This Week's Bounty: Clean a Hydroponic System, Seed Catalogs, Hydroponics for Beginners, and Valentine Gifts for Gardeners

Our weekly roundup of advice and tips for growing good food at home. [Food Gardening Network Weekly]( February 13, 2022  Enjoy this newsletter? Please forward it to your friends Featured Weekly Video [Hydroponics for Beginners: 5 Systems for Growing Greens and Veggies]( [Hydrophonics for Beginners]( Nothing gets me more excited than being able to grow veggies and herbs in the winter while there’s snow on the ground outside. And you can do the same if you get into hydroponics, the art of growing food without soil. There are many variations of it, including soil-free growing mediums and systems, which makes it even more fun. [Read More...](  [Magazine Issue]( [Food Gardening Magazine February 2022 Issue Available Now!]( Grow your own lettuce, herbs, fruits, and vegetables all year long in any climate with help from our February 2022 hydroponics issue. [Read More...](  Pests and Diseases [How to Clean a Hydroponic System Full of Algae]( [Hydrophonic System]( I’ll be the first to tell you that hydroponic gardening to [grow your own food at home]( is both ridiculously fun and frustrating. Just when you think you’re on auto-pilot, a batch of roots clogs a pipe and sends half your plants gasping for water and you don’t know until they’re laying there lifeless one morning. Or, or, or, that harmless green fuzz surrounding your sprouts is actually a glop of green goo suffocating roots below the surface that you hadn’t checked on in a while. That there is algae and the number one reason to know how to clean a hydroponic system. [Read More...](  [Bell Peppers]( [Beautiful Bell Peppers Guide Available Now!]( Bell peppers are one of the most commonly grown crops in the world. When grown to full ripeness, you can enjoy a rainbow of peppers—from creamy white to deep purple! Bell peppers need lots of warm sunshine to thrive, and there are varieties that will produce prolifically in containers. Learn what it takes to add bell peppers to your garden plan. [Read More...](  Soil & Fertilizer [5 Benefits of Worm Castings for Indoor Plants]( [Worm Castings]( Let’s just get this out of the way: Worm Castings = Worm Poop. But, “castings” is a much more civilized way of describing the digested waste of your garden variety earthworm so we’ll just stick with that! [Read More...](  [Parsley]( [How to Grow Parsley Gardening Guide Available Now!]( Parsley is a must-have herb for any kitchen—and every cook should have fresh parsley available to chop at all times. With our How to Grow Parsley Gardening Guide, you’ll have everything you need to know about growing and enjoying this essential herb. [Read More...](  Vegetable Gardening [2022 Free Seed Catalogs for Veggie Gardeners]( [Seed Catalogs]( Seed catalogs can sometimes be so beautiful that they look like collector’s pieces, and even though they do quite literally expire in use each year, it’s hard to throw them out. When I start getting my seed catalogs in the mail in January, I take to them like a good book and sit down with a glass of wine, thinking up ideas of everything I want to plant (like the new Black Strawberry cherry tomatoes from Baker’s Creek!) [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...](  Soil & Fertilizer [7 Tips for Preparing Clay Soil for Planting Vegetables]( [Clay Soil]( I’ll admit that part of the joy of gardening is having a good excuse to play in the dirt. As adults, we don’t get to do that very much, but it sure does feel good. Of course, playing in the dirt actually means getting the soil ready; there’s always compost to add or weeds to dig up. Even when you have “perfect” soil, you still have to do some prep work. Preparing clay soil for planting your garden isn’t that much different. [Read More...](  [Cucumber]( [The Cucumber Grower's Gardening Guide Available Now!]( Cucumbers are easy to grow and will reward you with delicious dishes and health benefits! With The Cucumber Grower's Gardening Guide, you’ll have everything you need to know about growing and enjoying this versatile food. [Read More...](  Vegetable Gardening [10 Last-Minute Valentine Gifts for Gardeners]( [Valentine Gifts]( It can be tough to find the right Valentine gifts for gardeners. They’re a relatively self-sufficient bunch. They also probably fall into two groups: those who already have every imaginable [gardening product]( and those who are happy with a shovel, a spade, a rake, a hose, and nothing more. [Read More...](  [Magazine Issue]( [Food Gardening Magazine February 2022 Issue Available Now!]( Grow your own lettuce, herbs, fruits, and vegetables all year long in any climate with help from our February 2022 hydroponics issue. [Read More...](  Member Favorites - [5 of the Best Plants for Aeroponic Vegetable Gardens]( - [How to Make Cute Herb Stakes for Your Garden]( - [How to Avoid 7 Hydroponic Pests and Diseases]( - [How to Make Natural Compost from Everyday Food Waste]( - [How to Grow Potatoes in a Bag]( - [How to Make Grass Compost in 4 Simple Steps]( - [The Best Vegetables to Grow in a Greenhouse]( - [The Best Type of Manure for Vegetable Gardens]( - [10 Best Herbs & Vegetables to Grow in Shade]( Premium Recipes of the Week - [Fried Green Tomatoes]( - [Basil Ice Cream]( - [Authentic Italian Pizza Sauce]( - [Basil-Potato Frittata]( - [Stewed Tomatoes]( [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. If you no longer wish to receive this update as part of your free subscription, please click the unsubscribe link below. 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