Small Spaces, Little Water, Big Harvests
I have had typically mediocre results growing potatoes in the Sacramento Valley. This is due to the temperature sensitivity of the potato plant (both frost and sustained temps over 90 degrees Fahrenheit will stunt or kill them) the length of time it takes reasonably large tubers to form (90-100 days) and the often brief period…
One of my favorite results of a summer garden is the bulk supply of homemade dill pickles that accompanies any decent cucumber harvest. Unfortunately, many of the pickle recipes I attempted in years past relied on hot water processing (boiling the jars of pickles for many minutes) to create a shelf stable product. While this…
To a novice gardener, fertilizing can seem like a daunting and intimidating task. The shelves of big box home improvement stores and small garden supply shops alike are typically brimming with an overwhelming selection of different fertilizers and plant foods. This can easily lead to a “paradox of choice” induced anxiety attack in someone just…
Left alone, a backyard garden can get out of hand fast. Tomato plants can overgrow into an impenetrable tangle of collapsed and broken branches, vining squashes and cucumbers can spill out of beds and overtake everything in a 30-foot radius, inconsistent watering can lead to such problems as blossom end rot or outright plant death,…
Originating from the tropical regions of the Americas, the sweet potato is an excellent hot weather crop for novice and experienced gardeners alike. Once a propagated sprout (called a slip) has been planted, the gardener’s work is largely done. Given adequate water and even marginally fertile soil a dense tangle of sweet potato vines will…