A raised garden bed is a planting bed made of wooden planks, metal sheeting, cement blocks, hay bales, or other material. A raised bed is easy to make. Consider a raised bed if you live in an area where the soil is rocky or mostly sand or mostly clay or if you live in a […] More
Succession cropping is the planting of two or more crops in the same space at different times: a second crop succeeds a first as soon as possible after harvest and in some regions, a third crop can succeed the second after harvest. Succession planting is the practice of planting a new crop in the same […] More
Pruning a tomato means removing unneeded growth tips from the plant. These growing tips are sometimes called shoots or suckers. Growth tips are the new growth–the small leafy-bud growth–located in the “V” or crotch between two stems. Pruning or pinching away new growth allows a tomato plant to concentrate its energy on the development of […] More
Grow tomatoes on stakes to ripen fruits earlier than plants that are not staked. Grow tomatoes on stakes to keep fruit cleaner and easier to spot at harvest. You can grow almost twice as many staked tomatoes in a given area than if you let plants grow unstaked or in cages. Tomatoes grown on stakes […] More
Success in growing many vegetable crops is driven by warm temperatures. Not surprisingly, warm-season vegetables grow best in warm weather. Here are the key temperatures you need to keep in mind to successfully grow warm-season vegetables: Tender and very tender vegetables Warm-season crops can be classified as tender and very tender. Tender vegetables can take […] More
Salsa is a delicious and versatile condiment, dip that can be enjoyed with a wide variety of foods. Although it’s most commonly paired with chips, salsa can also be used as a topping for tacos, eggs, grilled meats, or salads. If you’re a fan of this tasty dip, why not try growing your salsa ingredients? […] More
A home fruit garden care calendar is an invaluable tool for gardeners, offering structured guidance to ensure optimal growth and productivity throughout the year. This calendar provides a month-by-month outline of essential tasks such as planting, watering, pruning, fertilizing, and pest control, tailored to the specific needs of various fruit-bearing plants. By helping gardeners stay […] More
Salad greens are easy and quick to grow and are rich in vitamins and minerals. Plant salad greens—leaf lettuce, arugula, mesclun, and radicchio are a few—for harvest in cool weather—spring or fall. In warm-winter regions, grow salad greens outdoors year-round. In cold-winter regions, grow salad greens under the protection of plastic tunnels in winter. 10 […] More
Most vegetables include cultivars or varieties that are quicker maturing than others. Fast-growing vegetable crops come to harvest in as little as 4 to 10 weeks. They are “short stayers” not “long stayers” in the garden. Below is a list of specific crop varieties that grow to maturity the fastest. Fastest-growing vegetable varieties Choose the […] More
Vegetable crop yields and the number of vegetable plants to grow for each person in your household will help you estimate the space needed for a home vegetable garden. Crop yield estimates and consumption predictions are primarily based on experience. Keeping a food log and garden record can help you hone your vegetable garden needs […] More
Crop rotation is the practice of changing or alternating the crops in a given area of the garden. Rotating crops will stem the depletion of soil nutrients and prevent or reduce the build-up of pest and disease problems. Crops that are heavy feeders and require more soil nutrients can be rotated with light feeders and […] More
Epsom salt contains magnesium, an essential plant nutrient. Used as a foliar spray or soil additive it will help tomato and pepper plants grow and produce larger, tastier yields. Milk contains calcium, an important plant macronutrient. Milk can feed tomatoes and peppers and double as a fungicide. Compost tea, comfrey tea, and other liquid organic […] More
Stephen Albert