Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are grown by more gardeners than any other fruit. Tomatoes are native to Central and South America. They were domesticated in Mexico and there are many wild varieties still in existence. I have grown tomatoes for many years and these are the things you need to know to get your own tasty tomatoes. … Read more
When you realize that tomatoes include much more than mealy red slices slopped on sandwiches or bland cherry tomatoes tossed into salads, the world becomes a lot more exciting. But then you realize there are hundreds of different tomato varieties to choose from…and you only have so much room in your garden. If you’re looking … Read more
When it comes time to plant tomatoes, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by all your options! Just grab a few seed catalogs, tally the number of tomato varieties available, and you’ll see there are hundreds of different options to choose from. Heirloom tomatoes offer astounding diversity in color, shape, size, taste, and texture—which I think … Read more
Tomato plants typically require at least a few square feet of garden space or at least a sizable pot on a patio. However, if you’re dealing with limited space, you can still grow tomatoes! Tiny Tim tomato plants max out around a foot tall, which makes them perfect for small patios, tabletops, and window boxes. … Read more
You’ve probably seen red and orange cherry tomatoes, and maybe even pink and yellow varieties. But have you heard of Black Cherry tomatoes? Black Cherry refers to the dark color of the fruits, but it is also a unique cherry tomato variety. These tomatoes are not truly black, but rather dark and dusky purplish-red. I … Read more
It seems that almost everyone loves the little orange tomatoes known as Sungolds. Give a Sungold to a toddler who has never tasted tomatoes, and they may exclaim they have a new favorite food. Hand a Sungold to a self-described tomato connoisseur and watch as they come back for more. Convince a picky adolescent to … Read more
One of the moments I look forward to every summer is picking and eating the year’s first cherry tomato. The sweet and tart flavor, the perfectly snackable size, the juicy texture that bursts in your mouth—what’s not to love about these little tomatoes? I’ve found that I’m not the only one who finds these fruits … Read more
One of my favorite things about growing tomatoes is the diversity present within the crop. Along with large slicing tomatoes, I also like to grow a few different types of small cherry tomatoes. While all cherry tomato plants produce smaller fruits, you can find a big variation between varieties. Fruit color, growth habit, fruit size, … Read more
If you’re trying to decide what type of tomatoes you should grow, you may run across the words determinate and indeterminate. These two terms refer to a tomato plant’s growth habit. While you may think tomato size or color is the most important factor to look for when you’re choosing which tomato varieties to grow, … Read more
If you want to plant a single tomato plant and harvest fruits throughout the summer, you want to look at indeterminate tomatoes. Fortunately, there are all sorts of indeterminate tomato varieties, including heirlooms, hybrids, slicers, and cherries. Over the years, I’ve come to love many different indeterminate types. I always plant a few delicious and … Read more
Tomatoes taste better right out of the garden. Unfortunately, a lot can grow wrong from seed to mouth. Here is a guide to the most common tomato diseases to help you have a wonderful harvest. I’ve written an in-depth guide on how to grow tomatoes that you might want to check out! Caused by Fungal … Read more
When it comes time to choose a tomato to plant in your garden, the choices can be overwhelming. Red, pink, yellow, big, small, round, oblong, determinate, indeterminate…the list goes on! As I thumb through seed catalogs, I sometimes wonder how I’m supposed to pick what tomato varieties to grow. One way to limit your list … Read more
Tomatoes are delicious. Unfortunately, many pests like to eat tomato plants and tomatoes. These pests can make it hard to get vine-ripened tomatoes from your plants. To get rid of these pests, you may wonder, “Can you use Sevin on Tomato Plants?” Sevin® is a pesticide with the active ingredient carbaryl. Bayer produces several forms … Read more
While tomatoes are some of the best tasting items to come out of the garden, these plants are susceptible to their fair share of issues. One common symptom of a larger issue is curling leaves. If you’ve noticed your tomato leaves are curling, you’re not alone! I’ve seen my fair share of curled tomato leaves … Read more
One of the best parts of summer is picking a ripe tomato and eating it seconds later, only a few feet away from where it was picked. When the fruit at the peak of ripeness and still warm from the sun, the flavor bursts in my mouth, and juice drips down my chin. While these … Read more
Tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetables people grow. They are the most popular vegetable in the United States. You can grow tomatoes even if you do not have a yard to plant them in. Tomato plants grow well in containers. Best Tomatoes To Grow In Pots Tomatoes come in two varieties. Indeterminate tomato … Read more
If you want to grow lettuce plants at home, providing them with the right amount and type of light is key. This is true regardless of whether you’re growing lettuce indoors or outdoors. Over the years, I’ve grown hundreds of lettuce plants both indoors and out. And I’ve learned a thing or two about how … Read more
