Sage Advice Archives - Page 9 of 25

Identify the male squash flower. Step 1 for hand pollinating.

Hand Pollinating Squash

Early-season gardeners in warm-weather climates are planting zucchini, yellow crookneck and winter squashes already. Flowers open, bees and other pollinators arrive, and soon there will be an abundance of squashes for eating and sharing. But with pollinator populations on the decline, we leave nothing to chance here at Gardenerd HQ. We hand pollinate. Perhaps you've heard our Tip of the Week Podcast on hand pollinating before. Now we're providing a visual companion. Here's an easy guide to hand pollinating your…

Post author:Christy
Post published:April 29, 2015
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:2 Comments

Harvesting basil is easy if you know where to look.

Harvesting Basil

Every once in a while it's time to return to basics here at Gardenerd. Our blog is filled with helpful hints for gardening, but we recently discovered that the basics for harvesting basil were not among those hints. So here they are. Basil is a fragrant staple of the spring and summer garden. There are dozens of varieties to grow, but they all behave the same (at least all the annual varieties do). Basil is a member of the mint…

Post author:Christy
Post published:April 28, 2015
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:3 Comments

Infograph: How to Store Food Right

The folks at Fix.com put together this nifty infograph on how to store food so it lasts longer in the fridge. I found a few tidbits of information that were new to me (especially the hacks at the end), so I thought I'd share it with my fellow Gardenerds. Take a gander and keep this chart on hand for when you need to keep food fresh after you harvest it. Editors note: I find that many of the veggies listed…

Post author:Christy
Post published:March 10, 2015
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:1 Comment

Gopher hole next to a Romanesco plant. Luckily the Romanesco got out alive.

Ask Gardenerd: What don’t Squirrels, Gophers and Rabbits Eat?

A question came into Ask Gardenerd last week: "What don't gophers, squirrels, and rabbits like, as I have no veggie luck. Renee" Oh, Renee, I wish I could say there is a food in the garden that these creatures don't like, but the truth is with very few exceptions they love them all. Some folks say the onion family wards away critters, but I've had gophers take down my leeks and onions from roots to green tips. Squirrels love my…

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 24, 2015
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:4 Comments

Rosalind broccoli ready to harvest

When to Harvest Broccoli?

I get this question all the time: how do you know when broccoli is ready to harvest? The answer is in your fingertips. You can tell when to harvest broccoli by touching the head, or bud (that's what broccoli is, a cluster of flower buds), and squeezing. If the head is firm and tight, and about the diameter that is expected for the variety you've grown, it's ready to pick. If the head gives when you squeeze it, or there…

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 3, 2015
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:2 Comments

Nectarines, plums and other stone fruits await your creative touch this summer.

Chill Hours: Choosing the Right Fruit Tree

A question came in to Ask Gardenerd this week about fruit trees: "What peaches grow best and are most flavorful in Mar Vista? Also what types of plums/pluots? I live in west Mar Vista, CA. Thanks for your help and for the emails. - Reeba" Before you decide which fruit trees you want in your home orchard, you need to determine which trees you can actually grow. That is to say, which will produce fruit in your climate. Let's talk…

Post author:Christy
Post published:January 13, 2015
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:2 Comments

Celery has a bitter, strong unless it is blanched.

Ask Gardenerd: When to Blanch Celery

We love this question that came in to Ask Gardenerd this week: "I planted celery about 6 weeks ago (from the chopped off part of market celery) and it is doing well. The stalks are now about 1/2 inch thick. When do I wrap it and how to make the stalks turn white." - Audrey Bishop Thanks for your question, Audrey. Here's your answer: You've got time. Blanching, for those who aren't familiar, is the process of covering celery stalks…

Post author:Christy
Post published:November 12, 2014
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:15 Comments

Golden Guardian marigolds reduce root-knot nematodes

Ask Gardenerd: Root Knot Nematodes

A great question came into Ask Gardenerd this week: "Do you have any tips on getting rid of root rot nematodes? Thanks! - Max" There are natural ways to rid or drastically reduce your soil of pesky nematodes, Max. But first a clarifying question: when you say "root rot nematodes" did you mean "root knot nematodes?" Root rot is usually caused by something else, like a fungus or by critters like beetle grubs eating the roots. Root knot, on the…

Post author:Christy
Post published:October 15, 2014
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:8 Comments

Flowers form into balloon shaped "hairy balls"

Ask Gardenerd: Pruning Back Milkweed?

A question came into Ask Gardenerd this week that I even asked myself last year: "First year planting swamp milkweed for Monarchs - just had two butterflies exit their cocoons this morning. Had five plants this year - going big next year. Question - lots of info on how to get plants started but nothing on end of season maintenance. Should we cut back the stems on the existing plants or do we just leave them? Not sure what to…

Post author:Christy
Post published:September 22, 2014
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:114 Comments

Ask Gardenerd: Low-Light Crops for Fall

An eager gardenerd wrote into Ask Gardenerd last week asking, "What crops can I grow in low-light conditions (5 hours of sunlight)?" Since not everyone has access to full sun, we're guessing this question has come up at least a few times for our readers. Here's the answer: You're in luck! There are many low-light crops that will keep you eating all season long. With 5 hours of sunlight, you can grow all the greens, as well as many root…

Post author:Christy
Post published:September 2, 2014
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:1 Comment