Just Veggies

Why Small Squash Rot on the Stem

The first small squash and cucumbers that begin to grow on my plants each summer usually turn golden yellow (but not necessarily), then brown and then rot and fall off. I’ve thought nothing of it, really, aside from being momentarily curious and then promptly distracted by some weeds or another problem in the garden. I ...

Managing Flea Beetles in the Garden

Flea beetles are my springtime nemesis. As soon as my first seeding of kale, radish and arugula emerge from the ground, those pesky beetles (formally known as Phyllotreta cruciferae) attack and mow them down, making all but impossible for them to thrive. The species name clues you in to the fact that flea beetles are ...

Why Cauliflower Becomes Stunted

I learned a new tidbit of information about cauliflower this week. I said to myself, “Well, that explains a lot”. The issue concerned stunted cauliflower and one of its causes. Dehydration! Who says an old gardener can’t learn new things? Why Cauliflower Stops Growing Last week I ran into the owner of a Dutch ...