5
M U S T - G ROW V E G E TA B L E S FOR N E W G AR D E N E R S
Gardener Northern
®
S P R I N G 2025
GLOBAL
GARDENS GARDEN TO TABLE
A PASSPORT to FLAVOR
GARDEN GREENER
Small-space Plantings Display until May 20, 2025
U.S. $8.99 Can. $9.99
+
Peony Country Zone Defense Hot Container Trends
Minneapolis | Eden Prairie | Plymouth | Apple Valley | Fridley | Maplewood | Cedar Acres Bachmans.com
NORTHERN GARDENER / SPRING 2025
1
Contents S P R I N G 2025 / VOLU M E 153 / NUMBE R 1
53
SEASONAL GUIDE
38
46
56
10 Bloodroot
A spring native to dye for.
12 Soil Blocking
Give your seeds a strong start.
13 Hooray, Hori Hori
Why this wildly popular garden tool is a northern gardener favorite.
14 Unlock a Keyhole Garden
Create this African-inspired raised bed in your yard.
16 What to Prune Now
Trees and shrubs are dormant and ready for shaping.
18 Vegetable Garden Plan
Anyone can grow fresh, healthy food at home.
20 Hail the Hellebore
The first flowers of spring are spectacular.
22 Hot Pots
Cutting edge container garden trends.
24 Trollius
Have a ball with globeflowers.
2
SPRING 2025 / NORTHERNGARDENER.ORG
GARDEN FOR GOOD
SPOTLIGHT
28 A Garden at the Heart
35 Zone Defense
of its Community
Face to Face’s school garden is growing strong.
GARDEN GREENER 32 Think Small
Even the tiniest planting can delight pollinators and people.
GARDEN TO TABLE 53 A Passport to Flavor
Cultivate exotic staples from around the world.
IN EVERY ISSUE 5 Editor’s Letter 61 Gardener’s Market 64 Growing Together
Your garden’s climate is more than a number.
38 Peony Country
The Kubes family dream is in full bloom.
46 Global Gardens
Growing crops from around the world in cold-climate gardens.
51 Chidi’s Garden
A Nigerian master gardener grows African and American food and flowers.
56 Framing a Masterpiece
Landscaping a legendary property the ‘Wright’ way.
ON THE COVER: Nigerian native and Fridley, Minn., resident Nnenna Osuagwu harvests African eggplant for a family event. The fruit is considered a token of goodwill, symbolizing blessings and fruitfulness. Photo by Gail Hudson.
HIGH-QUALITY COLORED MULCH, COMPOST BLENDS, AND SOIL AMENDMENTS
SMSCORF.COM 952.233.9191 SHAKOPEE, MN
OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
NORTHERN GARDENER / SPRING 2025
3