Before planting asparagus, have your soil tested to see if the soil has the right amount of nutrients for asparagus to thrive. Hand-removal In small asparagus patches such as home gardens, hand weeding can actually be one of the most effective and efficient ways to remove weeds. In larger patches with multiple asparagus rows, cultivation can be used at any time between the rows. In the absence of a soil test report, the typical garden fertilizer rate for asparagus is to apply 1 to 1. Mulching Straw and leaves can be used for mulch in asparagus beds to help smother weeds. Maintain short-term freshness by standing an asparagus bunch in about an inch of water in a flat-bottomed container in the refrigerator. An alternative to using one-year-old crowns is to start asparagus transplants from seeds as you would start other vegetable transplants. Weeds are the most common problem in asparagus plantings, because they compete with the crop and reduce productivity. In addition to planting in an area free of weeds, it can be helpful to maintain a tilled border around the asparagus planting, to prevent weeds from outside the patch from migrating into the planting. If these practices do not control the pest, several insecticides are labeled for management of asparagus beetle.
That s such a nice part of growing apricots. Not all apricot trees are quick growers, but you can look for varieties known for fast growth. Two fast-growing apricot varieties are Early Golden and Moorpark. Tropical Apricots have a flavor reminiscent of an apricot but Read more
This is done just as you would with a bunch of hanging carrots. Do you have a question about the long-term future of carrots and whether or not they can grow on their own without tops. However, if you are willing to risk losing them, Read more
These spikes might sound lucrative, but it s hard to take advantage of this cycle, consumer demand is constantly shifting, and agave growers can t change what they re planting as quickly as farmers who grow annual crops like corn. At the moment, the market Read more
Prune every few weeks to have fresh basil all season. The basil seeds may germinate naturally in an outdoor garden and provide tiny new basil plants come spring. Perfect for pesto or paired with tomato and mozzarella, basil Ocimum basilicum is a fragrant and tasty Read more
Because turnips don t transplant well, it s best to grow them from seed. Other reasons why turnips go to seed include too many days of very hot weather. The greens of turnips can be eaten raw or cooked. While relatively low maintenance, early bolting Read more
It s not difficult to grow celery but you do need start celery from seed indoors, transplants are hard to find and do not always succeed. Trenching celery needs soil mounded up against the stems as they grow to produce crisp, pale stems. For us, Read more
Another advantage to early pinching is that tall plants become more compact and bushier and are less likely to need staking, otherwise, asters that are 4 feet tall or more generally need staking to prevent flopping. It may be difficult, initially, to tell the difference Read more
A lot of annual flowers are coming in now, like geraniums, snapdragons, and sweet alyssum. That means searching new flush citrus growth for psyllids, planting alyssum a tiny-flowered ground cover that parasitoid wasps love and declaring open warfare on the ants in your yard, who Read more
If you prefer good old-fashioned corny flavor, pick standard su varieties. Corn earworms are one of the best-known corn pests. Corn borers overwinter as full-grown larvae in weed stems and old cornstalks. If you plant them closer, your corn will have small, poorly-filled ears Figs. Read more
It s best to divide established clumps of rhubarb every five years or so, especially if they have become overcrowded or growth is weak. With newly planted rhubarb, resist the temptation to harvest any stems in the first year, as this will reduce the plant Read more
Did you know aloe vera is made of more than 95 water. While aloe vera works extremely well to soothe skin and keep it moisturized when you find yourself with irritated skin from sun exposure, high heat or dryness, there are even more benefits of Read more
If fresh seeds are not available, you can propagate angelica from dried seed, just bear in mind that germination rates will be lower. 0 Exposure Full sun to part shade Soil Drainage Moist Time to Maturity 2 years Attracts Bees, butterflies, lacewings, ladybugs, wasps Spacing Read more
Growing your own chilli peppers means you can choose from a huge array of colours, shapes, flavours and levels of heat a much wider range than you can buy in supermarkets. Chilli peppers are generally ready for harvesting from mid-summer, and will continue fruiting well Read more
gongylodes isn t the hardest thing in the world, as kohlrabi is actually somewhat easy to grow. When growing kohlrabi, most growth occurs in spring or in fall. When thinking about how to plant your kohlrabi, you have a choice to start it outside or Read more
Cultivate around the okra plants to remove weeds and grass. Plant okra seeds about 2 inches apart and 1 inch deep. If the okra gets too large, it will be tough and stringy. When you plant okra from seed, it will start to grow within Read more
Pests Disease The biggest problem for astilbe is the soil drying out causing the leaves and flowers to curl, brown and die. Two of the main pests of perennials, slugs and deer, seem to care little for astilbe. Since astilbe spreads easily, a better way Read more
Whether you have New England or New York varieties, asters have a long bloom period and lovely, lacy notched foliage. Dividing asters will help create a more dense plant with sturdier stems and a full crown of blooms. Dig around the root base of your Read more
When harvesting, cut the spinach leaves back to within 2 inches of the ground, taking care not to cut into the growing point. Each spinach plant can regrow and provide multiple harvests when properly cared for. Provide spinach with 1 inch of water each week, Read more
