If you live where the soil does not freeze in winter these vegetable and fruit gardening tips are for you. While the soil does not freeze, freezing temperatures and frost can still happen in February. Temperate and warm regions include USDA Zones 9 and 10 in the United States which include much of the southern
Butternut squash Butternut squash is easy to prepare and roast. You simply peel and seed the squash, cut it into 1-inch chunks, toss the chunks with olive oil, salt, and pepper, spread the chunks evenly on a baking sheet, and roast at 375°F for 40 minutes or until tender and lightly browned. Once cooked toss
Vegetables are pollinated in two basic ways: self pollination and cross pollination. • Self pollinators are plants that produce flowers that are usually fertilized by their own pollen, commlonly when the male and female flower parts are contained within the same flower. • Cross pollinators are plants with flowers that require pollen from another flower
Late Blight on Tomato Early blight, late blight, and leaf spot are common fungal diseases of tomato plants. Late blight is the most serious of the three. It spreads rapidly and will likely destroy the infected plant and can quickly spread to other plants—including potatoes, eggplants, and peppers. Here are basics for identifying these fungal
Row covers, floating row covers, garden blankets, and shade cloth are made from varying weights of synthetic materials and are used to protect plants. Heavyweight rows covers and garden blankets or quilts are used to protect plants from cold temperatures, chilling winds, and frosts–most often in late autumn, winter, and early spring. Lightweight floating rows
Vegetable crop yields and the number of vegetable plants to grow for each person in your household will help you estimate the space needed for a home vegetable garden. Crop yield estimates and consumption predictions are largely base on experience. Keeping a food log and garden record can help you hone your vegetable garden needs
Harvest potatoes young or mature. Mature, full-size potatoes are called maincrop potatoes. Maincrop potatoes are often cured and stored for later use. Maincrop potatoes are ready for harvest when most of the top foliage has withered Small, round, immature potatoes are often called “new potatoes.” New potatoes are usually eaten skin and all. New or
Harvested sweet potatoes Harvest sweet potatoes as soon as they are big enough to eat—usually when the ends of the vines begin to turn yellow. Harvest sweet potatoes before the vines are touched by frost. Frost can damage the tubers below. When to Harvest Sweet Potatoes Most sweet potato varieties are ready to harvest 95
Pumpkin seedling Pumpkins are a tender, warm-weather crop. Pumpkins are a type of winter squash—grown through the summer for harvest in the fall. Sow pumpkins indoors 3 to 2 weeks before the last expected frost in spring the transplant them into the garden after all danger of frost has passed.Sow pumpkins outdoors when the soil
Radicchio grows best in the cool weather of spring and fall. Radicchio has a lettuce-like head that colors to a deep rosy red as the weather grows cold in autumn or winter. The slightly bitter taste of radicchio sweetens with cooler day temperatures. When to Plant Radicchio Direct seed radicchio in the spring as soon
