What you need to know about growing your own fennel. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The herb fennel has a long growing history and a multitude of uses including culinary and medicinal ones. Fennel might be best known for its role in Italian cooking. It’s high in fiber, low in calories, and full of healthy nutrients like vitamin …
Useful Herb Good in the Kitchen, Good for the Garden
The super useful herb that’s good in the kitchen and good for your garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Stinging Nettle is known to attract tons of beneficial insects, such as butterflies, is tasty in the kitchen, and has several proven medicinal uses. It’s a relative of mint plants, so it shares the same invasive quality. If …
Best Companion Plants When Planting Broccoli
The best companion plants when planting broccoli in your home garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. As delectable as garden-grown broccoli can be, battling caterpillars, harlequin bugs, aphids, flea beetles and myriad other pests can take the fun out of growing broccoli. Try companion planting to spend less time fighting bugs and more time enjoying the garden and …
Companion Planting Improves Flavor, Yield, and Health of Onions
The best companion plants for onions. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Experiment with companion planting for onions to improve the flavor, yield, and health of your garden-grown onions. Plant fenugreek with onion for larger, more flavorful bulbs. Grow onion with marigold, fennel, carrots, tomato, potato, peppers, or okra to increase yields and to limit Thrips damage by either …
Things to Do Now to Get a Head Start on the Fall Garden
The things you can do now to get a head start on the Fall garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. With another month of hot temps upon us there’s still much work to do in the garden. Including, getting it ready for fall crops. Take some time to remove spent vegetables such as summer squash and bean plants. …
National Farmers Market Week Underway
The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture proclaimed this first week of August as National Farmers Market Week. It is a way to champion the direct-to-consumer producers, market managers, and customers that make their communities come alive during market days. According to a story from Rod Bain, highlights of the week are not only the markets themselves, but the innovations that allow these institutions to …
Herb Varieties to Grow for Herbivore Pets and Companions
The best herb varieties to grow for your herbivore pets and companions. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Many herbivore pets enjoy eating herbs as part of their daily diet. Dandelion greens are safe for most herbivore pets, including rabbits, degus, guinea pigs, and several other species. Some herbivores like to eat the flowers as well, but try …
Pretty Plants that Repel Biting Bugs
Some pretty plants that repel biting bugs. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Strongly scented plants have the ability to send pesky biting bugs like mosquitoes and flies packing. Grow Basil on your patio table, or plant a drift of basil in the garden bed. It’s both insect-repelling and a culinary herb, so choose the variety that best suits …
Avoiding Heat-Related Deaths
A new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) report showed 215 people in Florida died from heat-related causes in the last 10 years. The fact that heat-related deaths happen throughout the year surprised the researchers who wrote the report. Serap Gorucu, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, helped write the report. She and …
Small Space Gardening Doesn’t Have to Be a Struggle
Tips for edible gardens in small spaces. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Gardening in small spaces doesn’t have to be a struggle. Maximize your minimal gardening space by strategically pairing fruits, vegetables and flowers. Plant flowers that will attract beneficial bugs that will pollinate the vegetables. They can also deter harmful insects resulting in better growing conditions and …