Category: TBK Nursery Tips

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Should I cut the tops off my pepper plants?

There are several advantages to cutting the tops off your pepper plants:

Tops Cut on 5/22
Tops Cut on 5/22
1.
 Enhanced branching and bushier growth: By cutting off the top of a pepper plant, you encourage lateral branching and stimulate the growth of new shoots. This leads to a bushier plant with more potential for flower and fruit production. The increased branching also helps create a stronger plant structure, reducing the risk of the plant bending or breaking under the weight of its fruit.

2.
Increased air circulation and sunlight penetration: Pruning the top of a pepper plant allows better air circulation and sunlight penetration throughout the plant. This helps reduce the risk of diseases caused by excessive humidity or lack of airflow, such as fungal infections. Improved sunlight exposure promotes better photosynthesis, resulting in healthier and more productive plants.

3.
Concentrated energy and resources: By removing the top of a pepper plant, you redirect the plant’s energy and resources towards the existing fruit and lower branches. This allows the plant to focus its energy on developing and ripening the existing fruits, rather than wasting resources on producing new foliage. As a result, you may experience larger and higher-quality peppers.

4.
Extended harvest season: Pruning the top of pepper plants can help extend the harvest season. When you remove the top, it stimulates the growth of new shoots and encourages the plant to produce more flowers and fruits. This continuous production of new fruit can prolong the harvest period, allowing you to enjoy fresh peppers for a longer time.

17 days later (6/08)
17 days later (6/08)

It’s important to note that while pruning can be beneficial, it should be done with care and according to the specific needs of the pepper plant variety you are growing. Not all pepper plants require or respond positively to heavy pruning, so it’s advisable to research the specific recommendations for your particular variety before making any major cuts. If you have any questions regarding pruning your pepper.

#tbknursery tip #15 – Basil and Marigolds are excellent companion plants for Tomatoes

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5 Benefits of adding Basil to your garden

Basil is a popular herb used in many cuisines around the world. It’s a great source of vitamins and minerals, and it offers several benefits for your health.

1.
 Anti-inflammatory properties: Basil contains eugenol, a natural anti-inflammatory compound that can help reduce inflammation in the body. This can be beneficial for conditions like arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

2.
 Antioxidant benefits: Basil is rich in antioxidants, which help protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. This can help reduce your risk of chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.

3.
 Improved digestion: Basil contains compounds that can help improve digestion by reducing gas, bloating, and constipation. It can also help stimulate appetite and promote healthy bowel movements.

4.
 Reduced stress: Basil contains adaptogenic compounds that can help your body adapt to stress and reduce the impact of stress on your health.

5.
 Lowered risk of infections: Basil contains antimicrobial compounds that can help prevent infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This can help support your immune system and reduce your risk of illness.

It’s important to note that the nutritional facts listed here are based on one cup of chopped basil. However, it’s unlikely that you would consume this much basil in one sitting. Adding a few leaves of basil to your meals can still provide some of these benefits, but in smaller amounts ;).

Cinnamon Basil | Lemon Basil | Genovese Basil

One cup of chopped basil:

(about 30 grams) contains approximately 2.4 mg of eugenol.

contains approximately 27.5 mg of vitamin C, an antioxidant that can help protect your cells.

contains approximately 88.3 mg of magnesium, which is important for healthy digestion.

contains approximately 0.2 mg of iron, which is important for healthy stress response.

contains approximately 0.2 mg of zinc, which is important for healthy immune function.

#tbknursery tip #10 – Basil is native to tropical Asia and belongs to the mint family.

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5 Benefits of Eating Home-Grown Tomatoes

Here are five advantages of incorporating homegrown tomatoes into your diet:

1.
 Rich in antioxidants: Homegrown tomatoes are rich in antioxidants such as lycopene, which can help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals. Lycopene is also known to reduce the risk of certain cancers, such as prostate, lung, and stomach cancer.

2.
 Good for the heart: Homegrown tomatoes contain high levels of potassium, which can help regulate blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.

3.
 Boosts immune system: Homegrown tomatoes are rich in vitamin C, which can help boost the immune system and protect the body against infections.

4.
 Helps maintain healthy skin: Homegrown tomatoes are rich in vitamin A, which is essential for maintaining healthy skin. Vitamin A helps prevent skin damage caused by UV radiation and can also help reduce the risk of skin cancer.

5.
 Good for digestion: Homegrown tomatoes are rich in fiber, which can help promote healthy digestion and prevent constipation.

One medium-sized tomato contains about:

32 milligrams of lycopene

292 milligrams of potassium

16 milligrams of vitamin C

1025 IU of vitamin A

1.5 grams of fiber

List of Available Tomatoes at TBK Nursery at our Palm Coast & Pine Hills, Florida locations:

#tbknursery tip #11 – Cutting tops off pepper plants is a way to get a stronger plant and higher yields (more info)

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How to Propagate Basil

#tbknursery

Ever wonder “How to Propagate Basil from Cuttings?” Well Basil propagation from cuttings is quite simple. In fact, propagating basil is one way to expand your herb garden or share your basil plants with friends. All you need to do is take a 4-inch (10 cm.) basil cutting just below a leaf node. Remove the leaves off the basil cutting about 2 inches (5 cm.) from the end. Make sure the basil cutting is a piece that hasn’t flowered yet.

Look at those lil roots lol!
#tbknursery

Your basil cutting can then be placed in a glass of water on the windowsill where it can get good sunlight. Use a clear glass so you can watch your basil propagation grow roots. Change the water every few days until you see root growth, then leave your basil propagation roots to grow about 2 inches (5 cm.) or so. This can take two to three weeks.

Once the roots on your basil cutting are 1 – 2 inches or longer, you can plant the cutting in a pot indoors or in your garden outside. Place the planter where the plant will get direct sunlight. Repeat this process for an endless supply of basil plants for your home garden or to share with friends!

#tbknursery tip #39 – Cutting the tops off certain plants makes them more bushy.

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