Every year orchards are purchased or planted by people who have no experience in growing apples. For some, an orchard will be a challenge and a source of personal satisfaction and profit. For others, it may be a source of frustration and a bad investment. It’s important to become familiar with the business of producing … Read more
Growing robust squash not only provides a bountiful harvest but helps grow a large enough canopy to overshadow pesky weeds. Jonathan Schultheis, a North Carolina State University Extension specialist, indicated that weed plants such as pigweed, lambsquarter, cocklebur and ragweed can invade squash plants if these weeds’ growth is too great. Control Schultheis suggested growers … Read more
An unmistakable sight of summer is the oval-shaped Athena melon with its yellow-orange flesh and coarse netting skin. Millions of the melons are successfully grown each year at Spring Hill Produce, a division of Lewis Taylor Farms in Tifton, Georgia, and one of the largest privately owned vegetable and greenhouse operations in the Southeast. On … Read more
With the Connecticut River meandering through it, the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts is prized for its rich soils. Here, Community Supported Agriculture farms abound, and local farmers sell their goods at farm stands, vibrant farmers markets, and to local grocers and national chains. Tomatoes of all kinds are a summer staple, and rich varieties of … Read more
Locally grown produce presents the largest opportunity for growers nationwide. In July 2015, the USDA estimated that local food sales in the United States have nearly doubled in recent years, jumping from $5 billion in 2008 to $11.7 billion in 2014 Read about: Using Herbicides Within the Vegetation-Free Strip Method Professional chefs agree. Since 2013, locally … Read more