Pumpkins, dahlias and DIYs—the new issue of Northern Gardener® is full of inspiration and practical ideas for your fall garden.

On the cover are stunning dahlias grown by Del Hampton, a former hort society board member, who is the force behind the Minnesota State Fair dahlia garden just outside the Grandstand. Del grows more than 1,000 dahlias each year, and nearly 100 of them are planted in the fair garden. In the article by Gail Brown Hudson, Del gives his best tips for growing dahlias (they like sun, but not heat, and a well-developed soil) and offers advice for overwintering the bulbs in our cold climate.

Elsewhere in the issue, Jennifer Rensenbrink taps two of the University of Minnesota’s horticulturists to reveal how they grow the staples of a fall garden: pumpkins and winter squash. John and Jenny Thull both work at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and grow the squash displayed there. In the article, they also suggest eight unusual, interesting and flavorful varieties to grow in your home garden.

This issue also features an article by Michelle Bruhn on Sean Sherman, an award-winning, local Indigenous chef who believes growing local and Indigenous foods is important. As the chef notes, “Food should taste like the place you are.”

Speaking of food, USDA Zone 3 gardeners should not miss Darren Luckenbill’s article on how his father grows incredible tomatoes in his garden in Koochiching County. Believe it or not, the secret is a plastic kitchen garbage bag!

Learn to Garden Better

Looking for gardening how-to information? Check out:

• How to build a small paver patio under a tree
• How to grow more and better lettuce even in your fall garden
• How to plant a pocket prairie

It’s a great issue and we hope you’ll grab it on the newsstands or visit the horticulture society booth at the state fair. (You get the new issue plus our new 2024 Planning Calendar for Northern Gardeners when you join at the Society level.) Find us in the Dirt Wing of the Agriculture Horticulture Building, not far from the end of the Skyride. Our booth features garden-pun shirts, books to buy, an educational display on growing cut flowers and more. After visiting the booth, be sure to stop by the dahlia garden!

Mary Lahr Schier is a long-time Minnesota garden writer. Follow her on Instagram at @mynortherngarden_mary.