All plant-support articles

garden fundamentals

Should You Stake Pepper Plants?

It's often a good idea to stake pepper plants. Although many peppers are strong plants that do a good job at holding themselves upright, sometimes they need a little help — especially toward the end of the season. If you live in an area in which the growing season is long, peppers tend to grow taller (sometimes three or more feet) than they would otherwise.

garden fundamentals

How to Support Tomatoes

Whether you use tomato cages, stakes, trellises, or something else to support tomato plants, you keep the plants healthier and ensure easier harvesting.

diy garden projects

3 Ways to Use Cattle Panels in the Garden

Many favorite vegetable plants — such as tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peas, melons, and squash — need a little help standing tall. Cattle panels, available online and at farm supply stores, are a simple, affordable way to keep plants off the ground and away from foraging critters and soil-borne diseases.

diy garden projects

Make a Cucumber Tent Trellis

Keep cucumber vines off the ground by making your own cucumber tent trellis. Tendrils will grab the wires and secure the vine to the trellis as it grows.

garden fundamentals

5 Variations on a String Trellis for Tomatoes

A string trellis is a simple, effective way to support a growing tomato plant. Here are 5 options to consider including in your garden.

garden fundamentals

Row Cover Fabric Equals Protection for Your Plants

A row cover protects garden plants from cold, wind, excess sun, and insects. Discover how to use a row cover in your garden to extend the growing season.

how to grow

How to Grow Ground Cherries

A fruit of many names, it seems the only thing everyone can agree on is the fact this tangy but sweet berry is a delight to eat.

garden ideas inspiration

Easy Container Combos: Vegetables and Flowers

Vegetables and flowers make wonderful companions -- and look beautiful together -- in container gardens. Try these tips from author Pamela Crawford.

garden plans

Parsley & Tomato Container Garden

This Parsley & Tomato Container Garden gives you the fresh produce you need for salads, sauces, and more. The design uses space well, requiring one pot.

garden plans

Pizza Garden in Containers

Grow pizza ingredients fresh right outside your door with this pizza garden designed for containers. It's perfect for patios!

our purpose

Bonnie Plants & AmpleHarvest.org

Bonnie Plants and AmpleHarvest.org are uniting the power of growing with the power of caring to bring access to fresh produce into more communities through donations to local food pantries.

garden plans

Salsa Garden in Containers

It doesn't take much room to grow your own fresh ingredients for homemade salsa. Just follow this easy salsa garden container planting plan.

how to grow

How to Grow Mexican Gherkins

Mexican gherkins look like tiny watermelons but taste like lime-infused cucumbers. Get expert tips for growing Mexican gherkins in your home vegetable garden.

garden fundamentals

A Cold Weather Use for Tomato Cages

I began gardening around six years ago, and at first I attempted to use store-bought tomato cages. I tried several types, ranging from cheap to expensive, but my Bonnie tomatoes always outgrew them.

garden fundamentals

What Size Pot?

Not sure what size pot you need for your vegetable or herb? Don't guess when it comes to this. Use our handy guide to make the right choice for your plant.

garden fundamentals

Learn Tomato Growing Terms

There are a lot of tomato growing terms, from determinate and indeterminate to hybrid and heirloom. What do they all mean? Learn here.

garden ideas inspiration

Small Garden Ideas

You don’t need acres of land or even a huge garden to grow your own healthy, delicious food. If you’re the proud owner (or renter) of a sunny balcony, fire escape, patio, postage-stamp lawn, flat sturdy roof, or front porch, you have plenty of room to grow veggies and herbs—and we’ve got a bunch of small garden ideas to help you out.

garden fundamentals

Caring for Your Veggie Garden in 7 Smart Steps

Garden smarter, not harder. These essential steps for looking after your vegetable garden ensure your plants get plenty of TLC with time for gardener R&R, too.

garden fundamentals

Why You Should Keep Your Compost Pile Moist

You may be surprised to learn that your compost pile needs just as much water as your live plants. Dry compost doesn’t work. There are several ways to ensure your compost is getting the adequate amount of water needed to do its job.

garden ideas inspiration

Creative Ways to Grow Food on Your Deck

Discover the many ways you can grow food on your deck in containers, including window boxes, hanging baskets,vertical growing, upcycled containers, and more.

garden plans

Hot and Sweet 4 x 4-foot Pickling Garden

Using this plan, gardeners of any skill level can produce their own ingredients for fresh, homemade pickles and pickled veggies.

garden fundamentals

9 Essential Practices for Organic Gardeners

New to organic gardening? Here are 9 good, sustainable practices that every organic gardener should know about. Try them in your own garden.

garden fundamentals

Fertilizer and Healthy Soil

Discover how fertilizer can help feed your garden, so you'll have the kind of healthy soil that leads to healthy plants and better harvests.

garden fundamentals

Which Vegetables Are Most Efficient?

This list from the National Garden Bureau rates vegetables based on their total yield per square foot, average value per pound, and growing time.