Garden Harvest Supply Garden Harvest Supply sells home and garden products with the goal of providing high quality products at affordable prices. We also emphasize products that are safe for you, your pets and the environment. Fri, 27 Nov 2015 20:06:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Which type of onion should I plant? Tue, 13 Oct 2015 13:48:54 +0000 Which-Onions-Should-I-Plant

Thinking about growing onions but not sure which variety to choose?

There are three types of onions grown for bulbs. They are short-day, intermediate-day, and long-day onions.

The type gives us an idea on the amount of daylight needed for the onion to start producing its bulb.

Short-day varieties start producing their bulbs when they receive between 10 and 12 hours of daylight. Intermediate-day varieties need between 12 and 14 hours of daylight. And long-day varieties need between 14 and 16 hours of daylight to start growing their bulbs.

So how does one figure out the amount of daylight they receive?

We’ll make it simple!

We know our days are either getting longer or shorter, depending on what part of the year we are in. In the northern hemisphere the days start getting longer around the 21st of December. Each day thereafter receives more daylight until around June 21, which is the longest day of the year. Because the northern hemisphere is tilting towards the sun during the winter months, the furthest northern states actually receive more daylight than southern states.

Best states for growing short day onions

Because the states to the south receive the fewest hours of daylight during the growing season, they should plant short-day varieties. If they try growing a long-day instead, it would never produce a bulb because it won’t receive the necessary hours of daylight to “switch on” its bulb production.

Best states for growing long day onions

Because they receive the most daylight during the growing season, northern states should plant long-day varieties. If they try growing a short-day variety, it would receive too much daylight before its leaf growth had finished, resulting in a very small bulb.

Best states for growing intermediate day onions

The states in between should grow the intermediate-day varieties. Depending on which mid-states, some short- or long-day varieties might grow well, too.

For complete onion growing instructions, read; How to Grow the Most Flavorful Onions

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How To Grow Cucumbers Mon, 21 Sep 2015 17:30:10 +0000 Growing cucumbers from a trellis nettingCucumbers are a low-maintenance, high-yielding, low-calorie, nutrient-rich and scrumptious vegetable. Widely popular with home gardeners, cucumbers are one of the easiest vegetables to grow, with an assortment of selections adaptable to any gardener’s space limitations.

Cucumbers – When to Plant

Cucumbers are a warm-weather crop that, once established, should produce well into the fall. When putting out transplants, wait one to two weeks after your last frost date; seeds can be sown directly into the garden on your last spring frost date. You can find your average last frost date here.

Cucumbers – Where and What Variety to Grow

To successfully grow cucumbers, you should choose a spot that gets at least 8 hours of sunlight daily and is easily accessible for watering. Once you’ve found the ideal location, space and personal preference will be the next factors to take into consideration. There are lots of cucumber varieties on the market:

  • Dwarf Cucumber Plants – such as our Bush Crop Cucumber Plant, are the perfect cucumbers for container gardens or for very small garden areas. This is also a popular choice for schoolyard gardens. Their growth is more upright than vining, and they do not require a lot of space.
  • Semi-Dwarf Cucumber Plants – such as our Fanfare Cucumber Plant, are also adaptable to container growing and will only take up a bit more space in your garden than a dwarf variety. They grow a little taller than vigorous varieties, but with vines about half the length.
  • Vigorous Cucumber Plants – sometimes referred to as vining cucumber plants, will require the most room in the garden. Some vigorous varieties grow on vines reaching up to 6 feet (or sometimes longer) in length. The fruits are most often 8 to 12 inches long and will grow best upon trellises. Our most popular vigorous variety is the Garden Sweet Burpless Cucumber Plant.

Cucumbers – How to Fertilize and Water

Cucumbers will grow best with adequate nutrition. Cucumber plants should be fertilized, preferably with an organic fertilizer, when first transplanted, again about a week after blooming, and then every 3 to 4 weeks afterwards. Use a low nitrogen fertilizer in order to avoid leggy, leafy, beautiful, but potentially fruitless vines.

Cucumbers also require consistent watering; inconsistent or negligent watering can result in bitter fruit. Water thoroughly two to three times a week, depending upon the climatic conditions in your area. Container plantings should be monitored closely and never allowed to completely dry out. Bear in mind that watering around the roots, as opposed to on the leaves, will provide the most efficient hydration to your vegetable plants and will help to prevent foliar diseases, mildew and leaf scorch.

