Updated May 2025 What’s growing in your vegetable garden these days? How about trying something different—maybe Chinese cabbage or pak choi, spicy mustard greens or fennel? These were among the unusual vegetables recommended for northern gardens by Jackie Smith, a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener, who is a bit of a legend among Minnesota…

Before we even start talking about pests, let’s be clear: Most bugs are good bugs, and trying to keep your vegetable garden bug-free is not only an exercise in futility, it’s not good for the food you are going to eat or the planet. One way to keep destructive pests at bay is to plant…

While many people like to place their vegetable garden in a separate space designed just for growing and harvesting food, others either lack enough space for dedicated vegetable area or aren’t sure they want to commit to a larger vegetable garden. Still, there are many ways to grow vegetables in an ornamental garden — and…