The Kitchen Garten

Backyard Gardening and Garden Fresh Recipes

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Mini Bourbon Sweet Potato Pies

Down here in the south, nothing says the holiday season quite like sweet potato pie! In fact, it’s my go-to in place of pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving and Christmas. And these mini sweet potato pies are just perfect for a quick hand held dessert at a holiday party or Thanksgiving feast. The slight kick of bourbon cooks out of the pies, so no worries about underage pie eaters, and the bourbon whipped cream can easily be made without for the littles.

Sweet Potato Pie vs. Pumpkin

The debate between sweet potato pie and pumpkin pie is intense in our household. The oldest boy gardener here asks each year for pumpkin pie each year at Thanksgiving, and for the past four years, I’ve been making sweet potato pie and just calling it pumpkin. Please don’t tell him.

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I honestly prefer the taste of sweet potatoes to pumpkin because of the richness of flavor. Pumpkin from the can or even my homemade Instant Pot pumpkin puree lacks the depth of flavor in an oven-roasted sweet potato, which is what I use for sweet potato pie. So, while the flavor profiles of both pumpkin and sweet potato pies are similar, including the spices, I’m going to go for the roasted taste of those delicious sweet potatoes!

Mini Sweet Potato Pie Ingredients

You’ll definitely want to add these Mini Bourbon Sweet Potato Pies to your table or finger food spread for the holiday season. The crusts and filling can easily be made ahead of time, and though I made my pie crusts from scratch, there’s certainly no judgement if you pick up one of those rolled crusts instead. They’re super convenient!

  • 1 1/2 cups roasted sweet potatoes, pureed
  • 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 tsp mineral salt (or whatever salt you have on hand)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 can evaporated milk
  • 2 Tablespoons bourbon
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 pie crusts (from scratch or rolled pre-made)
  • Nutmeg for dusting

Bourbon Whipped Cream

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 Tbsp Bourbon (leave out if making for the kiddos)
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bourbon Sweet Potato Pies

  1. Begin by preheating oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk sugar, eggs, sweet potatoes, salt, and pumpkin pie spice until combined.

2. Add in the evaporated milk, bourbon, and vanilla and stir until combined. Set aside. (Try making your own vanilla extract… so easy!)

3. Prepare the mini pie crusts by rolling out your pie dough, homemade or prepared, on a lightly floured mat. Be sure to get the dough fairly thin, to make it go further. Using a 2.25 inch biscuit cutter, cut discs out of dough and place them in a mini muffin pan. Gather dough scraps and roll them out again (and perhaps again!) to get all you can from your dough.

4. Once crusts are in place, begin filling each one just beneath the edge of each crust. The filling will rise slightly in the center, but should not spread over. (I like to use a scoop like this to add in just the right amount.)

5. Bake mini sweet potato pies for 22-25 minutes or until filling is set.

6. Allow pies to cool in pan for 10-15 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.

7. While pies are cooling, whip up the bourbon whipped cream. To do this combine whipping cream, bourbon, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl (or in the bowl of a stand mixer). Using a hand mixer (or stand mixer), whip until stiff peaks form. Keep whipped cream refrigerated until ready to use.

8. To top pies, add a star or large decorative tip to a pastry bag and filled with cold whipped cream. Begin piping a small amount of whipped cream on each pie.

9. To finish, dust the top of each pie with a pinch of nutmeg and serve! These little pies are sure to be the star of your next holiday party!

What to do with leftover pie filling

Chances are, you’ll have some pie filling left over. I like to bake my leftover filling in a pie pan, no crust, for those guests who may be gluten free. The filling will set and can still be topped with the whipped cream. This is a fantastic way to use up the filling and to not exclude guests with a gluten food restriction.

Another option would be to save it for a few days and bake another pie! Why not? This extra pie can actually be frozen, so you have it on hand when you need it. The Kitchn has complete instructions on how to freeze a sweet potato pie.

Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie FAQ’s

  • Can this pie be made with pumpkin? Absolutely. No judgement from me, either. 🙂
  • How long can the pies be stored in the fridge? These pies can be stored in the fridge for 4-6 days. The longer the pies sit, the soggier they could get on the bottoms.
  • What’s the best way to store whipped cream? I have found that whipped cream stores best in a glass container, like a mason jar. Something about storing in glass keeps the cream firmer, longer.

More Fall and Holiday Recipes

The Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Pumpkin Scones with Sweet Cinnamon Glaze

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cream Pies

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

I’d love to know if you try this recipe, or if you’re just a fan of sweet potato pie, like me! Drop a comment below and let me know!

Yield: 48 mini pies

Mini Bourbon Sweet Potato Pies

mini bourbon sweet potato pies topped with whipped cream and a dusting of nutmeg

These delicious mini bourbon sweet potato pies are sure to be the star of your holiday desserts and party food! Easy to make ahead, these sweet little pies use roasted sweet potatoes and are topped with fresh whipped cream!

