Planting a Victory Garden 2.0 is a good way to preserve your sanity in a crazy world. Plus, you get vegetables! Victory Gardens were vegetable and fruit gardens that people planted in their yards during World War Two. Not only were Victory Gardens a great way to provide homegrown food, but these gardens were morale boosters during the war. In 2020, the Victory Garden idea was brought back to life when the COVID-19 outbreak forced millions of people worldwide to quarantine and stay at home. Instead of feeling helpless, thousands of people retuned to gardening by starting a Victory Garden 2.0. That's because growing plants and tending a garden provides stress relief, a healthy outdoor activity, and food security. Many people don’t realize that gardening has a history of being a coping tool during times of national crisis. During the first World War more than 100 years ago, the U.S. government encouraged Americans to plant vegetable gardens. (Back then, they were called Liberty … [Read more...] about How to Start a Victory Garden 2.0
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Prevent and Treat Tomato Diseases
Prevent and treat tomato diseases to ensure your harvest of America’s favorite homegrown vegetable. Tomatoes are the most popular edible plant grown in backyard gardens. Homegrown tomatoes more tasty than store-bought tomatoes. Plus, tomato plants are quite productive and easy to grow. But you must prevent and treat tomato diseases to ensure a healthy harvest of homegrown tomatoes. That’s why the editors of Home, Garden and Homestead have put together this story about how to prevent and treat the five most common tomato diseases. Follow the tips below to grow the best crop of tasty tomatoes ever! Also, check for Tomato Disease Control Products on Amazon. Home Garden and Homestead receives a small commission on sales generated by the links in our stories. Prevent and Treat Tomato Diseases: Early Blight Early blight is a fungal disease that can affect tomatoes, causing leaf spots, stem lesions, and fruit rot. It's characterized by concentric rings on lower leaves, creating … [Read more...] about Prevent and Treat Tomato Diseases
How to Grow Swiss Chard
Grow Swiss chard in your garden and enjoy fresh greens throughout the summer. Swiss chard is a versatile and nutritious vegetable that can be grown easily in a home garden. With its colorful stems and large, tender leaves, Swiss chard is a delicious and beautiful addition to any garden. This versatile plant can be used in a variety of dishes, including salads, soups, and stir-fries. Here are some tips on how to grow Swiss chard, along with descriptions of some popular varieties. Grow Swiss Chard: Introduction Swiss chard can be grown in most regions and is best planted in the spring or fall. It prefers well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Swiss chard can be grown in full sun or partial shade, but it does best with at least six hours of sunlight per day. To plant Swiss chard, sow seeds directly into the soil, about ½ inch deep and 2-3 inches apart. Cover the seeds with soil and water gently. Swiss chard seeds usually germinate within 7-14 days, depending on … [Read more...] about How to Grow Swiss Chard
How to Grow Tomatoes in Containers
It’s easier than ever to grow tomatoes in containers. Here’s how. Tomatoes are the queens of the backyard vegetable garden, and growing vegetables is more popular than ever. But not everyone has a backyard with lots of space for an impressive garden plot. Fortunately, most flowers and many vegetables can be grown in containers. This makes growing vegetables such as tomatoes, squash, peppers, salad greens, and all types of flowers possible on decks, balconies, and other small spaces. Thanks to new types of growing containers and new dwarf varieties of popular plants, virtually anyone can successfully grow a fabulous garden. Quick Tips on Container Gardening There are a few important things to know about how to grow tomatoes in containers (or any kind of plant). Even before you select the pots or containers for your plants, pick the best location for your container garden. Tomato plants (and most vegetable plants) like at least 6 hours of full sun a day. So, pick a … [Read more...] about How to Grow Tomatoes in Containers
Water Bath Canning for Beginners
Water bath canning for beginners is growing in popularity. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people have discovered (or rediscovered) backyard gardening. The result is more gardeners growing more fruits and vegetables. With a bounty of new homegrown produce, these new gardeners now want to know how to preserve their harvests. Preserving fresh fruits and vegetables is commonly known as “canning.” Most people do their canning in glass jars, such as the canning jars from companies such as Ball and Mason. The most familiar type of canning is what is known as a water bath canning. Water bath canning for beginners starts with cooking the fruits or vegetables according to USDA directions. The put the cooked produce in canning jars and process it in a water bath. It sounds a bit complicated, but it really isn’t at all. When I was growing up, the produce from the garden was harvested. Then my mother and grandmother spent days cutting up the fruits and vegetables. Next, the … [Read more...] about Water Bath Canning for Beginners
