10 weeks, we should have the first copy of my new book in hand! If you've been following since last year, you may remember that I signed on to write a special centennial cookbook that honors the culinary history and food icons of Route 66. This fabled highway marked the beginning of modern American...
For people who want to grow more food with less work. đą This is my weekly newsletter loved by 38,000+ subscribersâhere's what one of them had to say: "These are not the regular run-of-the-mill garden-based emails. You actually touch on more unusual tidbits that encourage me to keep growing and learning."