Posts

Over the past few years, plantable pellets have become very popular. They are fast, convenient, and easy to use, and they’re kinda fun too. Some people really love the seed pellets, and there are definitely advantages to using them over potting soil. But there are also some disadvantages that are important to consider. If you’re new to growing seeds, then this side-by-side comparison of peat pellets vs potting soil will be extremely helpful for you....

Harvesting rosemary is a very quick and easy process. In this post, I’ll show you exactly when and how to pick rosemary from your garden for your biggest and best bounty ever. There’s nothing like the taste and fragrance of freshly harvested rosemary straight from your garden. Since it’s a cut-and-come-again type of crop, the more you pick it, the more you’ll end up with – as long as you do it correctly....

Harvesting lettuce seeds is easy, fun, and frugal. In this post, I will tell you when and how to collect and save lettuce seeds from your garden, including step by step instructions. Collecting lettuce seeds is a great way to save yourself some money, and keep your favorite varieties for years to come. One of the most rewarding tasks in my garden is harvesting seeds to plant next year, and lettuce is one of my favorites....

If you’ve ever grown climbing peas in your garden before, you know that the vines can become unruly pretty quickly. Not only that, but allowing them to sprawl along the ground can lead to issues with disease, fungus, and pests. Trellising peas solves off of these problems, makes them easier to pick, and it looks great too! If you’ve never tried vertical gardening before, this is one of best ways to get started....

Determinate vs indeterminate tomatoes… what the heck is the difference? In this post, I’ll explain what those terms mean, and how to tell the difference between the two types of tomato plants. Then I’ll discuss the pros and cons of each, and show you how to decide which type to grow. How can you tell the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes? This is a very common question that most new gardeners have when they first start growing them....

Plumerias are so exotic that it seems like they would be difficult to care for. But they’re actually quite easy to grow once you learn how. In this post, I’ll tell you all you need to know in order to be successful. When I think back to my trips to Hawaii, one thing that I remember the most was all of the gorgeous plumerias growing and blooming everywhere. So of course, I absolutely had to bring one home with me when I went back to Minnesota....

Why are my tomatoes not turning red? This is a very common question! In this post, I will talk about when tomatoes should turn red, and give you some reasons why they don’t. Then I’ll share my five tricks for ripening tomatoes on the vine faster. Are your tomatoes slow to ripen on the vine? There’s nothing more frustrating about growing them than being forced to frantically pick tons of green tomatoes the night before frost....

Rainwater is the best type of water to use on houseplants. In the summer, I use the water from my rain barrels and my houseplants love it. Unfortunately, during the winter the water in my rain barrels would be frozen solid if I left them outside here in MN. So, as an alternative to using rainwater, I melt snow during the winter to use for watering my houseplants. Well, guess what – melted snow water is good for plants too!...

Growing garlic sounds like it would be difficult, but it’s not! In fact, no matter which type you choose, the plants require very little care. In this post, you’ll learn all about how to grow garlic, from planting, fertilizing, watering, sunlight, and pruning, all the way through harvesting and storing. Garlic is used in just about every recipe you can think of. It is one of those seasonings that just makes everything taste better....

Growing chives is fun and very easy because they require minimal care. In this post, I’ll show you everything you need to know in order to have the best success. Having delicious chives growing year after year is much easier than beginner gardeners may think. They don’t require much attention to thrive, and add many benefits to your garden. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about how to grow chives....

Growing amaryllis in water is a fun project, and looks cool too. It’s easy to do, and you can get really creative with it. In this post, I will give you step-by-step instructions for how to plant an amaryllis bulb in water, and share some simple care tips too. Planting amaryllis in water rather than dirt is a cute way to display them for the holidays, and it’s a really fun DIY project too....

Overwintering sweet potato vine is easy, and a great way to save your favorites year after year. In this post, I will show you three different methods for keeping sweet potato vines over winter. Ornamental sweet potato vines (Ipomoea batatas) are gorgeous, and extremely popular decorative filler plants for annual gardens and summer containers. But they don’t tolerate the cold, are not hardy in freezing climates. So if I left them in the ground here in MN, they would not survive the winter....

Thinning seedlings is important in order to grow strong and healthy plants. If you don’t know when or how to thin seedlings (or why the heck you need to do it in the first place), then this post is for you! I know first hand that thinning seedlings can be a really touchy subject, especially for new gardeners. What, thin my seedlings?!? Eek! But overcrowded plants will suffer from all kinds of problems down the road if they aren’t spaced out properly....

African mask plant can be tricky to grow, and many people struggle with their care. So in this post, I’ll give you all of the information you need in order to keep them healthy and flourishing for years to come. The African mask plant is a unique and very cool houseplant. It can be a beautiful part of your collection for many years, even as a beginner. Understanding how to properly care for them is the key to enjoying the striking foliage long-term....

If you live in an area where Japanese beetles are present, you know first hand just how destructive they can be. It’s very disheartening! I remember the first time I saw a Japanese beetle in my garden. I actually thought it was kinda pretty (I know, crazy right!?!). But over the course of 2-3 years, the population exploded, and they quickly became a HUGE pest here in Minnesota. Now I see thousands of them in my garden every summer....

Herbs are easy to grow, and many times you can be overwhelmed trying to figure out what to do with your harvests. One of the best ways to preserve garden herbs, and retain their flavor, is to freeze them. Freezing fresh herbs from your garden or the grocery store is easy, and doesn’t take much time. Plus it will be a huge money saver through the long winter months, since you won’t have to buy expensive herbs from the super market....

Choosing the easiest seeds to start indoors is important, especially if you’re a new gardener. To help you be successful, I put together a list of some easy plants to grow indoors from seed, both flowers and vegetables. It can be really difficult to get the hang of successfully growing seeds, especially if you’ve never tried it before. But when you begin with the easiest seeds to start indoors, the you’re more likely to be successful....

Growing brussels sprouts in the home garden is easier than you might think. In this post, I’ll show you all you need to know in order to get the biggest and best yields. The unique appearance of brussels sprout plants might make a beginner nervous to try them in their garden. They do require a fairly long season and ideal conditions in order to produce a large bounty of edible heads....

Propagating ornamental sweet potato vine is easy, and a great way to maximize a single plant purchase from the nursery. In this post, I will walk you through how to root the cuttings or divide the tubers step by step. Ornamental sweet potato vines are beautiful and make a wonder addition to any outdoor planter or garden. Learning how to multiply them is fun, and a great way to expand your collection....

If you want to add some green into your home, or simply liven up the decor, then growing houseplants is perfect for you! It’s fun and addicting, and I absolutely adore my houseplant collection. I get the love of indoor plants from my mom. She’s always had a ton of houseplants (and still does!). So I grew up surrounded by green, and have been growing indoor plants most of my life....