December is the perfect time to reflect on the previous gardening season. What plants grew well? Do some areas of the garden need improvement? Another question to consider is how you can garden more efficiently. Gardening is intense physical work that can leave us feeling sore at the end of the day, making it essential to use the right tools. Whether using the standard trowel or a new item, various gardening tools help every gardener. The Importance of Garden Tools In my work as a horticulturist, I often hear the phrase “ergonomics.” This term means “the study of people’s efficiency […]
Category: Spring Gardening
Strawberry Growing Guide
Updated: October 2, 2024 One of the most popular fruits to grow in home gardens is strawberries. They are easy to grow and can be grown in small spaces such as containers or baskets. Strawberries are not only bursting with flavor but they are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. You can enjoy them freshly picked from the garden or in your cooking such as cakes, jams, and salads. Here are some helpful tips for growing an abundance of strawberries in your garden. Strawberry Culture At A Glance Types of Strawberries There are two types of strawberries – June-bearing and Everbearing/Day-Neutral. […]
7 Irises To Get Excited About Fall 2022
It is time to start planning for your spring blooming flower garden. One of the most beautiful and popular flowers is the Bearded Iris. The best time to plant is late summer to early autumn. Jung Seed has several new Irises this year selected for their beauty and overall performance. Best Bet German Bearded Iris Best Bet German Bearded Iris has light blue standards that are a sharp contrast with the falls of near navy blue. It is a vigorous grower that produces huge blooms. Early season and rebloom. Grows to 36 inches. Zones: 3 to 9 Cherry Blossom Song […]
Understanding Plant Diseases
Updated: July 2, 2024 There are dozens of different types of plant diseases that can affect vegetable gardens from coast to coast. Plant diseases should not be a mystery to most gardeners, and yet… all types of gardeners struggle with them every season. Solutions are obvious, but understanding is the first step. Plant Disease Diagnosis Plant disease management starts with proper disease diagnosis. Just like a clinical physician, the doctor will ask, “What symptoms do you have?” In the garden, we must ask, “What symptoms does the plant have?” Nowadays, you may be able to narrow down the possibilities by […]
6 Tips For Perfect Plant Pairings
Updated: December 12, 2024 Designing your garden can be a fun and creative experience. There are many things to consider during the planning phase. We have put together six tips to help you get started pairing your plants perfectly. Choose Wisely, Pair Creatively To have success with gardening we must make solid logical, thoughtful decisions, but don’t let those limit your expression of creativity. For artistic and auspicious plant pairings, first, do your homework. Observe, study, and learn about the plants you have and those plants you want to have. Be playful and relaxed about what plants you pair together […]
Grow Your Own Cucumbers – 3 Types For Your Garden
Cucumber breeders have been busy, in the last few decades, trying to limit bitter taste, increase yields, and breed more disease resistance into their plants. There are now three cucumber varieties commonly available; Monoecious, Gynoecious, and Parthenocarpic. Each has its own specific qualities that will appeal to certain kinds of gardeners and growers. Monoecious What Are Monoecious Cucumbers? Monoecious types are plants that produce both male and female flowers on the same plant. Monoecious Varieties Examples of monoecious Jung Seed Co. cucumber varieties are; ‘Homemade Pickles’, ‘Muncher’, and ‘Spacemaster 80 Bush’. Most heritage and heirloom-type cucumber varieties are monoecious. They […]
Bee Kind Gardening – A Guide To Plant & Pollinator Balance
The word “Native” is an ambiguous definition when it comes to plants. Native to where? To North America? To a geographic region? To your entire state, county, or just your neighborhood? Plants don’t read books, but they are smart; they simply grow where they have suitable conditions for success. All plants have adopted strategies and mechanisms that send cues and signals to attract pollinators that form the foundation of our earthly balance between all plants and animals. Going All Native? Not So Fast! Maybe a gardener will choose to put in plants for a specific habitat or pick plants that […]
Tomatoes: Starting & Growing Frequently Asked Questions
Tomatoes are a popular choice for a vegetable garden. They come in a variety of types, sizes, and colors. They are great for cooking, canning, and eating raw. Growing tomatoes doesn’t have to be difficult. We’ve taken some of the most frequently asked questions to help give you a great start to this year’s growing season. When Should You Start The Tomato Seed Indoors? Tomato seeds should be started approximately 6 weeks prior to your last average frost date. How Long Does It Take For A Tomato Seed To Germinate? Most tomato seeds will germinate in about a week. What […]
Bareroot vs Potted Plants: What Is The Difference?
Bareroot or Potted Plants? That Is The Question. Just like Hamlet, who asks himself the simple question, “To be or not to be?”, we sometimes let our minds delve way too deeply into basic questions and we can slip into a sort of contemplative paralysis. Instead of allowing ourselves to be immobilized by such a simple choice, all home gardeners should rejoice at the sheer number of selections and wide availability of plants at our fingertips. A never-ending variety of edible and ornamental shrubs and trees have never been so available to us, thanks to the connectiveness of the internet. […]
Growing Vegetables Indoors From Seed
When I was younger, I discovered a packet of cucumber seeds in the kitchen. Having never grown a plant from seed before, I was eager to plant one and see what would happen. I quickly found a container in the garage and sowed the seed. A few days later, the seedling emerged from the soil and later became a full-sized plant that produced the first cucumber I had ever grown. The excitement of watching one seed grow began my interest in gardening and I’ve been hooked ever since. Growing a plant from seed is one of the most exciting experiences […]