Laura Miller
Laura's passion for gardening germinated when she was a young child. Limited by the types of pets her parents would allow, Laura turned to nurturing plants as a way to interact with other living entities. From growing radishes in her own garden space to raising cactus from seeds, what began as an excuse to play in the dirt transformed into a lifelong hobby.Much of Laura's early plant knowledge and gardening skill came from her parents. Each summer, her family grew a garden brimming with fresh vegetables. Laura fondly remembers the many mouthwatering recipes her mother would make using the vine-ripened tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, cabbage and Swiss chard from their home garden.To this day, Laura grows these same vegetables as well as many others in her garden. Some of her favorite garden veggies include English peas, long-green frying peppers and bi-color corn. Her two-acre property is also home to several types of berries, a robust asparagus patch and several fruit trees.Yet, it's her container fig trees which she cherishes the most. Grown from root cuttings, these figs trace back to trees which grew on her family's ancestral home in Italy. This has helped shaped Laura's view that plants can be a way of connecting with long-lost loved ones. Flowers, in particular, remind her of the matriarchs in her family tree.Trumpet vines and snap dragons undoubtedly bring a smile to Laura's face as she remembers hot summer evenings spent on her grandmother's porch swing. During their bloom time, Laura loves to cut a few spikes of gladiolus to bring inside as a reminder of her mother.Over the years, Laura has also shared her property with horses, domestic ducks and an ornery goat. Having these animals encouraged her to adopt organic lawn care methods and delve into large-scale composting of farm animal waste materials. Laura credits much of her gardening success to the compost which has amended the soil of both her vegetable garden and flower beds.In addition to sharing her home with dogs, cats and a cockatoo, Laura has nearly 50 houseplants and container fruit trees which spend the winters indoors. She has experimented with indoor vegetable gardening and hopes someday she can reduce her dependence upon store-bought produce by growing her own veggies year round.Laura still enjoys the challenge of raising cactus from seed. Even though she has been a gardener for most of her life and a homeowner for nearly four decades, Laura realizes there is still much to learn about plants. She has very much enjoyed sharing her gardening successes and failures with Gardening Know How readers.
Latest articles by Laura Miller
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What Are Some Yellow Vegetables - Growing Vegetables That Are Yellow
Growing yellow vegetables in the garden is a great way to include colorful veggies in your favorite culinary masterpieces. So what are some yellow vegetables that are easy to grow?
By Laura Miller
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Economical Vegetables - What Are The Most Cost Effective Vegetables You Can Grow
There are many good reasons to grow your own produce. One is saving money. Let's take a look at the most economical vegetables to grow in a home garden.
By Laura Miller
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10 Best Indoor Vegetables: Growing Indoor Vegetables In Pots
To help you get started on this journey to self-sufficiency, here's our list of the 10 best indoor vegetables to cultivate at home.
By Laura Miller
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Top 10 Cold Weather Vegetables
Often gardeners think of vegetable gardening as a summer activity. Yet, there are a number of cold-season vegetables that will grow in cooler temperatures. Here's our list of the ten best vegetables for cold-weather cultivation.
By Laura Miller
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Orange Vegetables List - Growing Dark Orange Vegetables
Are orange vegetables good for you? The answer is definitely. Let's look at some examples of orange vegetables and find out exactly how they benefit our health.
By Laura Miller
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Cold Hardy Vegetables: Tips And Techniques To Grow In The Snow
By utilizing cold-frame gardening and learning what vegetables grow in snow, you can have a successful winter vegetable garden.
By Laura Miller
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The Differences Among Pumpkin and Squash and Gourds
What are the differences among pumpkins, squash and gourds? Read on to learn how to tell them apart.
By Laura Miller
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Grow Your Own Herbes De Provence - How To Grow, Dry, And Store Herbs
Homemade gifts can add that special touch to any occasion, such as a jar of herbes de provence. Click here to learn how to grow and make your own for gifting.
By Laura Miller
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Learn About The Highly Prized Silphium Herb
What if there was a perfect plant? In ancient times such a treasure existed. It was the silphium plant.
By Laura Miller
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Grow A Beautiful, Edible Herb Window Box
Growing herbs in window boxes is a space-saving method for producing culinary ingredients for kitchen use. Click for more.
By Laura Miller
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Plant A Red Fruit Garden: Growing Fruits With Red Flesh
Planting a red fruit garden may seem a bit whimsical. That is, until you realize the health benefits of consuming fruits with red flesh.
By Laura Miller
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Everbearing Plants: Learn About Everbearing Varieties Of Fruit
What does everbearing mean? And more importantly, how do everbearing varieties differ from non-everbearing types? Read on for more.
By Laura Miller
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Edible Shade Plants: Herbs, Fruits And Vegetables That Grow In Shade
Not everyone is blessed with a bright, sunny spot for growing edible plants, but there are plenty of herbs, fruits and vegetables that grow in shade. Read on for more.
By Laura Miller
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How To Grow Rooibos Tea: Growing Aspalathus Linearis For Rooibos Tea
While the health benefits make growing the rooibos tea shrub promising, it can be a bit tricky to cultivate. Read on for more info.
By Laura Miller
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How To Make Compost In-Ground
Do you feel guilty throwing kitchen scraps in the trash? There’s a way to compost without big piles – burying it! Click to learn more.
By Laura Miller
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How To Compost In A 5 Gallon Bucket
Is it possible to make compost in a bucket? Click here to learn about making compost in a space as small as a five gallon bucket.
By Laura Miller
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My Favorite Frost-Tolerant Crops
Gardening doesn't have to end when the temperatures drop. Here are some of my favorite frost tolerant crops to grow into the winter.
By Laura Miller
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Best Christmas Houseplants And Plants For Winter Holidays
Click here for an idea of the best houseplants to use for holiday décor for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s.
By Laura Miller
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Planting With Cremains – Is There A Safe Way To Bury Ashes
Planting a tree, rose bush or flowers to memorialize a loved one can provide a beautiful place of remembrance. If you'll be planting with cremains (cremated remains) of your loved one, there are extra steps you'll need to take. Learn what they are in this article.
By Laura Miller
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Use A Rhubarb Forcer Pot To Grow Sweeter Rhubarb
Rhubarb can be forced to grow with a forcing pot, but you need to learn how to do it. Read on.
By Laura Miller
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Seed Starting In Coir: Using Coconut Coir Pellets For Germination
Starting your own plants from seed is a great way to save money when gardening. Yet, dragging bags of starting soil into the house is messy. If you enjoy raising your plants from seed but hate the hassle, you might want to try coir pellets. Click here for more info.
By Laura Miller
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What To Do About Frost Damage On Potatoes
Cold-damaged potato foliage doesn’t necessarily mean the potato beneath is bad. Read on for more info.
By Laura Miller