Harvesting cucumbers from the gardenCucumbers – When to Harvest

When choosing a variety, be sure to know the estimated number of days to maturity. Remember, this is just a guideline; Mother Nature may have her own agenda. Climatic conditions, soil health, moisture and disease can greatly affect your cucumber harvest in terms of time and yield. And, since cucumbers produce throughout the entire season, it is virtually impossible to gauge the number of days any specific cucumber has been on the vine.

Cucumbers at their peak will more easily separate from the vine when you harvest. If you really have to aggressively tug or cut the vine, you may want to wait a day or two. It’s a good idea to wear gloves when picking cukes, as their skins and stems are covered with prickly spines that can usually be removed easily by simply wiping with a glove or cloth. Make sure the skins are smooth before serving!

Delaying harvest until a cucumber starts to turn yellow can result in bitter fruit. Though your cucumber variety may generally produce 8- to 10-inch fruits, there are always exceptions, so don’t go by size, but rather by appearance. Pick cukes just as soon as they ripen to encourage the plants to keep producing fruit. Store them in the fridge for one to two weeks, or prepare vinegar-based cucumber salads that will keep for up to a week when refrigerated. Canned pickles keep for weeks or months. The skin contains valuable dietary fiber and nutrients, plus it adds a lot of crunch, so leave the skin intact when eating raw or using in recipes for the most dietary benefits.

Cucumbers – Companion Plants

All plants do not grow well together. For instance, cucumbers should be planted well away from tomatoes, sage and other aromatic herbs, such as lavender, mint or lemon grass.

On the other hand, vegetables such as radishes, beets and dill are good choices for planting in close proximity to your cucumber plants. Not only do they benefit your cucumbers when it comes to utilizing and providing needed nutrients, many of them will also help deter the most common cucumber pests, such as aphids, cucumber beetles, spider mites and pickle worms. Dill, for instance, will attract lacewings, which in turn will decimate an aphid population in short order. Lacewings will also eat the eggs of the cucumber beetle.

Growing cucumbers with marigold flowersMany flowers, such as nasturtiums and marigolds, are an effective form of pest control, naturally reducing the need to utilize chemical pesticides in your vegetable garden while adding an attractive border or colorful accent. Experts recommend planting the most pungent marigold varieties, such as French or Mexican marigolds.

The healthiest and most pest-free gardens will grow in a naturally beneficial environment. To learn more, you can read our article on Natural Pest Control.

Got photos? We’d love to see them and share them!

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Why Are My Pepper Plant Leaves Turning Yellow? Tue, 15 Sep 2015 12:32:50 +0000 Pepper plant leaves that are diseasedI bought habanero plants at a local greenhouse and planted them around Memorial Day. They are not looking good. Their leaves are yellow with small holes throughout. There are brown spots around the edges of the leaves and many leaves are falling off. Recently I have been watering them more often because they appear to be burnt up. I’m not sure what to do or what is wrong. Any suggestions?  Jessica









Good luck with your plants and have a wonderful harvest.


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How to Grow “American Pillar” Arborvitae Plants Thu, 13 Aug 2015 19:24:51 +0000 Growing arborvitae treesHere are some easy tips on how to grow “American Pillar” Arborvitae plants: These evergreen shrubs do best in deeply worked, fertile, well-draining soil. Till 10 in. deep; add 1 part peat moss or compost to 4 parts soil (increases drainage). The planting hole should be twice as wide as the root ball. It is best to plant shrubs in the fall after they become dormant (around early November) or in the spring before new growth (about late March).

Pronunciation: are-burr-VEE-tie or are-burr-VY-tee

Description: These fast-growing (3-4 ft. a year) evergreen shrubs with their tall, narrow shape make a great natural privacy screen. They can grow 25-30 ft. tall and 3-4 ft. wide. They are long-lived, have strong root systems, and can stand up to wind and ice. The dark green branches are very dense. “American Pillar” Arborvitae shrubs can be transplanted, even at a height of 12 ft.

Propagation: By semi-hardwood cuttings or by seed

Origin: Native to North America

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3a-8b

Companion Plants: Place “American Pillar” Arborvitae shrubs 2 ft. apart to create a natural screen for privacy or to block out noise or visual pollution.