Cucumbers are a popular vegetable to grow. Sometimes it is hard to know how much sun a cucumber plant needs. How Much Light Do Cucumber Plants Need? The amount of light differs inside and outside. Outside – Cucumber Sun Requirements Cucumbers need at least six hours of sun and will grow much better with … Read more
Cucumbers are very tasty and nutritious. Many people grow them in their garden or in containers. You may wonder how many plants you will need to plant to have enough cucumbers. How Many Cucumbers Does One Plant Produce? Each cucumber vine is a little different, but the average slicing cucumber has ten to fifteen cucumbers … Read more
Cucumber plants are very thirsty plants. Therefore, proper watering is crucial to getting lots of tasty cucumbers. How Often Do I Water Cucumber Plants? Cucumber plants growing in the ground should be watered once or twice a week. Cucumber plants in containers should be watered several times a week to keep the soil evenly moist. … Read more
Cucumbers are a popular vegetable to grow. Start your cucumbers off right by spacing the vines far enough apart. How far apart to plant cucumbers? If you choose not to use a trellis, it’s recommended to plant your cucumber vines three feet apart. For bush-type vines, leave three feet between rows, while for vining cucumbers, … Read more
Whether you’re interested in growing a mixed blend of baby lettuces, a few heads of romaine, or a tender bibb lettuce head, I find it’s helpful to know the different lettuce growing stages. Understanding how lettuce goes from seed to a full lettuce head can help you determine whether or not your lettuce is on … Read more
Tomatoes are grown by more people than any other vegetable. Millions of people put months of effort into growing juicy, flavorful tomatoes. Sometimes people love their tomato plants so much they kill them with kindness. Can You Overwater a Tomato Plant? Yes, you can definitely overwater a tomato plant. Tomato plants should be watered every … Read more
Tomatoes are one of the most-grown vegetables in the United States. I have found that there are lots of things that can go wrong between planting your tomato plant and eating your tomatoes. This guide explains what blossom end rot is and how to prevent it. What Is Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes? Blossom end … Read more
Cucumbers are a popular warm-season vegetable to grow. Cucumber plants go through different stages when growing. Each stage needs slightly different amounts of water and fertilizer to grow optimally. This guide will discuss the stages of a cucumber plant and what care the plant needs at each stage. Cucumber Plant Stages Here are the seven … Read more
One of my favorite things about growing lettuce is the seemingly endless variation. There’s dense and crunchy romaine, delicate bibb, and beautiful red leaf lettuce. Therefore, it’s often hard to just pick one or two varieties to grow. If you find yourself looking to grow a dozen different types of lettuce or plant enough romaine … Read more
Cucumbers are easy to grow. Sometimes, though, people give their cucumber plants so much love that they make them sick. This guide discusses what happens when a cucumber plant is overwatered. Can You Overwater A Cucumber Plant? Yes, you can overwater a cucumber plant. Cucumbers need 1-2 inches of water a week. Providing more water … Read more
Finding a problem with your tomatoes can be frustrating. Some problems are easy to solve, while others mean you need to destroy the plant. This guide will help you diagnose white spots on your tomato leaves. Top 6 Reasons for White Spots on Tomato Leaves There are several problems that cause white spots on leaves. … Read more
Tomato plants are fun and easy to grow. There are some things to be careful about when growing them. This guide talks about leggy tomatoes, how to avoid them, and how to deal with them. Leggy Tomato Seedlings Versus Normal Tomato Seedlings Tomato seedlings should be short and stocky. Seedlings should have the diameter of … Read more
Whether you enjoy it in Caesar salads, as a lettuce wrap, or as a burger topping, romaine lettuce is a must-have in the kitchen and garden. Fortunately, this crunchy lettuce is relatively easy to grow, as long as you know how to properly care for it. With that said, there’s nothing more disappointing than spending … Read more
Tomatoes are a popular vegetable to grow at home. Occasionally, tomato plants have problems. This guide will talk about what causes brown leaves on tomatoes, what to do about it, and how to prevent brown leaves. Top 9 Reasons My Tomato Leaves Turning Brown There are many reasons the leaves on a tomato plant will … Read more
Cucumbers are a popular vegetable to grow. They taste great and are good for you. Every once in a while, however, cucumbers have problems while growing. This guide will explain why your cucumber is yellow and what to do about it. Why Are My Cucumbers Yellow? Yellow cucumbers happen for five possible reasons. What Do … Read more
Lots of people grow tomatoes because homegrown tomatoes taste better than store-bought ones. Tomatoes are easy to grow in pots or in the ground but do have some pest problems. This guide will tell you all about aphids and how to get rid of them. How Do I Get Rid Of Aphids On My Tomato … Read more
The best tomatoes are homegrown. If you are considering growing your own tomatoes, you may wonder how much sunlight to give them. This guide explains how much sun tomato plants need. How Much Sun Do Tomato Plants Need? Tomatoes need to be planted in full sun. They need at least six hours of sunlight a … Read more
