Essential Gardening Vocabulary

Annual

Plants that are seasonal and will need to be replanted each year.

Perennial

Plants that live for more than two growing seasons.

Bolt

When an annual edible plant goes to seed before it produces viable food. Signs of bolting are flowering before bearing fruit, or growing tall and reaching mature height, then flowering. It is common among heat-sensitive plants like Broccoli and Bok Choi.

Compost

Decayed food waste that is used as a fertilizer.

Companion Planting

The practice of planting species that grow well together, such as corn, squash and beans. Plants that can be companion planted will aid in each other's growth and nutrition among other benefits.

Cover Crops

Crops that are planted for the purpose of soil improvement rather than to be eaten. In other words, plants that are meant to feed the soil instead of yourself.

Crop Rotation

The practice of planting different kinds of crops on the same plot of land, rather than the same crop in the same place every season. This practice improves soil health and diversity of soil nutrition.

Cross Pollination

The transfer of pollen from one plant to another. Some plants can only be cross pollinated in order to produce, which is why pollinator species are so important.

Fertilizer

A natural or artificial substance containing the chemical elements that improve the growth and yield of plants.

Direct Sow

Planting seeds directly where they will grow, rather than starting them indoors and then moving them later.

Drip Irrigation

A system that allows for water to slowly drip over plant soil throughout the day, usually through a tubing system connected to a hose faucet.

Germination

When a seed begins to sprout.

Hardiness Zone

Agricultural term for a geographic area defined by its average annual minimum temperature, indicating which plants can grow in the zone and in which seasons.

Heirloom

A variety of open-pollinated edible plant whose seeds have been passed down for 50 or more years.

Self Pollinating

A plant that can produce both male and female flowers and pollinate itself.

No-Dig/No-Till Garden

A method of gardening where soil is not tilled or turned with a rototiller or shovel. Compost is placed on top and the natural organisms do the rest. Tilling aerates the soil and allows for plants to produce better temporarily, but can deplete the soil of nutrients when done over and over. No-till gardening may not produce a high yield the first year, but the soil remains stronger over time.

Pinch Back

Removing or "pinching" the end of a plant on the stem where leaves are attached. By removing the end set of leaves or buds, the plant responds by growing wider and bushier rather than taller and thinner.

Pruning

Cutting off dead or dying parts of the plant. Pruning allows the plant to focus on new growth instead of using its energy to repair dying leaves and buds.

Soil Amendment

Repairing depleted soil with any material that adds nutrients.

Succession Planting

Seeding crops either at intervals of 7 to 21 days, or immediately after a harvest. This is a way to have a constant supply of crops, as opposed to seeding everything at once and having plants produce only for a season.

Topsoil The layer of soil that is closest to the surface, and which contains the most nutrients and microbes.

Transplant

The act of taking a started plant and moving it or replanting it in another location.

Vermicompost

Compost that is made up of worm castings, or compost that has been digested by worms. Also referred to as "black gold" because it is so valuable for plant nutrition.