Garden Culture Magazine

11/08/2025

If you grow zucchini, squash, or pumpkins, there's one pest you must know how to stop: the squash vine borer.

This red & black day-flying moth lays eggs at your plant's base, and the larvae bore into stems—blocking water flow and killing plants fast.

Learn:
🔍 How to identify adults, eggs, and larvae
🌱 Organic prevention & control strategies
♻️ Why crop rotation and trap crops work so well

Save your crop → G C M A G . C O

08/08/2025

Get to know your favorite garden multitasker: nasturtiums!

🌸 Brighten up garden beds and containers
🐝 Attract pollinators
🐛 Trap pests away from your crops
🥗 Tastes like delicious peppery greens
🍹 Make infused vinegars and cocktails

🌿 Learn how to grow them, when to plant, and how to use them in the kitchen—all in our latest blog:

📖 G C M A G . C O

07/08/2025

READ BEFORE HARVEST!

That "green" taste? It might not be your drying or curing. It could be nitrogen! 🌿

Too much N too late in the game can stall the natural fade, reduce flavor, and give you big flowers with low impact. 🌾

In living soil, it's all about timing the taper—letting nitrogen wind down as your crop matures. Gareth Hopcroft explains how to build the right nutrient curve for better aroma, taste, and burn.

This timely piece is featured in the new Harvest Time edition of Garden Culture Magazine.

📖 Read it now G C M A G . C O

Or run to your local hydro store for a free physical copy!

05/08/2025

🌾 Harvest Time is OUT NOW! 🌶️🌶️

Get your hands dirty and your pantry full—our latest edition is packed with expert tips for harvesting, drying, curing, and prepping for the cooler months ahead.

📖 Available at your favorite hydroponic shop OR read the digital version at your fingertips.

🌿 A big THANK YOU to our incredible contributors who bring each page to life:

Adam Clarke, Alex Field , Anne Gibson, Catherine Sherriffs .gardenculture, Colin Bell , Everest Fernandez , Gareth Hopcroft, Haley Nagasaki , Jennifer Cole , Luke Sumpter, Regi Oneton , and Xavi Kief .

G C M A G . C O

01/08/2025

From Garden to Pantry: 5 Cool Ways to Preserve Your Harvest 🌾 👩‍🌾

You worked hard to grow your food—now make it last. Food preservation isn't just trendy... it's practical, nourishing, and empowering!

Whether you're curing garlic, canning tomatoes, or freezing sweet corn from your local farm stand, this guide covers 5 easy and effective ways to keep your harvest shelf- and freezer-ready all year long:

✨ Curing
❄️ Freezing
🥫 Canning
🌿 Drying
🧂 Fermenting

📖 The new edition is OUT NOW → G C M A G . C O

30/07/2025

🧤 Your future harvest depends on you! Use essential tech, and start with the end in mind.

Every grower knows the thrill of summer—everything feels possible. But if you're not thinking about harvest from day one, it's easy to fall behind when the work piles up.

Here's your blueprint to:
✅ Choose genetics that match your harvest style
✅ Use early-season tech to build healthy roots
✅ Design your plant architecture for easy processing
✅ Plan your IPM and feeding timelines
✅ Prep processing zones, storage, and support before it's urgent

Whether you're growing salad greens or cannabis, this system keeps your harvest high-quality, low-stress, and abundant! 🧺🌿

📖 Read the full article here → G C M A G . C O

29/07/2025

We all need a support system—and plants are no different!

From seed prep to pruning, there are simple things you can do at every stage of the plant's life to help it thrive. Whether you're growing leafy greens or high-value crops, these 5 techniques will set you up for success:

✅ Soak, stratify, or scarify seeds to improve germination
✅ Transplant smart using mycorrhizae for root zone strength
✅ Start IPM before pests show up—yellow traps, row covers, and smart interplanting
✅ Control humidity with foggers for lush indoor (and tropical outdoor) growth
✅Prune with purpose to prevent disease and maximize yields

🌿 Full article ➡ G C M A G . C O

25/07/2025

Not all garden bugs are enemies. Some are secret weapons! 🐞

When you spot something, your first instinct might be to spray or squish. But in a climate-friendly garden, that might be a mistake.
From wasps, to earwigs and ants, many bugs are pulling their weight by:

✅ Pollinating your crops
✅ Eating pests like aphids and cabbage worms
✅ Boosting soil health

👩‍🌾 Before you act, ask yourself, is it really harming the plant?

Mixed plantings, interplanting with herbs, and simply pausing to observe can make all the difference in keeping pests in check.

🌱 Read the full breakdown: G C M A G . C O

24/07/2025

🍒🌳 Want to grow your own fruit—even if you don't live in California?

Whether you've got a big backyard or just a sun-soaked patio, there's probably a fruit tree out there that can work for you. We've rounded up 5 low-maintenance, high-reward fruit trees to consider:

🍑 Peach – Yes, even if you're in Ontario or beyond.
🍒 Cherry – Tart varieties thrive in cooler temps (just guard them from birds!).
🍋 Lemon – Grow in a large pot and bring it inside when it gets chilly.
🍏 Apple – Best in zones 3–9, and great for pies, snacks, and cider.
🌳 Plum – Hardy, adaptable, and low-maintenance once established.

Not sure what'll grow where you are? Check your hardiness zone and visit your local nursery—they'll steer you toward the perfect pick!

👨‍🌾 G C M A G . C O

23/07/2025

What if your garden could water, fertilize, and climate-proof itself? It can, with hügelkultur! 🌍🌿

Hügelkultur is more than just a pile of rotting logs—it's a living, breathing carbon sink that feeds plants and holds water like a sponge.

Built with wood, branches, and compostables, these beds mimic natural forest decay—creating a mini-ecosystem that supports microbial life and healthy crops without any fertilizer or irrigation.

🌾 Why it matters:
✅ Reduces your water use
✅ Eliminates fertilizer dependency
✅ Absorbs atmospheric carbon
✅ Builds long-term soil health

🪵 Get started 👉 G C M A G . C O

Hügelkultur offers incredible benefits to the environment! Here’s why a climate-friendly, Hügelkultur garden is worth trying in your home.

23/07/2025