7 types of nuts you can actually grow yourself (yes, really)

Gardening

7 Types of Nuts You Can Actually Grow Yourself (Yes, Really)

Drescription

For some reason, many people don’t consider growing nuts—often because most nuts grow on trees, which require more time and space than fruits or veggies—but they’re still a great way to add life to your yard; depending on where you live, you might have a wide variety of options you haven't considered.

With this in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the best nuts you can grow yourself. If you’re looking to plant more trees on your property and you want the added benefit of growing literal snacks at home, read on.

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01

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Walnuts

Walnut trees are large, deciduous trees that are absolutely beautiful—but they also require a lot of space, well-draining, fertile soil, and full sun.

These are best harvested in the fall, when the nuts are ripe and their husks ripen enough to fall from the tree when shaken. The husks should be instantly removed, and be sure to wear protection as walnut oil is a natural irritant.

USDA Zone: 4-9

Mature size: 50 to 80 ft.

Taste: Earthy and slightly bitter in taste, with a creamy texture

02

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Hazelnuts

Hazelnut trees prefer cooler climates, and are native to eastern and central parts of the US and Canada. This is because they require a certain amount of time in colder temperatures in the winter to properly produce nuts.

Harvest hazelnuts in the fall when the nuts fall easily from the trees. Look for yellow husks and either pick them directly from the branches or wait for them to drop on their own.

USDA Zone: 4-8

Mature size: 10 to 15 ft.

Taste: Sweet and buttery taste that caramelizes when toasted

03

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Chestnuts

Chestnut trees require ample space and the right balance of direct sunlight and acidic soil, but if you’re hoping to add a beautiful tree to your property, these are stunning when they reach maturity. It’s worth noting, though, that American chestnut trees can’t self-pollinate; this means that, for best nut production, you’ll need two different varieties.

Wait until the chestnuts have fallen naturally, and wear gloves to collect any whose prickly husks have opened.

USDA Zone: 4-8

Mature size: 40 to 60 ft.

Taste: A unique, bitter taste when raw, but soft and buttery once roasted—often compared to a sweet potato

04

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Pecans

Pecan trees are actually native to the southern U.S., so if you’re in the right zone and your property is spacious enough to handle their size and equipped with enough sunlight and well-drained soil, you’re in luck.

Collect the nuts from the ground once the green hulls have split and released them.

USDA Zone: 6-9

Mature size: 70 to 100 ft. with some growing even taller

Taste: Rich and buttery in taste with a slight sweetness

05

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Almonds

Almond trees do best in areas that have a Mediterranean climate—long, hot, and dry summers and mild, wet winters. But they also require frequent watering during dry periods and well-drained soil.

The ripened hulls can be hand-picked or shaken from the tree, and the nuts should be removed and dried.

USDA Zone: 5-9

Mature size: 10 to 25 ft.

Taste: Sweet and slightly bitter, with a signature aroma that’s both fruity and floral

06

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Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts prefer warmer climates, and they require sufficient watering—either through rainfall or irrigation. Hawaii is most known for growing macadamia nuts in the U.S., while parts of California and Florida can also offer the right conditions.

Collect the nuts once they fall naturally to the ground. Then, remove the outer green husk and dry to prevent spoilage.

USDA Zone: 9-11

Mature size: 30 to 50 ft.

Taste: Rich in flavor, with a buttery texture and subtle sweetness

07

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Peanuts

Unlike the other options on this list, peanuts don’t grow on trees. Instead, they develop underground. This is because peanuts aren’t technically nuts; they’re legumes, closer in relation to peas and beans.

Still, they’re making this list because their flavor profile keeps them more aligned with a nut, and depending on where you live, they might be a great addition to your garden.

In late summer or early fall, when the leaves of your peanut plant start to yellow, dig up the plants, shake off any excess soil, and separate the pods.

