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Plants already harness the power of the sun for food. Now you can harness that power to help your plants grow. All greenhouses collect solar energy, but solar greenhouses are designed not only to collect solar energy during sunny days but also to store heat for use at night or during periods when it is [...]

A greenhouse in the fall can give you fresh food beyond the typical growing season. To maintain this growing environment, the greenhouse must be warm enough to protect the produce. There are many ways to provide heat to a greenhouse, but one of the most economical and easy option is heating with compost. Viewer Tip: When [...]

You don’t want to say goodbye to your fresh flowers and produce just because the frost has hit. Hoop houses, which are inexpensive plastic-covered greenhouses, are a great way to extend your growing season at a lower cost than green houses. Hoop houses reduce risks and enhance the quality of your harvest, and also typically [...]

Extending the length of time you grow your vegetables and other crops can extend the profits you earn in a year while also giving you more fresh produce for your family. Season extension techniques help both hobby gardeners and commercial farmers prolong their growing season. Viewer Tip: Site selection, soil, windbreaks and plastic structures can [...]

Planting two or more vegetables in close proximity to each other is an easy way to get the most out of your crops. Plants that complement each other, such as carrots and lettuce or beets and onions, can provide cultural benefits to your garden. For example, companion planting can provide protection for sensitive plants, attract [...]

While most crops are planted in the spring, some important produce waits until fall to go into the ground. Due to the sensitivity of the plant, lettuce grows best in the moist, cool fall. And since it only takes 30 days to mature, there is enough time to produce the plant before the weather becomes [...]

Increase the health of your fields by planting a crop and leaving it for an entire season. The benefits of cover crops have been publicized for years. Although they are grown primarily to prevent soil erosion, cover crops can also contribute to nitrogen production, increase soil microbial activity, reduce insect pests and suppress weeds. Viewer [...]

Some beneficial insects help farmers and gardeners by pollinating crops, while others prey on destructive pests, keeping their numbers so low that they don’t damage valuable crops and gardens. Attracting beneficial insects to your field—and keeping them there—requires the right plants to feed and house them. “Farmscaping” is the use of hedgerows, insect-hosting plants, cover [...]

Keeping track of when different kinds of wild plants appear can help farmers and gardeners know when it’s the best time to plant seed. Carefully observing insect life cycles and the condition of their wild habitats can help farmers protect crops from pests. And, knowing the sequence of bloom for flowers and trees can help [...]

Good crops of our favorite fruits depend on spring flowers being pollinated. Some plants are pollinated by the wind, but many are dependent on bees and other pollen-carrying insects. Populations of both honeybees and native pollen bees have declined in recent years and low fruit crop yields often blamed on bad weather may actually be [...]

Seed catalogs start arriving while the weather is still chilly. In addition to enticing, colorful pictures, these catalogs usually contain information that can help growers achieve a successful harvest by matching plants to their climate. Viewer tip: Two pieces of information in particular can help growers choose plants that work well in their locations. First, [...]

Runoff from home gardens and agricultural land often carries excess nutrients that can lead to pollution and even “dead zones” in surface waters, where no life exists. Fortunately, there are many management strategies that can reduce runoff and limit the amount of nutrients it carries away into rivers.  One effective practice is not to start [...]

Seed catalogs start arriving while the weather is still cold and wintry. In addition to enticing, colorful pictures, these catalogs usually contain information that can help growers achieve a successful harvest by matching plants to their climate. Viewer Tip: Two pieces of information in particular can help growers choose plants that work well in their [...]

Plants growing in containers are more vulnerable to cold temperatures than plants in the ground. If you’re trying to keep an ornamental or edible plant alive through the winter in an outdoor pot, you’ll probably need to take some extra care to protect it from freezing weather. Viewer Tip: Plants outdoors in pots are likely [...]

Winter, the dormant season for trees, is the right time for pruning. Proper pruning of fruit trees can lead to healthier trees and higher-quality fruit next growing season. It’s a good way to promote a better harvest without applying chemicals. Viewer Tip: Prune branches to improve air circulation between them. This helps prevent fruit rots, [...]

What do you do with your empty gardens and fields when the harvest season ends? One good strategy is to plant a cover crop of rye or legumes. Cover crops can prevent soil erosion and water pollution, and they help build soil organic matter. Some cover crops even capture nitrogen and make this natural fertilizer [...]

Cole crops—including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts—are members of the mustard family. It’s a big plant family that includes many food, forage, and ornamental plants. Mustard family plants, also called brassicas, are classified as “cool season,” meaning that they are relatively resistant to frost and light freezes.  Nutritionally, brassicas are high in carotenoids, vitamins [...]

Fall isn’t usually thought of as crop-planting season, but it’s the right time for planting garlic. Garlic needs a cold period in order to trigger the mother bulb to split into cloves the next summer. The garlic should be planted late enough in the fall that it has time to make good root development but [...]

When the weather turns hot and dry, farmers, gardeners and homeowners start irrigating grass, flowers, vegetables, and trees. Unfortunately, many of them use more water and energy than they need to get the job done. Efficient watering systems and better management practices help small- and large-scale irrigators save water and power. For example, a Kansas [...]