
Charlie Nardozzi
Host, Connecticut Garden JournalCharlie Nardozzi is a regional Emmy® Award winning garden writer, speaker, radio, and television personality. He has worked for more than 30 years bringing expert information to home gardeners.
Charlie hosts Connecticut Garden Journal on WNPR, All Things Gardening on Vermont Public Radio and has hosted New England Gardening with Charlie NardozziTV specials on CT Public.
Charlie delights in making gardening information simple and accessible to everyone. His love of the natural world also makes him an exciting public speaker and presenter. He has spoken, in-person and virtually, at national venues such as the Northwest Flower Show, Philadelphia Flower Show, San Francisco Flower and Garden Show, Master Gardener conferences, and trade shows. Regionally, Charlie has spoken at venues such as the Connecticut Horticultural Society, University of Connecticut Master Gardener Conference, Connecticut Flower and Garden Show and at many garden clubs throughout the state. He also leads international garden tours.
Charlie is a native of Waterbury, Connecticut and has been gardening in New England his whole life. Learn more about him at gardeningwithcharlie.com.
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If you can grow bush beans, you can grow edamame. Once harvested, steam the pods in salty water and eat them as a snack. They're also great cooked with other vegetables, in potato salads and as a topping on summer salads.
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After spring flowering shrubs, such as lilacs, forsythia, rhododendrons, weigela, nineback and bridal wreath spirea have finished blooming, you have about 4- to 6-weeks to prune before flowers form for next year.
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Peanuts are native to South America and can grow in a variety of climates, including New England, with a little coaxing, and nuts grown in your own garden taste better than what you can buy in the store.
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Some summer squash, zucchini and winter squash varieties can be trained to grow vertically, just like climbing peas and pole beans.
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We all know and love 'Genovese' basil, but there are many other flavors to basil. 'Thai' basil is perfect in Asian recipes and it has a sweet, anise-like flavor. 'Christmas' basil is pine-y and fruity. 'Lemon' basil and 'Lime' basil have smaller leaves with a strong citrus smell. 'Holy' basil (aka Tulsi) is used in Indian cooking and medicines. It has a strong, spicy taste.
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Although I want to help pollinators, I'm not a big proponent of the “No Mow May” trend. Pollinators do need all the help they can get, but what happens after May 31st?
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You can grow dahlias from seed, but for immediate satisfaction, purchase tubers. Plant in early- to mid-May in most parts of Connecticut, once the soil temperatures reach 60 degrees. And, plant dahlias in full sun on well-drained soil.
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The 54th annual Earth Day is upon us. While it's great to participate in Earth Day activities, why not make some changes to how we garden to support life on this planet better?
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If you're a veggie gardener, you probably already grow broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and kale. Why not experiment with two other Brassicas: kohlrabi and rapini?
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Pruning hydrangeas can be confusing to home gardeners because the timing varies depending on the type of hydrangea you're growing.