First, let’s answer the question, “what is companion planting?“. It’s the practice of growing various plants together so each plant may benefit from the other. This practice can offer shade, retain moisture, enrich the soil with nutrients, protect against pests and disease, or lure beneficial insects and pollinators. It can also include: Identifying plants that … Read more
Root vegetables are enjoyable to grow because you never quite know what you’re going to get—some carrots can create some pretty unique shapes as they mature! Carrots represent almost every color of the rainbow. Also, if you let their lovely, airy, leafy tops flower, you won’t believe the display! We’ll cover the best carrot companion … Read more
Cabbage is a simple plant to grow, and many of its varieties are so attractive that you could grow them alongside your ornamental plants. The amount of food you get for the amount of space used makes cabbage, which can grow quite large, worthwhile. They face the most significant threat from aphids and the dreaded … Read more
Broccoli may be a vegetable that you either love or hate, but once you grow it, you’ll most likely love it. It’s an excellent crop for the cool season that can handle a little bit of light shade. They are also big, beautiful plants that can produce for several weeks. Try growing the “Romanesco” type … Read more
Beets are a crop that indeed provides everything: both the leaves and the roots can be consumed! The bright red round roots are what most people are accustomed to seeing pickled in salads, but beet leaves are also delicious and nutrient-rich and can be prepared similarly to spinach. We’ll cover all of beets companion plants … Read more
Beans come in two types: bush and pole (aka runner). With two varieties to pick from, you can grow beans in your garden regardless of size or shape. On some sort of trellis, you must grow runner beans. Bush beans are very productive, but you can grow them in containers without a trellis! We’ll cover … Read more
Rich in antioxidants and vitamin K, cauliflower is a tasty addition to any meal. As you’re considering the health benefits of this fibrous vegetable, you might be wondering: is cauliflower man made? Let’s take a look at how farmers used selective breeding to cultivate desirable wild cabbage traits over many centuries. The Short Answer: Is Cauliflower … Read more
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable, so you have to wait two years after planting it to start harvesting is somewhat offset by the fact that it can produce for 15 to 30 years. However, fresh shoots that emerge from the ground in the spring can be eaten, and for the remainder of the growing season, … Read more
One of the few perennial vegetables is the artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus). This lovely plant is silvery green and works well in vegetable gardens and ornamental beds. The artichoke’s unopened flower is its edible portion. But don’t be too sad if you miss the harvest of an unopened flower; the flowers are just as … Read more
Did life give us lemons? Or did we make them ourselves? The citrus family has an elaborate taxonomy, much of which precedes historical documentation. So it’s difficult to say when, where, or how the first lemon trees appeared. Let’s look at the existing evidence and scientific speculation to determine if lemons are man-made. Short Answer: … Read more
