Growing sweet potatoes is one of life’s simple pleasures. The slips (starter vines) are easy to grow and, once planted, can turn into a bounty of delicious tubers. But what if, after patiently waiting 90 to 120 days until harvest, you finally dig up the soil only to discover that…
Some tomato varieties bear purple fruit instead of red, while others, like Indigo Rose, also have purple-hued leaves. The color variant is a beautiful and natural characteristic of these cultivars. But if you find that once green tomato leaves are turning purple, it can be a sign there is a…
Blister beetles are insects that, when frightened, secrete an oily substance called cantharidin. When the substance comes into contact with skin, it causes a burning sensation, and the skin becomes red, painful, and swollen. Within 48 hours, blisters will appear, hence the name blister beetle. If swallowed by an animal…
On occasion, you may come across a potato or a sweet potato whose flesh or skin has a green tint. What causes the abnormal color, and is the potato safe to eat? We’ll answer these questions and more in this helpful article. What Causes Potatoes to Turn Green? Potatoes, also called tubers,…
Learn everything you need to know about hammerhead worms, also known as hammerhead flatworms, and how to deal with this toxic and invasive species.
It can take quite a bit of patience when waiting for fruit and vegetables to mature and then ripen. Tomatoes are no exception. But what if the tomatoes you are growing aren’t blushing, much less turning red? In this article you will learn the top seven reasons tomatoes do not…
The three types of blight that most often affect tomatoes are early blight, late blight, and Septoria leaf spot. In this article, you will learn how to identify, treat, and prevent late blight. Although the focus of this article is on tomatoes, the information can be applied to other members…
Early blight is one of the most common fungal diseases that affects tomatoes and other nightshades. Learn how to identify, treat, and even prevent this disease before it destroys your harvest.
Does Epsom salt really cure blossom end rot (BER)? We take a quick look at basic science to determine if this popular treatment method is fact or fiction.
Blossom end rot is a common condition found in tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, melons, and squashes, like zucchini. It is characterized by a water-soaked spot or lesion located at or near the bottom of the fruit. Blossom end rot is not a disease but rather a physiological disorder (or an abiotic disorder)…