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Additional Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups roasted sweet potatoes, pureed
  • 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 tsp mineral salt (or whatever salt you have on hand)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 can evaporated milk
  • 2 Tablespoons bourbon
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 pie crusts (from scratch or rolled pre-made)
  • Nutmeg for dusting
  • Whipped Cream
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 Tbsp Bourbon (leave out if making for the kiddos)
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

    1. Begin by preheating oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk sugar, eggs, sweet potatoes, salt, and pumpkin pie spice until combined.
    2. Add in the evaporated milk, bourbon, and vanilla and stir until combined. Set aside.
    3. Prepare the mini pie crusts by rolling out your pie dough, homemade or prepared, on a lightly floured mat. Be sure to get the dough fairly thin, to make it go further. Using a 2.25 inch biscuit cutter, cut discs out of dough and place them in a mini muffin pan. Gather dough scraps and roll them out again (and perhaps again!) to get all you can from your dough.
    4. Once crusts are in place, begin filling each one just beneath the edge of each crust. The filling will rise slightly in the center, but should not spread over.
    5. Bake mini sweet potato pies for 22-25 minutes or until filling is set.
    6. Allow pies to cool in pan for 10-15 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.
    7. While pies are cooling, whip up the bourbon whipped cream. To do this combine whipping cream, bourbon, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl (or in the bowl of a stand mixer). Using a hand mixer (or stand mixer), whip until stiff peaks form. Keep whipped cream refrigerated until ready to use.
    8. To top pies, add a star or large decorative tip to a pastry bag and filled with cold whipped cream. Begin piping a small amount of whipped cream on each pie.
    9. To finish, dust the top of each pie with a pinch of nutmeg and serve! These little pies are sure to be the star of your next holiday party!

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 165Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 149mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 1gSugar: 9gProtein: 3g
© Courtney

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How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Spinach

One of my early spring and fall vegetable garden favorites is spinach. It’s luscious green leaves are so full of calcium and vitamin C that it makes oranges look… well, weak. In fact, you can get 34% of your daily value of Vitamin C in just one serving of spinach. And with all that goodness going on, why wouldn’t you grow spinach in your spring or fall garden this year? I’ve got all the details on how to plant, grow, and harvest spinach in your backyard garden!

When to plant spinach

Spinach is a plant that typically enjoys the cooler temperatures. That means the early spring and fall are the best times to add it to your home garden. This can be in a garden bed or a container, whatever kind of garden you happen to be using.

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There are some varieties of spinach that can tolerate higher temps, such as Malabar Spinach, which actually grows as a vine. And you can always opt to grow spinach in partial shade during warm months to get more longevity out of the growing season. (See my full list of Shade Loving Vegetables!)

Plant spinach in the spring as soon as the ground is workable and up to six weeks before the last frost. A light frost may even improve the taste of young spinach leaves! In the fall, plant your spinach 6-8 weeks before the first “scheduled” frost. (We all know that weather certainly doesn’t work on a tight schedule!)

Where to grow spinach

  • Location: Spinach does best in full to part sun, so there’s flexibility in where you place your spinach in the garden or where your containers are.
  • Soil PH: Spinach prefers a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. If you’ve never had your soil tested, it’s something I highly recommend and is usually a free service provided by your local Cooperative Extension office. (Read my full post on Improving Garden Soil.)
  • Soil Type: While spinach isn’t going to be a heavy feeder like tomatoes, they also don’t like depleted soil. Add in some fresh compost to the soil in advance of planting your spinach to give them the nutrients that they need.

Planting Spinach Seeds

I highly recommend planting spinach from seeds. Not only will you get more bang for your buck, but you’ll have a much larger variety of seeds to choose from. And since planting spinach seeds is so easy, the success rate is relatively high. Here’s what you’ll need to do to plant spinach seeds:

  • Choose seeds based on desired size and flavor
  • Amend soil based on recommendations above, adding compost if needed.
  • (Optional: Soak spinach seeds the night before planting. This can help speed up the time it takes for them to sprout.)
  • Plant spinach seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep in soil and loosely cover with soil.
  • Space out seeds every 3 inches.
  • Water lightly and keep soil moist (not soaking wet) until sprouts begin to break through.
  • Spinach seeds will germinate in about a week, but this could take longer if the temps are below 70 degrees.

Caring for spinach

Spinach is a relatively low maintenance plant, which is why I love to grow it! Here are some tips for caring for spinach plants:

  • Thin spinach seedlings if they are closer than 2 inches. You want the plants to have room to grow.
  • Use a good organic fertilizer (I prefer Espoma brand) if you notice your plants aren’t growing or if you noticed on your soil report that your soil was lacking in nitrogen.
  • Keep plants watered regularly, without overdoing it.
  • Mulch around plants to help retain moisture and to keep weeds at bay.
  • Pinch off any yellowed or dying leaves.
  • Use your spinach! This is the best way to keep your plant growing and producing.

How to Harvest Fresh Spinach

I have to say there are so many uses for fresh spinach! We personally love spinach’s mild flavor in smoothies and soups, but it’s also a delicious side dish simply steamed with fresh garlic. And since harvesting spinach from the home garden is quick and easy, this nutritious green can go from garden to table in just 20 minutes.

To harvest spinach, use your fingers or some small snips and harvest the larger, outer leaves of the spinach plant. As spinach leaves get larger, they can also get tougher, so by taking these off, you’re allowing the smaller leaves a chance to grow, and you’re avoiding mega large leaves that may lack in flavor.

Once leaves are harvested, be sure to give them a good washing. This can involve filling a bowl with water and soaking the leaves for several minutes while swirling them around. Soil can easily get stuck to the undersides of spinach leaves and nobody wants extra grit in their salad or smoothie, am I right?

