As a tomato enthusiast I know, firsthand, the frustration of discovering black spots on tomato leaves. There’s nothing quite like the anticipation of seeing those first ripe fruits, only to be disappointed by unsightly blemishes on the leaves. After encountering this problem in my own garden, I did some research and discovered the various causes…
Growing eggplant (also known as aubergine) can be a fun and rewarding experience for any gardener. Eggplant is a versatile and tasty vegetable that can be used in a variety of dishes, making it a popular choice for home gardeners. If you’ve decided to grow eggplant in your vegetable garden this year, you’ll be pleased…
For many gardeners, the promise of lush, red tomatoes is one of the highlights of summer. However, a common question that I get from readers is “why are my tomatoes splitting?” Cracked tomatoes can show up at any stage of the plants growth, either when green or ripe and red. No matter what time this…
Tomato bottom rot is a problem that many vegetable gardeners face. What causes that ugly black rot on tomatoes? There is nothing like biting into a lush, ripe garden tomato that you have spent months growing. Discovering those prize tomatoes with large rotten areas on them is no fun, though. However, sometimes those luscious tomatoes…
The tobacco hornworm is a voracious eater that can do a great deal of damage in a flower or vegetable garden. It is a pest in the family Solanaceae. The tobacco hornworm is quite commonly seen in the southern United States, especially the Gulf Coast States. Its range extends northward as far as New York. Caterpillars…
Are your tomatoes not turning red? Don’t worry, below are 12 tips for how to ripen tomatoes on the vine. Most tomatoes will start turning red about 6-8 weeks after their flowers have been pollinated. If your tomatoes won’t ripen, it could be due to a variety of factors. Green tomatoes can be the result of…
Onions are a vegetable that I use almost every day in recipes. Growing onions at home is easy, as long as you have a sunny garden spot and a patient nature. Onions are a cool weather crop. Get started early on your planting and you will be enjoying fresh onion bulbs by the middle 0f…
Make your own seed tape with some seeds and a roll of toilet paper. Why waste money on store bought seed planting tape when you can make your own seed tape with this common household item? The tutorial shows you how easy it is to plant tiny seeds in a vegetable garden. Have you ever…
Are you bothered by the cost of maintaining a garden? These creative DIY garden ideas on a budget should help to keep your costs down. I’ve put together a list of 30+ vegetable garden hacks that will make your gardening life easier and cheaper. One of the big pleasures of summer for me is tending…
Swiss chard is one of the easiest and most versatile of vegetables for home gardens. Its colorful stems and big, crinkly leaves are packed full of nutrients. Read on for tips on growing Swiss chard. What is Swiss Chard? Swiss Chard – beta vulgaris subsp. vulgarisis a leafy vegetable in the beet family, but it…
There are many vegetable garden problems that can plague the average gardener. Fortunately, there are also easy solutions to those problems. Not everything about vegetable gardening turns out as expected. Whether you choose to garden in raised beds or in the round, troubleshoot your vegetable garden with these easy tips to get a bumper harvest…
Are you aware that this summer treat is not really a fruit? Get a few growing tips and find out the answers to other questions with this list of fun watermelon facts. Watermelons are a popular summer fruit. They have a high water content and are hydrating. I like to use them in drinks –…
This guide to shallots vs onions will answer not only this question but will also show how shallots are different from other onion types. There are many onion varieties so it’s easy to get confused about them. A common question that I get asked is “are shallots and onions the same?” Shallots are somewhat of a trendy vegetable…
Sweet green peas are a very versatile vegetable. There are several types of peas to choose from. Peas are one of the first vegetables to mature in the spring and can be used in all sorts of recipes. For me, vegetable gardening means growing lots of peas. Anyone who knows me well, is aware that my…
This article shows you how to use onions as indoor plants. Growing onions indoors is a fun project and one that the kids will love to help with.Onions are easy to grow outdoors as well as inside the home. They are one of those vegetables that we use often and the demand for this means that…
Planting garlic works best if you do it in the fall. It is very easy to grow and gives you bulbs to use in cooking for much of the year. Be sure to get the heads for planting from a reputable supplier. There are many types members of the allium family. Garlic is one of…
Determinate tomato plants are also known as “bush tomatoes”. They are smaller than normal tomato plants and generally need no staking but still produce well. Nothing tastes quite like a home grown tomato. They are sweet and juicy and so easy to grow. But they also take a lot of room, so are not so…
If you enjoy vegetable gardening, you may have heard about heirloom vegetable seeds. These are vegetables grown from heirloom seeds which are an open pollinated variety of seeds developed prior to 1940. There are many advantages for growing this type of vegetable. Experts vary in their definition of heirloom vegetables, but typically they will agree…
Growing melons such as cantaloupe and honeydew require a few things: plenty of sunshine and lots of room to grow. We tend to think of edible gardens as those that grow vegetables but there are also many fruits that can be grown just as easily at home. There are several types of melons that are right…
Shallots are starting to be seen in grocery stores more and often lately. What are shallots? Like onions and garlic, shallots are a member of the allium family. They are a cold hardy vegetable and, like onions, are easy to grow. Their flavor is richer and sweeter and they are very versatile in recipes. This…
Microgreens are the closest a gardener can get to instant gratification. Instead of three months, you can enjoy your harvest in just two weeks. These tips for growing microgreens will help you get started. Microgreens have lots of uses. Throw a microgreen mix into your smoothie to boost the nutritional value. Add some radish microgreens…
Butternut pumpkin is one of my favorite types of squash. It is resistant to squash bugs and tastes wonderful when roasted. Instead of planting the crop in soil enriched with compost, I experimented this year by planting in compost to see what would happen. This type of planting works best in a rolling compost pile…
Plants, vegetables and trees can grow into the most amazing shapes. These oddities of nature show that twists, bends and outgrowths can turn an ordinary plant into something that looks totally different. This inspiration for this post came from a morning breakfast jaunt. After breakfast Richard and I were driving around and we came upon…
Did you know that many common vegetables are very easy to regrow from ordinary kitchen scraps? I love the idea that you can use to regrow your food. What a great way to save money! I love to save money and I don’t like to waste things that can be reused or recycled in…
Have you ever wondered what you need to do to grow sweet tomatoes? Vegetable gardening is so satisfying, and homegrown tomatoes are at the top of my favorites list. The taste of homegrown tomatoes is nothing at all like those that you buy in the stores. Even the vine-ripened ones can’t compare in taste to the…
Growing great tomatoes doesn’t happen just by putting a few plants into the ground and turning on the hose. But anyone can master growing great tomatoes by following a few simple dos and don’ts. In the world of vegetable gardening, there is nothing quite like the taste of fresh home grown tomatoes. The flavor of…