Fertilizer: Like most broadleaf evergreen shrubs, Arborvitae prefers a slightly acid soil, with a pH from 5.5 to 6.0. It is best to have soil tested before planting. If there is less than 5% organic matter in the soil, amend soil by adding peat moss or compost. Newly planted shrubs need a water-soluble “starter” fertilizer to boost root growth. Check with your nurseryman for product specifics.

Sun/Light Needs: Full sun is best, but will grow in part sun to some shade.

Maintenance: Very low. 2-4 in. of mulch will hold moisture in soil.

Display/Uses: Adds privacy to yard or garden; screens out unwanted views; blocks noise. “American Pillar” Arborvitae can be grown as a hedge that needs only minimal pruning.

Wildlife Value: Deer resistant

Diseases/Problems: These shrubs are hardy, and mostly disease and insect-proof.


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I Would Like To Plant Wildflowers In My Meadow Fri, 17 Jul 2015 17:34:31 +0000 Prairie Grass Growing In A MeadowHi, I have a meadow behind my house with really long prairie grass. I am in the process of killing the grass to make way for a wildflower meadow. My wife wants me to buy live plants so we get blooms right away.  I will supplement with seeds. I live in Wisconsin. I am hoping for a variety of colors and sizes—ideally taller flowers. What would you suggest? What is the most aggressive growing plant that you sell (not seed) that will have a high yield?  I have a large area to cover so I will need to buy a lot. Thanks in advance for your help.

Answer: First thing to consider is your Hardiness Zone, to make sure your choices will survive. Since you didn’t mention where in Wisconsin you live, it could be anywhere from Zone 5a to 3b. You will also need to understand the soil situation in the area you want to convert. Does it stay consistently moist or dry, is it rocky or a clay mixture? This is known as the ecoregion and the success of your plantings will depend on knowing more about it.

Wildflower meadows will consist of both annual and perennial varieties but will also include native grasses that help to anchor the plantings. In addition, you will want to choose as many natives as possible to ensure they can survive the winters and have sufficient summers for flowering and seeding. The function of a wildflower meadow is to help feed your native bird and insect populations; the survival of many species of these populations is dependent on these types of plants. There are many cultivars of native species that are still beneficial to wildlife. Your local native plant society or your local extension office should be able to help.

Many annual flowering plants will grow and flower the same year from seed. It is their specific goal in life, so don’t discount starting from seed. Planting of plugs will help to get perennials growing faster, for sure, but most perennials want at least a year or two in the ground before they really start to put on a show.

So, for seeds, you might want to consider one of our wildflower mixes. There are several varieties, and most of these are a combination of annuals and perennials. In some Zones there will be more that act as annuals, with some of the annuals reseeding themselves. Look through the listing of the mixes and compare the plants to our available annuals and perennials to purchase potted versions of the plants. Some definite perennials to consider are achillea (yarrow), amsonia, aquilegia, asclepias, baptisia, echinacea (coneflower), coreopsis, eupatorium, gallardia, lobilia, salvia, monarda, lupine, penstemon, phlox, nepeta, rudbeckia, and veronica.

For your annual options, look at the salvias and verbena. Most prairie or meadow-type annuals are best started from seed, so you will find most of those in the seed section. Check out ammi, calendula, centaurea, cosmos, gypsophila, larkspur, nicotiana, physostegia, poppy, salvia, sunflower, and veronica.

Don’t be afraid to add in some native grasses, specifically the different cultivars of switch grasses: Pannicum virgatum. We carry several and they offer fabulous fall color and winter interest.

As with any wildflower planting, please check with your local county extension agents on what might be considered an invasive in your area. You don’t want any plants behaving like thugs and completely taking over your wildflower meadow.

This sounds like it will be a wonderful view once completed and established.

Happy planting,


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Help Needed With Planning A Perennial Flower Garden Thu, 02 Apr 2015 14:20:01 +0000 My spot for a flower gardenI live in Indiana and would like to add a lot of color using mainly perennials for the back corner and sides in this area, but I am happy to add some annual flowers.  I was also looking for some climbers or taller plants and grasses to go in the back, as well. I’m looking for this area to get bigger and brighter every year!

