Rude Insect
vegetable-gardening
Fall Seedbeds: Moisture, Spacing, and Time Left
Count back from your local frost date, keep the seedbed evenly moist, thin to packet spacing, and reach the bed without stepping in it this fall.
Sep 8, 2026
vegetable-gardening
Grow a healthier, more productive vegetable garden with practical planting guides, troubleshooting advice, seed tips, and seasonal how-tos from Rude Insect.
14 articles
Rude Insect
vegetable-gardening
Fall Raised Beds: Garlic, Greens, or a Cover Crop?
Choose a fall raised-bed plan from your local frost timing, soil conditions, and spring plans. Compare garlic, quick greens, cover crops, and mulch.
Sep 4, 2026
vegetable-gardening
Why Parsley Seeds Won't Germinate Fast
Troubleshoot slow parsley germination with source-based timing, seed quality, moisture and temperature checks before buying a heat mat or resowing.
Aug 26, 2026
Rude Insect
vegetable-gardening
Open-Pollinated vs Hybrid Seeds Guide
Understand open-pollinated, heirloom, and F1 hybrid seeds, including pollination and isolation. Decide when saved seed is likely to resemble its parent plants.
Aug 19, 2026
Rude Insect
vegetable-gardening
Volunteer Plants: What to Keep, Move or Remove
Identify self-sown plants before keeping or eating them. Compare keep, move and remove decisions, with special caution for volunteer squash.
Aug 17, 2026
vegetable-gardening
Lettuce Companion Planting: Best Pairs
Compare lettuce companion plants for shade, pest cover, root competition, spacing, and succession planting in raised beds or patio planters.
Jul 22, 2026
vegetable-gardening
Eggplant Companions: Best and Worst Plants
Compare eggplant companion plants for flea beetle pressure, soil coverage, spacing, and pollinator support in raised beds, rows, and containers.
Jul 20, 2026
vegetable-gardening
Onion Companion Plants: What Helps and Hurts
Plan onion companions around sunlight, root space, water needs, and harvest access. Learn why pairing charts cannot replace crop rotation and pest monitoring.
Jul 15, 2026
vegetable-gardening
Basil Companion Planting: Which Vegetables to Plant Nearby
Place basil with crops that leave it enough warmth, light, airflow, and water. Compare planting layouts without relying on claims of automatic pest protection.
Jul 10, 2026
vegetable-gardening
Carrot Companion Planting: What to Grow Alongside Carrots
Plan carrot companions around germination moisture, root space, shading, and harvest timing. Use locally appropriate methods when carrot pests are present.
Jul 10, 2026
vegetable-gardening
Cucumber Companion Planting: Best and Worst Neighbors
Plan cucumber neighbors around trellising, light, root space, irrigation, and airflow. Use monitoring and suitable controls when beetles or disease appear.
Jul 10, 2026
vegetable-gardening
Squash Companion Planting: Summer Squash Neighbors That Work
Plan squash neighbors around vine spread, airflow, pollination, and harvest paths. Compare suitable plantings without assuming companions will stop squash bugs.
Jul 10, 2026
vegetable-gardening
What to Plant with Tomatoes (and 5 to Avoid)
Choose tomato companions by mature spacing, sunlight, airflow, and harvest timing. Compare flowers, herbs, and vegetables without promising pest control.
Jul 10, 2026
vegetable-gardening
Companion Planting Guide 2026: What Works
Plan vegetable companions around spacing, sunlight, harvest timing, and pollinator needs. Separate useful garden design from unsupported pairing claims.
Jul 10, 2026