USDA Zone: 8-11

Mature size: one to two feet tall

Taste: Peanuts are savory and earthy, with a bean-like flavor when eaten raw

Should You Grow Herbs in Pots or in the Ground? We Asked a Gardener for the Best Method

Whether or not you should grow herbs in the ground or in pots depends on your climate and soil. Containers offer the benefit of flexibility, allowing you to customize your soil and herbs' location. Test and understand your soil and the conditions herbs prefer before planting anything in the ground. As we all eye the rising temperatures and grocery store prices, growing your own herbs becomes even more appealing. It's affordable, it's fun, and you get a nonstop supply of herbs (at least for a few months). But is it better to grow herbs in pots or in the ground? We asked a pro gardener to find out the best way to do it for maximum success. Meet the Expert John LoRusso is a master gardener and the University of Connecticut's master gardener coordinator for Windham County, CT. Is It Better to Grow Herbs in Pots or in Ground? Where you should grow herbs depends on the answer to two questions, according to John LoRusso, master gardener and master gardener coordinator for Windham County, CT. He suggests asking yourself what kind of soil are you growing plants in and what kind of climate do you live in. Herbs require excellent drainage and moist (but not wet) soil. If your soils are heavy, it's better to plant your herbs in containers so you can have a lighter soil mix. If you have a very wet climate, there's no way to ease drainage in the ground. If you have a very dry climate, you'll be watering herbs in containers all the time. Containers also have the benefit of flexibility. "Containers also offer the option of being able to be placed at table height for ease of harvest. They can also be moved indoors at the end of the season to extend the harvest," LoRusso says. He recommends unglazed clay pots, which, thanks to their porous material, can be placed in the ground if you so choose and still absorb water and nutrients. Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more! How to Decide Where to Grow Herbs In very wet climates and backyards with heavy or acidic soil, LoRusso recommends growing herbs in pots. (Most herbs prefer a pH of 6 to 7, so soil that's too acidic also won't treat your herbs well.) With pots, you can get exactly the right soil mix for the type of herbs you're growing, whether you need a lighter mix or one with more organic matter. LoRusso also suggests considering the pots you have on hand and your desired supply of herbs. "The plants are constrained by the pot, and does the gardener have enough pots for all the herbs they want to grow—is there ever enough basil?" LoRusso says. You should also take into account your own care habits. Herbs shouldn't be allowed to dry out and wilt, and the soil in containers will dry out more frequently than the soil in the ground. Are you committed to watering your herbs on a perhaps daily basis? Tip How close you want your herbs to the house could also affect where you grow them. If you want your herbs easily accessible, you might choose to put them in pots at convenient heights near the doorway to your home. Herbs That Grow Best in the Ground The herbs that grow best in ground will depend on your climate. In areas where soil is richer, LoRusso points to basil, dill, parsley, fennel, and chevril. Those herbs can handle higher moisture levels. In areas with sandier soils, lavenders, thyme, and rosemary will do well. If you don't have the appropriate soil for the herb you want to grow, you should grow them in pots. Herbs That Grow Best in Pots Any herb your yard doesn't have the appropriate soil for should be grown in a pot. If you haven't grown plants in your yard's soil before and don't feel confident assessing if it's rich or sandy, a pot is the easy way to go. LoRusso also recommends pots for herbs that love to spread, like mint and spearmint, which if allowed to grow freely will extend throughout (and beyond) your garden bed.