Popular Varieties of Spinach for the Garden

Whether you’re growing in a row garden, raised bed, or container, these popular spinach varieties may just turn out to be your new favorite! All of these seed recommendations come from True Leaf Market, who offers a full line of Heirloom, Non-GMO & Organic seeds of all types and has been since 1974! I have loved all of the products I’ve purchased from them!

  • Giant Noble Spinach: Who says bigger isn’t better? This heirloom variety of spinach has large, delicious leaves that can spread up to 25 inches! The kids will love this variety.
  • Bloomsdale Long-Standing Spinach: This is my personal favorite, and it grows consistently each and every year. Love this spinach!
  • Viroflay Spinach- This french variety also has large leaves and is great for the fall garden. The leaves also won’t get bitter if left on the plant too long.
  • Avon Hybrid Spinach– A fast growing very bolt tolerant savoy spinach variety best grown in spring. Long leaves and upright growth make this a good plant for harvesting young leaves.

Delicious Spinach Recipes

Now that you’ve grown all that spinach, how are you going to use it? Here are some great suggestions for recipes that use spinach.

I’d love to know if you’ve tried another spinach variety that you’ve enjoyed or if you have any other tips on growing spinach at home! Have a great week and happy gardening!

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DIY Halloween Air Plant Holder

It’s almost that time of year again when the trees give up their leaves and kids (and adults alike) will begin thinking about dressing up and roaming the neighborhood for treats. I love decorating for fall, and since I also like to keep things simple, I opt for maybe one or two Halloween type decorations, so I can remove them after Halloween, but still keep the fall decor up until Thanksgiving. Work smart, not hard, right?

So here’s a super quick and fun DIY Halloween Air Plant holder that you can make completely with supplies from the dollar store. Air plants are so fun to have around, and since there’s no re-potting or soil required, they are functional in many decorative pieces.

DIY Halloween Decor

Almost everything you’ll need for this DIY air plant decor project can be found at the dollar store. The one exception is the air plant. I found mine at Lowe’s, but any store that carries indoor plants should have air plants as well!

This post may contain affiliate links, which simply means I may earn a commission off of links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site!

Here’s what you’ll need to create your own fun Halloween air plant holder:

Making a DIY Air Plant Holder

  1. Begin by getting all of your supplies together. If your jar has a lid, and you’d like for it to be black, then go ahead and take it outside, place it on a cardboard or newspaper surface and spray with glossy black paint. Let dry.

2. Next fill the empty jar with the paper shreds. I used black, but you could also use orange to keep the fall or Halloween theme going. Then begin adding in any combination of the toy bugs. I chose the white and orange ones to stand out against the black paper shreds. Put several against the side of the jar and maybe a few poking through the paper!

3. Then add in an orange, battery-operated votive light. These don’t put off enough heat to cause concern with the paper. Nestle it down in the paper, but don’t bury the light in the shreds too much.

4. Now add in your witches hat, or whatever taller element you have for your air plant holder. A pumpkin on a stick would also be super fun! Shorten the stick if needed by breaking off the end. Arrange your tall element so it leans to the side slightly.

5. Now add your air plant to the top of the holder and adjust any leaves as needed. Place your fall or halloween inspired air plant holder on an end table, bookshelf, bathroom counter, or just anywhere that needs a pop of decor!

glass jar with black paper shred, plastic bugs, and a witches hat holds a small air plant

Reusing Halloween Decor

Want to keep using this air plant holder after October 31st has passed? No problem! Here are some ideas:

  • Remove the hat and bugs for less of a themed look.
  • Replace the hat with a pumpkin on a stick for an air plant holder that will take you right through the fall.
  • Swap out the black paper shreds for any color that matches your decor
  • Use white shreds along with a white votive and a few small ornaments for a quick Christmas change up.

Other DIY Plant Decor

I hope you give this DIY Halloween Air Plant holder a try, and swap it out with the seasons. Have ideas for how to make this more versatile? Share your tips below!

Yield: 1

DIY Halloween Air Plant Holder

glass jar with black paper shred, plastic bugs, and a witches hat holds a small air plant

Create this fun and easy DIY Halloween Air Plant Holder to complete your fall home decor or fun halloween decor. It takes just minutes to create and almost all of the supplies come from the dollar store.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 15 minutes
Additional Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $5

Materials

  • Small glass jar (with or without a lid is fine)
  • Black paper shreds
  • Toy bugs and spiders
  • Small witch hats on sticks
  • Small Air Plant
  • Black Spray Paint (if your jar has a lid)

Instructions

    1. Begin by getting all of your supplies together. If your jar has a lid, and you'd like for it to be black, then go ahead and take it outside, place it on a cardboard or newspaper surface and spray with glossy black paint. Let dry.
    2. Next fill the empty jar with the paper shreds. I used black, but you could also use orange to keep the fall or Halloween theme going. Then begin adding in any combination of the toy bugs. I chose the white and orange ones to stand out against the black paper shreds. Put several against the side of the jar and maybe a few poking through the paper!
    3. Then add in an orange, battery-operated votive light. These don't put off enough heat to cause concern with the paper. Nestle it down in the paper, but don't bury the light in the shreds too much.
    4. Now add in your witches hat, or whatever taller element you have for your air plant holder. A pumpkin on a stick would also be super fun! Shorten the stick if needed by breaking off the end. Arrange your tall element so it leans to the side slightly.
    5. Now add your air plant to the top of the holder and adjust any leaves as needed. Place your fall or halloween inspired air plant holder on an end table, bookshelf, bathroom counter, or just anywhere that needs a pop of decor!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases with no added cost to you. Thank you!

