Quick Summary: Grow tomatoes in hanging baskets using small, determinate varieties like Tumbler, Tumbling Tom, or Tiny Tim. Use a sturdy basket at least 12 inches wide and deep with drainage holes. Water daily in summer heat. Fertilize regularly since nutrients leach with each watering. Choose a sunny spot protected from strong wind. Read time: …
Quick Summary: A complete guide to starting a balcony herb garden. Covers which herbs grow best in containers, design ideas for small spaces, care basics (light, water, soil), and troubleshooting common problems. Perfect for urban gardeners and apartment dwellers with limited outdoor space. Jump to: Which Herbs to Use | Starting from Seed | Design …
Quick Summary: Root bound tomatoes have roots circling into a dense mat from being in a too-small container too long. Signs include roots spilling from drainage holes, stunted growth, and misshapen leaves. Fix by gently loosening the root ball before transplanting. Prevention: pot up seedlings when they have two sets of true leaves, and use …
Quick Summary: Grow bags are reusable for multiple seasons if cleaned and stored properly. After harvest, remove soil, scrub the bag, soak in warm soapy water, rinse, and dry completely before storing flat. Replace potting soil each year for tomatoes to avoid disease buildup, or solarize old soil and add fresh compost. Quality bags last …
Quick Summary: Grow bags offer excellent drainage and air pruning for tomato roots. Use 7-10 gallon bags for determinate varieties, 15-20 gallons for indeterminate. The porous fabric dries out faster than plastic pots, so check soil daily in hot weather. One plant per bag for best results. Read time: 12 min | Experience level: Beginner …
Signs of Nutritional Deficiencies in Heirloom Tomato Seedlings and solutions to help prevent a range of tomato diseases
Quick Summary: Leggy tomato seedlings are caused by insufficient light, excessive heat, overcrowding, or starting seeds too early. Fix them by moving grow lights closer, reducing temperature after germination, thinning seedlings, and planting deep when transplanting. Tomatoes grow roots from buried stems, so deep planting corrects legginess. Read time: 8 min | Experience level: Beginner …
Quick Summary: Phenology uses nature’s signals (blooming plants, migrating birds, emerging insects) to determine optimal planting times. For tomatoes in Zone 4-5, wait until Memorial Day regardless of warm spring temperatures. Other cues: plant corn when oak leaves are squirrel-ear sized, potatoes when dandelions bloom, peas at apple blossom time, squash and beans when lilacs …
Quick Summary: Heirloom winter squash varieties offer superior flavor compared to commercial hybrids. Top picks include Blue Hubbard (roasting), Sweet Meat (soups), Cinderella/Rouge Vif D’Etampes (pies), Long Island Cheese (classic pumpkin pie), Butternut (versatile), and Red Kuri/Hokkaido (nutty and sweet). Cure squash for 1-2 weeks after harvest to harden skins for winter storage. Read time: …
HeathGlen Organic Farm is in Minnesota, which is in Zone 4-5, and every year I need to overwinter a number of the plants I grow in pots. I always bring in the potted blueberries, strawberries, bay trees, and perennial herbs, as container-grown plants are more vulnerable than those in the ground since they have very …
We’re all well aware of the benefits of growing your own food: it’s tasty, it’s cheap and it’s fun. But what if you don’t have a big garden to grow your vegetables, fruits or herbs in? Although I am able to grow my own produce on our 23-acre farm, my son is an apartment dweller …
You don’t need land to grow food. A balcony, deck, or small patio can produce vegetables, herbs, and even fruit if you grow vertically. I’ve helped customers at the Twin Cities farmers markets set up vertical gardens, and the results are always better than they expect. This guide covers design options from simple hanging baskets …
A salsa garden is one of the simplest and most satisfying container projects you can grow. Two pots, a few plants, and by late summer you’re making salsa from ingredients you grew yourself. I’ve been growing the individual ingredients at HeathGlen Organic Farm for over 20 years: heirloom tomatoes, jalapeños, cilantro, onions, and garlic. This …
Quick Summary: Best vegetables to grow for savings: tomatoes (taste difference is dramatic), bell peppers (expensive to buy), herbs (pricey and often wilted in stores), lettuce (harvest as needed, reduce waste), winter squash (prolific and stores for months), and perennials like asparagus and rhubarb (plant once, harvest for years). Skip corn, potatoes, onions, celery, and …
Quick Summary: Attract butterflies by planting nectar flowers (milkweed, aster, coneflower, black-eyed Susan) and host plants for caterpillars (milkweed for monarchs, fennel for swallowtails). Herbs like lavender, basil, and mint also attract butterflies when allowed to flower. Avoid pesticides, install a butterfly watering station, and leave some overripe fruit out for species like red admirals. …