This Week's Bounty: Soil Solarization, How to Design a Garden Layout, New Vegetable Varieties, and More

Our weekly roundup of advice and tips for growing good food at home. [Food Gardening Network Weekly]( January 2, 2022  Enjoy this newsletter? Please forward it to your friends Featured Weekly Video [How to Keep Gardening in December]( Hello December! The weather is getting colder, the holiday decorations are going up, and visions of early spring crops are dancing in your head. But you don’t need to wait all winter to scratch that gardening itch. In fact, there’s plenty you can do to keep your thumb green by gardening in December. Gardening in December? She must be kidding! While it may be too soon to start seedlings outside, you can make real progress indoors and be fully prepared for your spring outdoor garden. Check out these five ways to keep gardening in December. [Read More...](  [Magazine Issue]( [Food Gardening Magazine January 2022 Issue Available Now!]( Open the January 2022 issue of Food Gardening Magazine! In this issue, you’ll learn “How to Plant a Food Garden According to Your Palate”, plus you’ll discover videos about "Composting in the Winter" and "How to Propagate Rosemary and Other Herbs Indoors", and "3 Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes" and you’ll get in-depth articles about Bell Peppers, Lemon, and Chamomile. [Read More...](  Pests and Diseases [5 Reasons to Try Soil Solarization This Year (and 3 Reasons Not To)]( Ta-da! That’s what my daughter says when she presents a magic trick. Pull a coin from behind my ear, and you’ll soon hear “ta-da!” A rabbit pulled from a hat is accompanied by expansive gestures and, of course, a hearty “ta-da!” So what’s that got to do with soil solarization? Well, it’s kind of like magic, and deserving of its own little “ta-da!” [Read More...](  [Peas]( [The Easy Peasy Guide to Growing Pea Plants Available Now!]( Peas are among the easiest plants for home gardeners to grow! With The Easy Peasy Guide to Growing Pea Plants, you’ll have everything you need to know about growing and enjoying this nutritious, protein-packed food, including the history and background of the green pea, to specific advice on soil requirements, fertilizer, watering techniques, and easy-to-make and delicious recipes! [Read More...](  Vegetable Gardening [The Easiest Vegetables to Grow in New England]( I live in New England, and I love having four distinct seasons, even if [winter]( is a bit longer than I’d like. If you’re reading this based on the title, you are likely in New England too (howdy neighbor!) so you know that New England also has a long history of farming, and you probably live on a plot that was once farmland. Bartlett Farm, one of the oldest farms in New England, is in Massachusetts and began growing vegetables in 1659 (or possibly 1639, depending on your source). Casey Farm in Rhode Island began operations in the mid-1700s. All of this to say: if you get a metal detector out in your yard or an open field in New England, you’re probably going to find some gardening supplies. [Read More...](  [Beets]( [Beautiful Beets Guide Available Now!]( Beets are the crown jewels of vegetables. Not only do they come in jewel tones of ruby and amber, but they are easy to grow and so nutritious! A cool weather crop, beets can be enjoyed from late spring into deep fall. Learn what it takes to add beets to your garden. We’ll explain how to choose the beets that are right for you, how to get them started, and how to enjoy them after harvest. [Read More...](  Garden Design [How to Design a Garden Layout in the Winter]( Dropping temperatures, frigid nights, and short days can only mean one thing! It’s time to start thinking about how to design a garden layout. Wait! Don’t go! This isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds. [Read More...](  [Potatoes]( [How to Grow Potatoes Gardening Guide Available Now!]( Potatoes and sweet potatoes have been around for thousands of years, and they’re a main staple in many cultures. Both of these vegetables are easy to grow at home. With the How to Grow Potatoes Gardening Guide, you’ll learn all you need to know about growing and enjoying these fabulous root vegetables. [Read More...](  Vegetable Gardening [10 Marigold Companion Plants in a Vegetable Garden]( As a kid, my least favorite flower was the marigold. [Companion plants]( pollinators, and wondering how the heck to keep rabbits out of my garden was still years away. Marigolds, on the other hand, were right there in front of me. So was the bee that stung me, along with a few of his fellow bees gathering pollen from the flowers. In my eight-year-old mind it was all connected: marigolds attract bees, bees sting you, therefore, marigolds were the worst flower ever. [Read More...](  [Onions]( [The Outstanding Onion Gardening Guide Available Now!]( Onions make everything taste better! From burgers to salads to soups and more, onions offer a broad range of flavors from sweet to zesty. Gardeners love to grow them, and their friends and family love to eat them—raw or cooked! With The Outstanding Onion Gardening Guide, you’ll have everything you need to know about growing and enjoying this versatile food. [Read More...](  Vegetable Gardening [10 New Vegetable Varieties (and Fruits!) to Look for in 2022]( If you’re looking for some new vegetable varieties to try in your garden this year, have we got a list for you! And we’ll throw in a mini-biology lesson at the same time, because what’s cooler than plant biology? [Read More...](  [Magazine Issue]( [Food Gardening Magazine January 2022 Issue Available Now!]( Open the January 2022 issue of Food Gardening Magazine! In this issue, you’ll learn “How to Plant a Food Garden According to Your Palate”, plus you’ll discover videos about "Composting in the Winter" and "How to Propagate Rosemary and Other Herbs Indoors", and "3 Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes" and you’ll get in-depth articles about Bell Peppers, Lemon, and Chamomile. [Read More...](  Member Favorites - [5 Vegetables You Can Grow in Hanging Baskets on a Porch]( - [10 Drought-Resistant Vegetables for a Water Conscious Garden]( - [How to Select Good Seeds for Planting & What Bad Seeds to Avoid]( - [How Often to Water Vegetable Seeds]( - [Can Compost Tea Help Vegetable Gardens Thrive?]( - [How to Keep an Odor Free Compost Bin in Your Home]( - [Easy Composting at Home: 5 Ways to Compost from Hardest to Easiest]( - [10 of the Best Vegetables for Canning and Preserving]( - [7 Foolproof Tips for Pressure Canning Apples]( Premium Recipes of the Week - [Candied Ginger]( - [Brussels Sprout Ragout]( - [Roasted Parmesan Brussels Sprouts]( - [Brussels Sprouts with Honey Balsamic Glaze]( - [Brussels Sprout Slaw]( [FREEBIES: Get Them Now!]( [ GET MY FREEBIEÂ]( [ GET MY FREEBIEÂ]( [ GET MY FREEBIEÂ](     You are receiving this email as part of your free subscription to email updates from Food Gardening Network. 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