Peter Keefe

Veggies come in all colors these days; purple carrots, orange tomatoes, and even yellow watermelon. But among the most prized (and hard to find) veggies are the rainbow varieties. Many of these are fairly new but they’re starting to show up at farmers markets and even some grocery stores. Here’s a collection of the rainbow varieties that we’ve found: Rainbow Hot Peppers Although they look colorful, you may not want to “taste the rainbow” with this particular variety....

I don’t know about you, but I’m dreaming of warmer spring weather and getting back out in the garden! To satisfy that “gardening itch” that comes every winter, I like to dig out my seed starting supplies and grow tomatoes, peppers, and a few other veggies. Our last post focused on grow lights, which are arguably the most important piece of equipment for starting seeds. However, some seeds may not even germinate to see that light if you don’t keep them at the right temperature....

Starting veggie seedlings indoors is a great way to get a head start on the gardening season and relieve that “gardening itch” that many of us get in the winter. One of the most important things a seedling needs is the right amount of light. However, chances are your average house window isn’t bright enough and you’ll need to supplement the light with a grow light. But if you’ve shopped for grow lights recently, you may have been overwhelmed by all the different options....

It may be the middle of winter, but here at Planter we’re busy getting ready for the new growing season. We’re also very excited to announce a host of new features and improvements that we will be adding to the app in 2023! But first, I have some personal news… Starting this month I have transitioned to working on Planter full-time! When I originally released the app in 2017, I never imagined it would grow to be what it is today....

Are you starting a veggie garden in a subtropical or tropical climate? These regions offer a unique set of conditions for growing veggies, and it’s important to understand the differences between the two and choose the right plants for your area. Subtropical vs tropical 🌴 First, let’s define the key differences between subtropical and tropical climates. Subtropical regions have mild winters, and the temperature typically doesn’t go below freezing. On the other hand, tropical regions have warm temperatures year-round and usually high humidity....

One of my favorite things about summer is enjoying fresh salsa from the garden. It’s sweet, spicy, and best of all…fresh, so it tastes better than store-bought salsa and lasts longer in the fridge (if I don’t eat it first!). This year, I wanted to maximize my chances of successfully harvesting every major component to make fresh salsa, so I dedicated a good portion of my veggie plot as a “salsa garden”....

When designing and planting raised garden beds, it’s important to consider how deep the roots grow. If your raised garden bed is on top of regular soil, this shouldn’t be an issue. However, if the bed is on top of concrete or inadequate soil, make sure the raised bed is deep enough for the plants you’d like to grow. Soil Depth Requirements for Common Vegetables Shallow Rooting (12"-18") Medium Rooting (18"-24") Deep Rooting (24"+) Arugula Beans Artichoke Bok Choy Beets Asparagus Broccoli Cantaloupe Okra Brussel sprouts Carrots Parsnips Cabbage Chard Pumpkin Cauliflower Cucumber Rhubarb Celery Eggplant Squash (winter) Chives Kale Sweet potatoes Corn Peas Tomatoes Endive Peppers Watermelon Garlic Rutabagas Kohlrabi Squash (summer) Leeks Turnips Lettuce Onions Potatoes Radishes Spinach Strawberries

They look beautiful and organized, but what exactly are square foot gardens, and should you build one? Square foot gardening is rapidly growing in popularity, and for good reason! It’s also the gardening method that Planter is best suited for. What is square foot gardening? Square foot gardening is a simple method of gardening where the garden is divided into squares, each 1 foot by 1 foot. It is organized and highly productive....