Growing Vegetables

Eggplants are fleshy vegetables which probably originated in India, although varieties grow wild and are cultivated all over the temperate and tropical world. Relatives of the pepper and tomato...

Do you enjoy the satisfaction of eating vegetables from your own garden? Why not try saving your own seed? Many vegetables typically grown at home will produce seed you can collect and use the...

Priming simply means soaking your vegetable seeds---usually overnight---before sowing. Priming hydrates vegetable seeds, but not enough for germination. When a primed seed gets into the ground,...

Snap pea seeds are notoriously difficult to germinate. Some gardeners estimate the germination rate as low as 15 percent. Snap peas have a minimal watering requirement, so one of the reasons for...

Swiss chard is a wonderful addition to any home vegetable garden. With the many varieties there are to grow, you can literally add a wide range of colors and flavors to salads and many other...

A self-contained garden in a 5-gallon pail works great for people with limited mobility or those who have no space for a garden. Many vegetables grow well in containers and also with other plants....

Growing your own pole beans can be keen---but it can also be a pain if you don't have the proper support. Since pole beans like to grow high and mighty, and they produce the best pods when they do...

Gardens around the world bring their own charm and beauty to their native lands. Asian gardens of all kinds have been praised for their mesmerizing minimalist look. The Japanese, like the people...

Because summer squash is one of the easiest vegetables to grow, it is a good choice for beginning gardeners. Summer squash varieties include zucchini, yellow squash and pattypans. Squash plants...

Whether you are growing hot or sweet peppers, you can give your plant a boost to grow more vigorously when you remove its first set of buds. Peppers are typically transplanted into the garden or...

Sweet potatoes are easy to grow as a root crop in your garden or as a decorative vine. The vegetable is highly versatile and can be harvested and eaten at any stage of its growth, and it has...

Summer squash is delicious. If you can supply lots of love, apply simple know-how's and follow easy instructions, the squash garden of your dreams is well on its way. Summer squash needs a lot of...

Deer love to eat tomato plants, and it takes some guile and ingenuity to keep those big, beautiful animals out of your garden. And don't think your garden is safe just because you live in a...

Roma tomatoes are ideal to use in sauces and salsas since they have dense flesh and less moisture content than other tomatoes. They are medium-sized and oval in shape. The Roma tomato is easy to...

Corn and pole beans have been grown together for centuries. Native Americans used to grow corn, pole beans and pumpkins together, calling the combination the "three sisters." This strategy uses...

Peppers, whether the hot or sweet variety, grow best in well-drained soils. Clay does not drain well and packs hard around the roots, preventing moisture absorption and blocking nutrients to the...

Saving seed from a giant pumpkin is similar to saving the seed of any pumpkin. The trick with a giant pumpkin is ensuring you're saving seed from an open pollinated, non-hybrid giant pumpkin. If...

An easy-to-grow vegetable, squash plants come in many varieties and grow quickly. They typically mature about two months after you plant them and will continue to produce vegetables all through...

Fiberglass is a widely used material in America. Fiberglass gardening pots are sold alongside ceramic, plastic, clay and wooden pots, and they are regarded by gardeners as just as safe as pots...

There are many things to consider when buying vegetable seeds for a garden. In survival situations, it might be impossible to replenish seed stocks. You can ensure an endless supply by planting...

Generally farmers and vegetable gardeners try to set aside a certain percentage of their corn crop in order to use those seeds for the following year's planting. Sometimes the corn seed ends up...

Add drama to your patio garden with potted okra plants. Okra can grow as high as six feet tall with a spread of two feet. The okra plant's large leaves, hibiscus-like flowers and upright pods...

The potato is an American classic that can be prepared hundreds of different ways. If you are growing potatoes in your garden, you will want to protect these beauties from decay by knowing what...

Sweet potatoes are fun and easy to grow as a root crop in your personal garden, or as a decorative vine. The vegetables are highly versatile, and can be harvested and eaten at any stage of their...

Onions are useful vegetables to grow as they are found in just about every cuisine around the world. They are virtually painless to plant and require very little attention save weeding and...

