Tag: Homegrown produce

A study by the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that nutrient levels in common vegetables have decreased over decades, leading many to question if growing your own vegetables is healthier. This guide unpacks the science, benefits, and challenges of home gardening to determine if homegrown produce truly offers a nutritional advantage.

While documented cases exist, cucurbitacin poisoning is considered a very rare occurrence. This unusual form of food poisoning stems from a natural toxin found in the cucumber and squash family, which can cause severe gastrointestinal distress if consumed.

Did you know that purple sweet potatoes often require a longer growing season, sometimes up to 150 days, compared to their orange counterparts? To ensure a sweet and flavorful harvest, it's essential to know if purple sweet potato is ripe and ready to be dug up from your garden.

In rare instances, pumpkins and other members of the gourd family can produce a toxic substance called cucurbitacin, often due to environmental stress or accidental cross-pollination. While typically bred out of cultivated varieties, it is the primary toxic substance present in pumpkin, responsible for an intensely bitter taste and potential illness.

A typical supermarket tomato can travel thousands of miles before reaching your kitchen, potentially losing a significant percentage of its vitamins during transport. Many people wonder if home grown vegetables are better than store-bought, and the answer involves more than just freshness.

According to research, produce can lose a significant portion of its vitamin C content, sometimes up to 30% or more, just days after harvest. This fact alone raises an important question for health-conscious consumers: **Do home grown tomatoes have more nutrients** than their store-bought counterparts? The answer lies in the journey from the farm to your plate.

According to the National Gardening Association, a typical American household can produce over $600 worth of produce from a garden, often for a fraction of the cost. But the question remains: is gardening cheaper than buying groceries in the long run, and what are the real financial considerations?