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Mulching is another essential requirement for maintaining a healthy, easy to maintain garden. Mulch helps to keep moisture in the soil and keep heat, drought and pests at bay. A little effort will produce BIG results. Mulching is the process of spreading material around plants and trees, which protect roots and delicate stems from high temperatures. Mulching also suppresses weed growth… Read more »
Grow In Cool Weather Cilantro needs cool temperatures to grow well. Cilantro will bolt (send up a flower stalk) as soon as the roots get above 75 degrees or so. This happens quick in a small 3″ pot in hot sun. Cilantro needs to be grown in early spring or fall when the weather is cool. It requires mostly sunshine… Read more »
Growing potatoes in the home garden is easy and fun. Home grown potatoes taste better than the ones you can buy at the grocery store. You know your potatoes are free of harmful chemicals, and you can store them for several months. Get an early start – Potatoes are cool weather crop and by planting potatoes early you’ll avoid the… Read more »
Cauliflower is a cool weather crop that matures in the early summer or in the fall. Cauliflowers should be grown in full sun. You will get small heads if you grow in partial shade. Needs well-drained rich soil.Ideal pH 6.0 to 6.8, but can tolerate pH as high as 7.4 Plant cauliflower transplants when they are six weeks old. For… Read more »
Broccoli is a hardy cool weather crop. When properly grown it can yield for an extended period. After the large central head is harvested small side heads develop. Heat tolerant varieties allow broccoli to be grown in all but the hottest parts of the season. When cooler temperatures return in the fall plants will begin to produce more side heads. You might… Read more »
Pumpkins are a warm season crop and need good soil, lots of sun and plenty of room to grow. Soil should be fertile, aerated and warm enough for growing in temperatures of 65°-75°. Starting Seeds for Transplants Seeds can be started indoors one month before the last frost in peat pots by sowing 3-seeds per pot, later thinning to one… Read more »
Plant eggplant in full sun. Heat loving eggplant likes fertile well-drained soil rich in organic matter with a pH of 5.8 to 6.8. Buy eggplant transplants at your local nursery, or, start seed indoors at least 8 to 10 weeks before the last expected frost. Harden off eggplant seedlings, then transplant them to the garden when all danger of frost… Read more »