Check the soil temperature before you transplant your vegetable seedlings and starts. Vegetables need specific soil temperatures to grow properly, as Tricia mentions in our new video on Planting Vegetables. HOW TO CHECK SOIL TEMPERATURES We have two soil thermometers, one with a dial display, and the other with fluid that rises in a tube to show the temperature. Simply push either thermometer a few inches into the soil, and wait about a minute until the reading is stable. Keep an eye on the weather…
Row covers solve a multitude of gardening problems. Made of lightweight fabric, they allow sunlight, air, and water to pass through to your plants. Well known as “season extenders” to keep plants warm, row covers can also protect plants from insects, and even from too-strong sun in the summertime. In our video about frost protection and direct seed sowing and our video on Planting Vegetables, Tricia uses Agribon row covers for warmth on newly planted seeds and transplants. Floating row…
It seems unfair—just when we really need lettuce as the foundation of a summer salad, the lettuce wants to pack up and spend its summer at Lake Tahoe (or some other cool spot). Here’s how you…
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Use a pond to raise fish for food on your property—we’ll show you the simplest ways to stock your pond with fish you’d like to eat. As the University of Arkansas Extension so penetratingly…
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Planning, installing and using drip irrigation is easier than you think! Shaking in your garden boots at the thought of it all? Our step-by-step videos and articles will help you get the right amount of…
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The expression “companion planting” sounds like garden lore you should have learned at your grandmother’s knee, right? If you missed out, you can now get the 21st century update on the…
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Did you ever want to poison a gopher? If you have gophers in your garden you know how hard it can be to control them organically. One of the worst moments for a vegetable gardener is watching a tall tomato…
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Everyone tells you to mulch your vegetable garden—but exactly how should you choose a mulch? In our new video, Tricia shows you the basics of mulching. What’s the difference between compost…
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Most cover crops are planted in late summer, but there are some cover crop seed mixes that can go in the ground in the springtime and give you benefits by the end of the summer. Cover cropping is a cheap…
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Just who is in a beehive? Three kinds of bees live in a hive: One female Queen bee Many female Worker bees A few male Drones God Save the Queen bee The term “Queen bee” is widely used to describe…
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Do you grow roses? DId you ever think about growing them organically? That way you not only keep synthetic pesticides out of your garden and groundwater, but you can EAT and DRINK your roses too. In our…
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Make your organic orchard bountiful by fertilizing your fruit trees. In our latest, research-based video, Tricia explains IF, when, and how much to fertilize your fruit trees. Keep reading here to learn…
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