Savvy Gardening

When to pick watermelon for peak flavor and quality

Choosing ripe watermelons from the local grocery store or farmer’s market is one thing, but what about knowing when to pick watermelon if you’ve taken the time to grow your very own? There are several distinct signs to take note of in order to harvest a perfectly ripe watermelon from your garden. Seeing these signs and acting accordingly can make all the difference between picking too soon, picking too late, or harvesting right on time—and enjoying the sweetest watermelon you’ve ever tasted as a result. Understanding exactly when to pick watermelon is especially important because the sweetness of a watermelon won’t improve once you’ve removed it from your watermelon patch.

What to plant after tomatoes: Succession planting and cover crop suggestions

Written by Tara Nolan

As summer harvests start to wind down and you’re swapping out warm-season plants for cool-season crops, you can decide what to plant after tomatoes. I always like to have some seeds at the ready to fill the spaces left behind by other plants. While tomatoes are the stars of many home gardens, there are other crops that can grow and produce food well after the excitement over those juicy fruits has faded. Even in climates that experience winter weather, you can continue enjoying various harvests into the colder months of the year.

When to harvest dill: A step-by-step guide

Written by Niki Jabbour

There are a few best practices around when to harvest dill that you can follow in order to come away with the highest quality dill leaves, dill flowers, and dill seeds. What’s more, you’ll also learn how to keep your plants producing for as long as possible. Several factors influence the ideal timing for when to harvest dill. Some of these include the age and size of your dill plants and which parts of the plant you intend to use. Even the weather and time of year you harvest can affect the quality and quantity of your dill harvest. In this article you’ll get all the information you need for timing when to harvest dill from your garden.

When to cut back catmint and how to do it right: 3 options

Written by Niki Jabbour

Catmint is a low care perennial plant with a long bloom time that is measured in months, not weeks. The pretty flowers attract pollinators, yet it’s rarely bothered by critters like deer and rabbits. And while it’s easy to grow, knowing when to cut back catmint is essential for promoting lush, healthy foliage as well as non-stop flowers. In this article you’ll learn the 3 options for trimming catmint plants.

Why are my cucumbers curling? Common causes and solutions

Written by Jessica Walliser

If you’ve strolled out to your vegetable garden and discovered your cucumbers curling into strange shapes—c-shapes, s-shapes, or even resembling a tightly wound spiral—you’re not alone. Many gardeners have scratched their heads over curly cucumber fruit. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll dig into a number of reasons for cucumbers curling, how to recognize the symptoms, and what you can do to ensure your cucumber fruits are straight, healthy, and delicious.
READ MORE » about Why are my cucumbers curling? Common causes and solutions

The best tomatoes for canning: 10 delicious and high-yielding options

Written by Niki Jabbour

Canned tomatoes are a delicious and convenient ingredient in tomato sauces, pasta sauces, stews, salsas, and even soups. And for the highest quality canned tomatoes you need to select the right tomato varieties to grow. The best tomatoes for canning are plum types, which have a dense texture, fewer seeds, and a rich flavor. In this article I’ll share my go-to tomato varieties for canning and offer tips on maximizing the harvest.