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40 Chili Peppers to Grow in the Home Garden
There are more than 200 varieties of chilies or hot peppers. Sometimes the names of chilies can get a bit confusing because often the same pepper will be known by two or even three different names. Here’s a quick users guide to about four dozen very popular chilies and how you can use them in […] More
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Narrow Bed, Wide Row Vegetable Garden Planting
A wide garden row in a narrow bed is ideal for growing leaf and small root crops. Wide rows are set across narrow beds. Narrow beds are planting beds that a gardener can reach into to tend crops without stepping on the soil. Wide rows are set across narrow beds. Wide rows are ideal for […] More
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in Gardening Tips, Tips
Narrow Beds, Not Rows, For Planting Vegetables
Planting beds—not traditional rows—offer the best use of space for growing a home vegetable garden. Planting beds that space two, three, or more plants across a bed 1½ to 4 feet wide is ideal for a home garden. These beds are often called narrow beds—they are just wide enough for you, the garden keeper, to […] More
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in Gardening Tips, Tips
Crop Rotation in Small Vegetable Garden
Crop rotation means moving vegetables around the garden to maintain soil fertility. By rotating crops from one spot to another each season—or even in the same season, you can preserve and even boost nutrients in the soil. Differing crops use different amounts of soil nutrients and a few crops add nutrients to the soil. How […] More
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Vegetables to Seed Start Indoors
Snow on the ground. Heavy winter rain in the garden. The last average frost date is weeks away. No problem. You can start the spring vegetable garden indoors. If you know the average date of the last spring frost in your garden or region, you can make a schedule for starting vegetable crops indoors and […] More
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in How to Grow, Plant, Tips
Peppers, Melons, Eggplants—Hate the Cold
Cool days and nights can be a problem for the most tender warm-season crops–peppers, melons, and eggplants. Temperatures in the 40sF won’t kill these plants but their growth will be stunted. Wait to plant out very tender crops until the lowest temperatures do not fall below 60°F. If you plant sooner use row covers, plastic […] More
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in Gardening Tips, Plant, Seed Starting, Tips
Vegetable Planting and Soil Temperature
Vegetable seeds and seedlings require minimum soil temperatures to germinate and grow. Seeds and seedlings require optimal soil temperatures to thrive. Soil temperature triggers not only seed germination but is an important factor in soil chemistry. Soil chemistry includes the release (dissolution) of mineral nutrients in soil moisture. Mineral nutrients are essential for vegetable plant […] More
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in Seed Starting, Tips
Vegetable Seed Germination Special Requirements
Different vegetables have different germination requirements. It’s important to know the germination requirements of the seeds you are planting to ensure success. Viable seeds are alive; they contain an embryo, stored food, and are surrounded by a seed coat. A seed will germinate or begin to grow when soil moisture, temperature, and oxygen, as well […] More
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Vegetable Harvest Times
Timing is everything when it comes to the home vegetable garden harvest. Once vegetables are picked they immediately begin to lose flavor, tenderness, and nutritional value. Harvest your crops as close to the time you plan to serve them, within an hour or less of serving time is best. How do you know when it […] More
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in Gardening Tips, Tips
Vegetable Watering Tips
Water is essential to the optimum growth of vegetables; the water content of most vegetables is nearly 90 percent. Providing the right amount of moisture to the vegetable garden is as important as supplying the right amount of plant food. When to water seeds, seedlings, and established plants • Seeds. Water to the age of […] More
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in Tips
How to Make a New Garden Planting Bed
A garden planting bed is a home to your vegetables, herbs, and flowers. You want a planting bed in which plants will thrive and you want a planting bed that is easy to make and easy to maintain. Making a new garden planting bed should be a one-time investment in sweat equity. Once a new […] More
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Cauliflower Growing Quick Tips
Cauliflower can be finicky in the garden. Follower these cauliflower growing tips for a good harvest. Sowing and Transplanting Cauliflower Cauliflower requires slow, steady growth in cool weather. Hot weather will cause cauliflower to bolt or button up (cold weather will also cause cauliflower to button—not form full-sized heads). Start cauliflower in early spring 4-6 […] More
Stephen Albert
