With the immense diversity in the world of beans, doing the research into the particular variety you are interested in and knowing its specific traits will you help you grow beans with ease. One thing you will come to learn is that beans come in all shapes, sizes, and colors so knowing how to classify these delicious garden...
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Bee balm is a native American plant not only known for its brightly-colored flowers and fragrant foliage. The flowers were used by North American Indians to make tea which were considered a useful treatment for colds, stomach aches, and insomnia. Bee balm produces slender, tubular flowers that bloom in June...
Posted on October 10, 2022
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Broadleaf Sage is a popular shrubby perennial with broad silvery leaves and tiny lavender flowers. There are hundreds of varieties of salvia throughout the world but the common garden sage primarily has the highest medicinal properties. Sage is native to the Mediterranean region but grows well throughout the world...
Posted on October 10, 2022
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A true superfood, broccoli is packed with tons of nutrients. Broccoli is part of the brassica genus, relating it to turnips, rutabaga, radish, wasabi, kale, cabbage, arugula, collard greens, and kohlrabi. Being a hardy and versatile vegetable, it’s easy to grow for every type of gardener following a few simple growing tips...
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Cabbage is a nutritious, leafy green that is great addition for your home garden! This vegetable is densely packed with fiber and rich with Vitamin C and Vitamin K. From coleslaw to Kimchi, cabbage is a versatile vegetable that can be prepared in many ways!
Posted on October 03, 2023
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Commonly known as pot marigold, calendula is different from the common marigold, and instead more closely related to daisies and chrysanthemums. It grows relatively quickly, flowering six to eight weeks from seeding at 1-2 feet tall and wide. They are most commonly orange, but can also be red, yellow, pink, or cream.
Posted on October 10, 2022
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Carrots are sweet, crunchy, delicious, and nutritious, making them an excellent addition to your home garden. These Vitamin A rich vegetables can be cooked, eaten raw, preserved and make an excellent addition to so many dishes. If you’ve eaten a carrot from the grocery store, and never had one fresh from the
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Catnip is great for more than just your cats! Catnip is a short-lived perennial plant that grows to be 20-40 inches tall and wide and has flowering heads that bloom from late spring to autumn. The name “catnip” comes from the fact that about 2 in 3 domestic cats are attracted to it. In addition to its uses with cats, it is...
Posted on October 10, 2022
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There are descriptions of cauliflower from as early as the 1st century A.D.. Cauliflower has been grown and eaten across Europe since the 1500s but did not start growing in the United States until the 1900s. Cauliflower is related to other brassica vegetables including broccoli, turnips, rutabaga, radish, wasabi...
Posted on September 30, 2022
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German Chamomile is an annual that produces small, daisy-like flowers. Plants produce sweet, pineapple-like, aromatic blooms. Grown for medicinal use, chamomile is known to aid with digestion and boasts anti-inflammatory properties. It also makes for a great ground cover and can also be grown in...
Posted on October 10, 2022
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Corn on the cob has long been a staple on dinner tables and farms across the country. It’s an art that has been perfected by both commercial growers and home gardeners for as far back as we can remember. Corn is probably one of the most versatile vegetables on the planet and exists, in some form or another, in just...
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Depending on what part of the country you’re from, you may be familiar with cowpeas and field peas. What you may not know is that they are actually the same thing, just with different names. Here in the South, cowpeas or field peas are a long time staple of southern cuisine because of their exceptional...
Posted on August 01, 2022
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Any gardener will know that when they are planning a garden, growing cucumbers should absolutely be part of the mix. They are great for beginner and veteran gardeners and are pretty easy to grow in general. From their prolific growth habit to the multitude of ways you can enjoy and preserve them, growing cucumbers
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Did you know that Elephant Garlic is closely related to leeks? It has a couple of similarities and differences when compared to regular garlic. Similar to leeks in appearance it contains a tall flowering stalk with flat leaves but has a bulb that forms large garlic-like cloves. Much like onions, immature elephant garlic...
