Mix Your Own Potting Soil, Store Leafy Greens and Other Produce Without Plastic, Test Soil Quality, and Basil Pesto

Start growing good food at home with daily advice, tips, and tricks from gardeners like you. [FGN Daily]( February 15, 2024 Enjoy this newsletter? Please forward it to your friends [2024 Garden Planning Calendar Kit]( [FREE for You Now: Printable 2024 Garden Planning Calendar Kit!]( Download this kit when you join the Food Gardening Network Gold Club: - Plan your 2024 food garden today! - Never miss an important task. - Be inspired to plan, plant, and enjoy! - Covers every month of 2024! [Read More ...]( Soil & Fertilizer [How to Mix Your Own Potting Soil for Container Vegetables]( [Article 1]( [Container vegetable gardens]( are the versatile champions of any garden. I love container gardens because you can start them indoors and transition them outdoors without disrupting the vegetable roots. They’re ideal for small spaces, porches, balconies, and even that sliver of side yard you might have that gets great sun exposure but is too small for a garden bed. The key to a successful container garden is your potting medium. There are many different store-bought varieties of potting soil and potting mix, but in my opinion, the best potting soil for container vegetables is a hand mixed. [Read More...](  [Lettuce]( [Leafy Lettuce Gardening Guide Available Now!]( Growing lettuce is as easy as BLT. A cool-season annual, this leafy crop grows readily from seed, and you can sow seeds every few weeks to have a season full of salad! With this Gardening Guide, you get all the details that go into growing and harvesting delicious, leafy lettuce. Get recipes that go beyond the salad bowl and see what’s possible when you grow your own lettuce. Get it all in this Leafy Lettuce Gardening Guide right now! [Read More ...](  Food Preservation [How to Store Leafy Greens and Other Produce Without Plastic]( [Article 2]( Question: What’s worse than wilted, mushy, refrigerator lettuce stored in single-use plastic? Answer: Nothing. Over the last few years, I’ve been slowly swapping out my single-use food storage items for more sustainable options. One surprising benefit (aside from… you know, saving the planet) is that my produce keeps fresh longer! Not only am I reducing my single-use plastic but I’m no longer throwing out a bag of mushy refrigerator lettuce at the end of the week, either. Talk about a win-win. Here are some of my favorite tips for how to store leafy greens and other produce without using plastic. [Read More...](  [Magazine]( [February 2024 Issue Available Now!]( Get in-depth articles and videos, including our feature article about "How to Grow an Authentic Italian Garden", "How to Make Organic DIY Seed Tape" and savor the flavors of a classic Italian dish with our recipe for "Hearty Winter Cacciatore." Two bonuses include our “Italian Food Garden Planning Kit” and “33 Weekend Projects You Can Do At Home!” Plus, enjoy spotlights on how to grow and cook with basil, bell peppers, and cauliflower! [Read More ...](  Soil & Fertilizer [Is it Safe? How to Test Soil Quality Before Growing Edible Plants]( [Article 3]( I’ll be the first to admit that when I’m dreaming about a new garden, I don’t put a lot of thought into learning how to test soil quality. Or I didn’t, anyway. I do now. I’m not talking about [pH levels]( or [how well the soil drains here](. This is about the safety of the soil. [Read More...]( [Basil]( [The Basil Grower's Gardening Guide Available Now!]( Basil is one of the most essential herbs and can be found in just about every kitchen. With The Basil Grower's Gardening Guide, you’ll have everything you need to know about growing and enjoying this versatile herb. [Read More ...](  Premium Recipe of the Day [Basil Pesto]( [Recipe]( Basil Pesto is so easy to make, can be frozen for later use, and allows you to make good use of a bountiful basil crop. [Read More...]( [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!]( [Planting chart]( [ GET MY FREEBIEÂ]( [Bug Control Chart]( [ GET MY FREEBIEÂ]( [Seed Germination Chart]( [ 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. 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