Your seedlings look healthy but the surface of the soil is a bit dry, so you give your seedlings a nice soak. The next day, you check on your seedlings and notice several of them (or even worse, all of them) have wilted. The soil looks fairly moist, but you figure they need more water, … Read more
Growing tomato plants in pots is a great way to start growing your own vegetables or make good use of your space on a deck, patio, or even a balcony. But tomato plants can be a bit daunting to grow for a lot of new gardeners and some experienced ones as well. They do take … Read more
A few years ago I was getting new shingles on my roof, and thought my container pepper plants would be safe since they were far from the wall. Well, one of the shingles glided like an eagle down and sliced one of my young cayenne pepper plants in half. It somehow survived, and another two … Read more
Arugula (also known as rocket or roquette) holds a special place in the pantheon of leafy greens, offering a unique flavor that no other can provide. And growing them in your garden, in the ground, container, or even on your windowsill is easy as can be. But do you have to keep replanting them every … Read more
Edible wood-loving mushrooms are more common than you might think. While the ubiquitous white button mushroom (and brown creminis and portobellos) are cultivated on composted manure, many edible varieties actually grow on wood. Oyster mushrooms, shiitakes, chicken-of-the-woods, chanterelles, wine caps, and many more choice edible mushrooms actually grow on wood. For the new mushroom grower, … Read more
cap The top part of a mushroom that opens up as it matures, and where the spore-producing tissues are located. casing layer A top dressing of some moisture-holding medium to help initiate mushroom formation, used in some forms of mushroom cultivation. The main purpose of a casing layer is to keep the surface of the … Read more