Peppers are packed with vitamins, antioxidants, flavor, and depending on the variety, heat. But they can be difficult to grow in the vegetable garden. One excellent way to help pepper plants along is to grow companion plants alongside them. Some will provide benefits to the peppers, while others will receive benefits from the peppers. Not …
Onions are a wonderfully versatile vegetable, both in the kitchen and in the garden. From green onions to storage onions, these edible alliums add flavor to almost any savory dish, making them a culinary staple. Less well known, perhaps, is their usefulness in the garden for general pest protection. With their strong scent, onions deter …
I love growing root crops. The foliage only provides hints at what is happening in the soil as you tend to the plants throughout the season, leaving the harvest a surprise. I have laughed out loud in the garden upon unearthing a sweet potato the size of my face. Of course, this can lead to …
Have you ever found yourself with too many tomatoes? It’s not hard to do this time of the year, especially if you planted more than you need. Ask me how I know 😉 We can never make up our minds of which tomatoes to get each year, and end up with way too many ripe …
Perennial crops put food on the table year after year. It is a joy to gather kale from the kitchen garden, to cut the first spears of asparagus in spring, and to dig up a fresh garlic bulb in late summer. Perennial vegetables not only taste better than grocery store varieties, but they are also …
Root vegetables aren’t the prettiest veggies in the patch, but they’re very easy and rewarding to grow. Carrots, beets, rutabagas, and other root veggies are extremely versatile to use in recipes, and some tasty tubers come topped with leafy greens. Root vegetables may be taproots (parsnips, radishes), tuberous roots or stems (sweet and regular potatoes), …
There’s nothing more disappointing than going to pick a yummy squash and instead, find your squash plants in distress, destroyed by some unwelcome bug. But don’t worry: today we’re looking at ways to prevent and/or get rid of these nasty little creatures. See which of these 5 suggestions might make the best natural squash vine …
Asparagus beetles are a pain in the … asparagus. There is the common asparagus beetle and the spotted asparagus beetle, and they both love eating asparagus. They hunker down anywhere they can to stay warm in the winter. When they awaken in the spring, they are hungry. If you grow asparagus, you are at some …
You tuck cucumber vines into the soil while dreaming of the fresh, crunchy fruits and tart pickles to come. And then one day you walk into the garden to find holey, sickly plants in place of the lush foliage you expect. Upon closer inspection, you might notice the tiny insects infesting your beloved plants: cucumber …
Nasturtiums are beautiful plants with a lot of benefits! Not only are they edible, but they are great for companion planting as a trap crop and are great sources of pollen for pollinators to visit. As with any plant, it can be confusing knowing their specific needs and care. So, here is how to grow …