Thursday, March 27, 2008

Enjoy Fresh Tomatoes All Year

Interesting article on how you can enjoy tomatoes every month of the year.

Enjoy Fresh Tomatoes All Year

Preserving Precious Seeds, in Norway and Your Way

Article about Norway's new seed vault...

Preserving Precious Seeds, in Norway and Your Way

Gardening hobby blooms into organic farming career

Nice article about a Florida lady who took her passion for gardening and made a business for herself.

Gardening hobby blooms into organic farming career

Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces

Great article for those of you who want to garden but are limited on space.

Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Ruth Stout, The No-Dig Dutches

Very intriguing article about Ruth Stout and her method of mulching. Very interesting read!

(Thanks Dan)

Ruth Stout, The No-Dig Dutches

Wake Up America!

Wake up America! Your local farmer, produce suppliers, and mom and pop stores need you more than ever, and chances are your going to need them! A call to end “Big Box” mentality in America!

Written by: Alan Reed Bishop of Bishop's Homegrown and Hip-Gnosis seed development.

Wake Up America!


Organic Gardening — Asparagus

Good article for those who plan on growing asparagus in the coming years.

Organic Gardening — Asparagus

Tomato Gene Basics (In an Eggshell)

If you are thinking about crossing and breeding tomatoes then you will find this site very interesting. Lots of great info and pictures!

(Thanks Keith)

Tomato Gene Basics (In an Eggshell)

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Nostalgia You Can Eat

Today's mass-produced hybrid veggie seeds may win points for predictability, but what about taste? Growers of old-time heritage varieties know how important garden diversity is, and they are committed to helping others grow vegetables that don't just taste like, but actually are, the kind grandpa used to grow.

Nostalgia You Can Eat

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Whether pulled from yard or produce bin, leeks are four-season wonder

Great article packed with growing and historical information about leeks.

Whether pulled from yard or produce bin, leeks are four-season wonder.

Introduction to Organic Gardening

Thinking about going organic? This article has some basic information that might help you in in some way.

Introduction to Organic Gardening

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Secrets of Growing Tasty Cukes

If you follow these tips to minimize a cucumber's greatest enemy- stress- you'll prevent bitterness, as well as most of the other problems that may have marred your cuke harvest in the past.

Secrets of Growing Tasty Cukes


Prevent Tomato Diseases

Growing healthy tomatoes isn't rocket science. You just need to follow some common sense prevention tactics to prevent diseases. Check out this article for more information.

Prevent Tomato Diseases

Growing Spinach

Got questions about growing spinach? Check out this article.

Growing Spinach

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

This Week's Topic: Heirloom Vegetables

Great article for beginners. Lots of good information on heirloom veggies.

This Week's Topic: Heirloom Vegetables

Even master gardeners make mistakes

Good article that points how we are all prone to make mistakes when it comes to gardening!

Even master gardeners make mistakes

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Beginner's Guide to Fertile Soil and Raised Garden Beds

Have you been giving serious thought to implementing a raised bed system in your garden? If you answered yes, then this is the article for you. Lots of great tips and suggestions are offered to help answer some questions you might have.

Beginner's Guide to Fertile Soil and Raised Garden Beds

The Sweetest Potato

Great article for those who are thinking about trying their hand at growing sweet potatoes.

The Sweetest Potato

Thursday, February 28, 2008

The Principles of Vegetable Gardening

First published in 1901, this book offers a a glimpse into history. Covers topics including hotbeds, seed longevity, sowing seeds, transplanting, double-cropping and more. Tons of information that is still relevant today.

The Principles of Vegetable Gardening

Make vegetable gardening part of school curriculum, says DA-7

Interesting article on why schools should offer vegetable gardening as a part of their curriculum. What do you think?

Make vegetable gardening part of school curriculum, says DA-7

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Picking At The Peak

Useful article on when you should pick ripe fruits and vegetables.

Picking At The Peak

Mulch Materials Research Report

Which mulch is best for your vegetable gardening needs? And how much mulch do you need to use and when do you use it? This article might answer those questions.

Mulch Materials Research Report

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Growing Greens in Winter

Here's an article for all of you gardeners out there that get the itch to grow veggies in the winter. Wait a minute, thats all of us! :-)

Growing Greens in Winter

Fight Food Costs by Growing Your Own

Great article on why Americans are getting serious about growing their own food again.

Fight Food Costs by Growing Your Own

Lasagna Gardening at Farmer’s Market

Good article on the method of lasagna gardening. Also a couple of recipes for all of you cooks, too!

Lasagna Gardening at Farmer’s Market

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Tom Wagners Tater Mater Blog

This is a very interesting look into the world of Tom Wagner, renowned tomato and potato breeder. Wagner, who has been breeding plants for over 50 years, has created many recognizable and genuine varieties including the Green Zebra, Green Grape and Elberta Girl tomatoes. This is a very cool blog, worthy of bookmarking for further reading!

Tom Wagners Tater Mater Blog

Art of growing lettuce, so easy to master

Great article on growing and serving lettuce.

