How do I handle the bugs and insects living on my plant?

When your first notice the pest living on your plant, first try to identify them (using a greenhouse, houseplant, or insect identification book) to make sure they are, in fact, problems -- not beneficial organisms that prey on pests or problems caused by some other type of plant stress. In early stages, you can hand pick and squash problem pests yourself. For larger infestations, you might try a solution of insecticidal soap spray on the entire plant, especially under the leaves. You can have a parent purchase these or use mild dish liquids or soaps such as Ivory Liquid at solutions of 3 to 6 tablespoons per gallon of water. If you have a bad infestation, spray every three to five days. While soap sprays can be effective with a range of pests, they can also harm the good ones, so use them judiciously. Also, natural predators such as ladybugs, green lacewings, and other beneficial insects, if properly introduced, can keep pest populations down.

Should I still water my plant if it has rained every day this week?

Water is crucial to all life, including plants. Even with this, there is potential of plants getting too much water. If a plant’s soil has too much water, the roots can rot, and the plant wont get enough oxygen from the soil. A plant cannot grow if it doesn’t have healthy roots, so if it has rained every day in a week, I would be cautious of giving your plant any additional water. But if you are unsure, there is a quick way to check your plant. Just put your finger in the soil. If the soil is moist, it has enough water; if it is dry, you need to water the plant.

What kind of tools do you use in your garden? Where can I get my own?

A couple of basic gardening tools are: gloves, shovel, rake, soil, and seeds. Most of these items can be bought at any lawn and garden center.

What do plants eat? How do you keep your plants healthy and growing?

Most plants need water and sunshine to survive. This means dedicating enough time to water your plants and helping them to stay healthy. Although you don’t have the same authority over the sun, try to choose the sunniest spot for your plant to grow!

Do you grow so you don't have to go grocery shopping?

Growing your own Victory Garden of vegetables and produce is a great way to grow healthy and affordable meals for your family. The plants and vegetables grown in your Victory Garden will allow you to make your own food and help decrease your parent’s grocery bill each month!

What time of year should I start planting my garden?

If you live in a cold weather climate, the general rule is to wait to plant after the last chance of frost has pasted. This is usually around April or May, but might be earlier if you live in a warmer area. This is largely because your seed will most likely rot unless you wait until winter is over and the soil has had a chance to warm.

Where do I get seeds to start my garden?

You can buy seeds at any nursery, lawn and garden center, or hardware store in your area.

How do I get rid of unwanted plants in my vegetable garden, such as weeds?

To get rid of a single weed or unwanted growth, you could try a spot weed killer between the plants, a product available at most lawn and garden centers. For deep-rooted weeds that are growing right up through a plant, you may have to dig up the plant, remove the weed, and then reset the plant. Also, the use of mulch will help keep the soil cool and moist as well as cut down substantially on weeds.

What kinds of vegetables and produce need a lot of sun and which ones don't?

For some vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, and squash, a great deal of daily sun is needed in order for growth. But while no vegetable will grow in full, dense shade, some can do well without a great deal of constant sun. The following crops will produce with three to six hours of sun, or fairly spotted shade, per day: different kinds of greens, such as leaf lettuce and spinach, peas, beets, radishes, beans, among others.

My plant looks sick. It's lost a lot of its leaves and has begun to droop. What should I do?

It is possible that the soil in your garden needs to be "fed" so the plant can continue to grow. You can try to rebuild and improve your soil by adding lots of organic matter, such as compost, rotted leaves, or aged stable manure and bedding. This will feed it and help improve its ability to hold both air and water, all of which are important to plants.