crops & gardening

There's no bigger reward than growing fresh fruits and vegetables from tiny seed, but it's not as simple as putting the seeds in the ground and waiting for them grow. Your crops need tender care from germination to harvest. Get the information here for selecting your plants and keeping them healthy until they reach your table.

Crop Profiles Whether you keep a small kitchen garden filled with delicious herbs or have several acres of heirloom vegetables and orchard trees at your disposal, the crops you grow are an integral part of your hobby farm. With these plants, you'll be able to feed your family and maybe even the community. In this section, you'll find growing information on all kinds of crops, from farm staples, like heirloom tomatoes and sweet corn, to more eclectic crops, like boutique pumpkins and unusual alliums. Read More »

Grower's Guidelines When it comes to growing produce on your farm, the number of growing techniques can seem endless and can depend on a number of factors, from your hardiness zone to your soil pH to the bugs (both good and bad) that live in your area. The best path to a successful harvest often requires trial and error. For help determining the perfect growing method for your farm, turn to this section full of farming and gardening guides. You'll find how-to articles, introductions to alternative growing methods, tips for managing weeds and diseases, and so much more. Read More »

Keeping Bees and Other Pollinators Without bees, your farm crops would not be successful. Not only do bees provide the pollination needed for your garden vegetables and fruits to thrive, they also produce a delicious byproduct: honey. Unfortunately, bees are in a state of crisis; farmers are battling colony collapse disorder, the mysterious disease that has killed millions of bees worldwide. In this section, find the beekeeping information you need to help bees survive, as well as other important information related to other pollinators, such as bats and butterflies. Read More »

Gardening Checklists As a hobby farmer, your days are chock-full of barn chores, farmhouse maintenance and more. Sometimes it can be difficult to keep your to-do list straight! Luckily, Hobby Farms is here to help. Below, find seasonal gardening checklists to keep your crop production running smoothly all year long. Just print them off, and you're ready to get to work. Spring Checklist Winter's frost has finally thawed and budding plants are beginning to show their colorful blooms. Perform these chores in spring to prepare your garden for the long growing season ahead. Download » Summer Checklist Come summer, your garden is in full production. Here are some helpful hints on what to do to keep the harvest fruitful and the garden in tip-top shape. Download » Fall Checklist Even though garden growth is slowing down in fall, there's still work to be done. These tasks will help you extend your production and prepare your garden for the upcoming cold weather. Download » Winter Checklist Plan, plan, plan. That's the theme of winter's gardening tasks. Although you might be longing to sink your fingers in some dirt, these tasks will help you anticipate a fresh start in the garden. Download »