© Courtney
Project Type: DIY / Category: Crafts

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How to Prune Dill

Dill is an easy to grow annual herb and can be used to flavor recipes or to add fragrance to a flower garden. The attractive fronds and tiny yellow flowers make this plant a welcome addition to a fragrant garden even if you don’t want to grow it for culinary uses.

All plants can benefit from being pruned, and my post on how to prune basil has been one of the most popular on my site. So, there’s an obvious need for learning about pruning herbs and vegetables. Here are some tips on how to prune dill.

The benefits of pruning dill

Although dill is an annual plant, it is self-seeding and will return year after year under the right growing conditions. (You can also easily save dill seed each year for future planting.) Pruning a dill plant will limit the number of seeds the plant produces and will keep the plants from outgrowing their space. An un-pruned plant will bloom proficiently and produce a multitude of seeds per bloom. So, if your goal is seed saving for replanting or using in the kitchen, then let your dill grow wild!

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However, pruning dill will keep the plant looking tidy and force the plant to produce lateral growth so it will be bushier. This is perfect for those who want a larger dill harvest for using in pickling, marinades, drying, and other recipes.

Dill can reach a mature height of 3-feet and since this may cause them to be top-heavy, a gardener will need to be stake them if the plants allowed to grow un-pruned. Pruning dill keeps the plant short and compact so it won’t need to be staked.

When to prune dill

A small number of dill leaves or a couple of stems can be harvested early on, but wait until the plant matures before pruning it heavily. About 8-weeks from the time seeds are planted is when the plant will reach maturity and be ready for heavy, over-all pruning. (Don’t we wish all plants grew this quickly?)

Cut off the tops of the longest stems and even up the remaining stems so the plant has a uniform height and pleasing shape. Don’t cut off more than 1/3 of the plant when pruning or the plant might not recover. 

Prune before the plant sets flowers unless you want it to re-seed for next year or if you want to harvest the seeds.

Best tools for pruning dill

Use a pair of clean, sharp pruning shears or snips to prune dill and make each cut quick and clean. Try not to damage or crush the stem or leaves when pruning. Clean scissor blades by dipping them into a weak bleach solution (1-part bleach, 9-parts water) before and after using them for pruning. This will prevent the spread of disease. (Check out my tutorial on how to clean garden tools.)

As the plant continues to grow, pinch off flowers or wayward stems to keep the plant looking tidy. Dill is really such a wonderful herb to add to a garden space, container garden, or flower bed. And if you’re looking for some delicious ways to use fresh dill, check out these recipes:

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How to Plant, Grow, and Use Borage

Borage might just be the best kept secret of the garden world. An important addition to any garden, this little plant is an easy to grow, self seeding, annual with intricate little blue star shaped flowers. It is a coarse textured plant that can grow to about 3 feet tall, with its leaves and stem covered in fine hairs.

What is Borage?

Borage is a historic medicinal herb with nutritious edible leaves and flowers. The beautiful star flower is not only great for attracting beneficial insects to your garden, but can be used in the kitchen in a variety of ways. 

The Borage plant is native to the eastern Meditererranean region but has been naturalized and cultivated in many other parts of the world. It has been widely used since the time of ancient Rome and has many medicinal benefits. Writers of old mention borage and its ability to bring joy, as well as give courage and comfort to the heart. So why wouldn’t you add it to your garden or flower beds?

Benefits of growing borage

Borage is an easy to grow, ornamental that has many benefits for you and your garden. As a medicinal herb it has several uses such as, decreasing inflammation, improving skin health, and decreasing symptoms of asthma.  

Another name of borage is bee bush because of its amazing ability to attract pollinators and other beneficial insects that help keep your garden pests at bay. Chickens love to eat borage as well, and it is thought to repel pests if spread around their coop. Borage is also great as a green manure or mulch because it has a deep taproot that pulls up nutrients and trace minerals. Simply leave it in your garden when it dies to add organic matter back to the soil, or toss it in your compost pile.

Popular Borage Varieties

  • Common borage (borago officinalis) is the most familiar variety. It is also known as starflower. Bianca and Alba are popular varieties for growing in pots. They are more compact and sturdy with white flowers.
  • Creeping borage (borago pygmaea) is a sprawling variety that is actually a short lived perennial instead of an annual. It can grow in USDA zones 5 and above.

How to Grow Borage

Zone– Borage grows best in zones 3-10.

Plants or seeds– because of its long and delicate tap root, it may be better to grow borage from seed instead of trying to transplant if you’re a new gardener. Sow seeds in a thin layer of soil and keep them moist. They should sprout in 5-15 days.

Borage can also be grown from transplants, and if you’re careful, they can be successfully moved into the garden. Using plants gives gardeners a bit more freedom in not having to keep seeds moist, but it also is the more expensive option. The choice is really all about preference.

When to plant borage – Plant the seeds in early spring after the first frost. Borage is relatively cold tolerant, but prefers soil temps above 50 degrees. If you are in a very cold climate with a shorter growing season, start seed indoors and transplant when the soil is ready.  

Where to plant– Plant borage in full sun if possible, but it will also tolerate partial shade. My borage plants also tend to lean heavily toward the sun, so keep this in mind when thinking about placement.

