QUESTION: Do rabbits eat tomatoes? I know they love greens, but I am wondering if my tomato plants are relatively safe. — Tina I ANSWER: Yes, rabbits will eat tomatoes. They don’t only enjoy the plants themselves but also the fruits. Rabbits are herbivores. This means that they enjoy a variety of plants and greens. It’s common to see rabbits munching on tomato leaves and stems while enjoying a few other garden plants such as lettuce and cucumbers....

Question: Do you need to fertilize trees? I’ve seen my neighbor fertilizing one of his, but I’ve never done that before and I wonder if it’s even necessary. – Jacob H Answer: There are two factors which will decide whether you should fertilize a tree or not. The first factor is what type of tree you’re growing. The second factor is the type of soil you’re planting in. If you’re growing a tree which produces fruit, it’ll need more nutrients during the time of blooming and producing....

Every summer the following joke circulates in Maine: Why do Mainers lock their cars in August? So people won’t dump zucchinis in the back seat! Zucchini is an easy and bountiful crop to grow. In fact, tasty slender zooks turn into oversized baseball bats almost overnight if you are not vigilant. Zucchini is an excellent source of vitamin C and other nutrients—the darker the skin the more nutrients. It’s also very low in calories....

Getting started in hydroponics can seem like a daunting task, when you begin to look at all the considerations that go into designing, building, and using a hydroponic growing system. But once you harvest your first gorgeous bounty, you’ll be ever so glad you did! This beginner’s guide to hydroponics will walk you through the basic principles of hydroponics, answer many of your questions, and set you on your way to a fun and rewarding activity of which you’ll be reaping the benefits for years to come....

Are you one of today’s harried urban gardeners, with less time to putter but more need to relax? Feel married to your lawn most of the year, but not particularly happy with the high-maintenance ol’ gal? Time-consuming demands on today’s busy homeowners don’t leave much spill-over for outdoor necessaries such as mowing, fertilizing, mulching, and weeding, let alone flower gardening! So you might think the very idea of attempting one of those flower-filled, meandering, paths-crossed, bench-friendly cottage gardens is ludicrous....

If you really want to challenge yourself, consider growing cauliflower! This plant is a bit picky but has amazing results that make the effort worth it. Throughout the growing season, you’ll be paying special attention to the temperature and watering. At harvest time, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful heads of white cauliflower or any of the many colors available! Table of Contents Cauliflower is much more diverse than you think. Many types have vibrant coloring, from sunset orange to vivid purple....

Nasturtiums are the perfect “spillers” in container arrangements. They’re also edible. Both the young leaves AND the blooms can be tossed into a salad with other garden greens. (Though before you dump in a handful, I’d take a little nibble to make sure you like them first. The leaves can be a bit peppery and too spicy for some.) I love topping salads and desserts with nasturtiums when I’m serving them to company or bringing them to a potluck....

As you’re reading this article, you’ve already decided that growing vegetables in pots is something you should try. And you’re right; you can grow crops on a balcony, rooftop, patio, porch and even indoors on a windowsill. The possibilities are endless, and you can produce edibles in substantial amounts. Also Read: Windowsill Vegetable Garden Observe Identify, and Plan Take a look at the space you’ve chosen to start your container vegetable garden Take a look at the space you’ve chosen to start container vegetable gardening!...

Of all of the things that a gardener can choose to grow, vine crops are a popular choice. Growing vine crops doesn’t have to be hard. And if you live an area where they do well, you can get yourself a nice crop of plants such as pumpkins, squash, watermelons, and cucumbers, just to name a few. The first step that you need to take is preparing the soil. Getting off on the right foot is key with a successful garden for growing anything, and vine crops are not an exception....

QUESTION: I’m harvesting a lot of cabbage. How do you store cabbage long term? Can I freeze it? -Ted S. ANSWER: Cold and moist storage is preferable for long term cabbage storage. Cabbage needs a cold, moist environment that is between 32 to 40 degrees F and 95 percent relative humidity, which can be a challenging environment to create. Refrigerators will provide the cold temperature, but they also dry the air, so it’s best to store cabbage in a root cellar or in the garden in a mound or pit....

