VINES Cultivation Calendar

Hey gardeners! Did you know that plants can get sick, just like people? Today we’re going to talk about plant diseases! Plant diseases can be caused by biotic factors (pathogens) and abiotic factors (anything nonliving). A pathogen is just any microorganism that can cause disease, like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. […]

Hey gardeners! Spring planted bulbs, also known as summer bulbs or tender bulbs, can add a beautiful pop of color to your garden. Unlike spring blooming bulbs, which are typically planted the previous fall, summer bulbs should be planted in late spring/early summer, after the last frost date—around here (zone […]

Row covers at our Urban Farm! Hey gardeners! Some years, spring never quite gets here. Luckily, that doesn’t mean you have to put your big garden plans on hold. Today, we’re going to talk about season extension! In any given year, the gardening season is limited on both ends by […]

Hey gardeners! For many, the first thing that comes to mind when you think of insects in a garden is pests. Whether that’s caterpillars on your tomatoes or flea beetles in your cabbages, they can be a real pain to deal with. Still, it’s important to remember not all insects […]

Hey gardeners! As anyone who’s ever tried to garden outside knows, weeds can be a real pain. They take space and nutrients away from the things we actually want to plant, and they grow like… well, weeds. Dealing with them can feel like a full-time job. It’s tempting to opt […]

Hey gardeners! Who doesn’t like birds? They’re gorgeous, lively creatures—fun to watch, nice to listen to, and they can help with pest control and pollination for your garden.  Birds, like all animals, need shelter and food, and so they’ll naturally come to places where they have access to those things. […]

Hey gardeners! Today, we’re going to talk about container gardening! It’s almost exactly what it sounds like — growing plants in some kind of container rather than in a raised bed or directly in the ground. This has a couple of concrete benefits: First of all, of course, it saves […]

Hey gardeners! There are around 140 species of bees in the genus Osmia — popularly called “mason bees” — in North America. Unlike honey bees, mason bees are solitary, meaning they don’t live in hives. Instead, each female will find her own nest and lay her own eggs. This doesn’t […]

Hey gardeners! March doesn’t always feel like spring (it can still be pretty chilly outside, especially around here). Luckily, some crops appreciate that! In particular: spinach likes cooler temperatures, which makes it ideal for early spring gardening! Spinach seeds like cool soil temperatures when they’re germinating: between about 45 and […]

Hey gardeners! Companion planting — the idea that growing certain kinds of crops together can benefit them both — has been around in some form for thousands of years. For example, the traditional agricultural practices of many indigenous communities include the Three Sisters: three important crops (beans, squash, and corn) […]