Renee's Blog
Tomato Types: Determinate, Semi-Indeterminate or Indeterminate?
Tomato Vines Have Several Growth Habits: Indeterminate tomato vines continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season until killed by frost or cold, wet weather. They require sturdy, tall stakes or cages for support.
Tomato Types: Determinate, Semi-Indeterminate or Indeterminate?
Tomato Vines Have Several Growth Habits: Indeterminate tomato vines continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season until killed by frost or cold, wet weather. They require sturdy, tall stakes or cages for support.
Organic Garden Management: Part 1
Many of our newer gardening customers want to garden organically, so I've asked our Trial Garden manager Lindsay Del Carlo to write the next few blog posts to share our own organic gardening techniques. Here is the first post focusing...
Organic Garden Management: Part 1
Many of our newer gardening customers want to garden organically, so I've asked our Trial Garden manager Lindsay Del Carlo to write the next few blog posts to share our own organic gardening techniques. Here is the first post focusing...
Organic Garden Management: Part 2
Many of our newer gardening customers want to garden organically, so I've asked our Trial Garden manager Lindsay Del Carlo to write the next few blog posts to share our own organic gardening techniques. Here is the second post focusing...
Organic Garden Management: Part 2
Many of our newer gardening customers want to garden organically, so I've asked our Trial Garden manager Lindsay Del Carlo to write the next few blog posts to share our own organic gardening techniques. Here is the second post focusing...
Important Tips For Growing Cucumbers
When you plant is important: wait until the nights are staying at least 50º F (10° C). to start seeds in the garden; too cool and you won’t get successful germination and good growth. It’s wise to cover them with...
Important Tips For Growing Cucumbers
When you plant is important: wait until the nights are staying at least 50º F (10° C). to start seeds in the garden; too cool and you won’t get successful germination and good growth. It’s wise to cover them with...
Supporting Big Tomato Vines
We grow many tomato varieties each and every summer in the trial garden and we've tried many different methods of supporting the tall, vining indeterminate* varieties that grow heavy with fruit and foliage at maturity. For example, we used traditional...
Supporting Big Tomato Vines
We grow many tomato varieties each and every summer in the trial garden and we've tried many different methods of supporting the tall, vining indeterminate* varieties that grow heavy with fruit and foliage at maturity. For example, we used traditional...
Gardening with Children: Grow a Pizza Garden
Growing a pizza garden is a great way to get children outdoors and motivated to plant and eat vegetables. Our family loves homemade pizza, so my 4-year-old daughter and I have already started planning our pizza plot. So far, our...
Gardening with Children: Grow a Pizza Garden
Growing a pizza garden is a great way to get children outdoors and motivated to plant and eat vegetables. Our family loves homemade pizza, so my 4-year-old daughter and I have already started planning our pizza plot. So far, our...
Gardening With Small Children
What better place to stimulate babies’ and toddlers’ senses and cultivates their growing minds than in the garden? When my daughter, Emilia , was a baby, she'd grab the tendrils of vining snap peas, kick with excitement when I'd rub...
Gardening With Small Children
What better place to stimulate babies’ and toddlers’ senses and cultivates their growing minds than in the garden? When my daughter, Emilia , was a baby, she'd grab the tendrils of vining snap peas, kick with excitement when I'd rub...
What To Plant If You Don't Have Full Sun
I've found that a garden with some shade is ultimately more satisfying than one with full blasting sunlight. It offers the chance to create a cool retreat in which to sit and enjoy the garden or dine outdoors on hot...
What To Plant If You Don't Have Full Sun
I've found that a garden with some shade is ultimately more satisfying than one with full blasting sunlight. It offers the chance to create a cool retreat in which to sit and enjoy the garden or dine outdoors on hot...
Planting in May
At long last, spring weather is securely in place. The soil has drained and warmed and trees are stretching and quickly greening up. Many of us really get the gardening bug at this time of year but think that May...
Planting in May
At long last, spring weather is securely in place. The soil has drained and warmed and trees are stretching and quickly greening up. Many of us really get the gardening bug at this time of year but think that May...
June and July Are Still Prime Planting Season
Gardening is an ongoing process, and, while timing is important, don't be overwhelmed by a sense of being too late to plant by some arbitrary date. All too often, I hear gardeners use a day of a particular month as...
June and July Are Still Prime Planting Season
Gardening is an ongoing process, and, while timing is important, don't be overwhelmed by a sense of being too late to plant by some arbitrary date. All too often, I hear gardeners use a day of a particular month as...
