‘The Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden Guide’ Provides Opportunities For Growth

BY ANDY HUTCHISON

Whether you’re interested in acquiring your first house plant, or you fashion yourself a green thumb gardening aficionado, The Old Farmer’s Almanac 2023 Garden Guide’s got you covered.

“I like to think of the Garden Guide as something that appeals to everybody,” said Tim Goodwin, associate editor of the Garden Guide, adding that gardening is something that can be picked up by anybody at any time and with any sort of space — large or small.

The latest Guide explores the rise of urban gardening, air-purifying houseplants, cocktail herbs, tech for growing a better garden, and more.

Gardening has long been an enjoyable way for people of all ages to dig their hands into the soil and get in touch with nature, but during the initial stay-at-home stretch caused by the coronavirus, this nature-based hobby for some took off like a plant with just the mix of right sun, rain, and soil.

“In the pandemic, there was research that showed there was a resurgence in not only house plants but gardening in general,” Goodwin said. “People got that bug of gardening and it hasn’t slowed down.”

Goodwin noted that we spend about 90 percent of our time indoors and that having house plants helps connect people with nature. House plants offer the health benefit of taking in toxins and purifying the air, Goodwin said.

The Garden Guide includes information on exotic plants for those looking into adding a little natural pizazz to the home. There are tips in the Garden Guide that can help prospective house plant owners make decisions on what is best for their indoor growing conditions.

“You’ve got to make sure you have the right location because it’s not going to thrive unless you do,” Goodwin said.

According to the press release from editors of the Garden Guide: “The demand for houseplants shows no signs of slowing down. What began as a pandemic hobby for many has continued to grow in recent years. In addition to having a calming effect, indoor plants have many health benefits: People in homes or (home) offices filled with plants suffer fewer respiratory illnesses and headaches. The 2023 Garden Guide clears the air on the best air-purifying plants.”

Outdoor Options

When it comes to gardening outdoors, there are many options regardless of where you live and how much garden space is available.

First things first for outdoor plantings: The soil should be tested and properly treated for optimal results, Goodwin said. There are tips on what to do in the Garden Guide

According to Garden Guide editors, there is continued growth of urban gardens and in the press release, it is detailed that: “Urban gardening isn’t new, but it has taken on new life as more people call cities home. A 2023 Garden Guide special report looks at how cities hold the key to food production now and in the future, through everything from modest containers and repurposed rooftops to community-based solutions like Seattle’s P-Patch Program and Montreal’s innovative rooftop greenhouse project.”

Small-space gardeners in urban settings can reference the Garden Guide’s practical primer on choosing and planting “Pint-Size Produce.”