8 Clever Travel Essentials That Will Save You Serious Packing Time and Bag Space on Your Next Trip—From $8

No matter what vacation is on your calendar this summer, Amazon has you covered with several clever travel essentials to make your trip run smoothly from start to finish. You can save some much-needed packing time and luggage space with these genius travel finds from popular brands like Samsonite, Travelpro, and Bagail. Take your pick from expandable suitcases, packing cubes, and portable luggage scales. All of these items can be found inside Amazon’s Luggage and Travel Gear hub, with prices starting at just $8. Clever Travel Essential Deals at Amazon Samsonite Winifield 3 DLXHardside Expandable Luggage, $380 (was $680) Bagail 8-Piece Packing Cube Set, $18 (was $25) Travel Inspira Portable Luggage Scale, $8 (was $13) Travelpro Maxlite Hardside Suitcase, $128 (was $170) EverSnug Travel Blanket and Pillow, $30 (was $35) Charmast Portable Charger, $30 (was $46) Sure Lock Luggage Lock Pack, $14 (was $20) U.S. Traveler Rolling Carry-On Softside Suitcase, $43 (was $50) Samsonite Winifield 3 DLX Hardside Expandable Luggage Carry your clothes in style with this sleek three-piece Samsonite luggage set that comes with a 20-, 25-, and 28-inch suitcase. Each bag is made with a durable hardshell exterior to protect your belongings, and a spacious interior lined with built-in pockets and zippers to organize your clothing, toiletries, and other items. Each suitcase comes with a genius built-in luggage lock, so you don’t have to spend extra money buying external ones, or ever worry about losing the key. Bagail 8-Piece Packing Cube Set This No. 1 best-selling packing cube set comes with eight organizers of various sizes to neatly pack all of your belongings into your duffel bag, suitcase, or backpack, maximizing your luggage space. Each bag is made with a durable, lightweight fabric that’s also water-repellent, so your clothes stay dry. The set also includes a shoe bag, a makeup bag (that can also house your jewelry), and a drawstring bag for other items you can’t travel without. It’s no wonder more than 20,000 of the highly efficient organizer sets have been purchased in the past month. Travel Inspira Portable Luggage Scale The Travel Inspira portable luggage scale helps you pack smarter, not smaller, so you can bring everything you need without paying fees for overweight luggage. The nifty travel gadget is cleverly designed to loop around a bag or suitcase handle, so you can get an accurate reading before you even get to the airport. The device can handle up to 110 pounds of luggage at a time, so you can weigh your heaviest bags without issue. Its compact size is easy to pack, too, so you can bring it with you on vacation. Continue scrolling to see more clever travel essentials, and don’t forget to head to Amazon’s Luggage and Travel Gear hub to browse the entire assortment. Travelpro Maxlite Hardside Suitcase EverSnug Travel Blanket and Pillow Charmast Portable Charger Sure Lock Luggage Lock Pack U.S. Traveler Rolling Carry-On Softside Suitcase

A Modern Traditional Green Tiled Bathroom (With A Last Minute Sink Pivot)

Well, well, well…I do believe this is the last bathroom of my brother’s river house, and likely the one that gets seen the most by guests. I have an order of favorites, for sure, but this one seems to be the reigning #1 (I’m partial to the primary myself, but perhaps that’s because I’m middle-aged and love an at-home spa experience – I mean, they have a sauna inside the bathroom). This one has a punch and a pattern, and a lot of green (go Ducks!). Green tiled bathrooms for the win. We chose the tile back when Max and I were both working on this project, and that man also loves a big green tile moment. I mean who doesn’t love a good green tiled bathroom. We worked with Ann Sacks, which has extremely good colors and really solid tile. Max felt really strongly about this tile and wanted it staggered as a 4″ square. I wanted it stacked as a rectangle, and somewhere along the line, it ended up staggered as a rectangle. I honestly don’t remember who is responsible for what anymore! But it turned out so great, and it’s pretty beloved in the home. A Big Pivot… I do remember that at one point, Ken and Max chose this big double faucet-ed wall-hung farm sink from Kohler that I objectively love, but as the house came together, it started to feel like it didn’t belong here. Katie felt the same. So with conflicting design visions, we looked for other options. We had to make decisions quickly as the subs were working hard on all the bathrooms at the same time. So we played around with what we had on hand, which was a leftover wall-hung drawer vanity (seen above) that felt oddly big. But that’s when Gretchen has the idea of using our leftover tile to tile a smaller version of that wall-hung vanity. So JP and his crews built a box for an inset sink, with the vision to tile overtop of it, keeping the look of the wall tile and running the same way. We taped it out, making sure that it worked with the plumbing that was already behind the tiled wall, while also ensuring that it was the right scale for this bathroom. It was a risk, and a last-minute one on the bathroom that the most people would see and near the end of a long project… We ordered the faucet from Kohler, and I was so relieved that it turned out pretty darn great. Still unexpected in the house, but now that it’s fully decorated, the pattern of the wallpaper and the colorful tile work so well together. The pendants were bought from Schoolhouse Electric – modern yet traditional and on the affordable side. On Choosing The Wallpaper This bathroom is big for a powder bath and dark (no natural light), and just painting felt a bit dead, so once again I was tasked with finding a wallpaper that was organic and fluid so that it contrasted against the linear brick tile, but not too traditional like most florals. As you know, I’m a massive fan of the Raphael pattern for this exact reason – it has this beautiful movement without it being too busy or bold. The large scale of it works so well with smaller tiles, and the white grout pulled so well with the white background. It also felt very Oregon to me – what with the trees and such. Yes, we see it a lot these days, but I enjoy seeing it every single time. The variation in the tile color is so pretty (with many shaky edges – so make sure you are up for that look). It’s just such a deep, rich green with a lot of high gloss texture. Can’t forget the toilet :) There was enough room for a little side table, which I was on the fence about, but the gap was big, so we added it, and it looked cute. I went to my inventory of art and found that I had two more of these MaryAnn Puls pieces (I had bought and framed a bunch for my team holiday present years ago, and had a couple left over). They felt like a sweet moment in here and brought in that hit of warmth with the wood that was echoed with the stool and the wooden arch sculptures (which I bought on Amazon, last minute, LOL). She’s pretty dang cute and a fun punch for guests upon arrival. Actually, my whole family is coming over tonight to Ken’s for a BBQ to get a full updated tour now that it’s all decorated, which I’m super excited about. Last bathroom done!!! Don’t worry, we still have like 6 more rooms to reveal (I love them all SOOO MUCH), so stay tuned. The river house project is truly never-ending :)