QUESTION: How much sun do bell peppers need? I’ve got a spot on the back porch that is extremely sunny and I wonder if it’s too much. – Lydia B ANSWER: Bell peppers are sun-loving plants. They enjoy plenty of bright light and warm temperatures. Therefore, they must be grown in a location where they’ll receive full sunlight. When choosing your growing location, either indoors or outdoors, ensure they’ll receive at least six to eight hours of bright lighting each day....

Growing plants in a greenhouse, whether edible or ornamental, requires a little work beforehand. Learn from these common mistakes and have a successful growing season. Humidity Too much humidity can allow mold spores and diseases to run rampant in your greenhouse; too little and the plants will die of thirst. Do research ahead of time to group plants together with similar humidity needs. Grow them at the same time, or build more than one smaller greenhouse, if space permits....

Cultural treatments are the best way to control this disease, and the discussion below will walk you through the symptoms, life cycle, and control measures of white spot disease on crucifers. Cercospora / Pseudocercosporella While the fungi Cercospora or Pseudocercosporella that cause white spot can severely affect turnip, rutabaga, canola, mustard, radish, horseradish, and hybrids of turnips and mustard, they are much less likely to affect kale, collards, broccoli, or cauliflower....

The tender stems of any plant indoors or outdoors can get easily damaged, crushed, or broken for a variety of reasons. It can interfere with the plant’s nutrient flow, leading to its death. To make sure your green friends survive that ordeal, here’s how to Fix Bent Stems of Any Houseplant. Check out our article on how to fix leggy succulents here How to Fix Bent Stems of Any Houseplant? 1....

by Jennifer Poindexter Do you consider yourself a frugal person? I certainly am, and I wear it almost like a badge of honor. I don’t like to waste things, and I don’t like spending money when I don’t have to. Whether you share my sentiments or would just like a cool kitchen experiment, you’re in the right place. I’m going to share how you can use your kitchen scraps to grow a new plant....

Sunflowers are gorgeous plants that can brighten up any space. Here’s all you need to know about How To Grow Sunflowers On The Balcony to attract attention from people and bees alike! Check out our article on the best yellow flowers here Best Types of Sunflowers for the Balcony As sunflowers can get quite tall, you must choose a variety that stays compact while giving you big yellow flowers! Dwarf Sunflowers are the best choice, and here are the best ones you can grow!...

Harvesting lettuce seeds is easy, fun, and frugal. In this post, I will tell you when and how to collect and save lettuce seeds from your garden, including step by step instructions. Collecting lettuce seeds is a great way to save yourself some money, and keep your favorite varieties for years to come. One of the most rewarding tasks in my garden is harvesting seeds to plant next year, and lettuce is one of my favorites....

In this growing guide, we will focus on how to grow and care for Tagetes tenuifolia, or signet marigolds. You may also see this plant referred to as Tagentes signata when purchasing plants or seeds. Tagetes tenuifolia Marigolds are widely recognized as one of the easiest plants to grow. They can thrive in various soil types, bloom from summer to autumn, and are incredibly hardy. In short, marigolds are marvelous....

The small, fringed flowers are massed in densely packed, flattened clusters atop tall stems and have a fragrance reminiscent of sweet cloves – although in the case of many hybrids, the scent has been bred out of them. Dianthus barbatus Among the most popular of all Dianthus species, sweet william (D. barbatus) is a favored ornamental with numerous cultivars and hybrids in a broad range of flower colors and plant sizes....

I hated the thought that I would have to wait the whole winter without knowing whether the health of my trees had been compromised by the attack. When our little Alaskan house was being built, I begged the builder to tell the land-clearers not to cut down any trees they didn’t have to remove. But they clearly didn’t care about a young woman’s request to keep the forest as intact as possible, and razed almost the entire lot....