initiation of fruit growth; pollination by wind or pollinators is required for fruit set

made of a material that will naturally degrade or decompose to become organic matter; Bonnie pots by Jiffy are biodegradable

a type of tomato that is very large (up to 1 pound), often irregularly shaped, and has a good solid flesh; beefsteak tomatoes are juicy and frequently grown for slicing; examples include ‘Better Boy‘, [..]

a digging tool with four tines used to lift and aerate soil, blend amendments into soil, or harvest potatoes, onions, or leeks; sometimes called a spading or garden fork

the dates designated by geographic location to determine the average first and last frost dates an area experiences; used as a guideline to determine a “safe” target planting date after the last frost [..]

soil with pH lower than 7.0; adding garden lime (calcium carbonate) to the soil is a common practice used by gardeners to raise the pH level of soils that are too acid; the ideal pH for most vegetable [..]

refers to the amount of air space available in soil; roots need air to thrive, and air spaces also provide drainage and passages for insects and worms in the soil-food web; sandy soils have greatest a [..]

soil with pH between 7.1 and 14; alkaline soil is also referred to as “sweet” soil; adding sulfur to the soil can lower the pH level of soil that is too alkaline; the ideal pH for most vegetables is b [..]

a material added to soil, usually to improve its ability to grow plants; it may improve fertility, drainage, or ability to retain water, or change pH; an amendment is most often worked into existing s [..]

a plant that completes its life cycle in one growing season; roots, stems, and leaves die annually; many vegetables are annuals, including bean, cucumber, and squash