Garden Betty
1,311 FOLLOWERS
Linda Ly is the founder and creative force behind the award-winning site Garden Betty. What began as a personal blog in 2010 is now a leading resource in the home and garden sphere, reaching millions of readers every year in over 230 countries. The site celebrates the art of living slow and eating well, with fresh, prolific content on modern homesteading, farm-to-table cooking, and outdoor..
Garden Betty
19h ago
Anyone who's grown tomatoes knows it's rare that we get a crop of perfectly smooth and round fruit in summer. Sometimes they're bumpy, or lumpy, or so deformed or covered in scars that they become freakish looking. These "Franken-tomatoes" aren't caused by pests or diseases—they're the result of a common condition called catfacing. And yes, you can do something about it ..read more
Garden Betty
19h ago
Split or cracked tomatoes are a common problem in mid to late summer, and while they're unsightly, most of the time they're still edible. Find out why it happens and what you can do to keep your fruits from splitting or cracking ..read more
Garden Betty
3d ago
The small, pointy leaves and slender, arching stems of Ficus benjamina give this tree its elegant "weeping" appearance. It's also a tropical that isn't as fussy about humidity as other tropical houseplants, so you can grow and care for a weeping fig in drier climates. Here's what you should know to keep your weeping fig happy and healthy ..read more
Garden Betty
6d ago
If you're looking to start a new strawberry patch, bare-root plants are a great way to go. They're cost-effective, easy to establish, and come in a much wider variety than potted strawberries do. You can also plant them much earlier in the season, giving your garden a head start. Here's your guide to planting bare-root strawberries for big yields ..read more
Garden Betty
1w ago
Did you dig around in your soil one day and find a bunch of white mold growing in it? Eeek! Not to worry—that white mold is actually a good sign that you're doing something right. Mycorrhiza is a beneficial fungus that helps boost plant growth and improve the soil, and there are ways you can spread more of it throughout your garden ..read more
Garden Betty
1w ago
While it might seem like the same types of hummingbirds usually show up on your flowers or feeders every year, there are actually many more species that migrate through in search of nectar. If you've seen one of these dazzling pollinators in your garden but couldn't figure out what it was, bookmark this visual guide to help you ID 14 beautiful native hummingbirds (plus a few species that may occasionally travel out of range ..read more
Garden Betty
1w ago
Do you know what type of butterfly just passed through your garden? While some are instantly recognizable (like monarchs), others look so similar that it's hard to pinpoint the exact species (looking at you, swallowtails). And let's not get into all the copycats that are easily mistaken for monarchs! If your latest garden visitor has you stumped, bookmark this visual guide for help with identifying the most common backyard butterflies ..read more
Garden Betty
1w ago
Jerusalem artichokes are an underappreciated perennial food crop. The weird knobby roots (which resemble ginger) are the edible tubers of a native sunflower species. This simple step-by-step guide will show you how to plant, grow, harvest, AND eat sunchokes at home without having them take over the whole yard ..read more
Garden Betty
2w ago
Could there be an entire wild salad bar hidden in your yard? Some of the most common weeds and invasive plants in the garden are not only edible, but also delicious AND nutritious—and totally free for the picking. You'll never look at weeds the same way again ..read more
Garden Betty
3w ago
If you're already feeding your chickens a good wholesome diet, fermenting their feed can further improve hen health and egg quality, and even save you a bit of money on feed costs. It's also one of the easiest things you can do for your flock! (Not to mention, your chickens will devour every last grain ..read more