Posted on September 02, 2022
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Feverfew is a perennial plant with small, daisy-like flowers that are cultivated in flower gardens throughout Europe and the US. It is known to repel moths, flies, ants, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and more insects! Tanacetum parthenium. Feverfew flowers from June through August and requires full or...
Posted on October 10, 2022
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Do you call them fresh peas, green, peas, garden peas, or just plain ole peas? Unlike the Southern cowpea that we know here at HOSS, this guide is going to cover the other kind of peas; green peas. Fresh peas are one of the garden’s most beloved treats. The sweet pods have been around for centuries and are...
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Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is a plant that is native to India. Holy basil is also known as tulsi or tulasi. Holy Basil is one of the most popular and often used medicinal herbs that you’ll find. This variety is said to be both calming and energizing. While not used as often as sweet basil in culinary dishes...
Posted on October 10, 2022
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So, we’ve all heard of Hops but what exactly are they and what are they used for? Hops is also known as the “alpha acid”, they’re cone-shaped flowers derived from the plant Humulus Lupulus, mostly used in brewing beer. Many herbalists use Hops for its medicinal properties. It has been known to help with...
Posted on October 10, 2022
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Horehound features ornamental foliage that have a slight heart shape. The name “horehound” is likely a derivative of the Old English word horhoune, which means hoary or hairy, as both the leaves and stems are covered in fine hair. The herb is native to Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern and central...
Posted on October 10, 2022
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Onion production is largely based on the amount of sunlight it receives during the entire growing process. In order for the bulbs to form properly, enough sunlight is needed for healthy above-ground leaf production. Different varieties require varying hours of sunlight to produce a large, healthy onion crop. Choosing the right onion...
Posted on November 19, 2021
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Peppers are a long standing favorite among gardeners who want to grow their own food. They provide a bright pop of color, come in many many varieties and flavors and are usually heavy producers from just a single plant and can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen...
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Choosing the right watermelon to grow can get very technical and oftentimes confusing. Like most fruits and vegetables that can simply and easily be broken down into hybrid and open-pollinated, watermelons can bend, and sometimes...
Posted on February 15, 2022
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Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) is a semi-evergreen perennial and a member of the Lamiaceae—mint family. The plant originates from Southern Europe, the Middle East, and the region surrounding the Caspian Sea. Hyssop makes a lovely functional and ornamental herb to grow in your garden. The plant...
Posted on January 09, 2023
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Kohlrabi is a vegetable that is part of the Brassica family, which also includes broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. It is a cool-weather crop that grows best in the spring and fall. Kohlrabi has a bulbous stem that grows above the ground, with leaves growing out of the top. The stem can range in color from light green...
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Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), a member of the mint family, is considered a calming herb. It was used as far back as the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort from indigestion. It’s native to the Mediterranean and various regions in...
Posted on October 10, 2022
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Lemon Drop, also known as spilanthes or the toothache plant, is a tropical perennial herb that flourishes in zones 10 and warmer, but it can also be grown as an annual. Spilanthes is native to Brazil and is now found throughout the world...
Posted on October 10, 2022
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Motherwort is a spiky, weedy, clumping perennial herb that can reach at least five feet tall, motherwort is often found growing wild, especially in wet areas. It is also a commonly found weed along roadsides and in neglected gardens. Motherwort produces clusters of pink to purple flowers that bloom from midsummer
Posted on October 10, 2022
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Mullein is a herbaceous biennial or a short-lived perennial herb that is Native to Europe, northern Africa, and Asia. Once mature, this plant typically reaches up from 2-7 feet tall and can be up to 2.5 wide. A drought-tolerant variety, mullein produces bright yellow blooms with five-petaled flowers grouped closely...
Posted on October 10, 2022
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Okra is a Southern staple that has been grown in gardens all over for centuries. Okra belongs to the mallow family along with roselle hibiscus and also cotton. Originally from Africa, okra has been widely adapted to grow in most climates but does very well in hotter growing zones like...