It s almost never the case with chives. Harvesting helps chives in utilizing all their energies into promoting better growth. I often will plant chives where weeds grow. If you have cut too many to use or don t end up using the cut chives Read more
Although you can t harvest cauliflower from one plant for weeks on end, you can expect a predictable harvest within one to two months from planting. Unlike broccoli, which develops flavorful, side shoots for multiple harvests, cauliflower produces one edible head. To blanch cauliflowers, pull Read more
Fall is for flowers, and alliums are no exception. Another allium with the wow factor is stars of Persia Zones 5 8. If you haven t seen Hair allium Zones 4 8 , it looks like it put its roots in an electric socket. Tags Read more
Leaf lettuce like Prizehead Lactuca sativa Prizehead matures on the early side of the range, head lettuce like Salinas Lactuca sativa Salinas may require from 75 to 90 days. Once lettuce begins growing a flower stalk, the process commonly called bolting, energy is redirected from Read more
You want them to be ready in time for Halloween, or maybe for a fun dinner party where all your guests pick their own homegrown pumpkins to take home with them. Like other members of the Cucurbitaceae family , pumpkins need lots of water because Read more
It was founded by Danish immigrants in 1906, and for many years the majority of America s rutabagas were grown here. The Irish and Scottish used to carve out root vegetables like rutabagas and turnips to make the classic scary faces. These days, rutabagas are Read more
The harvest season for broccoli is also dependent on the variety you choose. Although you can t harvest broccoli for months on end, you can harvest it several times during the growing season. However, broccoli does have some redeeming qualities. Sprouting broccoli white or purple Read more
In theory, if you stagger the planting of pepper plants and keep them warm, you can get peppers year round. If you already transplanted peppers outside and a frost threatens, check out my article on protecting your pepper plants from cold. However, peppers are usually Read more
When these windows get soft and wrinkly, it s a sign that your baby toes need watering. Since they re native to subtropical deserts, baby toes are used to gritty soil. Like other succulents, baby toes are better at withstanding dry conditions than wet ones. Read more
It is a warm season agave only. Many varieties of agave will die after blooming and then produce pups or offshoots from their base to replace themselves. There are many other types of agave, which makes it easy to find and garden with this stunning Read more
Once you have harvested all your sweet potatoes, it is time to cure them. There are hundreds of varieties of sweet potatoes grown around the world. Digging your sweet potatoes up is extremely easy, but will take some heavy lifting and back muscle. Harvesting sweet Read more
It is also important to note that many species of artemisia spread vigorously by rhizomes, or underground stems. A few well-known artemisias are Silver Mound and the herb tarragon. With their beautiful silver foliage, artemisias are not colorful in the most basic sense. And scientists Read more
Begin thinning the beets as soon as they get crowded in the row. For continuous supply of beets, make several plantings 3 weeks apart. About 10 feet of row per person will provide enough beets to use fresh or for canning. Keep reading to find Read more
To protect fall-planted shallots during the winter, you can apply a layer of organic mulch , such as straw or wood chips, around each plant. In this guide, I ll cover how the differences between the types of shallots and how to grow them in Read more
And we all know that over-sized cucumbers are not the tastiest of fruits. In fact, the easiest way to slow or even stop cucumber production is by allowing fruit to stay on the vine too long. Here is to getting the most out of growing Read more
Since astilbe spreads easily, a better way to get new transplants is to divide mature plants. Chinese species of astilbe have better drought tolerance than other species. Planting Plant astilbe in spring or fall. Knowing how to propagate astilbe is easy and adds more of Read more
They grow during short, hot seasons, so be aware of soil and air temperatures as you plan how and when to get eggplants started. Knowing where to plant eggplant is important. Growing eggplants in the veggie garden can be so rewarding when the time comes Read more
How do you harvest potatoes. 2 Weeks Before Planting In the southeast, we typically plant our potatoes in March. You may wish to lay drip tape into the trench next to your seed potatoes to conserve water and to ensure that any water you put Read more
While there s no standard number of leaves that garlic should have, a reliable harvest indicator is when half the leaves have died off, and half are still green. Washed garlic tends to accumulate extra moisture in the bulb that may lead to fungal infestations. Read more
Like many succulents, Fenestraria baby toes produces offsets as the clusters of leaves mature and spread. While baby toes are tolerant of drought conditions, they need moisture to store in their leaves to sustain them during the growing season. Starting baby toes from seed can Read more
Water during long dry spells Weed regularly around plants Check if early leeks are ready for lifting. Anthony Worrall Thompson includes leeks in his root vegetable gratin dauphinoise. This is because sowing leeks at their final spacings in your main vegetable plot would take up Read more
The best way to keep onions from bolting is to keep them from stress. Not only will your onions appreciate the drink, but the evaporation of surface water will also help cool the air around your plants. How can you keep onions from bolting. Plant Read more
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