| Growing Vegetables in Your Garden
There’s more than one way to grow a garden, but we’re pretty sure that our 228 years of gardening experience give us some insight into the best of them. |  |
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Dear Garden Grower,
There’s an old Chinese proverb that goes, “Life begins the day you start a garden.” You could interpret that in a few ways. Literally, planting seeds brings new plant life into your world. Figuratively, working in the garden is refreshing for the soul. Or you can mix the two and think about the future, where a garden nourishes both the spirit and the body, as plants mature and make their way to the dinner table.
This look into the future is one thing that we’ve always prided ourselves on here at The Old Farmer’s Almanac, with long-range weather forecasts and, today, planning our gardens.
Now, don’t take this the wrong way. We love gardening. But we’re always in favor of finding ways to be more efficient. That’s why perennial vegetables are some of our favorites—never mind the fact that they are delicious. Perennial vegetables come back on their own. Year after year, they require less water and fertilizer than other plants, and their deep roots benefit the ecosystem.
Some favorites? - Asparagus: It can take 2 or 3 years of growth before you can harvest this hardy perennial, but it’s one of the first signs of spring in the garden—and it’s oh, so delicious with just a little olive oil, salt, and pepper!
- Chives: They grow easily, aren’t fussy about soil, and will thrive in partial shade. You can even grow them in containers on your windowsill. The leaves and flowers are both edible—and quite tasty.
- Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes): This tuber is neither an artichoke nor from Jerusalem, but it is related to the sunflower. You can cook the roots mashed or roasted just like you would potatoes or even eat them raw in salads.
| | | Start Your Veggies! | Whether you’re planting perennial or annual vegetables, the secret to gardening success begins before the seeds ever hit the ground. Some plants prefer an indoor start, while others need specific soil conditions in order to thrive.
Carrots, for instance, like to be planted 3 to 5 weeks before the last spring frost, which means that if you live in warm sections of the country, you could be planting as early as February. Sweet corn, on the other hand, likes soil temperatures at 70°F or higher. And it’s a good idea to start your cucumbers and peppers indoors. In fact, cucumbers do well on top of the refrigerator or water heater, where the seeds can get a little extra warmth. | | Harvest at Home | Of course, not everyone has the space to plant rows of sweet corn or a big garden to plan around the spring frost. If you’re short on space, try space-saving varieties of plants for your porch, balcony, urban plot, or garden nook.
‘Patio Pride’ snap peas work in a pot as small as 8 inches, and you can eat them right from the plant. The ‘Little Bing’ tomato takes a little more room. Plant it in a container at least 18 to 24 inches in diameter. Beginning about 60 days later, you’ll be harvesting red cherry tomatoes for weeks.
For pepper lovers, the sweet Take 2 ‘Director’s Cut’ Pepper Combo gives you two mild pepper plants in one pot. Or, for a sweet burn, try compact ‘Dragon Roll’ shishito peppers. They are about one-tenth as hot as jalapeños and have a smoky taste when they’re immature. | | From Landscape to Foodscape | From the front porch to the front yard, gardens can grow anywhere. If you want to move beyond the container garden and if you have the space, you can reinvent your property. We won’t kid you: Turning your landscape into a foodscape will take work, and some zoning regulations may impact your decision. However, a front yard full of food can be both beautiful and bountiful.
Plan it properly, and your yard can be a haven for herbs, an enchanted edible island, and a climate-conscious canvas all in one.
You can learn more about perennial vegetables; when, where, and how to start your garden; and more useful information, wit, and wisdom with an Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership!
With an Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership, you’ll get our Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening for Everyone; our 2021 Gardening Wall Calendar; the special softcover, hangable edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac; and the full-color monthly EXTRA! digital magazine with garden tips, delightful recipes, and other content not found in the print edition. With an Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership, you’ll learn how to:
- Plan your best garden ever. Take advantage of Almanac gardening advice, planting dates, timesaving tips, and detailed guidance from experts to get your garden growing like never before.
- Get inspired with new gardening ideas. Use our Gardening for Everyone guide to create a staycation-ready tropical patio paradise, grow a flower garden that provides beautiful bouquets, and even build a living herb wreath.
- Get a green thumbs-up. Amaze your friends and family with your detailed knowledge of planting facts, folklore, and trivia.
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| Tap into the deep well of resources at The Old Farmer’s Almanac for a bountiful harvest of gardening tips and tools—with a Charter Membership in The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club! | Announcing The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club! This new and exciting club is designed especially for you—with just the inspiration and information you need for all your gardening projects!
