Home gardeners have access to a large variety of flowers, herbs, and vegetables. In some crops, there are so many varieties available that choosing what to grow can be overwhelming, especially for new gardeners. Understanding the differences between heirloom versus hybrid varieties can be challenging. New gardeners can find solace in knowing that there are advantages and disadvantages of both, but the advantages of either choice, far outweigh their disadvantages. Heirloom Plants What is an Heirloom Plant? The debate gets intense when trying to explain what the definition of an heirloom variety is. Some experts define an heirloom as being […]
Category: Vegetable Gardening
Potato Growing Guide
Potatoes are popular vegetables grown for their nutritious underground tubers. Harvested fresh from the garden, they are full of flavor and versatile in cooking. Potatoes are nutritionally high in vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and protein, all with no fat. The skin of the potato contains the majority of the potatoes fiber and many of the nutrients are located close to the skin. Follow this potato growing guide and you will see potatoes are easy to grow as long as they have full sun, moderate temperatures, and light, rich, acidic, well-drained soil. Try some of the many varieties with unique colors, […]
Container Gardening For Beginners
Benefits of Container Gardening Container gardening is a great way to enjoy fresh produce during the entire year. If you lack the space for a full-sized garden, you may feel like your options are limited. However, with a little gardening know-how and careful attention, many vegetable and herb crops can be grown in a container and harvested right to your plate. Benefits include: Plants for Container Gardening The first element to consider with container vegetable gardening is what kinds of vegetables you would like to harvest. Some types are naturally better suited for container production. For beginners, some good vegetable […]
17 Flavorful Pepper Types
Peppers come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, flavors, and heat intensity. We use the Scoville Scale to measure heat. Even extremely hot peppers can have wonderful flavors and be used in many recipes. Peppers are popular, versatile vegetables. Below are some of our favorite flavorful peppers. Anaheim The Anaheim pepper is medium in size. It comes in colors of red and green. It has a mild flavor which is popular in cooking. The Anaheim pepper is easy to grow and produces high yielding crops. Scoville Heat Units: 500 to 2,500 Jung Seed Favorite – Anaheim Chili Pepper Banana […]
Pepper Growing Guide
Peppers produce some of the biggest flavors in a vegetable garden. Their vibrant colors can be quite ornamental. Growing peppers is very similar to growing tomatoes, making it easy to grow the two plants together. Proper planning is essential when growing peppers. The first step is to decide what types of peppers you want to grow. There are many varieties of peppers, in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes. Peppers have a number of uses from fresh eating, frying, stuffing, pickling, and more! Types and Varieties of Peppers Sweet Pepper Types Sweet pepper varieties come in a variety […]
How to Create a Bird-Friendly Garden
One of the joys of having a home garden is that you can attract some nature friends like birds. They make a garden more pleasant to be in and are a wonderful natural insect repellent. Various bird species feed on seeds, fruits, and insects. A few enhancements and considerations will increase the likelihood that your avian friends will be attracted to your garden or even make it their home. Birds play an integral role in the ecosystem as well because they are also seed dispersers. Creating your own happy garden can actually create happy unintentional gardens for your neighbors as […]
14 Fast Growing Vegetables
If you’re interested in gardening and are looking for some of the fastest-growing veggies to get you started, there are plenty of options. For any number of reasons, you may not be able to wait for your vegetables to mature. Maybe you don’t have much time left in your growing season or you just want as quick a return on your time investment as possible. Here are some quick growing vegetables that can go from seed to table in 90 days or less. Arugula Arugula is an easy-to-grow leafy green that comes in a range of forms and flavors. It’s […]
12 Fun Garden Activities To Do With Your Kids
The kids are out of school now, for maybe more time than we planned. These bonus spring break weeks can offer a great way to spend quality time with your family and to find some new and exciting activities for the kids. This is a fantastic time to find ways to keep our minds off of Coronavirus news and get those little busybodies moving, learning, and growing. Whether you’re in a home with a huge yard for growing or in an apartment with only a window sill for your mini garden, there are tons of ways to start turning those […]
Squash and Pumpkin – Growing Tips
Squash and pumpkins are North American native vegetables. There are a large number of different types of squash, and different varieties vary significantly in fruit shape and color, as well as plant habit. Many types are attractive enough to be used for fall decorating and displays. Varieties of Squash Winter squash varieties are grown for their mature fruit, which can be stored for use during fall and winter. The Butterscotch Hybrid Squash is an AAS Winner that has an exceptionally sweet flavor. With compact vines, they are great for small spaces. Spaghetti squash is a type of winter squash that […]
Transplanting Seedlings
If the plant’s roots have become so large they fill all the space in the pot, they can become stressed and won’t perform well, when it’s time to move them into the garden. To maintain proper growth and health for your plants, their roots require good air circulation and sufficient moisture for proper nutrient uptake. Before they become root-bound, make a plan for transplanting your plants into larger individual pots. Choose pots that are 2″ to 4″ in diameter and height or use the general rule that their new pots should offer about 25% more root space than it presently […]