by Bethany Hayes Cucumber plants are prone to pests and diseases, and one natural way to prevent pests from taking over is to include some cucumber companion plants in your garden. While this technique isn’t the only way to avoid pests, it helps and encourages healthier growth … [Read more...]
Growing Romaine Lettuce: A Gardener’s Checklist
Romaine (also called cos) lettuce is a tasty, popular type of lettuce. Romaine grows in tall heads of sturdy leaves and is very heat tolerant. It gets its name from the Romans, who likely imported it from either Greece or (more likely) Arabia. Nutritionally, Romaine has all of … [Read more...]
Planting Garden Vegetables in Rows and Staggered Rows
 There are two normal schools of thought for planting a garden planting in traditional rows and planting in "staggered" rows. A third option, often called plant-dictated or random placement, is becoming more popular. Here are the pros and cons of each approach and advice on … [Read more...]
Small Vegetable Garden? Try These Layout Ideas
So you’ve been bit by the gardening bug, but you have a tiny plot. Don’t worry — even a small garden can yield big harvests. Before you start planting, though, think carefully about your garden’s layout. A well-designed space is critical in a small garden. To get you started, … [Read more...]
How to Grow Cucumbers
Whether you call them cucumbers, cukes or gherkins, cucumbers are one of the most popular home garden vegetables. A few years ago, cucumbers weren’t so easy to grow. Older varieties were prone to disease and insect pests and often failed to set fruit. The fruit was often bitter, … [Read more...]