by Bethany Hayes (revised and updated) The 30-second version: Topping just means cutting off the growing tip of a tomato plant. I'll be honest with you about what it does and doesn't do: it's genuinely useful for two things — keeping tall indeterminate plants from outgrowing … [Read more...]
22 Different Gardening Methods, Clearly Explained
by Bethany Hayes (revised and updated) The 30-second version: "Gardening method" is really two different things wearing the same name, and that's the source of most of the confusion. Some of these — in-ground, raised bed, container, hydroponics, straw bale — are how and where … [Read more...]
26 Tomato Companion Plants – and 5 You Don’t Want Nearby
by Bethany Hayes (revised and updated) The 30-second version: Companion planting really can help your tomatoes — but I'll be honest with you, not every old garden pairing holds up. The pairings I trust most are using a hairy vetch cover crop to fight early blight and Septoria … [Read more...]
Corn vs. Maize: What’s the Difference? (It Depends on Where You Live)
Quick answer: Corn and maize are the same plant — Zea mays. "Corn" is the everyday word used in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. "Maize" is the scientific, international, and British English term. Both are correct; it simply depends on where you are and what context … [Read more...]
Topping Tomato Plants Pros and Cons, Fully Explained
by Jennifer Poindexter Have you ever heard of gardeners topping their tomatoes? This has been a long-running discussion in our family about whether this is a good idea or not. My husband comes from a long line of gardeners. They have green thumbs and pride themselves on the … [Read more...]