Soil Conditions– Borage tolerates a variety of soil conditions, but as with most plants, it does best when planted in well draining, fertile ground. Others gardeners claim that borage can help break up compacted soil, but I personally haven’t had much success with this. (This could be because my kids trampled it before it stood a chance.)

Watering and fertilizing borage

To start, water seeds and seedlings regularly until well established. Don’t add fertilizer at this point, but it is always a good idea to incorporate compost into the soil and mulch to deter weeds and retain moisture.   

Once the plant is established, you can add a good quality organic fertilizer if your borage is planted in soil that is lacking nutrients.

How to Harvest Borage

To harvest borage, cut off the leaves and flowers that you will be using, leaving enough for the plant to continue to thrive. Borage stocks can be a bit prickly, so you may want to wear gloves when harvesting, especially if your skin is sensitive. The leaves are best when harvested young and tender and have a “cucumber-like” taste.

Prune back the plant about half way in midsummer to encourage the growth of new, tender leaves that you can harvest late in the season.

Borage is an annual, but it self seeds so well that you probably won’t have to plant it again once it is established in your garden. That being said, if it starts to take over, or grow in an unwanted area, it is easy to remove by pulling up its shallow roots. Leave it in the garden to add beneficial nutrients, or throw in in your compost pile.

Companion plants for borage

 Borage is a great companion plant for many crops such as

  • cucumber
  • tomato
  • strawberries
  • spinach
  • brassicas
  • legumes
  • squash (it helps deter pests such as cabbage worm.)
  • Another claimed use for borage in the garden is to help any plant that it is interplanted with to resist pests and disease.  See my full post about plants that help deter pests.
strawberries in hand

Borage Growing FAQ’s

  • Is borage the same as comfrey? Borage and comfrey are not the same thing, but they are in the same plant family. Though the plants look very similar when not in bloom, comfrey flowers are shaped like bells while borage has a star shaped flower. They both have medicinal uses and are a good choice for green manure crops to enhance the soil in your garden.
  • Is borage toxic? The prickly stalks may cause minor skin irritation, so it’s a good idea to use gloves when working with borage. You should always use caution when consuming medicinal herbs, especially in large amounts. Consult your doctor before taking borage especially if you have a preexisting condition or take medication regularly. Prolonged use of borage is not advisable, as some of the plants contain small amounts of poisonous alkaloids and can be toxic with sustained use. 
  • Can borage be grown in pots? Yes! Just be sure to give the borage plenty of space (no 3 inch pots for this plant) and feel free to grow it along with another plant, such as a tomato in a large container.

How-to Grow Guides

Learn how to grow all kinds of fruits, vegetables, and herbs in the home garden with my How to Grow guides!

How to Grow and Harvest Peanuts

How to Grow Cucumbers Vertically

How to Grow Potatoes at Home

How to Grow Garlic

How to Grow Pole Beans

How to Grow Peas

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How to Grow Dill in Containers

Container gardening opens up the wide world of plants to those who may not have a yard or garden space. Growing dill in containers is an easy way to begin herb gardening an dyou get dill to use in fresh fish dishes, dill vegetable dip (one of my favorites), and homemade pickles!

Why grow herbs in containers?

Dill is an excellent choice for a container herbs garden for several reasons. Not only is it a beautiful and fragrant plant, but all parts of the plant are edible! True story. It’s also easy to grow, and it can be kept pruned to fit the space where it’s being grown.

This post may contain affiliate links, which simply means I may earn a commission off of links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site!

Learn how to grow dill in pots with these easy-to-follow guidelines.

What size pot is best?

Dill forms a long taproot, so it will need a deep pot to grow in. Select a pot that is at least 12-inches deep and equally as wide. If you want to grow a grouping of several dill plants, use a much bigger pot. The pot will need several drainage holes in the bottom to promote good drainage. If you find a pot you love that has no holes, you can create them on your own with a good drill.

Dill is a top-heavy plant and tends to fall once it matures because of its weak and hollow stems. The pot will also need space for a support stake or trellis if you plan to allow the plant to grow un-pruned.

Best soil for growing dill

Use well-drained, loamy potting soil when growing dill in pots. This hardy annual will tolerate poor soil, but it will grow better if you add a cup full of compost to the soil at planting time. And who doesn’t want to give their dill the best shot possible?

Compost will keep the plant fed, promote drainage, and help prevent soil compaction.

When to Plant Dill

If dill is being grown indoors in pots, then the seeds can be planted at any time of the year. Place one seed in prepared pot, moisten soil, cover top of container with plastic wrap, and place in a warm, bright location. When seed germinates, remove plastic wrap and keep soil moist.

When growing in a pot in an outdoor location, wait until spring to plant the seed in a prepared pot. Keep soil moist, but not soaking wet during this early time.

Place pot in a location that receives at least 6-hours of direct sunlight and good air circulation. I like to add dill, a tall and leggy plant, to a pot with low growing plants. It’s a great way to add interest and fragrance to containers!

How to care for dill in containers

Allow the top of soil to become dry to the touch between waterings. (Use the finger test. If your push your finger in the soil and it’s wet, don’t water. If it’s dry, water your plant.) Dill does not like soggy soil and will develop root rot if over-watered. Apply water at the soil level and avoid getting foliage wet to prevent fungal diseases.

Feed plant once a month with water-soluble plant food during the spring and summer. I like Espoma’s organic plant food for a slow release option that’s easy to apply.

