Vegetables

2025 All-America Selections

The 2025 All-America Selections (AAS) winners include outstanding vegetable and flower varieties chosen for their superior garden performance through trials across North America. Here are some highlights:

Vegetables:

1. Kohlrabi Konstance F1 – A National Winner is known for its uniform bulbs and sweet flavor, ideal for fresh eating or cooking. Holds well to give a longer harvest. You can eat the leaves roasted or sauteed.

2. Pepper Pick-N-Pop Yellow F1 – A compact, high-yielding plant producing flavorful yellow peppers. Extra sweet and very prolific.

3. Squash Green Lightning F1—This is a vibrant green zucchini with excellent disease resistance and productivity. It is early in maturity.

4. Squash Thriller F1 – Another National Winner, known for its strikingly patterned fruits and vigorous growth. A dumpling type of winter squash maturing 75-80 days after planting.

5. Tomato Tonatico F1 – A Regional Winner for its adaptability and rich, robust flavor. Less fruit cracking for a cherry tomato.

Flowers (annual and perennial)

2025 All-America Selections

The 2025 All-America Selections (AAS) winners include outstanding vegetable and flower varieties chosen for their superior garden performance through trials across North America. Here are some highlights:

Flowers:

  1. Zinnia Zydeco Fire – A fiery orange zinnia with large, disease-resistant blooms. Blooming with large flowers up to frost. A little larger than other zinnias of this type.
  1. Dianthus Capitan Magnifica – Praised for heat tolerance and long-lasting pink blooms. Cut back after blooming for another burst of blooms.
  1. Marigold Mango Tango – A bright orange and yellow marigold ideal for containers. A bi-colored red and yellow flower on compact plants.
  1. Snapdragon DoubleShot Yellow Red Heart F1 – A snapdragon with striking red and yellow flowers, performs well in diverse climates. Holds well during the hot summer. Also has a candy-like aroma.

    5. Petunia Shake Rasberry – Blooms of raspberry swirled with lemon-lime colors. Compact growth makes them a good selection for containers.

      For more details on these varieties and others, you can visit the All-America Selections website.

      DIY Projects, Home Improvement

      Make Your House Smell Clean

      Several effective methods can make your house smell clean. Regular cleaning is fundamental. Vacuuming and dusting regularly will remove dust and dirt that can harbor odors. Ensure you wash bedding and linens frequently, including bed sheets, pillowcases, and cushion covers. Additionally, taking out the trash regularly prevents bad smells from accumulating. Don’t forget to deep clean carpets and rugs periodically, as they can trap odors over time.

      Natural air fresheners are a great way to maintain a fresh-smelling home. Opening windows to let in fresh air can help ventilate and remove stale odors. House plants not only improve air quality but also add a fresh scent to your home. Using essential oils in a diffuser, such as lavender, eucalyptus, or citrus, can provide a natural and pleasant fragrance.

      Baking soda and vinegar are excellent for neutralizing odors. Placing bowls of baking soda around the house can absorb unpleasant smells. You can also sprinkle baking soda on carpets before vacuuming to freshen them up. Boiling a mixture of water and vinegar on the stove can help eliminate strong odors in the kitchen.

      Homemade air fresheners are another effective option. Simmering pots with water, lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, and herbs like rosemary or mint can create a fresh aroma throughout your home. Mixing water with a few drops of essential oil and a tablespoon of baking soda in a spray bottle makes for a great homemade air freshener.

      Regular maintenance of appliances is crucial. Clean your refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, and oven regularly, as these can be sources of bad odors. If you have pets, keeping their areas clean by washing pet beds and litter boxes frequently is essential.

      For additional odor control, use activated charcoal, which is highly effective at absorbing odors. Scented candles and wax melts can provide a quick and lasting fragrance boost. Consider using an air purifier to help remove odors and improve indoor air quality.

      By combining these methods, you can ensure your home smells fresh and clean, creating a pleasant environment for you and your guests.