The herb-like vegetable for the adventurous palate Story by Bob Westerfield and Amy Rogers Just the name itself “arugula,” might seem somewhat strange to the average home gardener. It’s not exactly what you would call a staple in the average Southern summer garden. But if you are looking for something to spice up your salad …
The headless cabbage Story and Photos by A.J. Heinsz-Bailey What do ancient Greeks, Romans, Scots, and Southerners have in common? The answer is a love for a “mess” of tender, succulent collard greens. What exactly are collards? They are leafy non- heading cabbage family members referred to as Brassica oleracea var. acephala, the last term …
Understanding what they are and their purpose in production Story and Photos by Bob Westerfield We live in a world full of modern conveniences. It’s hard to find anyone that doesn’t own at least one smart phone, computer, GPS, or a host of other electronic gadgets. But, in spite of all the technological advances, when …
Growing plants with a purpose Story and Photos by Cindy Shapton When we moved from our city suburb to the country, I made a decision to be more conscience of plant material choices. No longer feeling the pressure to be just another pretty garden, I could chose plants with a purpose, ones that could move …
Tips for getting rid of squash bugs Story and Photos by Kristi Cook It happens every year. Carefully tended squash seedlings slowly mature into dark green, leafy bushes loaded with yellow blossoms, causing my mouth to water in anticipation of the summer’s first squash. And much to my dismay, I am never alone in my …
Grow your own basil in the home garden By A.J. Heinsz-Bailey One of the most revered flavors of the summer herb garden is the annual herb basil (Ocimum basilicum). When one thinks of basil, the first thought that usually comes to mind is traditional Italian pesto. Basil has also been used in African, Asian, and …
Grow your own organic sweet corn at home Story and Photos by Kristi Cook My garden is a living quilt composed of each family member’s favorites. For my daughter, there’s purple asparagus to announce spring’s arrival. For my husband, it’s jungle-like plantings of okra destined for the fryer. And for my littlest one, I grow …
Beat the garden bug blues this growing season Story and Photos by Dr. Blake Layton Looking forward to this year’s vegetable garden? So are many insect pests. Much like people, insects have strong preferences about which vegetables they like best. Tobacco hornworms love tomatoes but can’t stand cabbage or broccoli, while cross-striped cabbageworms’ preferences are …
An easy addition to your vegetable garden Story and Photos by A.J. Heinsz-Bailey What vegetable is often overlooked, easy to grow and comes in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes? If you guessed “radish” you would be correct. The word Radish comes from the Latin word “radix” which means “root”. The first known radishes …
The new gourmet ‘it’ vegetable for Southern kitchens Story and Photos by Cynthia Wood While on a food and native plant pilgrimage to Austin, Texas, I was offered a small plate of charred, wrinkly green peppers sprinkled with sea salt. The waiter said that the peppers were called shishitos and that they were native to …