For indoor-grown pots of dill, harvest, and prune as needed to keep plant looking tidy but don’t remove more than 1/3 of the plant at a time. When dill is grown in pots outdoors it can be allowed to grow naturally or be kept pruned. An un-pruned dill plant will develop tiny yellow flowers that are filled with edible seeds.

Want to save your dill seeds for using in the kitchen or for planting? Check out my full post on how to save dill seed!

Herb Growing Helps

Get help in the herb garden will these helpful how-to's and tutorials for growing all kinds of herbs at home.

How to Prune Basil for Larger Yields

How to Root Basil from Cuttings

Companion Planting for Vegetables and Herbs

DIY Herb Container Garden

Inexpensive and fun DIY herb container garden that uses a metal Dollar Store bin that is artificially aged. A fantastic garden project that also makes a wonderful gift.

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Blossom End Rot: Prevention and Treatment

No one likes to spend their precious time nurturing a tomato plant, only to have the dreaded blossom end rot show up on their fruits. This common malady on tomatoes can be prevented and potentially treated in established plants, so that all of your hard work and nurturing isn’t all for naught (or rot)!

What is blossom end rot?

Blossom end rot starts at the bottom of a tomato, right where the blossom used to be. It begins as a small black spot that continues to enlarge, causing the tomato tissue to rot and the fruit to become deformed.

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Blossom end rot is a common problem in garden tomatoes and is typically caused by a calcium imbalance within the plant. However, the problem can also be caused by over-watering or under-watering, or a combination of both. So, what’s a gardener to do to keep tomatoes growing strong and healthy?

Calcium-rich soil and consistent watering are essential for preventing blossom end rot in tomatoes, but there are also a few other things gardeners can do to prevent this particular problem.

Blossom End Rot Causes and Prevention

Inconsistent watering, as mentioned above is a common culprit. Too much or too little water hinders the plant from being able to uptake calcium from the soil. 

A calcium deficiency in the soil can also be caused by too much nitrogen or damaged plant roots. This is another reason why having your garden soil tested annually is always a good idea. (See my post here about building up garden soil, which includes details on how to get your soil tested locally for free!)

How to add calcium to your garden

If you’ve been watering consistently and determined that a calcium deficiency is the reason for your blossom end rot, then consider this homemade prevention. Incorporate one-half cup of gypsum and one-half cup of Epsom salt into the soil at planting time to help prevent blossom end rot.

Some other gardeners I’ve talked to over the years also add egg shells to the area where they plan to plant tomatoes. These do take a while to break down, so begin preparing the area in the winter (if possible). Another DIY calcium tip from a fellow Master Gardener is to add a Tums to the planting hole. This gives a quick shot of calcium to the plant! Choose any flavor you want; I don’t think the plant is too picky.

Stop the rot from spreading

Tomatoes with blossom end rot will not recover, remove them from the plant and discard them. In some instances, just the first few tomatoes will be afflicted with blossom end rot. If you notice that all your tomatoes have this issue, then proceed with a course of treatment.

Unaffected green tomatoes will mature normally if the calcium deficiency is corrected.

The plant can be saved with an application of Epsom salt to the plant roots. Mix one-half cup of Epsom salt in a gallon of water and water plants as usual. Sprinkle Epsom salt around plant and work lightly into soil, being careful not to allow Epsom salts to touch plant stem. This will prevent future tomatoes from developing blossom end rot.

Apply mulch

Apply a 3-4 inch layer of organic mulch around tomato plants to help retain soil moisture. This will help with the watering issue that can lead to blossom end rot.

Applying mulch will also prevent weed growth and keep certain types of pests off of plants. Use a good quality natural mulch and avoid the dyed wood chips that can actually prevent water from getting to the roots of the plant. (See this excellent article on the best types of mulches to use in the garden.)

Other preventive measures

Another suggestion is to reduce fertilizer applications during early fruiting, when blossom-end rot is more likely to occur. Nitrogen content is high in most fertilizers and nitrogen increases the chances of tomato plants developing blossom end rot. If you want to use a fertilizer at this point, be sure to choose one that is specific to fruiting plants, such as Big Bloom by Fox Farm, which has no nitrogen. This will still encourage your plant to grow, but won’t give excess nitrogen that your tomato plant doesn’t need.

Also, damaged roots can hinder the ability of the plant to uptake calcium from the soil. Be careful at planting time not to damage roots and during cultivation be careful not to dig too close to plant roots. Check out my article all about how to plant tomatoes to get tips on what to do.

So here’s to a fabulous tomato harvest this year! Don’t let a rotted tomato bottom or two discourage you. Instead, check your watering practices, avoid high nitrogen fertilizers, and add calcium to your soil if needed.

Tomato Growing Helps

Growing tomatoes in your home vegetable garden? Need help with how to plant, grow, prune, and harvest your tomato plants? Here's tips and helps to get you a fabulous tomato harvest!

How to Save Tomato Seeds

How to Prune Tomato Plants like a Pro

Tips for Planting Tomatoes

5 Tips for Growing Tomatoes

How to Freeze Tomatoes (It's so Easy!)

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How to Save Dill Seeds

Growing dill in your garden this spring and summer? Learning how to save dill seeds is so easy, you’ll never buy dill seeds or plants again! All you need is a little bit of patience and a paper plate. Let’s get started.

Yellow dill blooms on green stems

Why save dill seed?