We’ve put together essential Old Farmer’s Almanac resources to celebrate your love of gardening and give you tons of tips for making your next gardening project as lush and lovely as it can be. And it all starts, of course, with The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
You’ll be prepared for any gardening project. Whether you garden for food, for flowers, or just for fun, a Charter Membership in The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club will keep you entertained, informed, and inspired all year long!
Since 1792, The Old Farmer’s Almanac has been a traditional resource for dedicated farmers, avid and casual gardeners, folks who like to get a long view on upcoming weather trends, and people who love to collect little snippets of country wit and wisdom that they can share with family and friends.
We’re not just the oldest published almanac, but the oldest continuously published periodical in North America— and we’ve been around longer than any newspaper or magazine, too. |
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| Get your Charter Membership in The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club today—with resources to inspire you in the garden. From time-honored country gardening tips to modern garden gadgets, come share in the bountiful harvest! | With your Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership, you get everything you need to keep your garden at its greenest:
- 2021 Gardening Wall Calendar: Our perennial best-seller for over 40 years! Rich illustrations accompany useful gardening tips on everything from planting to enjoying your garden.
- The 2021 special softcover, hangable edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, loaded with the tips, trivia, and insights that make it a family favorite.
- Gardening for Everyone— Brand NEW from Old Farmer’s Almanac and only available to Club Members, this beautiful print edition covers the best of Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden Guides. Grow food and herbs you love, surround yourself with spectacular flowers, and get tips on the latest gardening tech!
- Instant Unlimited Access to our new Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden Guide Online Library—you’ll find seven years of Garden Guides packed with no-nonsense tips, tricks, and shortcuts to make your garden a jewel in the neighborhood or out in the country.
- Cooking Fresh—make the most of your garden's bounty with our digital cookbook. You'll find more than 160 recipes using fresh fruits, berries, herbs, spices, and vegetables!
- The Old Farmer’s Almanac EXTRA! Our monthly digital magazine includes articles on gardening, food and other content not found in the print edition. It’s a great way to keep up-to-date on Almanacky topics throughout the year.
- Bonus: Not only will you get a new Old Farmer’s Almanac EXTRA! each month—you get free access to every issue of EXTRA! in our digital library. That’s more than 40 issues of great gardening tips, delicious recipes, and more!
| | | Celebrate your Love of Gardening with the Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening club! |
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Save 43% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! |
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| Claim your Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership— save 43% today! | | | | | An Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership will deliver exciting rewards for you—and at a special introductory rate, right now, for all new Charter Members. | When you join today, you’ll ensure that you are planting the seeds of success for your garden when you tap into the time-honored wisdom of The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Enjoy all these benefits as an Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Member:
- Your best garden ever—Almanac gardening advice, planting dates, timesaving tips, and detailed guidance from experts will get you growing like never before.
- You’ll know in advance about every important astronomical event in 2021—and how the phase of the Moon can influence the success of your garden.
- You’ll save time and money when you follow all of the practical advice and tips that we deliver to you about everything from gardening to food preparation and cooking.
- You’ll be the first to know about top tips, tricks, and shortcuts for taking your garden from good to great.
- You’ll learn more about gardening gadgets and gear that can make your work in the garden even more enjoyable.
- You’ll discover new approaches to planting—for color, for purpose, for stress relief.
- Whether you’re a beginning gardener or a skilled green thumb, you’ll find do-it-yourself projects to fit your schedule—and your garden.
How can you not consider becoming an Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Member? | | What You’ll Get With an Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership | There’s so much gardening knowledge to gain as a Charter Member of The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club:
In the convenient, hangable, softcover edition of the 2021 Almanac, you’ll find a bumper crop of gardening tips. Many gardeners consider the Almanac their most valuable tool, so this year, for all of you trying to grow food, we’ve got foolproof advice that promises a harvest the first year and every one thereafter. Perhaps you grow flowers—or want to: In the 2021 Almanac, you’ll learn all about growing flowers, when to pick them, and how to use them (e.g., last year, we told members to pick apple blossoms in late spring and sprinkle them onto a Waldorf salad and use impatiens all summer long as a garnish).
But that’s not all. Here’s a taste of other tips you’ll find in the 2021 Almanac: - Best days for planting, pruning, weeding, grafting, and controlling pests
- Daily weather forecasts for all regions of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii
- Fresh new ways to savor vegetables from your garden
- Easy, delicious, Almanac prize-winning recipes (and an opportunity to share your own!)
