10 Fascinating Edible-Plant Facts Gardeners Need to Learn

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Cabbage and lettuce prefer the cooler temperatures and shorter days of spring and fall, which makes them well-suited to be eye-catching companions for spring’s yellow daffodil blooms.
Cabbage and lettuce prefer the cooler temperatures and shorter days of spring and fall, which makes them well-suited to be eye-catching companions for spring’s yellow daffodil blooms.
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You can sow most crops, including beans and squash, directly in the garden, which will save you money on transplants at the garden center.
You can sow most crops, including beans and squash, directly in the garden, which will save you money on transplants at the garden center.
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Some crops, such as cilantro, are especially day-length sensitive. Try growing papalo (center pot, back), a long-day, heat-tolerant herb with a related flavor.
Some crops, such as cilantro, are especially day-length sensitive. Try growing papalo (center pot, back), a long-day, heat-tolerant herb with a related flavor.
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Large heirloom tomatoes with a lot of sections, called “ovaries,” are less tolerant of temperatures outside of a specific range than simple, round varieties usually are.
Large heirloom tomatoes with a lot of sections, called “ovaries,” are less tolerant of temperatures outside of a specific range than simple, round varieties usually are.
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When temperatures are colder or hotter than tomatoes’ preferred range — between 65 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and between 60 and 70 degrees overnight — the plants’ pollen loses vigor. In extremely hot weather, the blossoms will drop, which causes a halt in fruit production.
When temperatures are colder or hotter than tomatoes’ preferred range — between 65 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and between 60 and 70 degrees overnight — the plants’ pollen loses vigor. In extremely hot weather, the blossoms will drop, which causes a halt in fruit production.
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If growing tomatoes in stressful conditions, try a grafted plant, which will have a notch in its stem, as shown here, where the graft and rootstock meet.
If growing tomatoes in stressful conditions, try a grafted plant, which will have a notch in its stem, as shown here, where the graft and rootstock meet.

Plant breeders, seed companies, professional farmers and veteran gardeners possess specialized knowledge that would greatly benefit the average home gardener. I’ve spent countless hours working with such specialists during my more than 30 years as a landscape designer, and I have grown numerous edibles in my trial garden. Thanks to this research, I’ve come up with my Top 10 List of edible-plant facts that will increase your plant-growing expertise. Some cover plant basics, some touch on scientific technicalities, and some are crop-specific, but all will help you grow an even better garden next season.

1. Watch Out for Nitrogen Deficiency in Plants

Nitrogen is as important to plants as protein is to animals. Nitrogen-starved plants look paler than normal, and their lower leaves start to yellow, which is especially evident on squash, peppers, broccoli and other heavy-feeding annuals. When I mention that a plant needs nitrogen to a gardener, I often hear, “But I followed the directions on the fertilizer package!” The dosage suggested on the package is only an average, however; many factors influence how much nitrogen you should actually apply. Your soil may be sandy and allow nutrients to quickly leach away, in which case you should be diligent about building soil quality by adding organic matter. Or, perhaps the bag of chicken manure you applied was sitting at the nursery too long and the nitrogen volatilized into the air before you bought it. Or, maybe a particular plant variety is an especially heavy feeder.

That said, some gardeners over-fertilize, which can be just as damaging as not applying enough. Use your eyes as your guide to judge the health of your crops, and regard the directions on any fertilizer package as a starting point, but not a set rule.

2. Which Crops to Start from Seed vs. When to Use Transplants

  • Published on Sep 10, 2015
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