As the holidays approach, your container garden may be brimming with the last of autumn’s beauty with herbs, leafy greens, peppers, or even edible flowers. Why let all that goodness fade when you can bring it right to your table? With a little creativity, your porch pots can become the freshest, most flavorful part of your holiday feast. 🪴 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 Cool-season crops and herbs are at their flavorful best in late fall. Look for: * 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬: Sage, thyme, rosemary, parsley, and chives — the backbone of holiday cooking. * 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬: Kale, spinach, arugula, and mustard greens — perfect for fresh sides or warm sautés. * 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬: Carrots, radishes, and beets that have sweetened with the chill. * 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬: Calendula, nasturtiums, or pansies to decorate your dishes. Harvest gently and leave enough to keep your plants producing into early winter. 🌿 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 “𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧-𝐭𝐨-𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐡” 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 If your herbs and greens are thriving outdoors, move a few smaller pots closer to your kitchen door for easy access during the busy holiday season. Keep a “𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐤’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫” near the back door or porch with a few pots of sage, thyme, and parsley within arm’s reach to make last-minute garnishing simple (and impressive). 💡 𝑃𝑟𝑜 𝑇𝑖𝑝: Bring in small pots of herbs before the first hard freeze and you’ll enjoy fresh flavor all winter long. 🍽️ 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 🧈 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝 Mix softened butter with finely chopped herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage). Spread on rolls, melt over roasted veggies, or use to baste your turkey. 🥗 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐝 Combine wilted spinach or kale with roasted carrots and radishes, a drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkle of sea salt. 🌸 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 Top desserts or salads with nasturtiums or pansies for a pop of seasonal color. 🌿 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐞́𝐜𝐨𝐫 Don’t stop at food! Use trimmed herb sprigs and colorful fall leaves to decorate place settings or tie onto napkins with twine for a rustic, garden-inspired touch.

When frost settles outside, your gardening days don’t have to end... they just move indoors! A sunny windowsill can become a thriving mini-garden for fresh herbs and leafy greens all winter long. The trick is choosing the right spots in your home so your plants stay happy, healthy, and harvest-ready. ☀️ 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 Sunlight is the number-one ingredient for indoor growing success. * 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡-𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬get the most consistent light all day. Perfect for sun-lovers like basil, thyme, and rosemary. * 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭-𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬 catch gentle morning light. This is great for leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and arugula. * 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭-𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬 offer strong afternoon light, ideal for chives and parsley. * 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡-𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬 tend to be dim in winter. If that’s all you have, supplement with a small LED grow light to keep your plants perky. 💡 𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐓𝐢𝐩: A mirror or reflective tray behind your pots can bounce extra sunlight back onto your plants! 🌱 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 & 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 Some herbs are winter champions, thriving in cooler indoor temperatures and lower light. Try these dependable favorites: * 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲: Happy in bright, indirect light; harvest outer leaves first. * 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬: Fast regrower that loves cool air and sunlight. * 𝐓𝐡𝐲𝐦𝐞: A hardy, compact herb that thrives in sunny spots. * 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭: Tolerates shade and adds freshness to teas and recipes. * 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐡 & 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐞: Shallow-rooted and quick to sprout — perfect for small pots! * 𝐀𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚: Adds a peppery bite and does well in cooler windows. 🌿 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 Even with sunlight, the wrong indoor conditions can stress plants. * 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐬. They dry plants out fast. * 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝟔𝟎–𝟕𝟎°𝐅. Cooler nights mimic outdoor conditions and encourage steady growth. * 𝐀𝐝𝐝 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐲. Place pots on pebble trays with water or mist occasionally — especially when indoor heat is running. 💧 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟒: 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 Winter air dries out soil faster than you might expect, but overwatering can still sneak up on you.

I'm a new gardener & I've been seeing a lot of people harvesting Cranberry Beans online! I saw them at the food store and bought a bunch to cook but I was wondering is there anything I can do with these beans in order to plant them next season as I'm sure its too cold to plant them in NY now. Any suggestions?

