How To Grow Vegetables and Vegetable Gardening Tips
The dog days of summer can be vicious to many vegetable garden plants. When thermometers start reaching the century mark, and stay there for several consecutive days, it takes a beating on many plants in your vegetable garden.Although it is extremely difficult to completely fend off those high temperatures, there are a few methods you can use to help ease their affects.Here are a few important things you can implement in your vegetable … [Read more...]
A living mulch, or cover crop, is a low-growing plant used in the vegetable garden as a mulch. It is usually referred to as a cover crop because that is exactly what it is doing - covering the ground. The cover crop is usually grown in between rows or around plantings. Using a living mulch is a form of companion planting where plants are grown together in order to benefit each plant. … [Read more...]
Although most of the country is in the middle of winter, there are still some southern areas that are dealing with raking leaves. Unfortunately, I was not able to get outside much during the fall, so my leaf-raking duties have gotten very behind. I would like to tell you what I do with my fallen leaves, and how I apply them to my garden space.Mow Your Leaves, Don't RakeMany people have different methods of tackling their fallen leaves, … [Read more...]
Any coffee drinker will likely throw away a filter full of coffee grounds each day. But, to gardeners these old grounds are very useful in the vegetable plot, flower bed or landscape. Some may remember family members throwing coffee grounds around roses or azaleas. Besides improving acidity for plants like these, coffee grounds are useful against pests and as soil amendments. If you don’t drink coffee or need more grounds than your family can … [Read more...]
ANDERSON, S.C. - Newspaper has helped Lewis Brady go greener.Brady, who lives in northeastern Anderson County, credits newspapers with the success of his garden this year."One of my friends and I are always comparing gardens," he said. "When I sent him a picture of my wife standing next to my corn, he said, 'OK, you win this time.' "Brady's garden stands on the lower edge of his yard, fenced in by plastic Pepsi cases. … [Read more...]
If you hang around vegetable gardening circles long enough, you are bound to hear the phrase "green manure". You may start thinking folks are talking about some weird green cow poo, but it is quite the contrary. Using green manures can greatly benefit your soil composition, which in turn will benefit your vegetable production.What Is Green ManureGreen manure is simply plant vegetation that is grown in the garden, then cut down and dug in … [Read more...]
Using a mulch in the vegetable garden has become a very popular and almost necessary item. Mulches perform many duties in the garden by suppressing weeds, controlling water runoff, helping to control some garden pests, and also by creating a more attractive garden space.Personally, I never used any type of mulch in my vegetable garden until this year, and now I swear by it. Adding mulch to my vegetable garden has decreased weeds to almost … [Read more...]
It has been a month since I planted my tomato plants, and I figured I would give an update on them. I planted 11 tomato plants in my garden on April 14th, 2009 and added two more tomato plants on May 3rd, 2009 for a total of 13 tomato plants. Some gardeners think having 13 plants is bad luck, but don't go getting superstitious on me (if I don't get any tomatoes this year, I will reconsidered my feelings on superstitions).Here's a picture of … [Read more...]
I'm intrigued by heirloom vegetables, and crazy about sharing my passions with others.
It is my wish to share as much of my vegetable knowledge that I can with you.
Hopefully, I can learn as much from you as you do from me.
So, I'd like to welcome you to Veggie Gardener, and please do not forget to say hello. I'd love to hear from you!
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