Store Extra Seed Properly
Many gardeners have asked how to store leftover, unused seeds. Renee's Garden seeds come to you with high germination rates, and most varieties will keep easily for the next growing season. (Several exceptions: onions, parsley, lettuces, larkspur and delphinium do...
Store Extra Seed Properly
Many gardeners have asked how to store leftover, unused seeds. Renee's Garden seeds come to you with high germination rates, and most varieties will keep easily for the next growing season. (Several exceptions: onions, parsley, lettuces, larkspur and delphinium do...
Early Birds Don't Always Get the Worm
January seems the perfect time to start thinking about gardening. After all, the holidays are over, and planning next spring's bounty is a great way to boost your spirits. Nothing can pick you up more than envisioning all the fabulous...
Early Birds Don't Always Get the Worm
January seems the perfect time to start thinking about gardening. After all, the holidays are over, and planning next spring's bounty is a great way to boost your spirits. Nothing can pick you up more than envisioning all the fabulous...
Frequently Asked Questions: General Gardening
Days To Maturity: Seed packets indicate days to maturity for many varieties of seed. They are best used only as a general recommendation, because in our garden trials we have found that soil, weather, and cultural conditions can vary widely...
Frequently Asked Questions: General Gardening
Days To Maturity: Seed packets indicate days to maturity for many varieties of seed. They are best used only as a general recommendation, because in our garden trials we have found that soil, weather, and cultural conditions can vary widely...
Starting Seeds Indoors
Why Start Early? It's fun to experience the whole growing cycle as you watch baby seedlings grow into sturdy plants that bear delicious fruit and beautiful flowers. We often need to give plants a critical head start by germinating and...
Starting Seeds Indoors
Why Start Early? It's fun to experience the whole growing cycle as you watch baby seedlings grow into sturdy plants that bear delicious fruit and beautiful flowers. We often need to give plants a critical head start by germinating and...
Easy Growing From Seed
Renee demonstrates sowing seeds, tending your seedlings and enjoying the harvest.
Easy Growing From Seed
Renee demonstrates sowing seeds, tending your seedlings and enjoying the harvest.
Sweet Peas: Starting Early Indoors
When to start:Â In cold winter areas, sow in seed starting containers in early spring about 6-7 weeks before the last frost date, then plant out as soon as soil can be worked; sweet peas can handle light frosts. In mild...
Sweet Peas: Starting Early Indoors
When to start:Â In cold winter areas, sow in seed starting containers in early spring about 6-7 weeks before the last frost date, then plant out as soon as soil can be worked; sweet peas can handle light frosts. In mild...
Heirlooms and Hybrids
Growing delicious vegetables from seeds is one of the most rewarding of all gardening activities. We gardeners get started doing it with great anticipation and relish. Selecting seed varieties can be a little daunting because there are lots of choices....
Heirlooms and Hybrids
Growing delicious vegetables from seeds is one of the most rewarding of all gardening activities. We gardeners get started doing it with great anticipation and relish. Selecting seed varieties can be a little daunting because there are lots of choices....
When the Time Is Ripe: Harvesting for Best Flavor
By guest author Alice Formiga All fruits and vegetables have ways of telling us exactly when they taste best, even before we’ve picked them. As I was picking blackberries this morning, I found myself explaining to my 2-year-old how to...
When the Time Is Ripe: Harvesting for Best Flavor
By guest author Alice Formiga All fruits and vegetables have ways of telling us exactly when they taste best, even before we’ve picked them. As I was picking blackberries this morning, I found myself explaining to my 2-year-old how to...
When to Plant in Texas
Information courtesy of Aggie Horticulture, a service of the Texas A&M University System Horticulture program.
When to Plant in Texas
Information courtesy of Aggie Horticulture, a service of the Texas A&M University System Horticulture program.
Harvesting and Saving Seeds
P. Allen Smith and Renee discuss saving seeds so you can enjoy them season after season.
Harvesting and Saving Seeds
P. Allen Smith and Renee discuss saving seeds so you can enjoy them season after season.
6 Dos and 1 Don't for a Good Garden
#1: Don't Sow Your Seeds or Set out Seedlings Too Early! Be strong: resist the temptation to sow your garden on the first warm spring weekend! Heat- loving summer annuals will not thrive and grow well until the soil has...
6 Dos and 1 Don't for a Good Garden
#1: Don't Sow Your Seeds or Set out Seedlings Too Early! Be strong: resist the temptation to sow your garden on the first warm spring weekend! Heat- loving summer annuals will not thrive and grow well until the soil has...