Best Temperature for Seedlings to Thrive, 7 Tips for Storing Squash, My USDA Planting Zone, and Roasted Bell Pepper Salad

Start growing good food at home with daily advice, tips, and tricks from gardeners like you. [FGN Daily]( February 16, 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 ...]( Seeds & Seedlings [What is the Best Temperature for Seedlings to Thrive?]( [Article 1]( Too hot or too cold, and those freshly germinated seeds won’t go anywhere. They won’t grow into those juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, or rich eggplants that we love. So what is the best temperature for seedlings? How can we make sure they thrive? [Read More...](  [Winter Squash]( [Winter Squash Gardening Guide Available Now!]( Squash have been a popular crop for 10,000 years! With our Winter Squash Gardening Guide you’ll have everything you need to know about growing and enjoying squash of many varieties — from planting to eating! [Read More ...](  Food Preservation [7 Tips for Storing Squash No Matter What Type]( [Article 2]( Squash gets overlooked for its versatility and overall yum-factor when it comes to garden vegetables (okay, technically a fruit). Always a bridesmaid, squash is often relegated to “side dish material,” and the general public doesn’t give it a second thought. But we’re not the general public. We’re gardeners and we know how amazing squash is! For one thing, it’s generally easy to grow. It’s also versatile in cooking, baking, freezing, and soup-ing. Is soup-ing a word? It is now! Storing squash is probably the trickiest thing about the vegetable and even that is pretty straightforward once you know the basics. [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 ...](  Garden Tools [What is My USDA Planting Zone?]( [Article 3]( The mysterious USDA planting zone (aka plant hardiness zone) isn’t all that mysterious once you get to know it. It’s like the overlooked love interest in every 80’s RomCom. Always there in plain sight. Always ignored. Then one day, you wake up and realize that no, you can’t plant a banana tree in Maine. But you could have the best darn blueberries in the world. If only you had noticed earlier that your USDA planting zone was there telling you all along that blueberries are the way to go. [Read More...]( [Bell Peppers]( [Beautiful Bell Peppers Gardening 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 ...](  Premium Recipe of the Day [Roasted Bell Pepper Salad]( [Recipe]( Roasted Bell Pepper Salad makes a great side dish, or a tasty topper for chicken, steak, burgers, and more. Get a full mix of colors to maximize the visual impact of this tasty side dish! [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!]( [Composting 101 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. 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