The rewards of homegrown garlic can be delicious. Homegrown garlic has a better flavor profile than what you find in a grocery store. I had a few cloves leftover from my last grocery run and wanted to find out if they would grow. As a beginning gardener, it can be easy to get excited and…
Read More
From bountiful gardens of vegetables and fruits to edible landscapes filled with berries, the idea of growing your own food sounds easy. The first step towards success is making the right selection to start with. If you are new to the world of fruit gardening, it is a different environment. Gone are the days of…
Read More
When you search online for vegetable gardening information, you are inundated with numerous blogs and articles with planting tips and tricks. Unfortunately, much of what is written is not supported scientifically. One of these topics is the concept of plant enemies. Plant enemies, as described by bloggers, are plants that harm other plants either by…
Read More
Many of us add compost and till our vegetable garden beds in the spring. This is a time-honored practice. But did you know fall is also an excellent time to add organic matter? Soils are made up of sand, silt, clay and organic matter. Good, productive soils contain 5 percent organic matter. Our native soils…
Read More
I recently heard a fascinating story that got me excited about seed saving. After the death of her grandfather, his granddaughter went through his home. Under the floor boards, she found his army gear from when he served in the Vietnam War. Inside the front pocket of his army top, she found a small paper…
Read More
It may be hot outside, but now is the time to start thinking and planting for the second season vegetable garden. The warm season vegetables are in full production, and the wheelbarrows are starting to overflow with squashes, corn, peppers and a few tomatoes. But now it’s time to replant those empty spots and fill…
Read More
It’s time again for the Master Gardener program’s annual fundraiser, the Master Gardener Garden Tour hosted by Rail City Garden Center in Sparks, Nev. The self-guided garden tour, held Aug. 18-19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., is a great way to learn what grows well in northern Nevada and get creative ideas for your…
Read More
Reports of food-borne illnesses are increasingly frequent in the news. Most foodborne illnesses are caused by consuming raw fruits and vegetables that are contaminated by pathogens. Pathogens are disease-causing microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses. Many people do not realize that home gardens are not free from pathogens. Many fruits and vegetables have natural barriers,…
Read More
The vegetable garden is planted and growing well, and you are starting to scout for insect pests. While you’re scouting for pests, scout for beneficial insects too. Many people think all insects are bad, but the truth is, less than 1 percent of insects are pests. Most insects don’t harm the vegetable garden, and some…
Read More
Every year, new ergonomic tools and innovative items fill the shelves of local stores. Though you can find just about anything for the gardening enthusiast, we came up with a list of the six must-have items. If you haven’t acquired a hula hoe, you don’t know what you are missing. Hula hoes come in handheld…
Read More