A true superfood, broccoli is packed with tons of nutrients. Broccoli is part of the brassica genus, relating it to turnips, rutabaga, radish, wasabi, kale, cabbage, arugula, collard greens, and kohlrabi. Being a hardy and versatile vegetable, it’s easy to grow for every type of gardener following a few simple growing tips...

Kohlrabi is a vegetable that is part of the Brassica family, which also includes broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. It is a cool-weather crop that grows best in the spring and fall. Kohlrabi has a bulbous stem that grows above the ground, with leaves growing out of the top. The stem can range in color from light green...

There are descriptions of cauliflower from as early as the 1st century A.D.. Cauliflower has been grown and eaten across Europe since the 1500s but did not start growing in the United States until the 1900s. Cauliflower is related to other brassica vegetables including broccoli, turnips, rutabaga, radish, wasabi...

Did you know that Elephant Garlic is closely related to leeks? It has a couple of similarities and differences when compared to regular garlic. Similar to leeks in appearance it contains a tall flowering stalk with flat leaves but has a bulb that forms large garlic-like cloves. Much like onions, immature elephant garlic...

Depending on what part of the country you’re from, you may be familiar with cowpeas and field peas. What you may not know is that they are actually the same thing, just with different names.  Here in the South, cowpeas or field peas are a long time staple of southern cuisine because of their exceptional...

Do you call them fresh peas, green, peas, garden peas, or just plain ole peas? Unlike the Southern cowpea that we know here at HOSS, this guide is going to cover the other kind of peas; green peas. Fresh peas are one of the garden’s most beloved treats. The sweet pods have been around for centuries and are...

Carrots are sweet, crunchy, delicious, and nutritious, making them an excellent addition to your home garden. These Vitamin A rich vegetables can be cooked, eaten raw, preserved and make an excellent addition to so many dishes. If you’ve eaten a carrot from the grocery store, and never had one fresh from the

Okra is a Southern staple that has been grown in gardens all over for centuries. Okra belongs to the mallow family along with roselle hibiscus and also cotton. Originally from Africa, okra has been widely adapted to grow in most climates but does very well in hotter growing zones like...

Growing pepper plants in your garden is a fun way to add a pop of color and spice to an otherwise simple vegetable garden. These prolific plants come in so many varieties and, more importantly, flavors that there are a million different ways to utilize these spicy treats. From the sweet bell pepper to the extreme...

Peppers are a long standing favorite among gardeners who want to grow their own food. They provide a bright pop of color, come in many many varieties and flavors and are usually heavy producers from just a single plant and can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen...

A lot of people have the misconception that winter squash is different from summer squash because they are grown in the winter and summer squash is grown in the summer. However, this is not the case. Both types are grown in the same season...

In the world of squash, there are usually two types that come to mind; winter squash and summer squash. Even though they both belong to the Cucurbitaceae family (also known as gourds or cucurbits), they have fundamental differences. For...

With the immense diversity in the world of beans, doing the research into the particular variety you are interested in and knowing its specific traits will you help you grow beans with ease. One thing you will come to learn is that beans come in all shapes, sizes, and colors so knowing how to classify these delicious garden...

Corn on the cob has long been a staple on dinner tables and farms across the country. It’s an art that has been perfected by both commercial growers and home gardeners for as far back as we can remember. Corn is probably one of the most versatile vegetables on the planet and exists, in some form or another, in just...

For centuries, the potato has reigned supreme as one of the most popular plants to have in your garden. Overall, they are a relatively easy crop that don’t require a lot of labor to maintain or harvest, are high in nutrients, and can be grown in even the...

Gardeners at all types and levels have something in common…tomatoes. There are hundreds of varieties, colors, shapes, flavors and they not only look beautiful climbing up a trellis but most of the time put out lots and lots of fruit. What a lot of...

Tomatoes are by and large one of the most popular vegetables to have in your garden. The varieties are almost endless and tomatoes can be used in so many ways that the hardest part could be choosing which tomato is best to grow. As...

The most common mistakes we have encountered when it comes to a great crop of onions really comes down to planning. You have to be sure of three things when planting onions...

Onion production is largely based on the amount of sunlight it receives during the entire growing process. In order for the bulbs to form properly, enough sunlight is needed for healthy above-ground leaf production. Different varieties require varying hours of sunlight to produce a large, healthy onion crop. Choosing the right onion...