Gardening

Growing vegetables in containers is becoming an increasingly popular hobby. It doesn’t require much space and, with a little care and attention, can generate enough produce to meet the vegetable needs of most small families. Follow this guide to vegetable container gardening and start enjoying the benefits of home-grown organic produce. Getting started Begin by choosing ...more

Virtually unheard of in American gardens 50 years ago, broccoli is now a cool-weather favorite. Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of vitamin A. It contains folic acid, calcium and chromium and is rich in many plant compounds such as indoles and isothiocynates, which have been found to have strong cancer-fighting properties. Use this guide to growing ...more

Home-grown organic carrots are simply fantastic. They taste far superior to anything you’ll purchase in a store and they’re packed full of vitamins and antioxidants. Best of all, they’re easy to grow. Follow this simple guide and start growing your own organic carrots. Choosing a site Carrots prefer cool growing conditions but are susceptible to frost. Choose a site ...more

Cabbage is a wonderful vegetable. Its outer leaves are a rich source of vitamin A, C, and K and it has antioxidant properties that make it an obvious choice for anyone looking to bolster their immune system. It’s also easy to grow. Use this step-by-step guide to growing organic cabbage in your home garden. Choosing a site Cabbage is best grown in colder temperate climates. ...more

There are over 500 varieties of potato grown worldwide. Most stores only stock five or six varieties. Growing your own potatoes opens up a world of color, shape, taste, and texture that will prompt you to reconsider the culinary potential of this humble vegetable. Follow this guide to start growing pesticide-free organic potatoes. Before getting started, it’s important ...more

More than any other factor, the quality of your soil will determine how successful you are in the garden. Understanding your soil’s texture, structure, drainage properties, and pH will help you make the most of your garden. Use these simple tests to gain an insight into the type of soil you’re working with. Why test soil? Soil is a living thing, with millions of ...more

There are many varieties of aphids. Not all aphids are pests in the garden, but those that are wreak havoc when left to their own devices. Follow our guide to controlling aphids without resorting to the use of insecticides. Aphids are small (up to 1⁄8 inch), soft, rounded insects with little wings. Upon closer inspection, a pair of pipe-like cornicles usually can be seen ...more

Even the most conservative estimates suggest that approximately thirty percent of marketable vegetable produce is lost each year due to poor handling and storage in the period following harvest. On a global scale this represents a significant quantity of food, enough to support very large populations such as China or India’s. In line with a general emphasis on sustainability, ...more

There are a few genuine perennials but most organic vegetables are annuals selected for either warm or cool season propagation. Because they produce their entire crop within a single growing season, consistent outcomes depend upon sowing at the best times within the correct half of the year. A normal temperature range of 7-20 degree Celsius is ideal for cool season varieties. ...more

After gaining some practical experience, many vegetable gardeners will proceed to develop schedules of routine cultivation. Over the years I’ve encountered the unbelievably complex, stunningly simplified versions and more or less everything in between. As usual, my personal philosophy on organic vegetable gardening is to concentrate on the basic principles. In most cases ...more