Art of growing lettuce, so easy to master

Sunday, February 17, 2008

How to Grow Pumpkins

Thinking of growing your own pumpkin patch this season? This article is a great starting point if the answer is YES! It discusses different varieties and all of the basics to produce good quality pumpkins.

How to Grow Pumpkins

Cooking Yore Vegetables

Do you ever wonder how past generations used the heirloom varieties you are currently growing? There are a hand full of cookbooks out there that cover this subject, to various degrees, and this article helps you find a few of them.

Cooking Yore Vegetables

WinterSown.Org

Looking for something new to try when it comes to sowing seeds? Check out WinterSown.Org, a great site with tons of great information on winter sowing your favorite plants.

WinterSown.Org

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Dan and Val's Heirloom Vegetable Garden

What a great little feature article! My friends Dan and Val McMurray show off their excellent heirloom vegetable garden for all of us to admire. Definitely an inspiration to any heirloom gardener!

Dan and Val's Heirloom Vegetable Garden

Support Your Local Farmer

Great article that lays out the basics of Community-Supported Agriculture and how it benefits everyone.

Support Your Local Farmer

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Growing Real Green Beans

Freshly harvested, garden-grown green beans, or those purchased at your local farmers market, are wonderfully different from those you'd find at the supermarket. This article discuses the different kind of beans you can grow in your garden.

Growing Real Green Beans

Heirloom produce offers many benefits to growers, consumers

Great article on the advantages of growing heirloom vegetables and seed saving.

Heirloom produce offers many benefits to growers, consumers

Sweet Corn Growing Tips

This is a cool website that has all kinds of information. Everything from the history of corn to different sweet corn varieties are covered, as well as growing tips.

Sweet Corn Growing Tips


Sunday, February 10, 2008

Striking Gold with Green Manure

Whether you garden in raised beds, a small backyard or on acres of land, cover crops can provide a wealth of benefits to the garden. For one, they often grow fast and develop in thick stands. Plus, they provide nutrients to turn a cover crop hack into the garden while the plant is still green and it's called "green manure."

Striking Gold with Green Manure

2008: The year of the inflation-buster garden

Great column on why a renewed interest in vegetable gardening among American families is on the horizon.

2008: The year of the inflation-buster garden

Eat right, buy local, be green

Great article on why more and more people are looking to buy local, fresh produce and why it benefits everyone.

Eat right, buy local, be green

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Beneficial Nematodes

Great article that explains what nematodes are and why they are so helpful in the garden.

Beneficial Nematodes

Sweet Success with Cantaloupes

Juicy, sweet and supremely satisfying, cantaloupes are one of the best crops that you can grow in your summer garden. A 1 cup serving of deep orange-fleshed cantaloupe provides a full day’s quota of vitamins A and C --- even even children think it’s a tasty treat! This is a good article on growing one of summers sweetest treats.

Sweet Success with Cantaloupes

Resist the Urge To Work Wet Soil

Many gardeners get the itch to get out the tiller and work up the garden soil a little too soon in the Spring when conditions are still soggy and wet. It is best for your gardens overall health if you fight the urge to work the soil when it is in this condition.Read this article for more information...

Resist the Urge To Work Wet Soil

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Soil Types: Improvement, Planting & Mulching

Good soil preparation and proper planting are keys to healthy plants and efficient use of water in the garden. This site lays out all of the basics for you.

Soil Types: Improvement, Planting & Mulching

(Thanks Julianna)

Creating a Salad That Bites Back

Great article that discusses cold-season vegetables and how you can put them to use.

Creating a Salad That Bites Back

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Companion Planting - Pairing Plants to Control the Insect Balance in Your Garden

Companion planting is an age old tradition. It’s a gardening technique that involves planting two or more plants near each other to derive some type of benefit. This article discusses the basics of companion planting to repel insects.

Companion Planting - Pairing Plants to Control the Insect Balance in Your Garden

Vine Crops Respond Well to Summer Heat

Having trouble with certain crops falling victim to summer heat? This article discusses vine crops and their great response to high temperatures. A very good read.

Vine Crops Respond Well to Summer Heat

Heirloom Gardening Tips

Nice article that is excellent for all new comers. Lots of great tips and tricks!

Heirloom Gardening Tips

The Best Varieties for Tomato Lovers

Good article that offers some very good recommendations for any tomato lover. Lots of taste descriptions are offered as well.

The Best Varieties for Tomato Lovers

(Thanks DeanRIowa)

How to Grow Tomatoes & 115 Ways to Prepare it for Table

This is the great work of George Washington Carver and was published in 1939 by the Tuskeegee Institute. This historic article is packed with information and recipes. Very good reading!

How to Grow Tomatoes & 115 Ways to Prepare it for Table

(Thanks Trudi!)

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Which Varieties are Best for Your Garden?

Curious which vegetable varieties might grow best in your garden? Cornell researchers are, too. This site compiles information from your fellow gardeners to help you decide what to grow. The information you supply can also influence breeding efforts and seed availability.

Which Varieties are Best for Your Garden?

