Growing acorn squash is easier than you might think! These small squash are an excellent addition to the vegetable garden and handy in the kitchen for stuffing or roasting. Kelli Klein presents an in-depth growing guide that reveals all you need to grow this squash at home. Growing acorn squash is low maintenance and rewarding! Because of their large seed size, sowing acorn squash seeds is a great task for young children to get them involved in the garden. If you’d rather begin with pre-started seedlings, then fear not! Squash seedlings are likely available at your local garden center. The growing process is long, but you’ll enjoy watching the acorn squash grow throughout the summer and into the fall. This species originated in Central and North America and was introduced to early European settlers by Native Americans. It was a staple crop and often part of a three-sisters garden, which includes corn, pole beans, and squash, all of which are interplanted for their mutual benefits. Acorn squash is very easy to prepare and cook which makes it a great addition to every edible vegetable garden. The flavor has been described as mild and slightly nutty. It requires no peeling, just slice in half and roast cut side down in the oven until tender. Top it with some butter, and a sprinkle of salt, and eat the flesh right out of the rind. Acorn squash is also an excellent stuffable squash since they have a shape that is nearly perfect for stuffing. Half a squash makes for a perfect serving size. (Also, they taste incredible when stuffed with mushrooms and wild rice!) What is Acorn Squash? Cucurbita pepo var. turbinata is also known as Des Moines squash and pepper squash. They are a type of winter squash, but are more perishable and have a shorted shelf life than others of their kind. They can also be eaten somewhat immature, whereas other winter squash should fully mature before being harvested. C. pepo includes vegetables such as butternut, spaghetti squash, and pumpkins. Summer squash such as zucchini is a subspecies of Cucurbita pepo. It is said that the name Des Moines squash comes from a popular variety, ‘Table Queen’, that was first sold by an Iowa seed company and gained popularity in the 1800s. Native Area There is some mystery around the Des Moines cultivars and there are claims of it being cultivated in Denmark, however, these claims have been unsubstantiated and it’s more likely that it was cultivated alongside other squashes in North America. The original Cucurbita pepo is native to Mexico. Characteristics These vegetables have large fan-like leaves and thin stems that will either lead to a central growing point (for bush types) or to a vine (for vine types). The flowers are large and yellow and resemble zucchini blossoms. They are also edible and taste amazing when battered and deep-fried. The shape of the squash resembles an acorn with ribs and a dark green rind sometimes with a tinge of orange. People grow acorn squash because they’re high in Vitamin C. Planting The best time of year to sow acorn squash seeds is after all danger of frost for the season has passed. Pick a spot in your garden that gets plenty of sunlight and has plenty of space for the plants to bush out, sprawl, or grow up a raised bed trellis depending on the variety that you choose. Keep in mind that the decision to sow directly from seed or transplant out seedlings will depend on the length of your growing season. If sowing acorn squash seeds directly, start planting after the soil temperature is consistently at least 60°F. When transplanting seedlings, wait until one to two weeks after the average last frost date when nighttime temperatures are in the 50s. Make sure to space accordingly. Place one transplant per two square feet. Thin direct-sown squash in the seedling stage to this same spacing. How to Grow Now we’ll discuss the care of the beloved winter squash. Hopefully, this encourages you to add it to your vegetable garden as soon as possible! Following these gardening tips will ensure a bountiful harvest. Maintenance Pruning for acorn squash is unnecessary other than removing dead or yellowing leaves. Cut them back at the base of the stem. When pruning away damaged or diseased leaves, be mindful not to cut through the main stem. Otherwise, they can take pruning at many locations without inhibiting its growth. There are two main acorn squash varieties: bush and vining. The bush variety will remain stout and, well, bushy. The vining varieties resemble butternut and can be trained to climb a trellis. This may be useful if you’re limited on garden space. This will allow you to grow acorn squash vertically and make the most of all the square footage available in your vegetable garden. I’ve had the most success growing winter squash on a cattle panel trellis. Set your acorn squash seeds or starts at the base of the trellis and once it is tall enough to do so, weave it through the first few spaces on the cattle panel. Squash will take it from there. If you’re growing vertically, support the weight of the fruit once it begins to mature to prevent it from bringing down the entire vine. Create a cradle out of old pantyhose or an old t-shirt. Although they can generally withstand the weight of the fruit without much support, it is better to be safe. With the bush variety, you may consider adding a barrier between the squash and the soil as it matures. Without a barrier, like a piece of slate, the squash may rot on the side that rests on the ground. This is an issue in areas that are especially moist and wet while the fruit is maturing; otherwise, it shouldn’t be an issue. Follow these growing tips, and you’re sure to have a successful squash season.