The picture was taken around 1:00 in the afternoon yesterday.  I was facing south when I took it. The semi-circle planter area on the left holds two large lilac bushes that did wonderfully last year! The fence in the back does reflect a small area of shade/shadow on the area.

I’m looking forward to your recommendations. Please let me know if you have any questions for me!

Myra M.



It’s very hard to suggest plants since there are a few things you should consider before choosing. The basic question of any landscaper would be, what is your use for the space? Do you have children who need space or is this an “adult” area? Are there elements in the view from the house that you want to hide or distract your view from, such as the play equipment in the neighbor’s yard or perhaps some utility boxes? How much time do you have to devote to maintaining your landscape beds? Perennials, while not needing to be replanted each year, still require maintenance like pruning, watering and fertilizing. Do you have any water problems, such as soggy areas from water run-off from the house, or the opposite—a place that is very well drained and stays dry? With the power lines, can you install trees, perhaps some low growing varieties?

Your six-foot fence is creating a micro-climate of shade, so the movement of the sun on those areas is particularly important. Full-sun plants will require a minimum of 6 hours of sun to perform well. Some plants are happy with morning sun and afternoon shade; others want it hot, hot, hot!  You’ll need to actually determine how much sun those specific areas get during the growing season, and then choose plants that have those light needs.

After you’ve determined all those aspects then you can start thinking about a focal point for the garden and various heights, textures and colors of plants. One way to get your plans flowing is to create a Pinterest board of ideas. Even if the plants are not hardy, it’s pretty easy to match texture and color for your Zone 5 landscape garden. You can even go tropical if you want to deal with strictly annuals and wintering-over plants inside or replacing each year.

Look at the Google map view of your home and yard and think about the shapes of the areas you want to create. Nature never plants in straight lines, so get out your garden hose and figure out what you like and use some spray marking paint to draw it out. Make sure you don’t create mowing obstacles when you line it out:  that’s why the paint helps! When you create planting areas it’s best to always enrich the soil with compost and organic matter first, before you’ve gotten all your plants in.

We have a huge selection of plants, so you can choose what fits best for your color palette and moisture and light conditions. Each plant description includes the conditions that suit it best, as well as the mature size and growth habit. If you want plants that will spread to fill in space, allow them generous room when you plant them. This is very important because many new gardeners tend to plant too close together and then wind up with an overcrowded area in a couple of years.  Choose from foliage you like and a floral color theme that fits your tastes.

Unless those lilacs are the dwarf variety, they will outgrow that small planter within a year or two. Lilacs will ultimately reach seven or eight feet in height and four or five feet across. Think of this when planting near a tall fence since planting too close will cause the plant to not be able to grow on the one side (no sun) and potentially become weak and decline! Bring your plants out far enough from the fence that they can reach their full width potential.

I hope this information has helped you feel confident in selecting plants you like and that will work in your growing conditions.

Happy spring and plant planning!


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How To Keep My Petunias From Becoming Leggy Thu, 05 Mar 2015 21:47:25 +0000 Petunias growing in a patio containerHello. I love petunias and last summer I planted my patio planters strictly
with petunias. They looked gorgeous until the end of June, when the centers
of the plants (obviously the older part of the stems) became bare, resulting
in the tops of the planters looking bare and ugly. Is there a petunia variety that stays bushy, not leggy, and flowers continually? I’d like to know if there is.    Thank you, Susan M.

Answer: Most petunias need to be pinched back during the growing season and they need regular fertilization to keep them blooming all summer long. If you purchase them pre-planted in a basket, they have been pruned regularly to branch out and are constantly fed to be at the peak of blooming when you purchase them. If you have planted the basket yourself with individual plants, such as the ones we offer in our Annual Flowering Plants, trim off the top inch or so when planting. Be sure they are receiving a full 6 hours of sun to keep them blooming. Feed them once a month with a water-soluable fertilizer, and keep them evenly moist. As they start to become leggy, prune off about half of the stem, making sure you leave some of the leaves on the plant. This will rejuvenate them and encourage more growth and blooms. Some recommend doing this to a third of the plant on a weekly basis so it’s constantly regrowing.  This should help to keep all the varieties flowering vigorously.