How to Make Cosmos Bloom Again (and Again) Before Summer Is Officially Over

Key Points Take a quick garden walk to spot watering or pruning needs. Don’t panic—most stressed plants can bounce back with care. Check for pests that may have moved in while you were away. Unfussy cosmos are a low-maintenance landscaper lover’s dream. They don’t need much help to produce a profusion of colorful, pollinator-friendly blooms. However, if you're growing cosmos and they’re only producing a few flowers or they suddenly stop blooming in the height of summer, you might be making some simple mistakes in terms of care or conditions. Here’s how to make your cosmos bloom again (and again) right through summer to the first fall frost. Why Cosmos Stop Blooming in Late Summer Various culprits could be causing your cosmos flowers to fade or fail to rebloom as summer progresses. Aside from not tidying spent flowers, neglecting to adjust your care to account for seasonal changes can be a blight on blooms. Too much shade, excessive fertilizer or water, and lack of respite from intense heat waves can all slow down or stop cosmos from blooming. Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more! 7 Ways to Make Cosmos Bloom Again To ensure your cosmos have a second wind when it comes to flowering, try these tricks. Deadhead spent flowers: When the first flush of flowers fades, cut the stem with sterile shears above the first leaves to promote new bud formation. This keeps your plant focused on flower production. Pick the best yard position: Cosmos are sun-lovers that need a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of full sun to produce plenty of big blooms. Protect during heatwaves: Temperatures above 95°F will stress your cosmos and pause blooming. If you live in a heatwave-prone region, consider growing cosmos in containers. That way, you can move them to a cooler when the mercury rises. Pinch for productive plants: When your young cosmos reach 8 to 10 inches tall, use clippers to remove the top of the stem, leaving just a few sets of leaves. This encourages more branches and blooms. Weigh up your watering habits: Cosmos are drought-tolerant plants that don’t appreciate soggy soils. Avoid overwatering, letting the soil dry fully between irrigations. Avoid overfertilization: These plants thrive in poor soils and don’t require feeding when grown in the ground. A balanced, slow-release, low-nitrogen fertilizer is best for container-grown cosmos. Too much nitrogen means the plant will focus on leaf rather than bloom production. Prune to promote air circulation: Fungal diseases, like fusarium wilt and powdery mildew, can cause problems with cosmos bud drop and bloom development. Don’t plant seedlings too close, prune vigorously branching leaves, and water plants at the base. Avoid artificial light: If you have security lights on all night in your yard, this can cause issues as cosmos need 12 hours of darkness to start blooming. 3 Signs Your Cosmos Will Rebloom After taking steps to remedy an unexpected pause in blooming, these subtle clues could be a sign that a flurry of fresh flowers are on the way. New bud formation: Can you see new, small, round swellings at the tips of your plant’s stems? This means that new blooms are forming. Fresh growth: Stressed plants stop or slow their leaf production and can experience stunted growth. If you see signs of new leaves growing and your plant is putting on a growth spurt, that’s a good sign. Plant perks up: A wilting plant that has too much sun or the wrong amount of water will start to become more upright as it recovers its vigor. How to Keep Cosmos Blooming Until Frost Now that you’ve got the blooms back on track, continue to make the most of the flowers until the first frosts arrive by watering deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out in between waterings. Watch for pests, such as aphids, slugs, and spider mites, to proactively prevent bloom-limiting infestations. Plus, provide shelter from strong winds to help protect tall cosmos varieties when staking isn’t enough.