Author: Jane Austin

Micro greens can provide concentrated amounts of vitamins, carotenoids, and minerals in a very small serving, but their nutritional value varies considerably by plant species. A USDA Agricultural Research Service study of 25 types of microgreens found vitamin C concentrations ranging from 20.4 to 147.0 mg per 100 grams of fresh weight. Red cabbage, cilantro, garnet amaranth, and green daikon radish stood out for particular nutrients. Microgreens are young edible seedlings harvested before they develop into mature vegetable plants. Most are only about 1–3 inches tall when harvested, which makes them practical for growing indoors on a tray, windowsill, or…

An avocado shortage can occur when harvests fall or imports are disrupted, but higher avocado prices alone do not prove that the United States has run out of avocados. The U.S. fresh market relies heavily on imported fruit, particularly Hass avocados from Mexico, while California supplies a smaller domestic crop. Avocados are also unusually slow to replace. A grafted avocado tree can take roughly 3–4 years to begin producing meaningful fruit, and a mature tree can continue producing for decades under suitable conditions. That long production cycle makes avocado supply much less flexible than fast-growing vegetables. Is there really an…

An arugula shortage can happen quickly because arugula is a short-lived leafy crop that depends heavily on cool growing conditions, but an empty package at one grocery store does not automatically mean there is a nationwide shortage. Cultivated arugula, Eruca vesicaria, grows best in roughly 45–65°F conditions and can produce harvestable baby leaves in about 20–40 days. That fast growth is useful for farmers, but it also creates a narrow window for producing consistently good-quality leaves. Hot weather can make arugula bolt, become more bitter, and lose the tender texture shoppers expect. If you are seeing less arugula at your…

Fresh cherries are generally in season in the U.S. from late April or May through August, but the exact timing depends heavily on where the cherries were grown. California can start harvesting in late April or May, while Michigan’s fresh sweet-cherry season generally arrives around late June and can continue into August. The season moves northward as spring and summer progress. California gets the early harvest, followed by major growing regions in the Pacific Northwest, while Michigan and other northern areas produce cherries later. When are cherries in season in the USA? The main U.S. fresh sweet-cherry season runs from…

You can grow arugula indoors in a shallow container and start harvesting baby leaves in about 3–4 weeks, while full-size leaves generally take around 4–6 weeks depending on the variety and growing conditions. Arugula (Eruca sativa) is especially suited to indoor growing because it is a fast-growing cool-season crop that can tolerate less-than-perfect light better than many other leafy vegetables. Cornell Garden-Based Learning lists 5–7 days for emergence and notes that some arugula can be ready to harvest about 4 weeks after seeding. The trick is keeping the plants cool, evenly moist, and well lit. If your indoor growing area…

Yes, the U.S. tomato market is tight in late August 2026, but it is more accurate to call it a supply shortage in several major tomato categories rather than a complete nationwide disappearance of tomatoes. Current produce reports say round tomatoes are especially scarce, while supplies of Roma, grape, and cherry tomatoes vary by region. On August 18, Markon reported that total tomato volume was lower and markets were moving higher, while California was at peak round-tomato harvest. The situation follows a difficult 2026 growing season. Florida lost an estimated 80% of its tomato production during severe winter weather, with…

The plants not to grow near kiwi are mainly strawberries, raspberries, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant when they have a history of Verticillium wilt, plus aggressive plants that compete heavily for the kiwi’s water and root space. Kiwi vines need roughly 10–15 feet of planting space, and their canes can grow 6–12 feet in a single year, so crowding becomes a real problem quickly. There is no strong scientific evidence that kiwi has a special list of plants that are chemically “bad companions.” The bigger concern is what another plant does to the soil, roots, water supply, sunlight, and physical…

Grapes can be expensive because producing fresh table grapes requires a surprising amount of hand labor, careful quality control, and refrigerated handling. In one USDA Economic Research Service case study of California table grapes, pre-harvest hand work took about 338 labor hours per acre, while harvesting and packing required another 350 hours—about 688 hours of labor per acre in total. That helps explain why a bag of grapes can cost noticeably more than fruits that are easier to harvest, handle, or store. The price is not caused by one thing. Labor is a major factor, but the final cost also…