We didn’t set out to grow Jonathan apples, but this is the variety that thrives in our zone 7B garden. We purchased seedlings from the Arbor Day Society and planted our home orchard in December 2007. Today, we have many fruit trees, including our beloved Jonathans that are my new favorite apple. Here’s how to... Read More The post Jonathan Apples: What Are They and How to Grow Them appeared first on Home Garden Joy ..read more

A no-salt, nutritarian, vegan dinner that’s easy to make on a busy night I made this stuffed peppers without rice recipe last night for dinner. It uses my confetti salad recipe with some added spices for the filling. At this time of year, when fresh tomatoes and peppers are abundant in the garden, it’s the... Read More The post Stuffed Peppers Without Rice Recipe appeared first on Home Garden Joy ..read more

I promised to share this French fig salad recipe with you. This recipe originally came from a cookbook by Georgeanne Brennan called Savoring France: Recipes and Reflections on French Cooking. I updated the recipe to remove the dairy and fat. The result is a flavorful, lower calorie dessert that sparkles with the essence of the... Read More The post Fig Salad Recipe: Figs and Cantaloupe with Basil Dressing appeared first on Home Garden Joy ..read more

What to do with fresh figs? Well, you can eat them, of course. If you are growing figs in Virginia or anywhere else, one thing is clear: the harvest begins in late summer and continues into the fall. The abundance from one or two small fig trees is astonishing. Here’s what to do with fresh... Read More The post What to Do with Fresh Figs? appeared first on Home Garden Joy ..read more

What is mushroom compost? This complete guide to mushroom compost will explain what this soil amendment is, what it does for your vegetable garden, and its many benefits. We’ve used mushroom compost in the past here at Seven Oaks Farm, the inspiration for Home Garden Joy. In the past, we purchased bags of it from... Read More The post Mushroom Compost: A Complete Guide for Organic Gardeners appeared first on Home Garden Joy ..read more

This strawberry jam recipe is a great first jam recipe if you’ve never made jams, preservers, or jellies before. You can use strawberries from your garden if you are growing strawberry plants or purchase strawberries at the farmer’s market or supermarket. Making Strawberry Jam: The Basics Strawberry jam contains strawberries, sugar (a lot of sugar),... Read More The post Strawberry Jam Recipe appeared first on Home Garden Joy ..read more

I learned how to make tomato juice without a juicer out of necessity – when my garden gave me an abundance of tomatoes. There are only so many tomatoes you can eat in a week! When life hands you a ton of tomatoes…make tomato juice. Or at least that’s the motto around here. This year,... Read More The post How to Make Tomato Juice without a Juicer appeared first on Home Garden Joy ..read more

Botanical Name: Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis Light Requirements: Cantaloupes require full sun, which means at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and fruit production. Soil Requirements: They prefer well-draining, fertile soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. Sandy loam soils are ideal, as they provide good drainage while retaining... Read More The post How to Grow Cantaloupe appeared first on Home Garden Joy ..read more

Making herbal teas is just one fun way to use the dried herbs from your garden. I love knowing that the herbs in my cup of tea are from my own garden. You don’t need any fancy equipment to make your own herbal teas, although purchasing a few things does help. Here’s how to make... Read More The post Making Herbal Teas appeared first on Home Garden Joy ..read more

Lemon Balm Plant Profile Botanical Name: Melissa officinalis Lemon balm is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the mint family, Lamiaceae. It’s prized for its bright green, lemon-scented foliage and small white flowers that attract bees and other pollinators. Lemon balm typically grows to a height of about 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60... Read More The post Plant Profile: Lemon Balm appeared first on Home Garden Joy ..read more