Native American varieties encompass a rich tapestry of crops cultivated by indigenous peoples for centuries. These time-tested cultivars include maize (corn), beans, and squash, known as the "Three Sisters." The interplanting of these crops, where corn provides support for beans, and squash shades the ground, exemplifies sustainable agriculture. Native American varieties extend beyond these staples, featuring diverse crops like sunflowers, pumpkins, and peppers, all adapted to regional climates and revered for their cultural significance. These heirloom plants reflect a deep respect for the land and its resources, embodying the wisdom of indigenous agricultural traditions that continue to inspire sustainable gardening practices today.
A parasitic wasp and a zombie-making virus team up to hijack a caterpillar's behavior, turning it into a bodyguard for the very creatures that have been feeding on it. Sound too crazy to be true? It isn't. This week, we're wrapping up our series on tomato hornworms and their archnemesis, the braconid wasp. And in some of the creepiest science yet, we'll discover how this tiny wasp manages to manipulate a creature many times its size.
Halloween is almost here, so this week we're sharing a little garden science that's part nature documentary, part horror film. Tiny wasps laying eggs inside living caterpillars, larvae feeding on their hosts from the inside out, and a virus that helps orchestrate the whole gruesome affair. Fortunately, this horror story has a happy ending—at least for you and your tomatoes.
As this season wraps up, we’re taking some time to reflect on the garden—what worked, what didn’t, and the lessons we learned along the way. And this year, one lesson came in the form of a very large, very hungry green caterpillar. The tomato hornworm can be astonishingly destructive, and yet it's also an important pollinator. Join us as we share the results of our (mostly) hands-off experiment in natural pest control.
