Read more about the article Sprouting Seed Potatoes
This potatoes has at least 1 eye that is long enough to plant.

Sprouting Seed Potatoes

Continue ReadingSprouting Seed Potatoes

White potatoes get a bum wrap, but they are the most delicious tuber to grow in your own backyard. Not only that, they are easy and fun to grow, especially if you have children. From sprouting your own seed potatoes to digging for buried treasure, growing potatoes provides wonder and joy for kids and adults alike. First things first - sprouting seed potatoes Potatoes grow from potatoes, so it's easy to start your own. You may even have skanky potatoes…

Read more about the article Damping Off – What to do?
Discoloration and thinning of the stem right above soil level is a sign of damping off.

Damping Off – What to do?

Continue ReadingDamping Off – What to do?

The most exciting thing in the garden this time of year is the ritual of starting seeds for fall, but nothing bursts your bubble like damping off. What is damping off? It's when seedlings are overtaken by a pathogen (a fungus or mold) that damages them to the point of failure. Let's take a closer look. Damping Off Sucks When you put moisture, soil, and light together, you get germination. You may also get diseases. Damping off occurs under a…

Read more about the article Field Trip: Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello – Pt. 3 – Knowledge Passed Down
Different seeds that can be pressed for oils.

Field Trip: Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello – Pt. 3 – Knowledge Passed Down

Continue ReadingField Trip: Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello – Pt. 3 – Knowledge Passed Down

During my time at the Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello, I took a few classes. It was more like I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off, trying to gather as much information as possible from the abundance of classes on offer. In two days, I learned 3 ways to grow your own sweet potato slips, how to process seeds for home-grown oil, how to use every part of okra, and I heard an inspiring talk about…

Read more about the article Field Trip: Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello – Pt. 2 – Veggies and Fruits
The West Indian Gherkin was first planted in Jefferson's garden in 1812. We brought home seeds to try on this latitude.

Field Trip: Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello – Pt. 2 – Veggies and Fruits

Continue ReadingField Trip: Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello – Pt. 2 – Veggies and Fruits

Now for the good stuff: specific crops grown at Monticello. Some of these veggies and fruits date back to 1774 when Jefferson first planted the crop. We brought home a few seed packets (who could resist) to try them out in the Gardenerd Test Garden. Before we get started here are a few fun facts: Garden staff have successfully harvested artichokes 13 out of the 21 years that they have been grown at Monticello.They are also growing cardoons.Jefferson's favorite herb…

Read more about the article Field Trip: Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello – Part 1 – The Garden

Field Trip: Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello – Part 1 – The Garden

Continue ReadingField Trip: Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello – Part 1 – The Garden

I didn't think I had a bucket list until I realized I hadn't yet been to Monticello. That was nearly 10 years ago. Last weekend, I ticked Monticello off the bucket list. It was worth the wait in every way imaginable. Thomas Jefferson's 5,000 acre estate in Charlottesville, VA was his home during the latter part of his life (from age 76-83) after being the first Secretary of State, the second Vice President, and the third President of the United…

Read more about the article Design: Productive Patio Garden
Basils, chives, sage, oregano, thyme and parsley all grow well in containers.

Design: Productive Patio Garden

Continue ReadingDesign: Productive Patio Garden

We specialize in small-space biointensive gardening here at Gardenerd, so we get a lot of calls to install patio gardens from eager folks with limited space and sunlight. Our latest patio garden project gave the homeowner an herb garden, a space for veggies, and a few new fruit and berry crops in a small space. The homeowner has 2 children who were interested in eating home-grown veggies. They also like to play basketball and jump on a trampoline, so most…

Read more about the article Ask Gardenerd: Saving Tomato Seeds and Blight
Tomato seeds being soaked to remove the membrane around them.

Ask Gardenerd: Saving Tomato Seeds and Blight

Continue ReadingAsk Gardenerd: Saving Tomato Seeds and Blight

A question came in to Ask Gardenerd from Jeff Bremer this week: "This is a two-part question: 1. I save seeds from each year's tomato crop to plant the following year. I can never get all the "meat" of the tomato off the seeds. How do you clean these seeds? 2. Can early blight be transmitted through tomato seeds? Thanks, Jeff " Great questions, Jeff. Let's start with saving tomato seeds. Saving Tomato Seeds Saving tomato seeds is relatively easy,…

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