High in Vitamin-C and with a tangy, spicy kick, chilies are extremely popular in home vegetable gardens. Most people grow chilies indoors, most commonly in greenhouses, because they are native to...

If you save seeds or receive bean or pea seeds, they may still be in their dried pods when it comes time to plant. The pods provide a handy storage casing over winter. Planting beans and peas, or...

Planting beets in your garden provides you with a vegetable plant that can be eaten from top to bottom. The beet leaves make a great salad when young and tender, and can be cooked when older. The...

Green beans, also known as snap beans, are harvested and eaten when they are still immature. For a food source, the pods and not the seeds are prized. If your goal is to preserve your green bean...

Onion bundles, also referred to as scallions, are a great way to spice up your foods. They are full of nutrients like vitamins A, C and K, as well as potassium. The onion bundles are considered...

Okra is a staple in Southern cuisine of the United States and a fun vegetable to grow in the garden. It's also one of the easiest vegetables from which to save seeds for spring planting. Also...

Pumpkins are not only excellent seasonal decorations, but they are also a robust addition to many holiday dishes. Growing pumpkins at home is a rewarding venture that can be tackled by even the...

Astragalus plants are considered to be perennials, and their scientific name is Astragalus membranaceus. They are part of the Fabaceae family, and because of the wide and diverse nature of the...

Getting asparagus started in your garden is a long-term investment. An asparagus bed can produce fresh vegetables for your family for 30 years or longer. Asparagus is one of the first vegetables...

Looking to add a little heat to your cooking? Growing your own Serrano pepper plants will ensure that when you want some fresh spiciness for homemade dishes that it is available on the window sill...

Legumes include pole and bush beans and peas. Both tender varieties and those that are harvested dried are both legume plants. Harvesting legumes at the proper time ensures the best taste for...

Split peas are made from regular, smooth-skinned garden peas. They are harvested and dried before the skin is removed and the splitting is done. As a dried legume, split peas can be stored for a...

Many vegetable crops perform better and are more resistant to pests when they're planted near complementary plants. It's called companion gardening and while it's usually associated with summer...

Potatoes are fun and easy to grow as a root crop in your personal garden. These vegetables are highly versatile and can be harvested and eaten at almost any stage of their growth. As hungry...

Growing gentry summer squash rewards the gardener with both beautiful spring and summer blossoms and with sweet and juicy fruit that ripen all summer long. Growing summer squash is no more taxing...

Leeks and tomatoes have attributes that make them favored neighbors for some garden plants and unwelcome to others. Planting them adjacent to the right plants will give them a boost and will also...

Root maggots can plague turnip crops and spread from one plant to another quickly if they are not killed. Using preventative measures such as row covers and crop rotation or more extreme measures...

Fresh garden peas are abundant at the end of the growing season. Because they spoil quickly-often within 72 hours after being picked-it's best to immediately store any peas that will not be used....

Sugar snap peas are rich in vitamins A and C and have sweet, crunchy pods that come with or without side strings. They can be eaten raw or cooked and are easy to freeze for future use. Sugar snap...

When planted together, pole beans, corn and winter squash are known as the "three sisters." These crops were grown in tandem by Native American tribes, such as the Iroquois. Corn provides a...

Tomatoes are a basic staple of the American diet. They're delicious alone, mixed in salads or as the base for soups and sauces. The freshest, best-tasting tomatoes are those you grow with your own...

Collard greens are a variety of non-heading lettuce. Cold tolerant, they continue to grow after many other greens have died or gone dormant in winter. They are often used in place of cabbage or as...

Pole beans are found in home gardens and farmers' markets. If they are not picked at the proper time they will have a tough, fibrous texture, which renders them inedible. Even if you know nothing...

Tendergreen Bush Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are strong, heavy-yielding, smooth green beans that are excellent fresh, canned or frozen. This particular heirloom variety dates back to 1933 and can...

Sprouts are nutritious and can be grown year around. There is no need for soil or even a garden bed--grow sprouts in your kitchen for daily use. Sprouting onion seeds gives you sprouts that have a...