Garden Voila is built for home gardeners, and gardeners learn best from each other. Use this page to ask a growing question, share a tip that worked in your garden, or post your garden plan so others can see how you laid out your beds. Every post is read by a person before it appears, and links are not allowed, which keeps the board free of spam.
For quick numbers, try the garden watering calculator or the planting calendar first. When you ask a question, say your approximate region or frost zone, what you planted, and what you are seeing, so answers can be specific.
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When Is It Safe to Plant Tomatoes Outside?
by Garden Voila teamWhen is it safe to plant tomatoes outside in spring? I do not want to lose my plants to a late frost or cold soil.
Plant tomatoes outside only after your last spring frost has passed and the soil has warmed to roughly 60°F (15°C). Tomatoes are tender, warm-season plants: frost kills them outright, and cold soil stalls growth even when the air feels pleasant. For most gardeners that means… Read the full answer →
Why Are My Tomato Leaves Turning Yellow?
by Garden Voila teamThe lower leaves on my tomato plants are turning yellow. What causes this, and how do I fix it?
Yellow tomato leaves have several possible causes, and the pattern of yellowing usually points to the right one. Look at which leaves are affected first, whether the yellowing is between the veins or across the whole leaf, and whether there are spots, wilting or stem… Read the full answer →
How Often Should I Water Vegetable Seedlings?
by Garden Voila teamHow often should I water vegetable seedlings, and how do I avoid killing them with too much water?
Seedlings do best when their soil stays evenly moist but never soggy. For most indoor trays that means checking every day and watering only when the surface feels dry and the tray feels lighter. Overwatering is the most common way beginners lose seedlings, because wet… Read the full answer →
Can I Plant Basil Next to Tomatoes?
by Garden Voila teamIs it okay to plant basil next to tomatoes, and does it actually help?
Yes, you can plant basil next to tomatoes, and many gardeners do. They want the same conditions: full sun, warm soil, regular water and a planting date after the last frost. They also share the kitchen, so having them side by side makes harvesting easy.What… Read the full answer →
How Deep Should I Plant Seeds?
by Garden Voila teamHow deep should I plant vegetable seeds and transplants?
A reliable rule is to plant a seed about two to three times as deep as it is wide. University of Georgia Extension gives this same rule of thumb: tiny seeds such as carrots go very shallow, while large seeds such as corn and beans… Read the full answer →
What Vegetables Are Easiest to Grow in a First Garden?
by Garden Voila teamI am starting my very first vegetable garden. Which vegetables are the easiest to grow?
The easiest vegetables for a first garden are the ones that tolerate beginner mistakes, grow quickly and give a good harvest from a small space. Tomatoes, peppers, green beans, zucchini and potatoes are classic choices, and radishes, lettuce and herbs add fast wins. Iowa State… Read the full answer →
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Mulching Vegetable Gardens: What to Use, How Deep and When
by Garden Voila teamShould I mulch my vegetable garden, what kind of mulch is best and how deep should it be?
Mulch is one of the most effective habits in vegetable gardening. A layer of organic material over the soil slows evaporation, suppresses weeds and moderates soil temperature. Colorado State University Extension reports that mulch reduces evaporation and can cut irrigation needs by about 50 percent,… Read the full answer →
When Is the Best Time to Water the Garden?
by Garden Voila teamWhat is the best time of day to water my garden, and does it matter?
The best time to water most gardens is early morning, roughly between 5 and 9 a.m. Iowa State University Extension recommends morning watering for sprinklers, hoses and other methods that wet foliage, because leaves dry quickly in the morning sun, which helps prevent fungal diseases.… Read the full answer →
How to Keep a Garden Journal That Actually Helps
by Garden Voila teamHow can I keep a garden journal that actually helps me grow better next year?
A garden journal is a simple record of what you planted, when, and how it did. After one season it becomes the best gardening guide you own, because it is specific to your soil, climate and yard. Washington State University Extension recommends keeping a garden… Read the full answer →
Crop Rotation in the Home Vegetable Garden: How and Why
by Garden Voila teamWhy do gardeners rotate crops, and how do I do it in a small home vegetable garden?
Crop rotation means moving crops to a different part of the garden each season so that the same plant family does not grow in the same spot year after year. Washington State University Extension explains that rotation reduces insect pests, limits vegetable diseases and helps… Read the full answer →
Share your garden plan
Describe your bed sizes, what you planted where and how it turned out. Plans are reviewed and, once approved, shown here for other gardeners to learn from.
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