Grow On! <\/p>\n
Tend your plot with a little help from these plant and seed pros.<\/p>\n
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For Native Plants \u2026\u00a0Bartram\u2019s Garden<\/a> <\/p>\n On April 18th, the oldest surviving botanical garden in the United States kicks off a new season for their plant nursery during their annual Spring Fest. A variety of seedlings will be for sale, but you\u2019ll want to make a beeline for the native plants \u2014 their specialty \u2014 like clasping coneflower, which draw natural pollinators to your plot.\u00a0Southwest Philly.<\/p>\n For a Bargain \u2026\u00a0Free Library of Philadelphia\u2019s Free Seed Library<\/a> <\/p>\n Book it to the Parkway Central and West Philly branches, where seed libraries are available at no cost to anyone who wants to grow their own vegetables and herbs. They also offer gratis beginner-friendly workshops on everything from container gardening to composting. Don\u2019t forget to save seeds from your harvest (they have classes on how to do that, too) to help keep the library stocked for next season.\u00a0Logan Circle; West Philly.<\/p>\n For Veg Heads \u2026\u00a0Burpee<\/a> <\/p>\n Born right in Warminster, venerable mail-order force Burpee turns 150 this year \u2014 and celebrates the nation\u2019s 250th with a series of special collections, like Martha Washington\u2019s Kitchen Garden. It\u2019s also got buy-one-get-one flower and veg seed sales right when you need them (in late winter), online articles from beginner-level (\u201cHow to Start a Garden\u201d) to hyper-specific (\u201cLearn About Ammi Majus\u201d), and 115 kinds of tomato seeds and 56 kinds of tomato plants.<\/p>\n For Garden Gear \u2026\u00a0Magnolia Garden Village<\/a> <\/p>\n For more than 50 years, this South Jersey nursery has been helping folks start their potted gardens. It has a wide array of colorful pots that come in all shapes and sizes as well as a plethora of seedlings to go with them. Plus, you can enjoy a cup of coffee from their cafe while you peruse.\u00a0Magnolia.<\/p>\n For Rare Seeds \u2026\u00a0Truelove Seeds<\/a> <\/p>\n Every seed has a story, and it\u2019s Roxborough-based Truelove\u2019s mission to share them with gardeners. Focused on preserving culturally significant foods, their vast collection features lesser-known varietals \u2014 like intore eggplant from Africa and Southeast Asian winter melon \u2014 that will bring distinct new flavors to your crop. Even better? Your purchase helps bring these heritage foods to the communities that need them.\u00a0Online; garden centers around the region.<\/p>\n For Superior Service \u2026\u00a0Primex Garden Center<\/a> <\/p>\n This eight-decade-old family-owned business has stellar six-packs, shrubs, trees, and houseplants, plus classes like Seed Starting and DIY Tropical Terrarium, resources that include a guide to local native plants, delivery for heavy-lift supplies, a rewards program that earns you store credit, and even a \u201cgarden coach\u201d who\u2019ll come right to your yard. (Score!)\u00a0Glenside.<\/p>\n For Fruit Trees \u2026\u00a0Urban Jungle<\/a> <\/p>\n This garden center and nursery has everything you need for your patio or rooftop garden, and it\u2019s the perfect place to get fig and citrus trees. Both potted plants love the sun in summer and add a pop of greenery when you bring them inside for the winter.\u00a0East Passyunk; Pennsport.<\/p>\n Ripe for the Picking <\/p>\n The Philadelphia Orchard Project has some tips for branching out.<\/p>\n Picking your own fruit right out of your garden isn\u2019t an impossible dream. In fact, the honchos at the\u00a0Philadelphia Orchard Project<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 which uses the city\u2019s vacant lots to combat food poverty \u2014 promise that a juicy harvest is within reach, if you plant wisely. Vikram Krishnamurthy, POP\u2019s executive director, suggests beginning with fruiting vines and bushes rather than trees: \u201cBlue\u00adberries are native shrubs that support pollinators, tolerate shade and moist or even wet areas, and have beautiful fall foliage. Blackberries are also easy to grow and provide a steady source of fruit.\u201d Once you\u2019re ready to raise the stakes, says POP director of horticulture Phil Forsyth, easygoing trees include figs and persimmons, which may not be as familiar as apples or cherries but are far more likely to succeed in a city yard. Looking for something more familiar? Krishnamurthy points to the Asian pear: \u201cIt\u2019s a productive, tough fruit tree that thrives in our area, bears relatively early in its lifespan, and doesn\u2019t have serious pest or disease problems.\u201d If you\u2019re still unsure, check out the map of POP orchards with a host of resources and programming at\u00a0phillyorchards.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n So You Want to Start a Community Garden? <\/p>\n Good for you! The city\u2019s chock-full of resources to help. There\u2019s a Parks & Rec program, FarmPhilly, that promotes urban farming on city-owned land; the Neighborhood Gardens Trust, which has worked to acquire dozens of showpiece plots and is looking for more; and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the oldest in the nation, which is a font of info and help. Many local community gardens have (sometimes lengthy) waiting lists, and they\u2019re often locked (to prevent pilfering!), but getting inspo through the fences is free and easy. A few faves:<\/p>\n Summer Winter Community Garden<\/a> <\/p>\n For nearly 50 years, showing off fruit groves, veggie beds, and blossoms galore.\u00a03200 block of Race Street.<\/p>\n Corinthian Gardens<\/a> <\/p>\n An unexpected treasure at Eastern State Penitentiary, with bushes and trees brimming with berries, fruits, and nuts, and a play area for kiddos.\u00a02198 Brown Street.<\/p>\n Brewerytown Garden<\/a> <\/p>\n Busy and well-organized, with a summer farmers market and a farm-share program.\u00a027th and Master streets.<\/p>\n Schuylkill River Park Community Garden<\/a> <\/p>\n A true community hub, right along the river.\u00a025th and Spruce streets.<\/p>\n Girard Garden<\/a> <\/p>\n Well-kept plots on the grounds of the Philadelphia Technician Training Institute.\u00a01901 West Girard Avenue.<\/p>\n