Posts By

Merideth Cohrs

Merideth is an organic gardener, suburban homesteader, and writer. Her love for gardening developed a little later in life when she helped her mom build an organic hobby farm in central Texas. Despite the crazy heat and fire ants, she was hooked! Merideth now lives in northern Virginia with her family and dog, and when not in her backyard garden, can often be found getting happily lost hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Tiny Tim tomatoes are convenient for indoors growing

Vegetables

11 Reasons to Grow Tiny Tim Tomatoes This Season

Looking for a new cherry tomato variety to grow in your garden this season? Tiny Tim tomatoes may fit exactly what you are looking for! In this article, gardening expert Merideth Corhs looks at some of the reasons you'll love growing Tiny Tim tomatoes in your garden this year!

A close up of a popular apple tree variety producing fruit. Up close you can see the pink fruits ready to pick, with green foliage behind them.

Fruit

28 Different Types of Apple Tree Varieties to Grow This Season

Are you trying to figure out which types of apple trees to grow this season? There are many different apple tree varieties you can grow, depending on your hardiness zone. In this article, gardening expert Merideth Corhs looks at some of her favorite types of apple trees you can grow.

harvest kale

Vegetables

How and When to Harvest Kale For The Best Crop Yields

Not sure when it's time to harvest your kale this season? Harvesting this leafy green is fairly straightforward, and the timing depends on when it was planted. In this article, gardening expert Merideth Cohrs takes you through when it's time to harvest kale, and step by step instructions on how to do it.

frost kill potatoes

Vegetables

Can Potato Plants Survive Frost Damage?

Do you have potatoes in your garden this season and are concerned about the coming winter frost? Frost impacts most plants, but what about potatoes, which grow underground? In this article, gardening expert Merideth Corhs looks at if frost can have a detrimental impact on your potato crop this season.

grow apple tree faster

Fruit

7 Tips For Faster Growing Apple Trees This Season

Looking to maximize your apple yield this season? While most apple trees have a traditional growth pattern, there are a few things you can do to encourage them to grow a little faster. In this article, gardening expert Merideth Corhs walks through her top tips for faster growing apple trees!

A close up of potatoes and cucumbers recently harvested after growing in the garden. The cucumbers are in a brown wicker basket, and the potatoes are still covered in soil, in a blue plastic basket.

Vegetables

Can You Plant Cucumbers With Potatoes in Your Garden?

Thinking of planting cucumbers with potatoes in your garden this season? Maybe you are curious if it's even a good idea? In this article, gardening expert and homesteader Merideth Corhs examines if planting cucumbers with your potatoes is a good idea this season, or if you should stick to other companions for either vegetable.

A close up image of apples on a tree in full sun exposure. The foliage is visible and the rays of the sunlight are yellow, and glinting off the foliage and fruit at the same time.

Fruit

Do Apple Trees Need Full Sun, Partial Sun, or Full Shade?

Looking to plant some apple trees this season, but aren't sure if they need full sun, partial shade, or full shade? Finding the perfect place for your trees can be the difference between plenty of fruit, or none at all. In this article, gardening expert Merideth Corhs looks at the sun requirements for Apple Trees in your garden.

dwarf fruit trees

Fruit

12 Dwarf Fruit Trees For Small Garden Spaces

Are you looking for a dwarf fruit tree to place in a smaller garden area? These days, a compact growing space isn't necessarily so limiting. There are actually plenty of small fruit trees you can plant, depending on your hardiness zone. In this article, gardening expert Merideth Corhs looks at some of her favorite fruit trees that come in smaller sizes.

A close up image of an apple tree planted and blossoming at the right time after planting.

Fruit

When Should You Plant Apple Trees This Season?

Are you thinking of adding some apple trees to your garden this season, but aren't quite sure when you should actually plant them? Depending on your location, there's a few best practices to follow. In this article, gardening expert Merideth Corhs walks through the best times of year to plant Apple trees in your garden.

kale spacing

Vegetables

Kale Garden Spacing: How Far Apart Should You Plant Kale?

Not sure how much space you should give kale in your garden this season? Kale is pretty low maintenance once it's taken root, but as a garden vegetable it doesn't love to be crowded. In this article, gardening expert Merideth Cohrs walks through how much space you need to provide kale in your garden beds.

planting kale in the fall

Vegetables

When to Plant Kale: Hint, it’s a Great Fall Crop!

If you are planning on planting kale this season, you may be wondering when the best time of season is to start sowing. While kale can be planted during any growing season, it's often thought of as one of the best fall crops for your garden. In this article, gardening expert Merideth Corhs walks through when to plant kale, and why it's such an excellent fall crop!

tomatoes and brussel sprouts

Vegetables

Can You Plant Tomatoes With Brussels Sprouts?

Thinking of planting some brussel sprouts in your garden this season, but not sure if these two plants are quite compatible together? In this article, gardening expert and homesteader Merideth Cohrs examines if it's a good idea to plant brussel sprouts next to your tomatoes this season!

eggplant companion plants

Vegetables

21 Companion Plants To Grow With Eggplants

Looking for some plants to grow alongside your garden eggplants this season? There are many different options, including herbs, flowers, and other vegetables. In this article, gardening expert Merideth Corhs looks at her favorite plants to pair with eggplants in the garden.

eggplants in raised beds

Vegetables

16 Tips For Growing Eggplant in Raised Garden Beds

Are you thinking of growing eggplant in raised garden beds this season? Using raised beds for eggplant can be effective, but requires a bit of finesse. In this article, gardening expert and homesteader Merideth Cohrs walks through her top tips for bountiful eggplant yields from raised beds!

white powder on zucchini leaves

Problems

Why is There White Powder or White Spots on My Zucchini Leaves?

Do you have white powder or white spots on your zucchini leaves? There are a few causes for this problem. The good news is that most of the issues that cause this common problem are both treatable and preventable. In this article, gardening expert Merideth Corhs examines why this happens to your zucchini plants, and how to fix it.

cabbage worms

Pests

How to Stop Cabbage Worms From Making Holes in Your Greens

Struggling with cabbage worms making holes in your garden greens? Cabbage worms can be one of the top destroyers of leafy greens in the vegetable garden. In this article, gardening expert Merideth Corhs walks through her favorite methods for keeping these pests away from your garden greens this season.

white powder on cucumber leaves

Problems

Why You Have White Powder or Spots on Your Cucumber Leaves

Did you recently notice some white powder or white spots on your cucumber plants this season? There are a few different reasons why this can happen. In this article, gardening expert Merideth Cohrs examines why this can happen with your cucumber plants and how to address it.

Powdery Mildew on Plant

Diseases

Powdery Mildew: Why Your Plants Have White Powder or Spots

Powdery Mildew can be one of the most common diseases that plant owners experience during especially humid summers. There are several ways that powdery mildew can take a hold of your garden plants, but luckily it's also easy to treat. In this article, we look at 7 factors that contributes to how it spreads, as well as how to treat it!