Peat pots are small pots made from compressed peat and wood fiber and sometimes fertilizer. Peat pots are used for starting seeds, usually with sterile soilless mixes. Peat pots are biodegtradable and can be planted directly into the garden when the seedling is ready, avoiding transpant shock as well as the work of repoting. Peat […] More
Seedling heat mats provide consistent, gentle bottom heat essential to good seed germination. Heat mats are also known as seed heat mats or propagation heat mats. Heat mats are basically two rubber mats with electric heating wires sandwiched between them. Commonly the wires of a seedling heat mat attach to a thermostat that is in […] More
Seed saving is a centuries-old practice that allows gardeners and farmers to preserve and propagate the best plant varieties year after year. It involves the careful selection and harvesting of seeds from healthy and productive plants, ensuring the continuation of favorable traits. By saving seeds, gardeners can maintain biodiversity, adapt crops to local growing conditions, […] More
Vegetables are pollinated in two ways: self-pollination and cross-pollination. Self-pollinators are plants that produce flowers that are usually fertilized by their own pollen, commonly when the male and female flower parts are contained within the same flower. Cross pollinators are plants with flowers that require pollen from another flower (a male flower on the same […] More
Peanuts are a warm-weather crop. They require a long frost-free growing season to mature. If you can grow melons in your garden, you can likely grow peanuts. Start peanuts in the garden after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to 70°F (21°C) or greater. Peanuts can be started indoors but […] More
Melons are a tender, warm-weather crop. Plant melon seeds directly in the garden 2 weeks after the last frost date. Melon seeds can be started indoors 3 to 4 weeks before plants are transplanted directly into the garden, sooner if transplants will be protected by a plastic tunnel or row cover. Melons include cantaloupes and […] More
Rutabaga is a cool-weather crop. Sow rutabaga seed in late winter or very early spring for an early summer harvest. Direct sow seed in the garden 16 to 10 weeks before the last frost in spring. In warm regions, it’s best to sow rutabaga in mid-summer for a fall and winter harvest and use. Plant […] More
Here are seed starting tips–both indoors and outdoors–and the schedule for April zone-by-zone. If you are unfamiliar with the USDA zone where you live, look at the minimum annual temperature guideline following each zone. Soil and Seed Starting Mix Getting seed started indoors is essentially the same as sowing seed outdoors directly in the garden. […] More
Seed trays are essential for starting seeds and cuttings. Seed trays are commoly lightweight plastic, biodegrable paper, or compressed peat trays divided into separate cells, like a muffin tin, for growing individual seedlings. Seed tray cells are usually 2 to 3 inches deep and up to 3 inches square or round. Some seed tray cells […] More
Plant watermelon seeds in the garden when the soil temperature reaches 70°F (21°C), usually 2 to 4 weeks after the last frost in spring. Watermelon is a tropical plant and demands a long, warm, dry growing season with temperatures between 70° and 80°F (21-26°C) during the day and 60°-70°F (16-21°C) at night. Watermelons require 75 […] More
Rhubarb can be grown from seeds or crowns. Plant rhubarb crowns as soon as the soil can be worked in spring, about 4 to 5 weeks before the last frost. Start rhubarb seeds indoors 5 to 7 weeks before the last frost; transplant seedlings into the garden after the last frost. Rhubarb crowns can also […] More
Pumpkins are a tender, warm-weather crop. Pumpkins are a type of winter squash—grown through the summer for harvest in the fall. Plant pumpkin seeds directly in the garden two weeks or more after the last frost. Transplant pumpkin seedlings to the garden 2 to 4 weeks after the last frost; start seeds indoors 4 weeks […] More
Stephen Albert