Each month, you’ll get new articles and original content with our digital magazine, The Old Farmer’s Almanac EXTRA! It’s a treasure trove of Almanac information that you won’t find in the printed edition, including audio and video content. EXTRA! leads you to some interactive fun when you’re ready for a change of pace. |
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| | Celebrate your Love of Gardening with the Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening club! |
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Save 43% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! |
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| Claim your Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership— save 43% today! | | | | It’s never too early to plan next season’s garden, so enjoy the rich illustrations in our Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Calendar. This compact calendar is the perfect size to fit on the wall in your kitchen, den, or potting shed. Each month features rich, full-color illustrations along with tips, history, or background information on the artwork.
Here are just a few of the types of tips you can find in our 2021 Gardening Calendar: - Reinvigorate your houseplants by removing the top 1/4 inch of soil and top-dressing with fresh potting soil.
- Use an old salt shaker for sowing tiny seeds. Mix the seeds with sand for better spreading.
- Plants with a strong citrus fragrance will help to keep pesky bugs at bay. Try planting lemon-scented geraniums, lemon thyme, or lemon balm.
- Lettuce shaded naturally or by shade cloth will encourage the growth of a tender, sweet crop all summer.
- To attract dragonflies, create a water feature. Choose a spot in partial to full sun and plant a few native plants along the edges for wind protection.
- Remove the lower leaves of brussels sprouts to expose the buds along the stem. Harvest from the bottom up.
- Fill bird feeders to attract chickadees, nuthatches, and juncos—they will not only brighten the landscape but also clean up insect larvae and eggs on trees and shrubs.
You’ll love the advice, folklore, and gardening secrets in our 2021 Gardening Wall Calendar!
As you count the days until your next planting or your next harvest, peruse the pages of Gardening for Everyone for tips on how to grow better, naturally! Gardening for Everyone is available exclusively to Old Farmer’s Almanac Club members.
From the practical to the ornamental, plan your prolific garden and learn how to:
- Plant edibles indoors and out, no matter how small your space is.
- Create a serene and leafy oasis—and why you should.
- Make a living herb wreath—a kitchen garden in the round.
- Grow blooms that beautify your surroundings and make breathtaking bouquets.
- Serve up your harvest in style with recipes that will let you savor the flavor of homegrown food.
And all of this is available to you—right now—when you claim your Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership. | | | Celebrate your Love of Gardening with the Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening club! |
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Save 43% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! |
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| Claim your Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership— save 43% today! | | | |
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| What are you waiting for? Become a Charter Member of The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club today! | | No other Almanac has so many fun and fascinating facts, timely and accurate events and predictions, and topical and useful articles all in one place for your easy access and use—and covering more regions of North America than any other almanac or resource! Add The Old Farmer’s Almanac EXTRA!, The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Calendar, The Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden Guide Online Library, and Gardening for Everyone, and your garden will be the prolific pride of the neighborhood! | | Why Not Join Right Now? | | Gardeners everywhere have been using The Old Farmer’s Almanac for years to guide their gardening plans, and now the Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership offers you all things gardening in one place! |
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Charter Offer for You—Join Today!
SAVE 43%
When you respond today, you’ll be among a select group of Almanac friends to take advantage of this special Gardening Club Charter Membership offer.
With your Charter Membership, you’ll receive The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Calendar, The 2021 Old Farmer’s Almanac, Gardening for Everyone, access to The Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden Guide Online Library with seven years of Garden Guides, Cooking Fresh, and a subscription to our monthly digital magazine, The Old Farmer’s Almanac EXTRA!
Plant the seeds of success for your garden today—with this incredible deal!
This is a limited-time offer, so take advantage of it right now! |
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When we first created the Gardening Club, we wanted to make it easy to use, easy to order, and packed with valuable gardening content that you could put to use right away. Be the best gardener you can be with yourOld Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership.
Sincerely,
Janice Stillman
Editor
The Old Farmer’s Almanac
P.S. Remember researchers have found that spending time in nature strengthens a person’s immune system, reduces stress hormones, and lowers blood pressure. Furthermore, it may improve learning and increase empathy. | | | Celebrate your Love of Gardening with the Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening club! |
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Save 43% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! |
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| Claim your Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership— save 43% today! | | | | | We reserve the right to substitute items based on availability. |
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