Gardening in Containers Perfect for Tight Spots

This article discusses the advantages of contatiner gardening. It offers tips on soil mixes, plant care and more.

Gardening in Containers Perfect for Tight Spots

Plants for a Future

Search the Plant for a Future database for information on 7,000 species of edible and other useful plants. Very informative!

Plants for a Future

The Official Seed Starting Home Page

Very informative site dedicated to seed starting. Discusses indoor and outdoor sowing, transplanting guidelines and growing tips for many vegetables, flowers and herbs. A great resource for any gardener. Very worthy of bookmarking!

The Official Seed Starting Home Page

Friday, February 1, 2008

Growing Potatoes

A great article that covers all the basics of growing and raising potatoes.

Growing Potatoes

Surefire Summer Squash

Summer squash varieties make up for frail flavor with their abundant yields, vibrant colors, great nutritional value and variable shapes. This article will help you determine what varieties will suite you and your garden.

Surefire Summer Squash

Growing Hot Peppers

A great resource for anyone trying their hand at growing hot peppers for the first time. Covers all of the basics really well.


Growing Hot Peppers

Market Gardening with Heirloom Vegetables

This is a nice article that covers different types of heirloom vegetables that work well for market gardening. A very good start for anyone looking to get into the market gardening business!


Market Gardening with Heirloom Vegetables

Kitchen Gardens: Beyond the Vegetable Patch

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden produces authoritative, illustrated books that help readers in all parts of North America create gardens that are both beautiful and ecologically sensible.Generously illustrated with full-color photographs, "Kitchen Gardens" divides eighteen essays by well-known horticulturists into four categories: Kitchen Garden Designs; Kitchen Garden Basics; Essential Plants for the Kitchen Garden; and Regional Kitchen Gardens. Specific ideas for tailoring a kitchen garden to the Northeast, Southeast, North and Midwest, Southwest, and Pacific Northwest regions are also included. Very interesting!

Kitchen Gardens: Beyond the Vegetable Patch

Thursday, January 31, 2008

The New Seed-starters Handbook

Online book that describes the advantages of starting seeds indoors. Discusses containers, growing media, light, and water, and tells how to transplant young plants into the garden. Great resource for new gardeners.

The New Seed-starters Handbook

The Sustainable Vegetable Garden: A Backyard Guide to Healthy Soil and Higher Yeilds

Based on the international best-seller How to Grow More Vegetables, this "quick and dirty" introduction to bio-intensive gardening shows how easy it is to grow healthy, organic fruits and vegetables in almost any little plot of land. A revolutionary approach to feeding ourselves and nurturing the planet.

The Sustainable Vegetable Garden: A Backyard Guide to Healthy Soil and Higher Yeilds

The Future of Plant Breeding

Most heirloom gardeners like to experiment in crossing their favorite vegetables with one another to create something new and unique. This is a great article that discusses plant breeding and its future. It addresses some very important questions about teaching the science of plant breeding to future generations. A very interesting read.

The Future of Plant Breeding

Three Rare Beans

Every Heirloom vegetable garden has beans, but does it have these three exceptional heirloom varieties? Click the link below to find out more.

Three Rare Beans

Pop & Parch Heirloom Corn

Take a gander at this great article about Pop and Parch Heirloom corn. It offers a brief history of one of North Americas oldest and most grown crops, plus growing tips. Definitely a good read!


Pop & Parch Heirloom Corn

Americas Favorite Tomatoes

Mother Earth News compiled this list of Americas Top 20 Favorite Tomatoes, and as you might have already guessed many great Heirloom varieties made their way onto the list. What do you think? Is it accurate? Give it a read, post some comments and let us know!


Americas Favorite Tomatoes

Grow & Sell Heirloom Tomatoes

Have you ever thought about selling your extra vegetable plants? This article tells the success story of a New Jersey lady who started her own Heirloom tomato plant business from her front porch!


Grow & Sell Heirloom Tomatoes

Gardening in the 19th Century

Have you ever wondered what gardening techniques and vegetable varieties were popular with our ancestors? If so, then this publication will absolutely thrill you! The Heirloom Vegetable Garden: Gardening in the 19th Century offers a great look at what vegetable gardening was like in the 1800’s. Also included are old recipes, garden book excerpts and numerous illustrations.

Publication located at http://hdl.handle.net/1813/3715. Click here to read. (PDF File).

Catalogue Gems: Heirloom Seeds

You know, one of the best things to get you through the bleak days of winter is a good seed catalogue. The bright, colorful pictures and descriptions can give you great ideas for the upcoming spring, as well as help you track down great Heirloom varieties that you have been looking for. This article is a good starting point for all Heirloom Gardeners, old and new. Lots of great links! Go ahead, give it a read!

Catalogue Gems: Heirloom Seeds

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Welcome Aboard!

Hello and welcome to the American Heirloom Gardener blog! It is our hope that in the near future this blog will become a thriving source of information for all Heirloom gardening enthusiasts. Please bookmark us (subscribe) and check back periodically.

Thanks,
Brandon Caudill
American Heirloom Gardener