When chilly weather puts your outdoor garden on pause, your salad bowl doesn’t have to suffer. Growing your own fresh greens indoors is easier than you might think. All you need is a sunny windowsill, a pot or two, and a handful of seeds. An indoor salad pot keeps you harvesting crisp, homegrown greens all winter long, no matter how cold it gets outside. 🌿 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐭? Indoor salad pots are perfect for gardeners who miss the joy of fresh harvests during winter. They: * Grow quickly - many greens are ready to harvest in just 3–4 weeks. * Thrive in small spaces like kitchens, sunrooms, or bright dining areas. * Keep your meals fresh, nutritious, and colorful when store-bought greens lose their luster. Plus, they add a lovely splash of green to your home when everything outside has gone gray. 🪴 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐭: Choose a 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞, 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫 (at least 6–8 inches deep) with drainage holes. The wider the pot, the more varieties you can plant together. Terracotta, ceramic, or even a repurposed bowl or planter box will do — just make sure excess water can drain easily. 💡 𝑃𝑟𝑜 𝑇𝑖𝑝: Use a tray underneath to protect your windowsill or countertop from drips. 🌱 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 Cool-weather, quick-growing greens do best indoors. Try a mix of: * 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐟 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐬 – like oakleaf, butterhead, or looseleaf varieties * 𝐀𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚 – for a peppery punch * 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐡 – hearty and tender * 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 – for color and flavor * 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐤𝐚𝐥𝐞 – resilient and nutritious Mixing varieties creates a beautiful, edible blend of colors and textures. 🌿 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐰 𝟏. Fill your container with a light, well-draining potting mix. 𝟐. Scatter seeds evenly over the surface — no need to plant them in neat rows. 𝟑. Gently cover with about ¼ inch of soil and mist with water. 𝟒. Place the pot in a bright, sunny spot — a south-facing window works best. Seeds will sprout in about a week, giving you that satisfying burst of green right when you need it most.

Container gardening doesn’t just make fresh food and flowers possible in small spaces—it’s also a chance to garden smarter and greener. Choosing eco-friendly pots can reduce waste, support sustainability, and still give your plants everything they need to thrive. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐄𝐜𝐨-𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 Traditional plastic pots often crack in the sun, end up in landfills, and can leach chemicals into the soil. By switching to sustainable materials, you’re not just helping your plants—you’re helping the planet, too. 🌱 𝐄𝐜𝐨-𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝟏. 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐚 & 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐬 * Natural, breathable, and timeless * Keep roots cooler in warm weather * Downside: can dry out faster, so monitor watering 𝟐. 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 * Rustic and durable, especially with cedar or redwood * Can be lined to prevent rotting * Great for larger container gardens 𝟑. 𝐅𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐬 * Lightweight and reusable * Excellent root aeration = healthier plants * Fold flat for easy storage in the off-season 𝟒. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐝 & 𝐔𝐩𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 * Buckets, crates, tin cans, and even old boots can become planters * Low-cost and creative * Make sure to drill drainage holes 𝟓. 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐬 * Made from materials like coconut coir, peat, or rice husks * Great for seedlings—plant directly in the soil without disturbing roots * Naturally break down over time 𝟔. 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 * Recycled galvanized tubs or steel planters are long-lasting * Add a modern or farmhouse look * Watch for heat in full sun (line or shade if needed) * 🍂 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐢𝐩 As you swap out summer blooms for fall plants like mums, kale, and ornamental grasses, consider trying at least one eco-friendly container. Small swaps add up over time! 🌟 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 Eco-friendly containers combine style, function, and sustainability. Whether you love the earthy look of clay, the convenience of fabric bags, or the creativity of upcycling, there’s a planet-friendly option for every gardener. 👉 What’s the most creative container you’ve ever used? Share your eco-friendly container ideas with the group!