Welcome back to part 2 of the Veggie Patch Retrospective where we compiled together three previously aired short segments on various aspects of vegetable gardening. Instead of searching for the content in previous episodes, we’ve put these shorter segments together in a single episode for your listening convenience. Especially as winter drags on, it’s helpful to be able to dream of warmer weather when you get back into enjoying your garden.

This specific episode is about three popular vegetables found in home gardens: Tomatoes, Beans, and Cucurbits (cucumbers and squashes).

Tomatoes are one of the most beloved garden plants, but they can also be frustrating to grow. Learn about the best time to plant them (soil temperature is key so don’t be in a hurry), space them, and water them. Unfortunately, you will learn that tomatoes are as popular with pests and pathogens, as they are with humans. Learn how to spot them and manage them so that you can have a productive and delicious crop to harvest.

Legumes are another category of popular crops. They include the popular pea (garden, snap, snow and other types) and beans. Legume seeds can typically be planted directly in the ground so there is no need for seed starting or buying transplants. There are also many types of beans to experiment with. There are the traditional bush beans (perhaps one of the easiest to start with), pole beans (that require supports but produce a larger yield) and runner beans (whose plants are sized between bush and pole). Beans can be enjoyed raw, or cooked and can also be dried for future use. Legumes are very versatile crops, as well as being delicious and healthy too!

Cucumbers and squashes (members of the cucurbit family) are also home garden favorites. One of the secrets to a productive crop is to harvest the fruits regularly before they get too big. There are so many options available to grow so experiment with them to determine your favorites.

Listen to Teresa Golden, Master Gardener Volunteer, as she talks you through the various aspects of growing these vegetable crops and enjoy!

Host: Teresa Golden

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski