1940s gardening Archives

A wartime taste of peaches: Del Monte’s turn from Victory Gardens

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: February 8, 1944 Dearest reader, On this day, amidst the tumult of World War II, Del Monte launched a clever advertisement that pivoted from their earlier support of Victory Gardens to champion the convenience and quality of their canned and jarred fruit. Picture this:…

January’s Call to Garden: Wartime Wisdom from the Ministry of Agriculture

by Ministry of Agriculture, “Dig For Victory” Pamphlet, January 1945 January is a time when you should be thinking and planning, ordering your seed potatoes, vegetable seeds, fertilizers, and so on, and making sure that your tools are in good order and that you are ready to begin gardening in real earnest next month, or…

The Flying Flowers: Dr. Hugh Cutler’s Botanical Airmail Adventure

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. July 2, 1940 On this day, dear readers,the esteemed pages of the St. Joseph Gazette revealed a most delightful botanical discovery. Dr. Hugh C. Cutler of St. Louis—a gentleman of scientific prowess—had unearthed…