Questions tagged [vegetables]

Any edible plant or part of a plant. For questions if an unknown plant is edible use the [edible] tag.

Vegetables are plants. Technically they exclude actual , although many so-called vegetables (e.g. peppers, , and ) are the fruit of the plant in question. Questions about anything typically grown in a vegetable garden are on-topic for this tag.

For questions about a particular vegetable, use in combination with a tag for the specific vegetable you're asking about (e.g. or ).

If you're having a problem with a vegetable (leaves turning yellow, plants die, etc), use in addition.

This tag can also be used for general questions about vegetable gardening (getting started, mulching, fertilizing, watering, etc), so please add the appropriate tags for these questions too.

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Can cereal boxes be used for mulch?

This question asks about using corrugated cardboard for mulch. In the comments and the answer there are some questions about glues and inks possibly having "bad stuff" that you might not want in the vegetable garden. I'm wondering about cereal boxes…
bstpierre
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Tomato plant looks like it has grains of salt - what is it and how do I treat it?

My cherry tomato plant has been showing some yellowing of leaves over the past week or so. Just today I noticed the formation of these cluster of white granules - not sure if it's connected to the yellowing or not. It looks like grains of salt more…
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What is this root "vegetable"?

I planted some beetroot from store bought seedlings in November, and they're fine. But this chap grew up with them, and I don't remember if it came with the others, or just grew from where ever. I just don't know what it is. Doesn't look like a…
Graham Chiu
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What is the difference between male and female asparagus plants, and is it important for growing?

Yesterday I found a box of two asparagus plants among some bags of bulbs at a local store. I couldn't open it, so I don't know what they look like, but the box was about 6 inches tall and 3 inches front to back. Although I have a lot of experience…
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How do I get tender green beans?

We have successfully grown a nice crop of green beans this year, but in contrast to store-bought beans the skin is quite tough. Is there a trick to cultivating more tender beans? Or is it a matter of which breed we use?
Alex Feinman
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Is "Days to Harvest" measured from planting date or sprouting date?

I have several Ferry-Morse seed packets, which, on the back, show what the expected "Days to Harvest" is. I am wondering if this "Days to Harvest" should be measured from the date I planted the seeds or the date I saw the sprouts first coming up?
NeutronStar
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Should I lift my onion crop?

Looks like my onion crop is done (end of August). The green part has died right back and I've got just the bulb sat a little way into the soil. I don't have a good rodent-proof cool dry dark outdoor storage place to put the onions. If I lift them…
Tea Drinker
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What kind of chili turns brown and shrivels when ripening on the plant?

I have a few of these chili plants growing and they produce a longish (approx 4", sometimes curled chili that turns brown and begins to shrivel (slightly) when it ripens. It does not transition to a different, more standard colour (red/orange) and I…
anon
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Is September too late to plant winter greens in USDA zone 6?

I have Red Russian Kale and Collards that I want to grow for a late-season crop, but I keep procrastinating. Is late August/Early September too late to put them out in order to get enough greens to have a mess or two to eat? I live in USDA zone 6…
baka
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Harvesting beans to prolong cropping - but how thorough do I need to be?

It is said that if you let your runner/french beans reach full maturity, the plant stops producing. So I harvest my beans (even if only to throw/give them away) regularly to prolong cropping. How thorough do I need to be? Is it sufficient to…
Tea Drinker
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Does it matter if my cabbage forms its heart some way off the ground?

My cabbages have been growing strongly, but until recently mostly big loose leaves, not hearts. Now they're beginning to heart up, but some way up the stalk and off the ground (about 12-15cm up the stalk, possibly more [photo probably shows the…
Tea Drinker
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What are some good vegetables for a beginner, and how do I find quality seeds?

I have taken a recent interest in gardening, particularly growing herbs and vegetables. I don't know much, but I'm going to wing it and learn from trial and error. I have a few questions that I really need answered in order to advance with my new…
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What causes cucumber leaves to turn yellow, brown, wilt, die, and the plants to stop producing?

Every year it seems my cukes will go gang busters then suddenly the leaves turn yellow (starting with yellow spots), then turn brown, wilt and slowly die off. This all happens from the root crown and works its way out. I have pictures of early…
Bill
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How can I grow edible plants for a reptile in the reptile's tank?

I have a bearded dragon, and I recently came up with an idea to possibly plant my dragon's food in her own tank. This way it is fresh, always available, and may even help to keep the humidity in her tank up. My options are as follows: Kale Turnip…
Adra Elkins
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What are these swirly green growths inside my bell peppers?

I occasionally discover swirly green growths inside my bell peppers, such as the ones pictured below. What are they exactly? Are they edible?
Brad Koch
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