The vegetable that New Yorkers want to learn how to grow the most is cucumbers, so which one do you think is the second one?
So sit back and read while you enjoy an all-American cucumber salad and a cocktail to keep you cool as a cucumber.
https://www.food.com/recipe/cucumber-salad-249022
https://www.yummly.com/recipe/Cucumber-Cocktail-9505760
Researchers at AllAboutGardening.com analyzed Google Trends data to establish the vegetable that has the highest search volume for ‘how to grow’ it in each American state in the past five years.
- Cucumbers are the most popular vegetable to grow in New York and second overall across America in several states, including Vermont, Nebraska, Texas, and Iowa.
- Potatoes are the most popular vegetable in America with 14 states searching how to grow them more than any other vegetable.
- What about carrots tomatoes lettuce and Beetroots?
Gardening says a top tip for growing cucumbers is to trellis them: To save space and yield quality cucumbers less prone to disease, trellis cucumbers rather than letting them vine along with the soil. Use a cattle panel mounted on T-posts or rebar to create a cheap, simple trellis. Then plant about 12” apart and allow them to vine up the panel. Prune off the suckers to promote more fruit growth and keep plenty of airflow between the foliage."
The number one veggie is potatoes with the highest number of states searching, with a #USA total of fourteen, including Tennessee, Utah, Illinois, and Montana. Expert Logan reveals the best tip for growing your own potatoes is to pre-sprout them: "Pre-sprouting or “chitting” your seed potatoes can jumpstart your harvest by up to two weeks and reduces the risk of rot and waste. To do this, you should lay your potatoes out in an even single layer on a tray or in egg cartons, place them in a light area (such as a window sill or porch) with the optimum temperature ranging from 60-70°F and let them sprout until they’re around an inch long before planting."
Two vegetables came joint fourth, with five states searching for each of them the most respectively – these vegetables carrots and zucchinis.
Carrots were the most searched for vegetable in five states – Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, and Minnesota. In order to best grow carrots, Logan advises the following: "Due to their finicky watering needs, carrot seeds tend to be difficult to germinate. Try using a piece of row cover or clear greenhouse plastic laid over the soil surface to maintain even moisture until they sprout. Also, don’t forget that thinning is essential for quality carrots. If you have noticed spindly or undeveloped carrot roots, be sure that you are using snips to thin out 2-4” of space between each carrot seedling."
Zucchinis were the vegetable with the most searches for how to grow it in Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Ohio, and Wyoming. Zucchinis are notoriously prone to powdery mildew, to prevent this, Logan explains: The secret to keeping zucchini plants disease-free is maintaining air circulation by providing 2-3 square feet of space per plant, keeping weeds down, and preventatively applying diluted neem solution during moist conditions. It also helps to mulch with a straw or dried leaf mulch to prevent rain splashing onto the leaves."
Three vegetables came joint fifth, with four states interested in growing these vegetables – onion, bell pepper, and squash - more than any other.
The states that wanted to learn how to grow onions more than any other vegetable was Washington state, California, Massachusetts, and Oregon. A quick tip Logan shares for anyone wanting to learn how to grow onions is to save time: "If you’re an impatient gardener craving spring scallions or sweet onions, opt for “onion sets” or starter bulbs to make your harvest quicker. These mini onion bulbs can be planted instead of seeds to save you time and effort from thinning."
The states of Florida, New Mexico, Georgia, and Wisconsin searched how to grow bell peppers more than any other vegetable. Logan advises the following for anyone looking to grow their own bell peppers: "Boost bell pepper yields and flavor by amending vermicompost or composted chicken manure to your garden beds. These moderate feeding Solanaceae-family crops also love an added boost of diluted fish and kelp fertilizer once they begin flowering."
The squash was also the most searched vegetable to learn how to grow in four states with those states being Hawaii, Maryland, Mississippi and Virginia. The secret to getting the sweetness in a squash, Logan reveals, is to cure them properly: "Proper curing squash is the secret to sweetening the flavor and enjoying butternut or pumpkin pies all winter long. As your winter squash plants thrive in the garden, prepare a cool, dry area for curing with a ventilated table, fans, and dehumidifier (if in a moist climate). When it comes time to harvest, wait until the squash vines begin to wither and yellow, then cut your squash with 2-3” of stem and let them firm up in your curing chamber for 7 to 14 days. This can also be done in the garden if you are lucky enough to have warm, dry fall weather."
Here is how to build your own no-dig vegetable garden bed- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZaXQ36cIEQ