Anyone who is interested in organic gardening in NJ should consider the benefits of digging and prepping (or refreshing) the garden beds during fall. This makes sense for several reasons: It’s easier to dig garden beds in the fall. In early spring, the ground is slowly thawing out of undiggable, frozen conditions. In autumn, the soil […]
Why Dig Organic Garden Beds During the Fall? Read More »
I fully admit that we’re not the best at executing our plans to grow cool-weather crops in the fall. There’s just something so sad about having to say goodbye to those last, red tomatoes, and begin hacking up the browned twigs and bits sagging about our garden that was teeming with life just a mere
When to Plant Fall Vegetables in NJ Zone 6 Read More »
Wondering when you should start planting garden veggies in NJ this spring? For new gardeners in NJ: of course, the below dates are only an approximation. If you’re not home on April 1, it’s okay to plant your carrots on April 7! Note: The last frost in NJ Zone 6 is typically May 15. Schedule your
When to Plant Early Spring Vegetables in NJ? Read More »
When is it safe to plant vegetables in my NJ Zone 6 garden? A friend in NJ asked me when it would be warm enough to plant the veggies and herb plants that they’re selling at Home Depot and Walmart right now. My answer is, that depends on what type of garden situation you have
When is it Safe to Plant Nursery Plants in My NJ Garden? Read More »
In February, the soil is usually frozen and therefore can’t be worked. So if you intend to plant an early spring garden, then the best time to ready your garden beds for planting is before the second week of March. You want the soil to be prepared in time for that first spring planting, traditionally
When and How to Start Prepping Your Garden Beds in New Jersey Read More »
Thinking of putting in a raised bed garden this spring? Low maintenance and high yield make this a perfect choice, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience or time to devote to growing backyard veggies, but you still want to try. As compared to row gardens, raised beds are better for a few good reasons.
What Type of Soil is Right for My Raised Garden Beds? Read More »
A big concern for beginner gardeners is what if you miss your planting dates? To those just learning, growing vegetables and herbs successfully does require being mindful of a timetable. Some plants thrive in cooler weather, and other prefer the heat of summer. Some take several months to mature, while others are ready to eat
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What is Direct Sowing? Best Vegetables to Direct Sow in Your NJ Garden Are you new to gardening? Then you may wonder what it means to direct-sow garden seeds. To direct-sow simply means planting your garden seeds outside in the soil, as opposed to planting them in little, peat-filled containers indoors. Either method of planting seeds can
What is Direct Sowing? Best Plants to Direct-Sow in Your NJ Garden Read More »
What is a bumper crop? I found out recently that we have been using the term “bumper crop” incorrectly on this website. I looked up the term on Wikipedia, and learned that it refers to an unusually large harvest. Previously I had said things like “We’re going to have a bumper crop of lettuce” (meaning,
What is a Bumper Crop? Short Post Read More »
New Jersey is reputed as being the ideal climate for growing fine, fat tomatoes that burst with flavor. Even the most casual or inexperienced of NJ gardeners will probably put at least one tomato plant in come springtime to see what becomes of it. Tomatoes are most definitely a hot-weather plant, and do not fare
Tomatoes Planting Instructions for NJ Zone 6 Read More »