Best of the Blog: 2016

In 2016, our readers were interested in a number of topics, from starting seeds, to container gardening, to making garden work feel carefree. The range of popular posts truly covers a season's worth of gardening. The top topic continues to be tomatoes though!

1. 10 Tomato Transplant Tips >>>

This post, originally published in 2013, continues to be our top read blog post of all time. Tomatoes are the most valued and precious fruits of our edible gardens, and gardeners really want to get it right! Our post is filled with tips that we've amassed with our expert crew years of experience. We also update this post annually to make sure we are providing readers with the clearest and best advice we can.

Transplanting tomatoes isn't the only tomato how-to information readers seek. Our Top 5 Tomato Seed Starting Tips, Pruning Tomatoes post, and Tomato Trellising Basics are also among our most read blog posts of 2016 too!

2. 10 Tips for Container Gardening >>>

Tiny Tim Tomato original by Giselle Potter

Once you've got the garden bug, it infects you no matter where you live! Container gardening was a hot topic in 2011 when Ken first published a post on this topic. This post has since been updated to include new, compact varieties, plus updated resources. Whether you have a garden in the ground, or use containers to satisfy your garden bug, this post is filled with great tips to create a beautiful and productive contained garden.

3. Growing in the Shadows: Shade Tolerant Vegetables >>>

So, you have a nice open space for a garden, but it doesn't get full sun, what is a gardener to do?? While there are a number of varieties that really truly need full sun, there are others that can be grown with success in partial sun conditions. Our Growing in the Shadows variety guide will help you make the right choices for shady growing conditions.

4. Seed Starting 101

When Ken and Doug first started the Hudson Valley Seed Co., Doug created a multiple-post seed starting guide on our blog. The information is well-thought out and clear, the advice seasoned on thorough, and the methods are timeless. We continue to share this guide as one of the back bones of our seed starting advice year after year. Plus, we've added new, helpful products through out the years that we mention in these posts, like hoops & row cover, seed starting trays, and planters. (Not to mention the fact that we carry seeds!) A great fireside read for those planning their gardens in the cold time of year! Here is the complete series:

Seed Starting 101:

Crafting a Seed Starting Calendar

The Quick and Easy Cold Frame

Indoor Seed Starting: Sowing Practices

Direct Sowing

Transplanting and Troubleshooting

5. 10 Tips for a Carefree Garden >>>

Perhaps more relevant now more than ever, this post was published in 2016. It's all about making the garden as effortless and enjoyable as possible. While the work aspect of the garden is part of the fun, the stress aspect never is. Minimize stress by minimizing worry and time waste. We give some really thoughtful tips in this post--including planting nasturtiums-really!

 6. How to Grow Garlic >>>

When we added high quality, disease free seed stock of garlic to our catalog 4 years ago, we weren't sure that it would be popular. Well, we should have known that gardeners who like to grow from seed also like to grow their own garlic! We've poured hours into our instructions for garlic, since it is such a high value and beloved garden crop, we want you to be successful with it. This post has very in depth information, from planting to harvest. Even if you've already planted your garlic, its well worth the winter read. There are some great tips on what to do in the spring as soon as the the soil thaws.

7. Making the Bed >>>

If you are the type of gardener that aims to get the best germination, maximize yield, and always improve upon your skill set-you will love this post! Bed prep is a skill acquired through experience. The end result is not immediate, it can take weeks before you've seen the results of your work. This post can spring you into a new level of understanding and knowledge, leading to better germination results and higher yields more quickly.