Plant Gardens 101

Cauliflower is part of the cabbage family. However, unlike the cabbage plant, cauliflower can be easily stressed. If not taken care of properly it will lead to a less than adequate harvest.

If you are a fan of cauliflower (which I am once I cover it with melted cheddar cheese), then you should definitely add a head or two to your home vegetable garden.

Here are the steps you can take to ensure a good cauliflower harvest in your home vegetable garden.

Start by preparing the site where you cauliflower will be planted. Cauliflower grows best when the pH level of the soil is at least 6.5 and no higher than 7.5. You can test the pH level of your soil with a simple home test available at your local home or garden center. (more…)

Autumn typically signals the end of home grown vegetables from the garden, but with a little ingenuity you can harvest garden fresh produce well into the winter months. My Central Pennsylvania garden continues to supply fresh vegetables during the fall and winter when most gardeners in my growing region are content to dream about next summer’s bounty. Read on to discover simple tricks that will fortify your garden against the onslaught of frigid weather.

Fall often delivers brief cold spells with a few frost filled mornings, sandwiched between weeks of milder, frost-free conditions. The problem is that a single touch of frost can wipe out every tender annual growing in the garden. Fortunately, a little protection will enable frost sensitive vegetables and herbs to survive a cold snap, and reward the resourceful gardener with an opportunity to enjoy extended harvests.

Something as simple as the transparent, fleecy, floating row covers used to shield plants from harmful insects can also prevent frost damage. Row covers trap the warmth that radiates up from the earth much like the way that a cloud cover holds temperatures and prevents frost from forming. Row covers offer a few degrees of protection, keeping tender annuals safe from light frost. Use the thicker grade covers for maximum benefit. (more…)