Tag: Plant Care
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Summer Grow to Autumn Glow: Plan Ahead and Seamlessly Transition Your Garden
As summer transitions to cooler temperatures, it’s crucial to assess your garden for fall. Evaluate plant health, soil condition, and consider a summer garden cleanup. Choose the right fall crops, time the planting, and prepare for the upcoming winter. By planning ahead and making small adjustments, your garden will thrive through the changing seasons.
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Post-Storm Garden Recovery: How to Revitalize Your Garden After Severe Weather
For gardeners, heavy summer storms highlight the importance of being prepared both beforehand and ready for quick and decisive post-storm garden recovery. This article offers guidance on assessing damage, immediate care, and long-term recovery. It emphasizes the importance of quick action, evaluating plant damage, removing debris, caring for broken stems, waterlogged soil, and considering fertilization…
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The Ultimate Guide to Growing Habanero Peppers for a Fiery Harvest
Habanero peppers are a colorful and fiery addition to any garden. These high-capsaicin fruits deter garden pests and thrive with minimal care. They require 6-8 hours of sunlight and occasional watering. While they have a long growing season, starting seeds indoors can expedite the process. Harvest when the peppers turn bright orange and consider companion…
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Bountiful Basil: Easy Tips for Growing Basil in Your Herb Garden
Basil is a delightful and rewarding herb to grow, offering immense culinary value. The tropical or sub-tropical plant can be a perennial in some zones and comes in various cultivars like Sweet Basil, Greek Basil, and more. It can be grown from seed or cuttings, with certain considerations for light, water, and pests. Harvesting basil…
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Natural Ways to Keep Chipmunks and Squirrels Out of Your Garden
Chipmunks and squirrels can wreak havoc on your garden, but there are ways to deter them. These rodents dig holes in search of food or to bury their own stash. You can deter them by offering a distraction of their preferred foods or using decorative stones to cover soil. Companion planting with marigolds may not…
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Pruning for Perfect Tomatoes
Tomatoes are easy to grow and pruning is essential for optimal plant health and fruit production. Pruning encourages fruit growth and prevents diseases by limiting leaf contact with the ground. Determinant (bush) tomatoes require minimal pruning, while indeterminant (vine) tomatoes benefit greatly from it. Prune when plants are about a foot tall. Be mindful of…
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Nourish to Flourish: A Gardener’s Guide to Fertilizer Labels
This article provides guidance on fertilizing your garden, starting with understanding your garden’s needs through soil testing. It delves into the significance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in fertilizers, as well as how to interpret their percentages on fertilizer labels. The article also highlights the importance of other ingredients listed on the label and provides…
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Kale Craze: How to Cultivate Homegrown Kale from Seed
Kale has received a lot of hype in the last several years. In fact, it’s safe to say that kale has had something of a recent revolution in the foodie world. In our latest post, we’re delving into all things kale! Varieties, when to plant, when and how to harvest, and how to handle bolting.…
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Your Hardening Off Handbook: Tender to Tough Before Transplanting
To ensure your young plants thrive when transplanted outdoors, it’s crucial to harden them off. This process toughens them up to handle the unpredictable elements outside. By gradually exposing them to wind, rain, and direct sunlight, their stems and leaves become more resilient. Skipping this preparation can result in transplant shock, causing wilted stems and…
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Walking on Eggshells: Calcium for Your Garden
When you grow plants, they absorb nutrients and transform them into vegetables, fruit, and flowers. Harvesting removes these nutrients, so fertilizing your garden is crucial for its growth. Eggshells are an excellent source of calcium, vital for fruiting plants. Besides preventing issues like Blossom End Rot, eggshells benefit earthworms and help alkaline-loving plants. Sterilizing and…