Asparagus Essentials
Plant crowns in the spring as soon as the soil can be worked. Plants will take three growing seasons to become established. Allow ten to twenty plants per person (15 to 30 feet of row). Asparagus will thrive in slightly acid soil (pH of about ... [... more]
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Planting Preparation for Peanuts
Getting the soil prepared for planting is key to a healthy and bountiful peanut harvest. Peanuts prefer a well-drained soil with a sandy or sandy-clay subsoil. The nut-forming pegs penetrate sandy soils easily, but have trouble with clay soils. ... [... more]
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Soil Preparation for Potatoes
Potatoes will grow in just about any well-drained soil, but they dislike soggy soil. Because they do all their growing underground, they can expand more easily in loose, loamy soil than in heavy, compacted, clay soil that keeps plant roots from ... [... more]
National Gardening Association |
All About Scallions & Chives
Almost any onions sown from seed can be scallions (also called bunching onions, green onions, spring onions or green tails). Plant them thickly, pick them young, and you've got scallions. To have scallions in the summer, plant seeds of an onion ... [... more]
National Gardening Association |
Garden Prep for Tomatoes
Where you plant your tomatoes in the garden is important. Tomatoes need at least six to eight hours of sun a day to produce well -- and full sun is best, especially in cooler, more northern climates. Tomato roots won't do well in soggy soil -- a ... [... more]
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Parsnip Varieties
This vegetable was popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans, and has been grown in America since the first colonists brought it over from Europe. Unfortunately, not many gardeners grow parsnips, perhaps because they take so long to mature. ... [... more]
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Selecting Root Crop Seeds
When you open a seed catalog or visit a garden center, you may be boggled at the sight of all the different varieties for some of the root crops, particularly carrots and beets. As long as your seeds come from a reputable seed company, choose ... [... more]
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Harvesting & Preserving Peanuts
Inspect your peanut plants every couple of days as harvest time approaches. Check plants in different parts of the row to determine if the pods directly under the main part of the plant are ready to harvest. Prior to harvesting, the plants start ... [... more]
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Onion Problems
Pests and diseases can ruin an onion crop. Here are ways to avoid these problems. Onions in the North aren't usually bothered by insects like onion thrips or onion maggots, but if you live in the South you'll have to deal with them. Thrips are ... [... more]
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Sweet Corn Essentials
Seeds can be started indoors, two seeds per peat pot, 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost date. Plan the garden to prevent cross-pollination between incompatible types of corn and to prevent tall varieties from shading nearby crops. Just before ... [... more]
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Radish Essentials
Plant short-season or spring varieties in spring or fall, depending on local temperatures. Ideal growing temperature is 60° F to 65° F. Cooler or warmer weather results in harsher-tasting radishes. Plants will mature in 18 to 45 days, depending .. [... more]
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Monoecious
Before growing your vine crops, you may need to understand a little bit more about vine crop vernacular. When it's time to choose seeds at the garden center or from a seed catalog, check with a gardening neighbor or your local cooperative ... [... more]
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