Right about now, the zucchini squash and cucumber plants that you planted in your gardens and raised beds this spring are really taking off. Lurking underneath the leaves, however, you may find some pests that could thwart your bountiful zuke and cuke harvest.

All Things Gardening

Quash The Squash Bugs And Cucumber Beetles

Right about now, the zucchini squash and cucumber plants are thriving in the warm temps and bright sun. However, lurking underneath the leaves, you may find some pests that could thwart your bountiful zuke and cuke harvest.

As the hot sun beats down and afternoon rain showers quench our gardens, up in the canopy of our hardwood trees, an invasive species is having a field day. The species formerly known as the gypsy moth caterpillar is back with a vengeance.

The Fungus Didn't Get Them First; Invasive Caterpillars Defoliating Trees

Can you picture yourself reaching for a tree-ripened peach grown in your own yard? Follow a few guidelines, like finding the right peach tree variety and the right sight, and you'll be on your way to enjoying a local, tree-ripened peach in Vermont!

Just Peachy! You Can Grow Your Own Peach Tree And Enjoy Local, Tree-Ripened Fruit

Many flower gardeners plan out their growing spaces and even then, they realize some areas are challenging. What to plant in the part of your garden space that gets barely any sun and is quite frankly, kind of soggy? Some of the more traditional plants that gardeners reach for in these cases are black snakeroot and hosta. These plants remain great for garden spots that are in shade, partial shade and are wetter. But if you’re looking for plant choices that are really big, low maintenance and a bit different, these three stand-outs really fit the bill! You can plant goatsbeard , yellow rocket , and Sun King aralia .

Move Over, Hosta! Let These Perennials Shine In Your Shaded Garden Spots

Revered in poems from Walt Whitman to T.S. Eliot , the lilac is a beautiful symbol of spring in New England. You can grow the traditional lavender-hued variety, which can grow quite large or branch out and try smaller varieties in many colors!

Add The Floral Poetry Of The Lilac To Your Yard And Garden

Tomato-planting time is here! In most parts of Vermont, especially the Champlain Valley and Connecticut River Valley, you can plant tomatoes in your gardens and raised beds as soon as this weekend. If you’re in the mountains, wait a bit longer in case of overnight frost. These handy guidelines will get you off and running for early-season tomato care.

Staked, Caged Or Trellised, Your Tomatoes Will Grow Tall And Strong All Summer!

When you decide to plant a tree, you most likely expect it to stay put for a long time. When considering conditions and factors other than sunlight, soil and water, sometimes trees don’t thrive where they’re planted. Now, there is new information on how to plant trees to give us better options for success. We’ll learn the steps of how to select a tree in a nursery, clean up the roots at home and how to plant it properly so it will survive.

Putting Down Roots; How To Prepare And Plant A New Tree In Your Yard

If you want fresh tomatoes right on your porch, balcony or steps all summer long, consider containers! Container tomatoes are the perfect way to grow your own fresh produce, as long as you choose the right variety and the right container.

The Best Tomatoes To Grow In A Container For A Summer Full Of Fresh Produce

If you forage for wild leeks, ramps and other wild edibles growing right now, it is imperative that you heed caution and know proper wild edible identification. This helps ensure you stay safe and the wild edibles can continue to thrive. It's best to adopt some best practices when out looking for these delicious bits of nature in the springtime.

When Foraging For Wild Edibles, Always Identify Before You Try

Welcome to raised-bed-building season! With a few materials you most likely have on hand and no tilling, you can create a no-dig garden bed or convert an existing bed to no-dig. And you can build it so weeds, mice and voles will stay out!

Build A Garden With Layers Of Newspaper, Lawn Clippings And Compost

With warm weather settling in, you may step out to your garden or gaze at your raised bed and notice many seeds are germinating! Flowers such as calendula, verbena and poppies, and veggies like arugula, lettuce and mustard, may have self sown from last year. And this is the time to thin them out!

How To Thin Those Self-Sowing Flowers And Veggies

It seems you wait all winter for some colorful flowers to bloom and then the deer and rabbits eat them all first! When it comes to flowering bulbs, there are preventive measures to avoid this.

Plant Flowering Bulbs That Deer And Rabbits Won't Consider A Salad Bar

Some flower varieties just seem to elicit a smile on your face just by looking at them. One such posie is the lovely sweet pea, with the flower bud's cheery appearance, beautiful hues and lovely scent! Planting them is easy, when you know a couple of helpful tips. And you can start seeds indoors this month, then transplant and grow in a flower garden, raised bed or window box to use in fresh sweet pea bouquets for the table. Find heirloom, fragrant varieties with names like " Miss Willmott ," " America " and " Cupani ." There is also a smaller window-box-sized variety, called, " Cupid ," and even a perennial sweet pea.

Learn To Grow Sweetly-Scented Sweet Peas In Your Window Box

Many gardeners are growing blueberry bushes in their lawns and landscapes. These are great additions to your yard, because they are not only beautiful but also provide fresh fruit! Now is a perfect time to learn some techniques for pruning your blueberry bushes. We'll learn about when to prune, the different aged branches and how to prune to get the best production.

Pruning 101: Blueberry Bushes

Each week, Charlie Nardozzi joins VPR’s Weekend Edition host Mary Engisch for a conversation about gardening, and to answer your questions about what you're seeing in the natural world.