Bright yellow ‘Lemon’ cucumbers are a great option if you want to step away from classic green cucumbers. Join farmer Briana Yablonski to learn how to care for these unique, round cucumbers. The first time you see a ‘Lemon’ cucumber, it’s hard to believe it’s even a cucumber plant! While it has the classic cucumber vines and leaves, the fruits resemble small yellow baseballs rather than the elongated green cucumbers you’re probably familiar with. However, when you bite into the crunchy and sweet cukes, you’ll recognize that ‘Lemon’ cucumbers aren’t so different than their green counterparts. I first saw these yellow cukes when working at a vegetable farm in Virginia. Once farmers’ market customers became familiar with them, they became big fans. The yellow skin mixed nicely with green cucumbers in salads and sandwiches, and their small size made them easy to use. Out in the fields, ‘Lemon’ cucumbers grew similarly to other types of cukes. They thrived during sunny and warm days as long as they received plenty of water, and sent out new ripe cukes every few days. I’ll share basic information as well as tips and tricks to help you grow these interesting cucumbers in your garden. What Is It? The ‘Lemon’ cucumber is an annual vining plant best known for its round, yellow fruits. Although these fruits look different from other types of cucumbers, they come with the juicy, sweet crunch cucumbers are known for. They don’t taste like lemons; instead, they get their name from their appearance. Characteristics Like all cucumbers, ‘Lemon’ cucumbers are cold-sensitive annual plants. They grow in a sprawling habit with multiple herbaceous vines covered with scratchy green leaves. The vines also produce curling tendrils that the plant uses to wrap around and climb up objects like fences and arbors. About two months after planting, the plants produce small, yellow flowers. Each plant is monoecious, meaning it produces both male and female flowers. The female flowers have the potential to become fruits, while the male flowers supply pollen. The real defining characteristic of this plant is its round, yellow fruits that are a little smaller than a tennis ball. These cucumbers have a thin skin and sweet, burpless flesh. If all conditions are right, ‘Lemon’ cucumber plants begin producing mature cucumbers about 65 days after you plant the seeds. Native Area Cucumber plants are native to tropical areas in Southeast Asia. Many people report that the ‘Lemon’ cucumber was popular in Australia before it made its way to the United States in the late 1800s. Planting ‘Lemon’ cucumbers are warm-weather crops that grow best in the summer months. You can grow them by direct sowing seeds or planting transplants, and if you live in an area with a long growing season, you can plant multiple successions each year. How to Grow ‘Lemon’ cucumbers are moderately easy to grow, provided that you grow them in the right conditions. While their care requirements aren’t difficult to fulfill, they are susceptible to various diseases and pests. As long as you keep your plants healthy, you’ll enjoy a large and prolonged harvest. Maintenance ‘Lemon’ cucumber plants can be as low maintenance or high maintenance as you like. I’ve let the plants sprawl across the ground with no help from me besides watering. However, you can also trellis and prune your plants if you’d like. Trellising and pruning help improve airflow, limiting the likelihood that the plants will develop disease. It also frees up space in your garden for other crops to grow. If you’d like to trellis your ‘Lemon’ cucumbers, start when the plants are young. It’s easier to train small plants to grow up a trellis rather than wrangle large plants later on. Numerous methods and materials work well as a trellis. You can use a single vertical string and clip the vine to the string. If you utilize this method, prune off any vines that grow off the main stem. Another option is to guide the plant to grow up a metal cattle panel. The plant’s tendrils will wrap around the wire and support the plant. Outside of trellising, ‘Lemon’ cucumber plants require little maintenance. If you see any diseased or discolored leaves, you can prune them off and dispose of them. This will slow the spread of disease to other parts of the plant.