Happy Growing, Karen

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Favorite Herbs for Container Gardens Tue, 03 Mar 2015 20:33:17 +0000 * Basil * Chives * Cilantro * Dill *
* Mint * Oregano * Parsley * Sage * Tarragon * Thyme *


Pick a container. . .any container!

As long as it allows for drainage, you can grow an herb garden.


These 10 herbs are the top choices of herb gardeners for container gardens. They will all grow according to the size of container they’re in, so you can grow them as big or as small as you want them. Grow enough to freeze or dry, if you wish. Fresh herbs, already potted or cut and tied with a bit of ribbon, make great, thoughtful gifts.

Most herbs will grow with as little as 4 to 6 hours of filtered sunlight and will thrive in a fully sunny window, once past the seedling stage. Make sure you turn your herb plants regularly to encourage even growth; they will all reach for the sun. It’s also wise to only water when the top of the soil is dry, and then water thoroughly. Many more plants die from overwatering than do from under-watering. Water sitting in the drainage pan is not a good thing; always empty it as soon as the water has finished draining. Each herb has specific harvesting and pruning needs, but generally, you harvest from the outside first.

Our favorite 10 herbs are presented in alphabetical order:

Basil herb container plant

Basil—Use it fresh in salads or pesto, add it to your favorite Italian dishes and try Lime or Opal basil to flavor ice cream. Genovese Basil is closest to the ‘classic’ basil you’re familiar with, while Greek Columnar looks like a small, ornamental, fully branched tree. Basil can be difficult to germinate, so we recommend you start with seedlings.


Chives growing in a container

Chives—Chives can be added to practically anything you would add onions to, but are most often used in salads. They will impart a more subtle flavor than onions and will provide a bit of color that yellow and white onions are lacking. Try our Garlic Chives; they have flat, skinny leaves and lavender blossoms. Garlic chives can be snipped to the ground and still keep on growing. Most gardeners are successful when starting chives from seed.


Cilantro being planted

CilantroCilantro-Coriander is a two-fer, providing you with fresh cilantro leaves and then spicy coriander (the seed of this cilantro plant), which is used to flavor curry powders, pickles and sausages. Cilantro-Santo is prized more for its pungent, sharp aroma and flavor, a favorite in Mexican cuisine, and does not produce as many seeds as Cilantro-Coriander. Cilantro seeds germinate easily right in the garden or pot. Harvest the outside leaves first. Cilantro tends to lose strength when dried, so use it fresh or freeze it.



Dill—For container growing, we recommend Fernleaf Dill. It grows to a maximum height of 18 inches. Its leaves are used in salads and vinegars, while its seeds flavor breads, pickles, stews and rice. A dill garnish, complete with yellow blossoms, can make even your simplest meal more attractive. Dill is best grown from seeds, with multiple sowings providing a continual supply. Dill does not grow back once harvested, but it can re-seed if seed heads are left to mature.



Mint—This prolific grower is the ultimate container herb, even if growing it outdoors. As anyone who has grown mint can tell you, it will take over any pot or garden spot it’s grown in, in relatively short order. Some herbs can share containers; not so with mint. It does, however, make a fantastically prolific and aromatic ground cover for a shady, moist place outside. You have choices, too—Apple, Chocolate, Orange, Peppermint and Spearmint are just a few.



Oregano—One of the most decorative is Dittany of Crete. This very fragrant oregano is used to make poultices and teas for treating arthritis and wounds and for digestive problems, respectively. For culinary use, we recommend Golden Oregano, a milder variety, or Variegated Oregano, a colorful addition to Mediterranean cuisine. It will trail over the sides of its container but will only reach about 12 inches in height.



ParsleyFlat leaf Parsley varieties are said to have more intense flavor for cooking, but our Triple Curled Parsley plant is especially comfortable when grown in containers, even if grown indoors. You can combine the two in one planter for a more dramatic and much fuller look. Parsley is at its best when used fresh and it can add color as a garnish to almost every dish. It freshens breath when chewed, too! Parsley seeds start fairly easily.



Sage—Most often used with poultry, we suggest you try pairing sage with white beans, apples or green vegetables. Berggarten Sage does not flower and adapts very well to container gardening. Additionally, its thick, textured and uniquely colored leaves add variety to the collection in your herb garden. If you have an exceptionally sunny window or balcony, we highly recommend our Pineapple Sage plant. It smells like fresh-cut pineapple, produces gorgeous red flowers and will even attract hummingbirds. Sage can be started easily from seeds.



