Strawberries are tough to grow for a few reasons. For all the work and planning they require, the harvesting season is pretty brief. Here in Zone 6, we plant strawberries in the early spring, to be harvested by end of May, and June in the case of some varieties. Strawberry plants are susceptible to viruses, […]
How to Grow Strawberries Organically – NJ Zone 6 Read More »
A: Many experts suggest that once vegetable garden plants are established they should be watered deeply once per week – about an inch. Two inches if it’s been really hot. I don’t know about you, but I have no way of knowing how many “inches” of water I am spraying on my veggie plants. There
Q: How often should I water my vegetable garden? Read More »
Below find a handy seed viability chart. Not just for NJ gardeners! Plant Years Viable artichoke, globe 1 bean 3 beet 4 broccoli 5 Brussels sprouts 5 cabbage, heading 5 cabbage, Chinese 5 cantaloupe 5 chicory 5 collard 6 corn 5 cucumber 1-2 eggplant 5 endive 5 garden cress 5 kale 5 kohlrabi 5 leek
Seed Viability Chart (Vegetables) Read More »
As we enjoy the unseasonably warm October days, perhaps our NJ gardens are yielding more red, ripe tomatoes and green peppers. Here at Garden Beds NJ, we thought it might be fun to share instructions and a recipe for making homemade salsa. Equipment needed: Large pot with lid, such as Dutch oven 10 to 15
Homemade, Home Canned Salsa – Instructions and Recipe Read More »
A reader writes in and asks, “What’s the difference between hay and straw? Which one should I mulch my garden beds with, or does it matter?” A: Hay is grass or grain (clover, wheat, barley, alfalfa, timothy, oats or rye) that has been cut to use as animal fodder. A farmer will use a combine to pick
Hay or Straw: Which is Right for Your Vegetable Garden? Read More »
Q: I’m confused about the planting zones in NJ. After doing some Googling on the subject and finding various colored maps, I still don’t get it. I live in Hunterdon County and I’ve heard that our state has many sub-zones. Which one are we? Does this mean I should avoid planting certain vegetables at certain times?
Hardiness Zones in NJ Read More »
A Shady-Yard Vegetable Garden: Is It Possible? A reader emailed us asking if there was any hope for growing garden vegetables in her shady yard, in which the sun was being blocked out by several mature oak trees. We did some research, and some thinking, and this is what we came up with. If anyone
Growing Vegetables in Shade Read More »
Trying your hand at tomatoes this summer? While some first-time farmers shy away from the seemingly more complicated crops like corn or beans, nearly every newbie is willing to stick a few tomato plants in the ground and hope for the best. If you’ve never grown tomatoes before (or you have but you’re still learning),
Growing Tomatoes in New Jersey: Some Tips for Beginners Read More »
Ever considered planting tomato seeds? Perhaps you’ve grown tomatoes from transplants for a few years now, like we have, and are looking to get a little more experimental and hands-on with your NJ tomato crop. As my NJ gardener pal, Laura, is likely to tell you, growing tomatoes from seed requires a bit of extra
Growing Tomatoes from Seed in NJ Read More »
Growing NJ Tomatoes for Sauce Are you confused when it comes to selecting varieties of tomatoes to grow in your garden? Tomatoes are bred for specific characteristics, hence the thousands of choices. You have tomatoes that ripen early, and those which take longer to mature but are worth the wait… also plants that fill the
Growing Tomatoes for Sauce Read More »