Growing summer squash in your Virginia veggie garden Story by Diane Beyer There are many varieties of summer squash, all with similar growth requirements and harvest times. Zucchini is probably the most well known summer squash, and the one that causes you to dive behind the couch when you see well-meaning neighbors at the door …
Growing hot and hotter peppers in the home garden Story by Katharine Musso Hot peppers are used to add heat to dishes across the globe: Mexican salsa, Ethiopian Berbere stew, and Thai red curry, to name just a few. Fresh hot peppers can be used for an authentic classic pasta sauce arrabbiata, which means “angry” …
Try this tasteful, rustic autumn look for your own garden gathering Story by Peggy Hill Photos by Trace Barnett Southern summers are brutally hot; all but the sweatiest of us spend them cocooned in our air-conditioned spaces, and when we finally emerge in fall, we are ready to party. For me, throwing a fall party …
The headless cabbage Story and Photos by A.J. Heinsz-Bailey What do ancient Greeks, Romans, Scots, and Southerners have in common? The answer is a love for a “mess” of tender, succulent collard greens. What exactly are collards? They are leafy non- heading cabbage family members referred to as Brassica oleracea var. acephala, the last term …
An easy addition to your vegetable garden Story and Photos by A.J. Heinsz-Bailey What vegetable is often overlooked, easy to grow and comes in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes? If you guessed “radish” you would be correct. The word Radish comes from the Latin word “radix” which means “root”. The first known radishes …
Growing pears in your home garden Story and Photos by A.J. Heinsz-Bailey If you are considering adding fruit trees to your landscape, pears (Pyrus communis) are a great way to get started. They will be covered in beautiful white flowers in the spring and succulent tasty fruits in the fall. They are easier to grow …
Story and Photography by A.J. Heinsz-Bailey It’s the end of October, not much is happening in the garden … then you see them. Little orange pumpkin-like fruit hanging on a spectacular small tree dressed in vibrant red and orange leaves. Barely noticed in summer, they’re now the highlight of your yard. The genus name of …
Growing plums in your Louisiana landscape Story and Photography by A.J. Heinsz-Bailey In the early 19th century, “plum” meant any desirable treasure, a coveted prize, or the best of a group. Now the word is used as an adjective describing something covetable, like a “plum role” in a movie. Living up to this reputation is not …
When Life Gives You Tomatoes … Story and Photography by Kathleen Hennessy If your end-of-the-season tomato harvest is filling up your counters, it’s time to make sauce. Even if you’re a novice canner, this recipe is very easy and flexible. Best of all, it tastes amazing. You may never go back to store-bought tomato sauce. …
