The secret to a garden that grows like magic

This secret will change the way you think about gardening. It will also give you amazing cucumbers. Having trouble viewing this email? [View this email on the web.]( [Banner]( [The Real Secret to a Magical Garden]( [This secret will change the way you think about gardening.]( [Join The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club for all the dirt.]( [Hero]( Paul Wheaton RichSoil.com Dear Almanac Reader, We all know gardens can be magical. But for this garden you need to know the magic word: hügelkultur. Hügelkultur (HEW-gul-kul-TOOr), which comes from eastern Europe and Germany, centers on a type of raised bed called a hügelbed. What makes them so special? So magical? These hügelbeds hold moisture, build fertility, maximize surface volume, and provide ample space for vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Hügelkultur is seriously environmentally friendly, too. The practice turns trees, branches, and rough lumber into super fertile garden beds. Think of it as the pro version of raised bed gardening. Hügelbeds can start life around 5 to 6 feet high, eventually sinking to around 2 feet as the wood, leaves, and other organic substances break down and decompose, releasing nutrients and enriching the soil as they go. These mounds provide better drainage, warmer soil for a longer growing season, and higher yields, and they make weeding and watering easier. And in case you need proof of how well these living sponges work in real life, hügelbeds are so rich in nutrients that one gardener we spoke to harvested 120 pounds of cucumbers and 42 “good-size” pumpkins from first-year beds. Best of all, they’re really fun to build. But you’ll have to read our 2017 Garden Guide to get the details. In fact, you can find heaps of gardening knowledge in the Garden Guide library. We add an exclusive new digital guide each year for [The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club]( members, and you get access to all of them. That’s over 1,100 pages of gardening tips, plant lore, recipes, design ideas and inspiration, tricks, shortcuts, and so much more! [Shipping Now! Celebrate your Love of Gardening with]( [The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club!]( [OFIE Image]( Save 48% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! [Claim your Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership!]( [Yes! Place My Order!]( No Room? No Problem What if you don’t have room for a hügelbed? For that matter, what can you do if you have limited gardening space? Instead of spreading out, you can grow up. (Don’t worry – we’re talking about plants here, not life choices.) Vining veggies produce more per square foot, they’re easy to watch for pests, and they’re easy to harvest. All you need is a trellis of some sort and you can enjoy snap peas, snow peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, spinach, and beans. It’s not just about taking advantage of space, though. Did you know that cucumbers will yield 50 percent more when they can climb a trellis or arch? And some varieties of peas, like the “Tall Telephone,” will turn a 6-foot trellis into a gorgeous and delicious wall of peas. Or there’s the “Jasper” red cherry tomato that will give you 15-foot vines of vigorously growing tomatoes. You can find out more about vining vegetables in the 2021 Garden Guide. However, if you want to get your hands dirty with root veggies, in addition to planting up, check out the 2019 Garden Guide. [Image - Beets]( Digging In What’s the best thing about root crops? Aside from pretty much everything? That’s a trick question. It’s hard to pick just one thing. They’re incredibly nutritious and fairly easy to grow from seed, they don’t need a lot of space, they store well, and some have wonderfully delicious greens. (If you haven’t enjoyed beet greens, you are missing out.) Our 2019 Garden Guide includes close-ups of 6 favorite root vegetables, highlighting their nutrition profile, along with an in-depth how-to for successfully growing these underground treasures. Get all the details on vining veggies, root crops, and everything in between with your [Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership!]( Along with a full library of Garden Guide issues, you get the latest edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac; a richly illustrated 2023 Gardening Wall Calendar; a cultivated collection of inspiring and fun gardening articles in the member-exclusive softcover book, Gardening for Everyone; the Cooking Fresh digital cookbook; The Old Farmer's Almanac Best Everyday Recipes; and the monthly Old Farmer’s Almanac EXTRA! magazine, which brings you up-to-date information on gardening, weather, nature, astronomy, holidays and events, food, and all the wit and wisdom you expect from North America’s oldest and most popular farmer’s almanac! [Shipping Now! Celebrate your Love of Gardening with]( [The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club!]( [OFIE Image]( Save 48% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! [Claim your Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership!]( [Yes! Place My Order!]( With an [Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership](, you get a complete package of everything you need to feel confident and knowledgeable about your garden. Whether you want to grow vegetables, plant a colorful flower garden, attract butterflies, focus on native vegetation and crops, or try something new this year, you’ll find what you need right here. A bountiful, beautiful garden is just a few clicks away. With an [Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership,]( you can read every issue of the Garden Guide, where you’ll learn more about: - The proliferation of purple plants, and why you’re going to want them in your garden - How to make your garden Instagram famous - Why this is the year to try planting grains - How you can create a hydroponic garden that will give you plenty of tasty greens - Plants that “glow” at night, creating an enchanting garden you can’t resist You’ll also get updates to our weather predictions in our monthly digital magazine, EXTRA!, sent to you each month to keep you current on everything in our natural world. Become a Charter Member of the Old Farmers Almanac Gardening[body link](Club today, and you’ll never run out of advice, tips or inspiration! And right now, when you become a Gardening Club Charter Member you will save 48%. [Claim your Gardening Club Charter Membership Now!]( When you activate your Old Farmers Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership today, you’ll get access to everything you need about gardening: Summary of Gardening Club Membership Benefits Charter Membership in The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club $66.72/year $34.97! A 48% discount! The 2023 Old Farmer’s Almanac—The classic edition has everything you’ve come to expect from the world’s premier Almanac—forecasts, folklore, and more. It’s loaded with the tips, trivia, and insights that make it a family favorite. INCLUDED The Old Farmer’s Almanac 2023 Gardening Wall Calendar—Enjoy rich illustrations and useful gardening tips on everything from planting to enjoying your garden. INCLUDED Gardening for Everyone—A curated collection of inspiring, colorful, informative, and fun gardening articles and ideas presented in a softcover book. INCLUDED Instant Unlimited Access to The Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden Guide Online Library—You’ll find eight years of Garden Guides packed with no-nonsense tips, tricks, and shortcuts to make your garden a jewel in the neighborhood or out in the country. INCLUDED The Old Farmer’s Almanac Best Everyday Recipes - 98 delicious and reliable recipes for every occasion, from quick dishes to grilling ideas to satisfying sides. You’ll find new ways to enjoy your garden harvest, plus much more! INCLUDED The Old Farmer’s Almanac EXTRA!—Because once a year is not enough! EXTRA! digital magazine is a monthly treasure trove of updates and Almanac content not found in the printed edition. INCLUDED Complete access to our ever-growing EXTRA! digital library, with more than 70 issues! BONUS Shipping and Handling INCLUDED Join today you’ll be prepared for any gardening project. Whether you garden for food, for flowers, or just for fun, a Charter Membership in Old Farmers Almanac Gardening Club will keep you entertained, informed, and inspired all year long! Sincerely, Janice Stillman Editor The Old Farmer’s Almanac P.S. I think you’ll agree that this really is an unusual offer—48% off when you become an Old Farmers Almanac Gardening Club Charter Member today! It’s an incredible deal that you don’t want to ignore! [Shipping Now!]( [Celebrate your Love of Gardening with]( [The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club!]( [Image - OFIE]( Save 48% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! Claim your Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership! [Yes! Sign Me Up Now!]( We reserve the right to substitute items based on availability. You received this email because you signed for updates from The Old Farmer's Almanac. 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