Tomatoes
July Garden To Dos
July’s to-do list always starts with scouting for squash pests for me. Both squash bugs and squash vine borers usually show up right around the beginning of the month. Squash bugs lay coppery metallic eggs on the undersides of leaves—they’re easy to remove with duct tape. Then I put the duct tape in a bucket…
Read MorePollinator Plants, Heirloom Tomatoes and More at Open House
Now that the heat has broken a bit and we have had some rain, it’s a great time to plant some additional vegetables or flowering plants. We’ve got lots of options at the MSHS Open House, which will be held Saturday, June 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the MSHS office in Roseville.…
Read MoreNew Tips for Growing Tomatoes
This past weekend, I had a chance to attend the Gardening Expo in Madison, Wis. This is a hugely popular event with gardeners in our neighboring state. One of the standing-room-only crowds was for a presentation on growing tomatoes given by Joey and Holly Baird of the Wisconsin Vegetable Gardener website. The Bairds grow more…
Read MoreBook Review: Homegrown Pantry
Who among us has not accidentally planted six zucchini plants—only to be buried in summer squash come August? Or, harvested a huge number of potatoes and later found them soft, growing something strange from their beady little eyes? In her new book, Homegrown Pantry: A Gardener’s Guide to Selecting the Best Varieties and Planting the…
Read MoreNew Vegetable Varieties for 2017 Shrinking
Judging by the new vegetable varieties being offered this year, gardens are shrinking. More varieties are being marketed for patios, pots and raised beds. Everything from tiny eggplant to mini-squash and patio peas are in the catalogs for vegetable gardeners to consider this year. Here are new varieties (or at least newish) that look especially…
Read MoreWhen Can I Plant Tomatoes?
One of the most common questions we hear from northern gardeners in the spring is: When can I plant tomatoes? Our advice is: Don’t rush it. The University of Minnesota Extension Service recommends waiting until “after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed.” The last-frost date in Minnesota is generally between May…
Read MoreWhat's New in Vegetables for 2016
A pea is a pea is a pea, and lettuce would taste as crunchy by any other name. Apologies to both Gertrude Stein and William Shakespeare, but in the gardening world new names for peas, lettuce, (roses, of course) and many more generate excitement. New vegetables for 2016 include lots of yellow peppers and Brussels…
Read MoreTomato Recipe Round Up
With tomatoes ripening on the vine everyday, it is the perfect time of year to experiment with fresh tomato recipes. Whether you feel like making a delicious salsa, appetizer, salad or dessert, there are simple tomato recipes that you can use to create your favorite snacks. The recipes below are some of my favorites! They…
Read MoreWhat Is Wrong with My Tomatoes?
Like a lot of northern gardeners, my tomatoes were looking fantastic up until about a week ago. The plants were large, flowers and fruit plentiful and everything looking green and gorgeous. Then, we had a heavy down pour and another, and after the rain came heat and humidity. And, now, I’m wondering what is wrong…
Read MoreJoin Us for the MSHS Open House Saturday!
The weather forecasts call for a beautiful day on Saturday, June 13, perfect for spending the morning at our MSHS Open House at 2705 Lincoln Drive in Roseville. Then, stay for lunch with the Asian Invasion food truck, which will be in the parking lot. The events include a class gardening with kids from 10:30…
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