Debbie Rea – The Gardener Wife – Page 2

Tips for Using Rain Barrels

I’ve been using rain barrels for over ten years now, and here are the tips that I’ve learned.

White Chicken Chili

—perfect for seasonal eating now as I’m harvesting tomatillos and still have fresh bell peppers, jalapenos, and onion from the garden.

Garden Egg Cups

A ready-made healthy breakfast like this makes my mornings easier.

Sadly, summer is drawing to a close. But the good news is that the evenings are cooler, and we can enjoy sitting outside by a fire pit. As we sit out there, I like to listen to soft music playing through the outdoor speakers and to nibble on something tasty—preferably something that includes cheese, myContinue reading “Salted Caramel Pear Butter”

Tour of My Gardens

The best part of the garden walk was seeing and talking to my newsletter readers, social media followers, and garden club friends.

Pruning Lilacs

To get the most blooms on your lilacs, prune them right after blooming each year.

Fresh Strawberry Pie

Last year I declared that fresh strawberry pie made with organic strawberries from my garden is my FAVORITE pie in the whole world. Last year, in fact, was the first time that I ever made my own fresh strawberry pie. I think it tasted better than Bakers Square’s or any store bought pie. That wasContinue reading “Fresh Strawberry Pie”

Hardening Off Plants

Spring is an exciting time because I can start planting cool-season crops. It’s also a frustrating time as the weather changes from one extreme to another. Within one week we’ve had lows of 28°F and highs of 81°F. That’s why you need to know the best time for planting different kinds of seeds and transplantsContinue reading “Hardening Off Plants”

SPECIAL OFFER for National Gardening Day

Today, April 14, 2021, is National Gardening Day, and I’m celebrating it with a special offer. Subscribe to my newsletter now and get access to a video of my presentation on how to start a garden. Details are HERE. Do you know anyone who wants to start growing their own food?Share the link with them!ActContinue reading “SPECIAL OFFER for National Gardening Day”

Pumpkin Eggplant Riddle

Q: What looks like a tiny pumpkin but is really an eggplant? A: ‘Goyo Kumba’ Solanum aethiopicum The orange fruit in my hand is not a tiny pumpkin: it’s a tiny eggplant! I came across the seeds for this unusual vegetable, Goyo Kumba eggplant, several years ago, and I had to try it. If nothingContinue reading “Pumpkin Eggplant Riddle”