This Week's Bounty: November Gardening Chores, Countertop Compost Machine, Soil Solarization, and More!

Our weekly roundup of advice and tips for growing good food at home. [Food Gardening Network Weekly]( November 5, 2023  [Freebie Text-Ad]( [Save Your Garden from Ruin—Plant the Right Things Next to Each Other!]( [GET THIS FREEBIE NOW!](  Featured Weekly Video [November Gardening Tasks and Chores]( [Video]( In November, I dream of soups and stews, cozy sweaters, and yummy Thanksgiving food! Here in the Northeast (USDA Hardiness Zone 5b), November signals the end of the outdoor growing months and a big end-of-season clean up. The leaves pile up, taunting me that I need to do one final round of chores (and maybe a quick jump in a leaf pile with the kid and dog) before the first frost sets in. Nobody likes the clean up tasks, but with a little elbow grease, you can clean out your garden, protect your plants, and be ready to spring into action for the next growing season. Here are some November gardening tasks and chores to accomplish before Frosty the Snowman finds his corncob pipe and button nose. [Read More...](  [Fall Calendar]( [FREE Printable 2023 Fall Garden Planning Calendar Kit!]( Download this kit when you join the Food Gardening Network Gold Club Membership: - Get checklists for garden tasks in September, October, November, and December—every month of Fall! - Prioritize your own garden with personal notes. - 10 fresh-from-the-garden Fall recipes! [Read More ...](  Composting [This Countertop Compost Machine Turns Scraps into Compost in a Few Hours]( [Article 1]( It’s safe to say there’s no gardening gadget or device I love more than the countertop compost machine I’m sharing with you today. Instead of keeping a stinky compost bucket under your sink, then plopping into a heap outside, [Lomi’s countertop compost machine]( can turn scraps into compost in just a few hours. When I first saw it as a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, I practically tore open my wallet and said, “Take my money!” Now it’s out into the wild, and I’ve been singing its praises to anyone who will listen. [Read More...](  [Asparagus]( [Asparagus—King of the Garden Gardening Guide Available Now!]( Want a home garden crop that will produce delicious, nutritious, stately vegetables for decades? Then plant asparagus. You’ll need a little patience at first, but once established, asparagus will reward you for years to come. With the Asparagus—King of the Garden Gardening Guide, you’ll have everything you need to know about growing and enjoying this versatile food. [Read More ...](  Vegetable Gardening [Attack of the Mutant Vegetables: The 6 Weirdest Vegetable Mutations]( [Article 2]( The first time I saw the mutant vegetables, I was scared. It was like a horror scene out of “The Walking Dead” or something. But then it hit me: Those were my carrots! That’s my corn! Oh my gosh, why is my tomato being so naughty? My mind raced with thoughts of how to solve this problem, but they all seemed too outlandish and unnecessary. So what if my carrots crossed their legs? It didn’t affect the taste at all. And my corn truffles weren’t that bad either, in fact, they’re considered a delicacy! [Read More...](  [Cauliflower]( [Marvelous Cauliflower Gardening Guide Available Now!]( Cauliflower love is on the rise in restaurants and homes everywhere, from cauliflower rice to pizza crust, and it’s easy to see why—it’s a health power food and it tastes delicious as well. While cauliflower is known to be tricky to grow, this Marvelous Cauliflower Gardening Guide will get you fully prepared to take on the challenge. [Read More ...](  Vegetable Gardening [60 Inspirational Quotes About Gardening]( [Article 3]( I love a good garden joke. Why doesn’t Elton John like lettuce? He’s more of a Rocket Man. I was offered a job as a gardener, but I didn’t take it because the celery was too low. Oh, ho, ho. Knee-slappers I say. You know what else I love? Quotes about gardening, and these inspirational garden quotes I put together are great for printing on gifts for friends and family. We’ve also created a few graphics to share with your gardening friends (please link back to this post when you use them). [Read More...](  [Eggplant]( [Elegant Eggplant Gardening Guide Available Now!]( Eggplants are loved the world over for their beauty, their versatility, and because they’re easy to grow! Learn how to grow your own today, in the Elegant Eggplant Gardening Guide as part of your Food Gardening Network membership. [Read More ...](  Composting [5 Reasons to Try Soil Solarization This Year (and 3 Reasons Not To)]( [Article 4]( 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...](  [Radish]( [Radiant Radishes Gardening Guide Available Now!]( Radishes are easy to grow and come in a variety of colors that span the entire rainbow. And did you know that how spicy a radish is, depends on when you harvest it? In this Gardening Guide, we’ll explain how to choose a radish variety and how to grow them in your garden, harvest them, and then enjoy them at your table. [Read More ...](  Pests & Diseases [Ways to Make Compost Break Down Faster]( [Article 5]( I know the feeling. You’re excited about your compost pile; you’ve tried to keep the mix right between browns and greens. Finally, you’re ready to get some finished compost and work it into your garden, so your plants have plenty of nutritious soil. And you can’t use any of it because the compost break down process seems suspended in time. [Read More...](  [Magazine]( [November 2023 Issue Available Now!]( Get in-depth articles and videos all dedicated to everything potatoes, including “November Gardening Chores”,“Spud-tacular Crafts”, “How to Store Potatoes, Carrots & More for Winter”. You’ll also learn to make “Easy Maple-Roasted Potatoes and Squash with Bacon”. Plus, enjoy spotlights on how to grow and cook with potatoes, garlic, and cranberries [Read More ...](  Member Posts: New This Week - [Start preserving for National Canning Day]( - [Is it a shovel or is it a spade?]( - [Celebrating Samhain with delicious recipes]( - [It’s time to say goodbye to the garden]( Member Favorites - [The Great Pumpkin Escape]( - [Combinations of Vegetables that Should Not be Planted Together]( - [Is it Safe? How to Test Soil Quality Before Growing Edible Plants]( - [10 Common Garden Bugs That Are Actually Good for Your Plants]( - [10 Drought-Resistant Vegetables for a Water Conscious Garden]( - [How to Grow Potatoes in a Bag]( - [What Can You Grow in Deck Rail Planters?]( - [5 Benefits of Worm Castings for Indoor Plants]( - [How to Store Leafy Greens and Other Produce Without Plastic]( Premium Recipes of the Week - [Creamy Pumpkin Seed Dressing]( - [Roasted Pumpkin Seeds]( - [Rosemary Flatbread]( - [Garlic-Rosemary Butter]( - [Sweet Potato Pecan Crumble]( [GP]( [FREE for You Now: Printable Butterfly Garden Planting Chart!]( Download this FREEBIE now and get: - Beautiful full-color printable chart. - Which plants attract butterflies? - Best flowers for your garden. - Fun facts about each of the 24 plants. [Read More ...](  [FREEBIES: Get Them Now!]( [Companion Planting Chart]( [ GET MY FREEBIEÂ]( [Kitchen Garden Planting Charts]( [ GET MY FREEBIEÂ]( [Tomato Garden to Table]( [ GET MY FREEBIEÂ](     About Food Gardening Network: Food Gardening Network brings you expert in-depth information and daily advice to help you grow good food at home and become the best food gardener you can be. Our worldwide community of gardeners, farmers, and cooking enthusiasts share advice and practical information on how to plan, plant, grow, tend, harvest and enjoy great-tasting and nutritional food from your home garden. Our magazine articles, in-depth gardening guides, how-to videos, recipes and cookbooks, and planning calendars help you improve your gardening skills, be a better cook, and enjoy all the benefits of successful food gardening—including saving time and money. 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