Tarragon—This perennial herb doesn’t start well from seeds, so we recommend you start with seedlings. Both Russian and French Tarragon are very adaptable to container growth. Both have a licorice-like flavor, though the Russian variety is a little milder. Tarragon will grow well in partially shady areas, but doing best with midday sunlight.



Thyme—You have choices when growing thyme, and we recommend you grow these three: English Thyme, French Thyme and Lemon Variegated Thyme. They all have a slightly different flavor, can be trimmed to keep a compact shape and are drought-tolerant. Well-drained soil and lots of sun will produce the best results, even in salty environs. We recommend, however, you purchase seedlings; thyme seeds tend to germinate slowly, if at all.

Now, go container hunting!

Group herbs, arrange and rearrange them,

imagine your enhanced recipes,

and get planting!

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How to Grow Sweet Potatoes Mon, 15 Dec 2014 18:36:20 +0000 Unlike the regular potato, the sweet potato prefers the warmest growing conditions. In fact, they like it hot, so we suggest waiting at least 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost to plant them. This will allow the soil to warm to a temperature more amenable to growing. Covering the bed with black plastic prior to planting and then planting through the plastic can speed the process for those with a shorter growing season or for those in a hurry to get them in the ground.

Growing Sweet Potatoes in the Garden

Planting-Sweet-PotatoesSoil, Water & Light Requirements—Sweet potatoes are very adaptable, although you should be aware the tubers (the edible roots) can be deformed when grown in heavy clay. On the other hand, very sandy soil can result in long, stringy tubers. If one of those is your soil type, amending the soil to a depth of about one foot should alleviate that problem and help to ensure a good-looking, palatable crop. Don’t know your soil type? This article will help you determine what type you have by simply using a canning jar: Simple Soil Test.

Regardless of where you grow your sweet potatoes, the amount of sunlight is critical. Sweet potatoes will grow best with 8 hours or more of direct sunlight. Regular, weekly, deep watering will yield the best crop. Be sure to monitor the soil moisture, especially if you are experiencing droughty conditions. As harvest time approaches, cut back on watering; overwatering at this time can cause cracking of your tubers. Take the guesswork out of monitoring with a moisture tester.

Spacing, Fertilizing & Weed ControlSweet potatoes need a lot of room to grow, so plan accordingly. Most gardeners have the best results by building 10-inch-high ridges or hills with approximately 3 to 4 feet between them; leave 12 to 18 inches between each plant, and bury each plant right up to the bottom leaves, tamping down firmly, but not overly hard. If planting through plastic, build the hills/ridges first and then cut a hole at least 6 inches in diameter at each place where you want a plant. If not using plastic, we recommend you mulch around the vines about 2 weeks after planting in order to discourage weed growth and to conserve moisture. This will also help to keep the soil loose, which aids in the most desirable development of the tubers. To prevent secondary rooting, regularly lift the vines where they touch the ground as they spread. Fertilize with a low-nitrogen fertilizer when transplanting and then us a balanced organic fertilizer every 2 weeks throughout the growing season. Avoid nitrogen-rich fertilizers, as these will produce fantastically gorgeous leaves, but tinier tubers.

Digging-Sweet-PotatoesHarvesting, Curing & Storage—As soon as the leaves start to turn yellow, you can begin harvesting, though leaving them in the ground longer will result in the highest yield and tastier tubers. They should be harvested before the first fall frost. The best time to harvest is when the day is sunny and the soil is relatively dry. Most growers will tell you to cut the vines back to about 12 inches just before harvesting. This clears the field to avoid digging too close to the crown of the plants and possibly damaging the tubers. Then, using a spade or fork, carefully loosen the soil starting out about 18 inches from the crown of each plant and digging down at least a foot. Work around the entire plant, gently loosening the soil, and then pull gently on the crown and gather in those gorgeous sweet ‘taters with your hands.