Dill seed has a variety of uses both in the kitchen and in the garden. In the kitchen dill seed can be a flavorful seasoning for any soups and stews as well as pickled vegetables. Serious Eats has some great suggestions for how to use dill seed in the kitchen. Find their article here.

This post may contain affiliate links, which simply means I may earn a commission off of links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site!

In the garden, dill is a wonderful companion plant that can help to keep pests at bay. (See my guide to companion plants.) It’s also an herb that adds a bit of height and whimsy to the garden area. The delicate fronds of dill are so dainty and lovely that it’s hard not to admire them. The dill itself can be used in pickling as well as fish marinades and compound butters. If you’re nervous to grow dill in the garden because you immediately associate it with the strong flavor of dill pickles, don’t be! Remember that pickles soak in a dill-infused brine for quite a while, so the flavor is much more intense (and there’s vinegar, so…).

Drying out dill plants

The most effective way to save dill seeds is to let the plants themselves dry out in the garden. I won’t say I’m a lazy gardener, but I am practical. If I can save the step of trimming off the blooms and placing them in a paper bag to dry, then I will.

Let your dill plants produce their beautiful yellow blooms, then simply wait. Your dill plants will be ready to have seeds collected when they are brown and dry.

Don’t want to wait that long? Once plants have finished blooming, but aren’t yet dried out, cut blooms with a length of stem off of the plant. Place the blooms in a brown paper bag with stems sticking out of the top of the bag. Tie up bag and hang for a week or more until dill is brown and dry.

Dill seed heads drying on plant with blue sky in the background

Harvesting dill seed

Once plants are dry, start harvesting the dill seed. Grab a paper plate and one of the dill heads. Use your fingers and begin rubbing the seeds off of the ends of the plant. The seeds should easily come off and land on the paper plate. Repeat this process with all of your dried dill plants until you’ve gotten all of the seeds onto the plate.

Discard the stems and the remnant of the dill plant in your compost pile. (See my guide on how to start composting!)

harvesting dried dill seed on a white paper plate with a blue placemat underneath

How to Store Dill Seed

Dill seed can easily be stored in a glass jar with a well fitted lid, if you’re going to use it for use in the kitchen. (I like this spice jar set that includes labels and a funnel.)

For storing to plant seeds later, use a simple envelope marked with the seed type and date or use a small plastic container. For more ideas on seed storage, check out my seed storage post.

More seed saving ideas

Yield: tons of seeds

How to Save Dill Seeds

yellow dill blooms filled with seeds

Learning how to save dill seeds is quick and easy. One plant can give hundreds of seeds to use for replanting or for recipes in the kitchen.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Difficulty Easy

Materials

  • Paper Plate
  • Dill Plant
  • Envelope or Plastic Container

Instructions

  1. Begin by letting the flower heads on the dill plant dry out. They will be dry when they are brown and "crunchy" to the touch.
  2. Trim off the seed heads with a bit of stem connected and place on a paper plate.
  3. Over the paper plate, begin rubbing the ends of the seed heads to release the dill seeds.
  4. Once all of the seeds are removed, pick out any stems or miscellaneous pieces.
  5. Store dill seeds in a marked envelope or a sealed container in a cool, dry place. Or place in a glass spice jar for use in the kitchen.

Notes

If you don't want to allow the blooms to dry out completely outdoors. Trim them off the plant and place in a paper bag. Let stay in the paper bag until completely dry, then proceed with the instructions for removing the seeds.

© Courtney
Project Type: Seed Saving / Category: Herb Gardening

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How to Save Zinnia Seeds

Want to stop buying seeds each year and instead learn how easy it is to save zinnia seeds from your dried flowers? Have beautiful zinnias in the garden every year for free! They bring in pollinators and a fun, colorful element to the spring and summer garden.

Why save seeds?

Saving seeds is key to creating a self-sufficient garden. Though one of our main reasons for saving seeds is to save money from year to year, there’s also a great deal of comfort that comes from knowing that if times get hard, I can still have as many zinnias as I’d like.

Saving seeds can also be a blessing to others, since you can can easily save enough seeds to share with all of your neighbors and still have enough for yourself. You can also spread the wealth by giving seeds to your local community garden or master gardeners to use in their gardens or for local plant sales. The possibilities are endless!

How to save zinnia seeds

The process of saving zinnia seeds to use next year is quite easy. In fact, the most difficult part is in waiting for the flowers to dry out! Here are the steps.

  1. Allow flowers to dry out on the plant until they are brown and petals are crunchy. Cut flower off of plant.

2. Remove the dried petals from the plant and set to the side or compost. (Learn how to compost here!)

3. Break apart the center section of the flower that’s left and place the seeds on a plate or in a clean container. Pick out any dried petals that may be mixed in with the seeds. (You can leave them if you like. They shouldn’t really affect the saved seeds.)

4. Store the seeds in a sealed container or envelope in a cool, dry place. Seeds can also be kept in the refrigerator or freezer.

Seed Saving FAQs

  • How long can I store saved seeds? Zinnia seeds will remain viable for 5-6 years if stored properly. So be sure they are fully dried out before storing.
  • Can seeds be sown directly after saving for next year? I’ve certainly had zinnias come up where I’d let some go to seed the year before, but it won’t be as consistent as saving seed and planting them intentionally the next year.
  • Can you save zinnia seeds from cut flowers? If the flower has dried out on the plant, yes. If the flower was cut while in full bloom and dried out after being on display, then there’s a possibility that the seeds were not yet mature and ready for saving.
  • How can seeds be tested to see if they’re still viable? Seeds can easily be tested before planting in the spring by following these easy instructions for testing seeds.