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The most common mistakes we have encountered when it comes to a great crop of onions really comes down to planning. You have to be sure of three things when planting onions...
Posted on November 22, 2021
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Passion flower is native to the southeastern United States and Central and South America. It’s been traditionally used to help with sleep. Where they are hardy, passionflowers are usually trained on a trellis, fence, or other vertical structures. In regions where they are not hardy, passionflower plants are often grown in...
Posted on October 10, 2022
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Peanuts were first brought to France and Africa from Brazil, and then later introduced into the U.S. during the 1700s. The first commercial peanuts were grown near Wilmington, NC about 1800. Contrary to popular belief, the peanut is not a nut. It’s actually a vegetable belonging to the legume family, which...
Posted on December 19, 2022
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Growing pepper plants in your garden is a fun way to add a pop of color and spice to an otherwise simple vegetable garden. These prolific plants come in so many varieties and, more importantly, flavors that there are a million different ways to utilize these spicy treats. From the sweet bell pepper to the extreme...
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You may not have heard of some of our herbs before, but you’ve probably heard of peppermint. It’s the most used flavoring from the mint family and is everywhere during the Christmas season. Peppermint is a hybrid of watermint and spearmint. Peppermint (Mentha piperata) has been referred to a “blast of...
Posted on January 09, 2023
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For centuries, the potato has reigned supreme as one of the most popular plants to have in your garden. Overall, they are a relatively easy crop that don’t require a lot of labor to maintain or harvest, are high in nutrients, and can be grown in even the...
Posted on January 05, 2022
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Purple Coneflower is by far the most popular variety of coneflower. With beautiful purple blooms, this variety is great for pollinators and medicinal uses alike. Native to North America, these plants are hardy, drought-tolerant, and long blooming. The flowers have daisy-like features made up of several small...
Posted on October 10, 2022
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What is Roselle? It’s a species of a flowering plant in the genus Hibiscus that goes by many other names, such as Red Sorrel, Florida Cranberry, Queensland jelly plant, and many others. Its native origins are from Central and West Africa and can/is grown all around the world. Roselle is a highly versatile plant that...
Posted on October 10, 2022
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Learn to grow strawberry plants at home with HOSS Tools! Proper planting techniques, when to plant your strawberries, and more
Posted on November 03, 2021
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In the world of squash, there are usually two types that come to mind; winter squash and summer squash. Even though they both belong to the Cucurbitaceae family (also known as gourds or cucurbits), they have fundamental differences. For...
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Sweet potatoes are a root vegetable that is packed with nutrition. Sweet potatoes are typically a reddish–brown color on the outside and a pale yellow or orange on the inside. They usually have a long, tapered shape and can range in size from small to large. They are a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C...
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Tobacco is a member of the Solanaceae or nightshade family. This family includes tomato, pepper, eggplant, Irish potato, and a number of other plants. Tobacco belongs to the genus Nicotiana, and almost all commercial tobacco is of the tabacum species. The Nicotiana rustica species was commonly used by...
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Gardeners at all types and levels have something in common…tomatoes. There are hundreds of varieties, colors, shapes, flavors and they not only look beautiful climbing up a trellis but most of the time put out lots and lots of fruit. What a lot of...
Posted on December 08, 2021
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Watermelon is the quintessential Summertime treat in most areas of the world. Because of their popularity in home gardens, we get a lot of questions from both beginner and long-time gardeners when Spring garden planning begins. So let’s...
Posted on January 28, 2022
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A lot of people have the misconception that winter squash is different from summer squash because they are grown in the winter and summer squash is grown in the summer. However, this is not the case. Both types are grown in the same season...
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Yarrow is an herbaceous perennial featuring small bunches, or “heads”, of flowers. Yarrow is a great low-maintenance addition to your garden. It self-sows easily and thrives in well-drained soil with plenty of sun but can adapt to a variety of situations. Yarrow is considered a “cure-all” herb for its many medicinal...
Posted on October 10, 2022
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