Crops and Soil

tavor artichokes

Backyard Sweet Corn

Nothing says summer like a freshly picked ear of homegrown sweet corn. Growing backyard corn isn't difficult, and although corn takes up a bit of space Read more . . .

Coast of Maine lobster compost

Coast of Maine Soil

The Coast of Maine family of organic gardening products offer a unique blend of compost-based soil mixes Read more . . .

seed garlic nootka rose

Growing Pepita Pumpkins

Pepitas are the nutritous edible seeds from thinner-skinned hulless pumpkins. The difference between pumpkin seeds and pepita seeds is the Read more . . .

seed garlic nootka rose

Growing Quinoa

Quinoa is native to the Andes mountains of Bolivia and prefers warm days and cool nights, so the quinoa grew well in our Zone 5a climate Read more . . .

stinging nettle plant

Stinging Nettle Containers

This is our second year growing stinging nettle and we're more convinced than ever that growing nettle in containers is the best way to grow this Read more . . .

seed garlic nootka rose

Growing Garlic

This was our first year growing garlic and it has now earned a permanent place in our garden. The garlic was easy to grow, wasn't Read more . . .

Calypso dried beans

Dried Shelling Beans

We've grown fresh green beans before, but this year we decided to try growing dry beans. Dry beans are grown just like regular green beans except Read more . . .

tavor artichokes

Artichokes "Tavor"

Artichokes were very high on our list of crops to grow but had heard they were a bit difficult. Turns out they weren't any trouble at all. They do take up quite Read more . . .

Vegetable garden cover crops

Backyard Cover Crops

Cover crops offer the same advantages to backyard home gardeners with raised beds as they do to farmers with large acreage and Read more . . .

stinging nettle plant

Stinging Nettle

Stinging nettle bites, stings and burns, but the plant has so many redeeming and useful qualities it's usually forgiven for being difficult. Nettle is Read more . . .

garlic harvest

Garlic Harvest

Figuring out when to harvest homegrown garlic isn't easy, especially for beginning gardeners. Most books say to harvest garlic when 30% of the Read more . . .

making soil blocks

Making Soil Blocks

Soil blocks have been around for a number of years and are a great alternative to using plastic cell packs. Once you buy the soil blocker the Read more . . .

USDA soil survey

Soil Survey

Buying property is a big investment and if you hope to have a productive farm or garden on that property it's a good idea to find out about the Read more . . .

jiffy peat pellets

Jiffy Peat Pellets

Jiffy peat pellets have been around for decades and offer an alternative to soil blocks and cell packs for growing seedling transplants Read more . . .

Matt's Wild cherry tomatoes

Tomatoes "Matt's Wild"

Matt's has proven to be one tough little tomato plant and should be the official tomato of the USPS ("Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of Read more . . .

yukon gold potatoes

Potatoes "Yukon Gold"

Potatoes are easy to grow and adapt well to container gardening so you don't need a huge amount of space. One potato half will return eight to Read more . . .