Straw Bale Gardens Complete provides an abundance of inspiration, with detailed steps for planning, planting and harvesting a straw bale garden. Joel Karsten inspects tomatoes growing in straw bales.

If you’d like to install a raised bed but don’t have the resources to build one, you can achieve the same effect by growing your plants in straw bales. It’s also a great option for those with poor ...

Bad soil? Not enough soil? Maybe even no soil? Skip the ground and try planting fruits and vegetables in straw bales instead, suggests Joel Karsten, author of “Straw Bale Gardens” (Cool Springs Press, ...

Tomatoes should be left on the plant right up until they’re ready to eat. Tomatoes are a staple in many summer vegetable gardens, but they don’t always reach their full potential. To ensure you have a ...

In Part I of this series, I shared my boyhood memory of a family tomato-growing contest that sparked my interest in growing tomatoes. I also shared my favorite varieties of tomatoes, one of which, the ...

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are one of the most rewarding crops to grow, but where you plant them makes all the difference in how successful your harvest is. These sun-loving plants need more than ...

Tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetables for gardeners, being easy to grow in containers or in the ground. Home-grown tomatoes can offer superb flavor and texture since they don’t have to ...

There are plenty of ways to use baking soda in your yard and garden, but that simple box sitting in your pantry can actually help make your tomato plants the best they can be. When used correctly, ...

If you're new to growing tomatoes or you just want a variety that's fuss-free and highly productive in your summer vegetable garden, cherry tomatoes are certainly your best bet. These plants don't ...