I don’t study frogs, but they’ve sure been studying bugs in my garden this year. Every so often and more frequently in summer I post about experiences as a scientist in the garden. As long-time readers know, I’m a bit obsessed with growing tomatoes. You can see past posts on tomatoes and tips on how …
Who let the frogs out & why do they sit on my tomatoes? Read More »
What’s the deal with dragonfly eyes? They are so huge! We’ll zoom in on them. Do bees bite? Yes, but not the way you might think. Growing cool tomatoes? I have some thoughts on that too. I’m a scientist and a gardener so it’s not surprising I write an occasional series here on The Niche …
Scientist in the garden: dragonfly eyes, bees bite flowers, cool tomatoes, & tips Read More »
I’ve always grown tomatoes in my garden and I like unusual varieties like Beauty King. This year I’ve got a bunch of cool tomatoes growing out back. Some are now starting to ripen so it’s getting more exciting. Note that this posted has been updated for 2023. Growing tomatoes is not as hard as I …
How to grow cool tomatoes like the Beauty King tomato Read More »
Are you doing your pandemic garden, even if it’s on a balcony or windowsill? How’s it going? If not, you might consider it as a source of both fresh produce and some peace from the COVID-19 stress. The other day I went to one of my favorite nurseries here in the Sacramento area and it …
How can we scientists find ways to keep doing our research during the COVID19 pandemic even if it has nothing to do with the coronavirus? Also, how should those of us involved in science communication talk about the outbreak? At a more basic level, how can scientists try not to go bonkers during this dark …
Scientists try not to lose it with their labs shut by the pandemic Read More »
Looking for some tomato tips? I do sometimes escape the lab into the outside world and once out of there I can often be found in my vegetable garden looking after my tomatoes. I’ve written many times here on The Niche about gardening including tomatoes and have an occasional series “Scientist in the Garden.” After …
What’s better than fresh “fruit” from your own tomato garden? For the last few years when I think about planning my summer tomato garden, I start months in advance preparing the soil. I had fava beans as my cover crop all this past winter and tilled it into the soil late in winter. It adds …
I’ve been gardening since I was a kid and I guess I’ve been a scientist that long too so now it’s time for another installment of “scientist in the garden.” You can see past such posts here, which usually include various cool photos. Today’s post is focused on unusual things in the garden. Getting out …
Scientist in the garden: purple cauliflower & other cool photos Read More »
Here’s another edition of my posts over the years in my series ‘The Scientist in the Garden’. Can gardening teach us some important things about stem cells and about doing science more generally? Regular readers of this blog know that I am really into gardening and especially during the last 5 or so years I’ve been …
Scientist in the Garden: lessons for stem cells & science Read More »
As regular readers of this blog know, one of my hobbies is gardening and I like to bring a scientific perspective to the garden. This year in my garden I’ve planted a whole bunch of tomatoes including unusual and fun varieties. Little did I know that a giant tomato enemy would arrive. More on that …
Scientist in the garden: tomato crop builds, faces giant enemy Read More »