The Better Boy is a hybrid tomato that is prized by home growers for its median maturity rate (70-75 days), and consistently excellent smooth-skinned fruits with a classic flavor. They are extremely popular thanks to their resistance to Verticillium and Fusarium Wilt. They are … [Read more...]
Guide to Growing Beefsteak Tomatoes
Beefsteak tomatoes are by far the most popular type of home garden tomato grown in North America. These tomatoes grow fairly quickly, produce huge (up to 2 pounds!) fruits, and are relatively easy to grow. They are not often available in the grocery store as they are not … [Read more...]
Onion Alternatives to Grow in the Garden
Sometimes, you just want an alternative to the onion. It could be for health reasons, it could be for culinary diversity, or it might be because you're tired of growing the same basic onions and want something different in the garden. Whatever your reasons, there are a lot of … [Read more...]
Guide to Growing Celebrity Tomatoes
The popular Celebrity strain of tomatoes has one major advantage over most others: it is almost entirely maintenance-free. There are more than one strain in this hybrid type, but the most common is Lycopersicon esculentum. Authorities are mixed on whether this variety is … [Read more...]
Guide to Growing Grape Tomatoes
It's only been recently that grape tomatoes have become popular with gardeners and cooks. These small, cherry-type tomatoes are set apart by their egg-like shape and their sweet flavor. They are generally smaller than cherry tomatoes – roughly the size of a grape, in fact. They … [Read more...]
Guide to Growing Early Girl Tomatoes
Early Girl tomatoes are an extremely popular variety that is one of the most common supermarket and backyard garden varieties in the U.S. This indeterminate variety grows to about the size of a tennis ball and has the look and shape of what most people would equate with a … [Read more...]
Guide to Growing Brandywine Tomatoes
The Brandywine varieties are some of the most popular heirloom tomatoes grown in North America. They are known for their huge size, great taste, and pumpkin-like ridges. Many color options are also available in the Brandywine family, including red, pink, orange, yellow and even … [Read more...]
Growing Edible Seed Pods
Many of the common garden plants we all enjoy are seed pods (think peas, beans, and other legumes). Other plants that have edible seed pods are not as obvious or well-known, such as rose hips and radish seeds.There is a whole world of edibles out there beyond the common grocery … [Read more...]
Guide to Growing Cherokee Purple Tomatoes
One of the most popular of the non-traditional heirloom varieties of tomato, the Cherokee Purple grows to both great height and gives fruit of large size. It's very tasty with what's usually described as a “tomato-ey” flavor and has a distinctive deep reddish-purple color. … [Read more...]
Guide to Growing Lemon Boy Tomatoes
Although relatively new, the hybrid Lemon Boy is a big hit amongst both home and commercial growers. It's one of the more popular yellow tomato varieties today. The medium-sized fruits grow to 7 or 8 ounces and have a distinct, beautiful sunny yellow color. Very … [Read more...]
Guide to Growing Yellow Pear Tomatoes
Possibly the most popular yellow heirloom variety of tomato, the Yellow Pear gets its name from its color and shape. This variety dates back to the 1800s and is a vigorous indeterminate. It produces generously with an abundance of small, yellow pear-shaped tomatoes that are … [Read more...]
Sauce Tomatoes: Best Varieties
One of the things that many gardeners enjoy growing fresh tomatoes for is to make sauces. Whether it's a favorite spaghetti topping, a fun salad garnish, or a thick pasty sauce for any of a number of cultural recipes, growing your own tomatoes for it is the way to go. Some … [Read more...]
Pea Weevils: How to Prevent and Control
Pea weevils are more often a problem in agricultural fields than the home garden, but if you notice leaves with scalloped cuts around the edges or pea pods with deformed or missing seeds, pea weevils are the likely culprit. Proper soil preparation and planting can prevent most … [Read more...]
Yellow Tomatoes and Orange Tomatoes: Best Varieties
There are many varieties of yellow and orange tomatoes, nearly all of which are low in acid, making them a great boon to those on acid-reduced diets. Many are also heirloom varieties suitable for organic growing and most are also abundant producers. Gardeners grow yellow and … [Read more...]
Corn Earworms: How to Prevent and Control
Corn earworms are a bane to both home gardeners and commercial farmers alike. In fact, they cause more damage to corn crops than any other insect and are found throughout the continental U.S. In addition to corn, corn earworms eat at least 16 other cultivated crops and over 100 … [Read more...]
Potato Bugs: How to Prevent and Control
Colorado potato bugs, also know as Colorado potato beetles, were first observed feeding on potatoes in Colorado in 1859, and quickly spread across the U.S. They are now found in every state and are a major pest for both home gardeners and commercial agriculture. Most pesticides … [Read more...]
How To Guide for Starting Tomato Seeds
Tomatoes are by far the most popular edible garden plant grown in the United States. They are grown indoors and out, starting from seed or transplants. If you're interested in starting your plants from seeds, then this information may help. Starting Seeds Early Indoors For … [Read more...]
Pepper Problems
Pepper Pests Most pests that afflict pepper plants are regional, so some may be present in your area and some may not. Most are external feeders, meaning they are visible outside of the plant (or at least their effects are). A few leaf miners or borers are also around, of … [Read more...]
Top 10 Heirloom Tomatoes for the Garden
Intro on Heirloom Tomatoes Heirlooms are any plant that has been grown for at least 50 years commercially or that has been passed down through a family for at least two generations. Heirlooms have many advantages, especially in a given area or region. They are usually very well … [Read more...]
Preserving Tomatoes
Once your tomatoes are grown and you begin to harvest them, you'll no doubt wonder how you can keep those tomatoes for the winter. Food preservation is a skill that has become rare in our grocery store society with 24/7 access to fresh fruits and vegetables no matter the time of … [Read more...]