Pumpkins are a fun backyard crop for home gardeners. Kids find great joy in watching the massive vines grow and then form orange orbs, ready for carving or pie baking. However, sometimes things don’t go quite right in the pumpkin patch. It’s disappointing when a pumpkin crop is ripe months before Halloween’s arrival. It’s also disappointing when homegrown pumpkins don’t ripen in time for the Thanksgiving feast. Knowing when to plant pumpkins so they’re ready to harvest at the perfect time is a major key to enjoying this vine crop. Let’s dive into all the factors that influence when to plant pumpkins. With this information, you’ll be able to determine the best pumpkin planting time for your region.
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Cucumber trellis ideas and tips for maximizing the harvest
Years ago when I first planted cucumbers, I let the vines sprawl all around my garden. Boy, did they ever take up a lot of space! I was new to vegetable gardening and didn’t realize how big the plants would grow. Now I use a cucumber trellis to support my plants. Not only does this help contain their rampant growth, but getting the plants off the ground can also increase production, reduce insect and disease issues, and make it easier to harvest the fruits. In this article I’ll share ideas for easy cucumber trellises, offer tips on growing cucumbers vertically, and share my favorite varieties to plant.
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Growing endive: A complete seed-to-harvest guide
Just as endive livens up that so-so salad on your plate, growing endive adds some oomph to your garden beds, too. With so many different varieties available, endive provides visual interest with its unusual textures and color combinations. Once harvested, endive also adds complexity when mixed with leafy greens in salads or when used to lend its slightly bitter flavor profile to sautéed vegetables, soups, or stews. In this article you’ll learn everything you need to know to grow a bumper crop of endive in your garden.
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When to plant butternut squash
Whether or not your future holds your favorite butternut squash meals hinges on your knowing when to plant butternut squash. While that may sound dramatic, the timing for sowing seeds and transplanting squash plants makes a difference. Butternut squash is a favorite winter squash variety, and it can be grown in most climates.
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Zucchini blossom end rot: How to prevent and treat this plant condition
Have you ever waited patiently for a zucchini you’ve spotted growing in your garden, only to discover one day that the end is succumbing to zucchini blossom end rot? It’s so frustrating to see that once-healthy vegetable start to waste away. Also referred to as “blossom end rot,” the condition affects more than zucchini plants. It commonly strikes many other members of the cucurbit family, as well as nightshades like tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers.
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How to plant lettuce: A guide to planting, growing & harvesting lettuce
Lettuce is quick and easy to grow, doesn’t take up much space in the garden, and offers delicious, mild-flavored leaves. Plus, it can be grown practically year-round with careful variety selection and season extenders like cold frames. I grow lettuce for both baby greens as well as full-sized heads in my raised bed garden and in containers on my deck. There are many types of lettuce to choose from and several ways to plant. In this article you’ll learn when and how to plant lettuce from seeds and seedlings and get tips on watering, succession planting, and harvesting.
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