Bare Root Trees

Sometimes breaking the rules turns out OK. Instead, grab the radish where it meets the soil, and twist the root gently as if unscrewing it from the ground. While the cool, wet weather this spring delayed many local farmers from planting and slowed yields...

Pick a smooth-sided, glazed container to make climbing up the side of the pot difficult. Properly preparing a carrot bed can be a real chore that requires carefully tilling the soil to break up any large clods and screening it to remove stones and other...

Keep the soil moist until the seedlings germinate. Most beet seeds are multigerm, meaning each seed contains several embryos, not just one. Be sure to harden the seedlings off before moving them outside.

If they protrude above the soil line, just leave them be. They'll last for many months. Shallot sets are far larger than even the plumpest onion set. Spread the harvested bulbs out on an inverted plastic nursery flat or a window screen set atop some bricks...

If the soil is still too wet to till, I simply spread a 2-inch thick layer of compost over the planting area and sow the seeds in shallow furrows directly in the compost. Beets easily germinate in cool soil, but because each beet “seed” is actually...

Weevil-damaged tubers develop bitter substances that prevent the tubers from being used even as animal fodder. The tubers form best in loose, well-drained soils, as soggy soils will not produce good tubers.

NAA tends to be toxic to seedling root development, as it inhibits primary root growth and enhances lateral root growth. Some years ago plant growth regulators called auxins were discovered.

No matter why you choose to grow fennel, it can be a valuable and delicious crop for you, your farmers market customers and your local pollinators. It's definitely not your average crop, but it's also not the most difficult plant to grow either.

If I don't wash the harvested potatoes, they'll store for several months in the dark, cool conditions of my basement. I ended up planting 8 pounds of Kennebec seed potatoes. We eat any that get cut or bruised during harvest within a few days.

This plant relishes having its roots ravished. In the spring, you can have a root or two shipped to you through a garden catalog or pick up a pot of the plant at your local nursery.

Size: 10 to 12 inches Sunlight requirements: Full sun (will tolerate partial shade) Water requirements: About 1 inch per week—consistent moisture is key, so mulching well is recommended.

Balance the Soil pH Like most other vegetable crops, carrots grow best when the soil pH is between 6.2 and 6.8. Use a soil test to determine the pH of your garden's soil, and then add the recommended amount of lime to raise it if the results show a pH...

To deter them, I cover my newly planted radish seeds with floating row covers. Harvests begin anywhere from 20 to 40 days after planting, depending on the variety. If the row covers don't work and the flea beetle pressure is extreme, I sometimes turn...

I don't know of anyone in this day and age that doesn't need to work on repopulating their digestive workforce. Our American diet and lifestyle chokes off the good bacteria that are intended to live in our digestive system.

Sometimes it's a particular plant or plant family that proves difficult to grow and seemingly fights the gardener every step of the way. With so many delightful varieties, it's easy to see why people include members of the exceptional Apiaceae family...

Size: 12 inches Sunlight requirements: Full to partial sun (A minimum of four to six hours is ideal.) Water requirements: About 1 inch per week—overly wet soils promote black rot and other diseases.

This will help keep the birds out, though, again, they're smart , so you might need a scarecrow, too! Remove the cover once the corn is 2 or more inches tall—about a week. Why People Fail Radishes don't mind warmer soil, but they don't like hot growing...

This will ensure healthier, more productive plants, a larger yield and a marked reduction in the amount of time spent digging around to find the roots come harvest. Row cover is almost always the most effective deterrent for any of those pests, but maintaining...

Those who grow plants for profit are sometimes pushing marketability and profit and the impulse purchase. On pulling the tree from its pot, and unwrapping the fabric from the root ball.

Harvest and use them as soon as they are large enough.” To harvest radishes , simply pull them from the soil with your hands or pry them out with a small spade. Sow your first batch of radish seeds six weeks before spring's average last-frost date.

Their flavor is mild but may get slightly bitter during hot weather. Maturing in about 60 days, Lunar White looks beautiful on a market table or in a CSA box. Grow them up a trellis to save space.

Choose a Planting Method Many methods of planting potatoes exist: Plant the tubers in rows, 6 inches deep and 12 inches apart. The holes are easily removed when the potatoes are peeled, but their presence can limit their storage life.

Throughout the season, make sure the plants receive ample moisture, watering when necessary during times of drought. How To Prepare Rutabagas To harvest rutabagas, simply pull the roots from the ground when you're ready to cook or store them.

I recently discovered another set of plants in this same category: celeriac and celery. When the olive oil becomes fragrant, add the mushrooms and saute for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until they become brown and begin to release some water.

However, it was not an exceptional year for tomatoes . The edible portion of an artichoke is the flower bud, which is harvested when it's still tightly closed and well before any flower color is showing.

These side shoots sap energy from the main bulb, often leading to a reduced size. Celeriac, also called celery root, might not be very pretty, but it sure is tasty. Store peeled roots in water to keep them from turning brown.

Was the turnip you ate cooked properly? I put frost-kissed turnips in the same category as sun-warmed tomatoes and fresh-picked asparagus. Once the roots dry out, the texture changes, too.