Green beans are a favorite among home gardeners because they’re quick to mature, highly productive, and versatile in the kitchen. Whether you enjoy them fresh, sautéed, pickled, or frozen, green beans can provide plentiful harvests from a relatively small space....
Although blueberries are a delicious and rewarding fruit to grow, they can be tricky for gardeners. Unlike other common fruits such as raspberries, strawberries, or grapes, blueberries require specific soil conditions and growing care.With proper preparation,...
Saving seeds from your garden is one of the most rewarding ways to bring gardening full circle. It allows you to preserve your favorite varieties, save money, and grow plants that are better adapted to your local growing conditions. That being said, saving your own...
Deadheading is one of those simple garden tasks that can make a big difference.At its core, deadheading means removing spent flowers, buds, or unnecessary growth so plants can use their energy more effectively. In this photo, I am deadheading my tomatoes. I usually...
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.There’s nothing quite like picking a ripe, juicy tomato from your own garden. Harvesting tomatoes at the right time and handling them properly helps ensure the best flavor and freshness. Whether you grow slicing, cherry, heirloom, or...
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.If you have ever bitten into a bland supermarket tomato and thought, “This doesn’t taste right,” you're not imagining it. After years of growing tomatoes in my garden, I often find myself thinking about them during the off-season...
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Pruning tomato plants correctly can do wonders for your garden. It boosts your harvest, improves airflow around the plant, and helps prevent common diseases like blight and powdery mildew.But before you start snipping away, it’s...
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Tomato flowers are self-pollinating, but they still need movement to release pollen. This can come naturally from buzzing bees or wind. However, conditions may not be ideal in various situations that include, gardening indoors or not...
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Blossom-end rot is one of the most frustrating issues for gardeners growing tomatoes, peppers, squash, and some other vegetables. It can ruin a significant portion of your harvest, and because the damage often appears after the fruit has...
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.When planning a garden, one of the most common questions is whether to grow heirloom or hybrid vegetables.Both have their own strengths, weaknesses, and ideal growing situations. In this blog post, I'll explain what sets the two apart...
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Cross-pollination occurs when pollen from one plant is transferred to the flowers of another plant, usually by insects, wind, or animals. It only affects the genetic makeup of the seeds and not the fruit in the year that cross...
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.I recently had a frustrating experience in the garden. My tomatillo plant looked healthy, had tons of flowers - both male and female - and yet no fruit.I assumed it would pollinate itself just like my tomatoes do. But after some digging,...
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Tomatoes are self-pollinating, which means each flower contains both male and female parts. However, that doesn’t mean they’ll pollinate themselves without a little help. The most common ways they'll pollinate naturally are through wind,...
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.This year in my garden, I decided to grow several varieties of eggplant I had never tried before. Many of them were chosen with my wife Kyrié in mind - she’s half Japanese and loves cooking with eggplants that work well in Asian dishes,...
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Earwigs are one of those garden pests that can feel more unsettling than others—not just because they’re destructive, but because they look creepy too.With their fast movements, nighttime habits, and those ominous-looking pincers, it’s...
Jeff has a deep passion for gardening. Each year, he cultivates hundreds of pounds of vegetables—along with the occasional fruit—turning his garden into a thriving and productive space. Combined with Kyrié’s cooking, together, they create exciting meals using Jeff’s harvest.