More seed saving helps

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Berry Kale Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette

Kale may just be one of the easiest greens to grow in the garden. And since kale is so versatile, it can be sautéed (so delicious), pureed in smoothies, and even served as the base of a salad. The dark leafy kale greens are a nutritional powerhouse, and go well beyond other lighter salad greens like romaine and iceberg. Paired with strawberries and blueberries, this berry kale salad is a fantastic side dish for just about any meal and is particularly delicious in the spring and summer when the berries are fresh.

Using kale in salads

While kale is a super popular green to grow in the garden, many people don’t automatically think about using it for salads. Sautéing kale or using it in some kind of baked dish seems to be the most common use. But as with all vegetables, some of the nutrients are lost in the cooking process, so kale becomes an even more powerful food when eaten raw.

This post may contain affiliate links, which simply means I may earn a commission off of links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site!

You can use any variety of kale in this salad recipe, such as dinosaur (lacinato), curly kale, red kale, or Chinese kale. The choice is all in your preference, or what you have growing in your garden at the time. I used curly kale, since that’s what we had on hand.

Berry Kale Salad Ingredient List

  • 6-7 cups washed kale, chopped
  • 2-3 cups various berries, washed and sliced (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)
  • 1 english cucumber, sliced
  • 3/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
  • 1/2-3/4 cup sliced almonds or chopped pecans

for the dressing:

  • 4-5 fresh or frozen strawberries
  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup good quality olive oil
  • 1-2 tsp chopped thyme
  • 1-2 tsp honey
  • salt and pepper to taste

Assembling the kale salad

  1. Begin by washing the kale, berries, and cucumber. Then lay out kale on a clean kitchen cloth, or use a salad spinner (I like this one) to dry off the kale leaves.
  2. Then chop kale leaves into bite sized pieces and place on a clean platter or serving plate.

3. Next, chop the cucumber and place it on top of the kale, followed by the washed and dried berries. Any combination of strawberries, blueberries, blackberried, and raspberries will work for this berry kale salad.

4. Then top with crumbled feta cheese and chopped pecans or almonds.

5. Finally, make the strawberry vinaigrette dressing to top your berry kale salad. Use a blender or a smoothie maker (for easier clean up). I personally love our Ninja Smoothie Blender for smaller jobs like this, but we also have a Ninja full sized blender that works just as well. For the dressing, place all ingredients in the blender cup and blend for 10-20 seconds, or until the strawberries are pureed. Store in a glass jar until ready to use.

6. To serve, top the salad with the strawberry vinaigrette dressing and serve immediately.

Kale Berry Salad Substitutions

  • Consider adding dried cranberries in place of some of the fresh berries for a different flavor.
  • Use blueberries in place of strawberries in the vinaigrette for a fresh taste and color on the salad.
  • Add chopped bacon for a savory kick to your salad.
  • For extra protein, pair this salad with your favorite grilled meat or fish.

FAQ’s

  • How to store Kale Berry Salad? Store the salad undressed in the refrigerator until ready to serve. For leftover salad with or without dressing, store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Due to the tougher texture of kale, the leaves hold up well with dressing on them. In fact, some people prefer the dressed salad after it’s been in the fridge for a day or two.
  • Can this salad be made ahead? Absolutely! Simply prepare the salad and dressing and store both in the fridge until ready to serve. This can be done a day or two in advance.

Other Kale and Berry Recipes:

Yield: 8 servings

Fresh Berry Kale Salad

white platter with kale, strawberries, blueberries, and feta cheese crumbled on top

This berry kale salad recipe combines the nutritional powerhouse that is kale with delicious sweet strawberries and blueberries and a fresh and tasty strawberry vinaigrette. Easy to make and great for leftovers, this sweet salad is the perfect side dish.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6-7 cups washed kale, chopped
  • 2-3 cups various berries, washed and sliced (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)
  • 1 english cucumber, sliced
  • 3/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
  • 1/2-3/4 cup sliced almonds or chopped pecans
  • Dressing:
  • 4-5 fresh or frozen strawberries
  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup good quality olive oil
  • 1-2 tsp chopped thyme
  • 1-2 tsp honey
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

    1. Begin by washing the kale, berries, and cucumber. Then lay out kale on a clean kitchen cloth, or use a salad spinner (I like this one) to dry off the kale leaves.
    2. Then chop kale leaves into bite sized pieces and place on a clean platter or serving plate.
    3. Next, chop the cucumber and place it on top of the kale, followed by the washed and dried berries. Any combination of strawberries, blueberries, blackberried, and raspberries will work for this berry kale salad.
    4. Then top with crumbled feta cheese and chopped pecans or almonds.
    5. Finally, make the strawberry vinaigrette dressing to top your berry kale salad. Use a blender or a smoothie maker (for easier clean up). I personally love our Ninja Smoothie Blender for smaller jobs like this, but we also have a Ninja full sized blender that works just as well. For the dressing, place all ingredients in the blender cup and blend for 10-20 seconds, or until the strawberries are pureed. Store in a glass jar until ready to use.
    6. To serve, top the salad with the strawberry vinaigrette dressing and serve immediately.

Recommended Products

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© Courtney
Cuisine: N/A / Category: Salad Recipes

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