Sweet potatoes should be cured prior to storage and use. First, separate the bruised or cut tubers: they can be used right away. Next, lay the unwashed sweet potatoes in a warm, well-ventilated, shaded spot for about 10 days. If such a spot is not available, they can be cured inside by placing them near a furnace for 2 to 3 weeks. Once cured, wrap each tuber individually in newspaper and pack carefully in a wooden box or basket. Treat them gently as you do this, as they bruise easily. Now store them in the coldest room or basement. The ideal storage temperature is between 50° and 60°F. If cured and stored properly, some varieties will store up to 6 months.

Sweet Potatoes in Containers

Sweet potatoes can also be grown in containers to save space. The water, sunlight and nutritional requirements will be the same as for garden growth, although in a container they will most likely need more water—and more often. When the soil is dry to an inch from the top, water well.

Container Size & Drainage—Your sweet potatoes will need at least a 5-gallon container to grow well. If your potting soil does not already contain fertilizer, mix some into the soil prior to planting. Ensure the container has proper drainage. If not, drill a few 1/2-inch holes in the bottom. Fill the container with your potting soil to within an inch of the top, and then plant 1 or 2 plants in individual holes, as described above.Curing-Sweet-Potatoes

Harvesting—You can follow the advice above, taking extra care not to damage the tubers as you dig, or you can simply dump the container and pull your treasures from the pile. Use the dumped soil to fill in holes in the yard, spread it to amend your lawn or add to your compost bin. It’s best to start fresh or to plant a non-potato-related vegetable in that container for next year if you are reusing the soil. If you’ve experienced any disease, discard it completely and clean the container with a 4 to 1 mixture of water and bleach. Cure and store your sweet potatoes as described above.


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How To Make Your Yard An American Goldfinch Haven Wed, 19 Nov 2014 14:24:37 +0000 American goldfinch on a purple coneflower


The brilliant color and sing-songy voice of the American goldfinch makes it one of the most desirable backyard birds. However, the elusiveness of these wild canaries makes them a bit of a challenge to attract. Providing the basic needs of food, shelter, and water is essential in making a goldfinch haven.

The ideal goldfinch habitat is, of course, a natural one. The more attractive the habitat, the more likely you are to have frequent visitors and nesting pairs. Because goldfinches feast almost exclusively on seeds, back yards filled with their favorite seed-producing plants will invite their colorful splashes of yellow all year long.


American goldfinches eating sunflower seedsSome of the favorite flowering plants of the American goldfinch:

Planting a variety will ensure blossoms and the resulting seeds from spring through the winter, in some climates.

An American Goldfinch sitting on a tree branchIt is also beneficial to have trees and shrubs in your yard to attract goldfinches. These not only supplement the American goldfinch diet, but they will provide safe nesting areas. Here are a few favorites, though many native trees or shrubs also attract goldfinches:

  • Arborvitae—offers exceptional shelter within the protective evergreen foliage and yields small seed-bearing cones
  • Barberry—is not only appreciated by the Goldfinch, but has stunning fall coloration
  • Boxwood—has a neat appearance with little maintenance and is evergreen for year-round shelter
  • Elderberry—they bloom from late spring to early fall, depending upon the cultivar

Hanging baskets filled with nesting materials, such as wool or cotton, will encourage nesting pairs to stay. Keep in mind American goldfinches nest later than most other songbirds: it’s best to leave the nesting material up until late summer. American goldfinch sitting on a snow covered birdbathBackyard feeders are an acceptable alternative for goldfinches if a natural habitat is not an option (or as a supplement if food is in short supply). Thistle seed, a.k.a. Nyjer seed, and black oil sunflower seed, are their favorites. They won’t eat old seed, so make sure it’s not in the feeder for more than 3 weeks at a time. Patience is the key here, as it can sometimes take weeks or months for the birds to discover a new café. Goldfinches are somewhat picky about what they eat; they are not picky about where they eat. They will gladly pick up the fallen seed on the ground or will dine out of a fly-thru or dish-type feeder.

Most importantly, don’t forget to keep fresh water available for both drinking and bathing. A clean goldfinch is a happier goldfinch and though they get a lot of moisture from the seeds they eat, a dependable source of water is a must. Birdbaths with fountains or drippers with their splashing sounds are the most attractive. For those in climates that reach freezing temperatures, heated bird baths should be considered. There is definitely nothing wrong with pampering these little ones a bit…and they are so worth it.

Now sit back and enjoy your beauties!

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