Savvy Gardening

Broccoli Flower: Why broccoli plants bolt and what to do about it

Broccoli is a popular vegetable grown for its immature flower heads. Most varieties produce dome-shaped heads harvested when the the small buds are still tightly closed. However, if you wait too long to harvest, plant root-bound seedlings, or your garden experiences environmental conditions that affect plant growth, you’ll end up with a broccoli flower. Keep reading to learn more about what causes broccoli plants to flower and what you can do to prevent it from happening.

Planting in summer? Tips to help freshly planted perennials flourish in the heat

Written by Tara Nolan

You couldn’t resist that perennial on sale at the garden center, so you brought it home. But, you’re concerned about planting it in the heat of summer. Keeping your new perennial alive in its plastic pot probably poses more of a challenge than digging it into the ground. Planting in summer is possible, you just need to take a little more care than you would in the spring and fall when conditions are more favorable. I’m going to share some tips that should help set a new plant up for success, even if it’s planted in July or August.
READ MORE » about Planting in summer? Tips to help freshly planted perennials flourish in the heat

Caterpillar on a tomato plant? Who is it and what to do about it

Written by Jessica Walliser

If you’ve ever come across a caterpillar on a tomato plant, you know the trouble they can cause. Whether it’s a hole that goes straight through a ripening tomato or chewed leaves on tomato plants, tomato caterpillars disrupt harvests and gross out even the most unshakable gardeners. In this article, you’ll meet 6 different caterpillars that feed on tomato plants and learn what you can do to control them without using synthetic chemical pesticides.
READ MORE » about Caterpillar on a tomato plant? Who is it and what to do about it

Yellow cucumber: 8 reasons why cucumbers turn yellow

Written by Niki Jabbour

Cucumbers are one of the most popular vegetables planted in home gardens and are considered easy to grow. Give them plenty of sunlight, fertile soil, and regular moisture and you can expect a bumper crop of crisp, delicious cucumbers. A cucumber vine that is water stressed, nutrient deficient, or has flowers that aren’t fully pollinated can result in a yellow cucumber or two. If you have a problem with cucumbers turning yellow, read on to learn how to prevent this common complaint.

How often to water basil: Tips for success in pots and gardens

Written by Jessica Walliser

A must-grow herb for millions of gardeners, figuring out how often to water basil can be a challenge. Maintaining the ideal watering frequency can mean the difference between a healthy, productive basil plant and one that is wilting, discolored, and suffering. In this article, I’ll discuss everything you need to know when it comes to watering basil, including how much water to use, how often to add it, and what signs to watch for to prevent both over- and underwatering.
READ MORE » about How often to water basil: Tips for success in pots and gardens

How to make tomato plants grow faster: 14 tips for an early harvest

Written by Niki Jabbour

While there’s no magic wand that can make tomato plants go from seed to harvest in mere weeks, there are some simple steps you can take to get a head start on the harvest season. It starts with variety selection, followed by proper planting and care. Preventing pests and diseases also goes a long way to speeding up the harvest as does harvesting fruits that are not fully ripe and allowing them to finish coloring up indoors. Read on if you’re wondering how to make tomato plants grow faster.