Basil flowering takes energy from leaf production, causing leaves to become bitter and bad for cooking. Keep basil from flowering by pinching off any flowering bits to redirect energy to the leaves. Prune and pinch your plant regularly to keep it healthy, lush, and useful. With the right love and care for a basil plant, it's not long before you have the main ingredients for delicious culinary recipes and a wonderfully bright addition to your herb garden. But trouble could be brewing if your basil plant grows too far. When flowers appear on a basil plant, it's best to get rid of them and stop them from continuously blooming. But why is it important to keep your basil from flowering? Here's what the experts say happens, and what to do if your plant has already flowered. Meet the Expert Adam Weiss is a master gardener and the founder of Pike Lane Gardens, a wellness program rooted in sustainability bringing organic vegetable gardening to the workplace. Sara Rubens is a certified garden coach and the founder of Seed to Sanctuary, which helps folks create edible gardens. Why Keep Basil From Flowering? Although there are over a dozen different types of basil out there, you'll find that it's better to prevent most from flowering. Flowers can range from white to purple and while they might look nice, this impacts the flavor. "If left to bloom, the plant will redirect its energy toward producing seeds rather than growing new leaves," says master gardener Adam Weiss. "This can cause the plant to slow or stop leaf production, making the existing leaves tough and bitter." Bitter basil defeats the purpose of an herb garden as the leaves become unusable in cooking. The best way to stop this is to prevent basil from flowering. Simply pinch off any flowers or buds to continue redirecting energy to the leaves. Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more! What Happens If Basil Flowers If basil flowers, it becomes more bitter. That's why pruning basil is a large part of the care requirements for this plant. Have a pair or scissors or shears at the ready to collect leaves and nip anything in the bud before it blooms. "By pinching off the flower buds as soon as you see them, you encourage the plant to keep producing fresh, tender leaves instead of going into reproduction mode, often called bolting," says certified garden coach Sara Rubens. By making use of your basil plant, you're also supporting its health and growth. So don't be shy about snipping off leaves for your projects. "Regularly harvesting basil and removing the top few sets of leaves (including any flower buds) also keeps the plant bushy and vigorous," explains Rubens. "It promotes branching, which leads to a fuller, more productive plant." What to Do If Your Basil Already Flowered Don't worry if your basil has already flowered, you have a few choices to prevent more bitter leaves. "You can still pinch off the blooms and harvest, but the flavor might not be as sweet or intense as it was before," says Rubens. As for any other plants? Keep a watchful eye and stay on top of pruning to avoid losing out on the tastiest flavor. However, you don't have to remove or cut back the ones that have flowered either. "If you’re growing multiple basil plants, you can choose to let a few flowers remain, which will help attract bees and other beneficial pollinators to your garden," says Weiss. "You can then use those flowers to create basil-infused oils and vinegars." Other Basil Care Tips If you're new to growing basil or are after a few extra care tips, here's what to know: Transplant your basil outside at the right time. Weiss says to start it by seed indoors, then move seedlings outdoors once it starts hitting 70°F outside, where they should be spaced 8-10 inches apart. Grow companion plants for basil like asparagus, tomatoes, and chamomile nearby to keep pests at bay and boost the flavor. Don't forget about a good fertilizer. "Periodically use a nitrogen-based fertilizer on your basil plants to stimulate healthy leaf development," says Weiss. Create a regular pruning cadence to prevent blooming and create a plant that's more voluminous.