When To Plant Jalapenos

Buckets filled with compost or damp, well-rotted sawdust make fine winter homes for cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and other cabbage cousins that would never survive winter in the open garden.

Mulching like this also means you can adopt a no-till method of gardening. Don't let the weeds get you down: persistence pays off and once you've gained control hoiking out the occasional weed can be seen as a pleasure, not a chore.

Branches that are too thick for the machine can go on your fire if you have one, or be used to make bug habitats. It has a beneficial effect on soil life, which results in better plants, so is a very desirable addition to the vegetable garden and to potting...

Plants and stone always look great together, so it is often a top choice for hillside beds less than 18 inches (45cm) high. You can now play with various bed designs and materials, using your drawing as a planning tool.

Last year, I cut off the corn stalks at 14-inch (35cm) height, and used the tall stubs to support a row cover, which protected the fall greens from insects, deer and harsh weather.

You will need to protect plants should a frost threatens while there is still some of the growing season left to run. I'm very keen to hear how you speed ripening along at the end of the season.

There are also two serious diseases to be aware of. Branches can quickly die of this disease. It's not uncommon on plums and related plants, and in the absence of the distinctive dead, sunken patch it's likely due to other less serious issues, such as...

Even thorough scrubbing fails to remove all traces of chilli pepper's spicy capsaicin; as you might imagine, a careless rub of the eye during a momentary lapse of concentration can be painful.

Balance and Speed Using a watering can? This technique ensures a really thorough watering that makes very efficient use of water. This means you can water carefully and precisely, enjoying the convenience of a hose – without wasting a drop! Water from...

Keep them on a cool, bright windowsill. Check the shoots periodically for aphids and plant them before they begin to wither. If you thought growing potatoes was hugely satisfying, second-crop potatoes will prove even more so! Give your holiday season...

For larger cooking apples you're looking for around 6-9 inches (15-23cm) between fruits. But thinning further can help trees to stay in good shape and produce a more useful crop. Their smaller fruitlets may be thinned using just your thumb and finger...

You can buy them on cards primed with ready-to-hatch pupae to hang up near infected plants. Simply paint or color in cards yellow, then smear with a concoction of petroleum jelly cut with a little dishwashing liquid.

And if you're heading away from home for more than a week, encourage your neighbors to harvest them – they'll get free food and you'll come home to continued pickings! Keep picking to keep the harvests coming 2.

No food gardener's armory is complete without a length of fine mesh netting. Simply leave some areas of your garden unmanicured, or you can install a bug hotel . It is important to keep the immediate vicinity of your vegetable beds tidy.

Continue to water cabbages as they grow. Left in the ground when the crop is cleared, these roots will help to feed the cabbages that follow. If you have a variety you'd particularly recommend, or perhaps another tip for growing cabbages, please share...

Well-considered seating is the answer. LED lighting is low cost, versatile and doesn't use much electricity. After all, what's the point in having a beautiful garden if you can't take a moment to revel in its all-round gorgeousness?

Popular varieties include ‘Red Meat', ‘Mantanghong', ‘Misato Rose' and ‘Stargazer'. Photo courtesy of All-America Selections Award Enter the Dragons – Colorful Chinese Radishes Often called Chinese radishes and introduced to western home gardeners...

Freezing Homegrown Produce The freezer has transformed the home-grower's lot. Dry off the produce before storing in freezer bags or Tupperware in portion-sized batches. Label each bag with the date and details of what's inside – you'll quickly forget...

By any name, they are a top storage crop to grow in the fall garden. Harvesting and Storing Rutabagas Rutabagas make rapid growth once they become established, producing a profusion of leaves that show the plants' crossed genetic heritage.

You may find you need to stake the plants as they stretch out to flower. This way you will actively select for those plants that perform the strongest and are best suited to the conditions in your garden.

This can be because certain plants detract in the flavor of the peppers, and also because both plants are big feeders of minerals in the ground and planting them near each other creates unnecessary competition., in particular, are not good jalapeno pepper...

You may have heard that nicking plant seeds before attempting to germinate them is a good idea. Scarified seeds shouldn't be stored because they can quickly lose the ability to germinate.

If the seeds are precious, you can take the trouble of growing the seedlings in auntil the weather is right for them to be planted outside.– If the seeds are as mushy as the seed pods, they have rotted and must be discarded.

You may also find your fruits and vegetables are prolific reseeders, sometimes. The little guys can come up anywhere,, but that is half the fun. These seeds are designed to carry the plant's genetic material on in the form of new plants.

Honey in 2 cups boiling water. Dip your cutting in one of the wetter options listed here first to help the cinnamon stick better and double your protection.is a good bacteria killer, too.

They are beneficial to use because they can help reduce transplanting shock (which will help with your survival rate), reduce transplanting expenses, and avoid disposable plastics.

Read on to learn about fungus in seed trays and tips for fungus control when seed starting.To help prevent fungal problems, use the following tips for fungus control when seed starting:Start with fresh, uncontaminated seed-starting mix.