Turnips are one of the first cultivated crops in history. Turnips are easy to grow and a good part of a healthy diet. Here is when and how to harvest turnips. Varieties of Turnips Turnips can be grown for their greens, their roots, or both. Here are the most common varieties for each use. For … Read more
Beets grow well in the spring and fall. They are grown for both greens and roots. This guide will tell you when to harvest the greens and the roots for optimal flavor. Types Of Beets There are two general types of beets. Sugar beets are grown industrially to be used as cattle feed and processed … Read more
Tomatoes are a very popular vegetable to grow. Home-grown tomatoes taste much better than store-bought tomatoes. If you are going to grow tomatoes, you need to start off right by spacing the plants properly. Why Is Spacing Important? If you space your tomatoes properly, it will give each tomato plant the resources to grow large … Read more
Pumpkins mean fall in North America. I plant my pumpkin vines in the summer, so the pumpkins are ready for Halloween. Like many vegetables, pumpkins are considered heavy feeders. I can tell you from experience that without enough fertilizer, your pumpkin vines won’t produce nice pumpkins. You may wonder, “What is the best pumpkin fertilizer?” … Read more
Cucumbers are good for you and easy to grow. Every vegetable garden should have a cucumber vine or two. If you are growing cucumbers in your garden, you may wonder, What is the best cucumber fertilizer? I have found cucumber fertilizers change depending on soil type and the growing stage the cucumber is in. Finding … Read more
Plants respond to stress just like humans. Bolting is one way that plants signal distress. When a plant bolts, it means that it is growing rapidly and bolting up to its flowering stage. Bolting is how a plant protects its own survival by going to seed to secure the next generation. Many things can stress … Read more
Potatoes originated in Central and South America in the Andes. They come in a variety of colors and sizes. Potatoes are easily grown in the home garden from pieces of seed potatoes. If you are considering growing potatoes, you may be wondering, “What is the best fertilizer for potatoes?” With so many fertilizers out there, … Read more
Tomatoes are grown by more home growers than any other fruit or vegetable. I think homegrown tomatoes have a much better flavor than store-bought tomatoes. With so many people growing tomatoes, there are hundreds if not thousands of tomato fertilizers. You may be wondering, “What is the best tomato fertilizer?” Picking a tomato fertilizer doesn’t … Read more
Homegrown tomatoes taste much better than the bland store-bought version. I have found tomatoes are not hard to grow but do need lots of fertilizer to grow big, juicy tomatoes. You may wonder, “How do I make my own tomato fertilizer?” There are lots of recipes for homemade tomato fertilizers on the internet. I have … Read more
When it comes to harvesting eggplants, timing is crucial to achieving the best flavor and texture. If you wait too long to pick your eggplants, they can develop a bitter taste, tough skin, and larger seeds, diminishing their quality. With a bit of practice, you’ll quickly learn how to identify the perfect moment for harvesting. … Read more
Asparagus is one of the first vegetables to emerge in spring, offering a rewarding harvest for gardeners eager to enjoy its fresh flavor. The difference in taste between freshly picked asparagus and store-bought varieties is significant, making it worth the wait and effort. Before you start harvesting, it’s essential to understand the proper methods and … Read more
Square-foot gardening is a method of growing a lot of food in a small area. Because so many plants are growing in a square foot garden, they require less maintenance to grow the same amount of food. You may wonder, “Can you plant broccoli in a square-foot garden?” You may want to grow your own … Read more
Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea, Botrytis group) is a very popular vegetable to grow. However, it is somewhat temperamental and will bolt if conditions are not just right. Bolting means the flowers in the head begin to separate, and a flower stalk begins to grow. Cauliflower just produces one head, so if it bolts, you have wasted … Read more
Broccoli tastes best when it is fresh from the garden. Growing your own is not hard, but sometimes diseases or pests can cause problems. One of these problems is wilting. You may wonder, “Why is my broccoli plant wilting and falling over?” There are several different reasons broccoli wilts and falls over. This guide will … Read more
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is a popular vegetable to grow in home gardens. Broccoli is vulnerable to fungal diseases that cause white spots on the leaves, stem, or head. You may be wondering how to identify white spots on broccoli. White spots are generally treatable if you know what disease you are dealing with. … Read more
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis) is considered a cool-season crop. In the spring, broccoli is frequently planted before the average date of the first frost, especially in climates with hot summers. In the fall, broccoli produces best when temperatures cool. You may wonder if broccoli is frost tolerant. Broccoli plants can tolerate periods of cold … Read more
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