Blogs

Do you ever find it frustrating that the most expensive part of starting seeds is… the dirt? Seed trays are cheap, heat mats are cheap, even high quality seeds are cheap! Don’t believe me? Here’s the actual cost breakdown from my most recent round of seed starting: $16 for 10 seed trays of 72 cells each (which is overkill for most gardeners by far) $24 for twelve seed packets (planted across two trays with tons seeds left over to store) $6 for a seed heating mat (bought on sale, but there’s always one on sale on Amazon) 0$ for water as I just catch a little extra from the shower and seed trays need very little by volume $1 for a propagation tray (just a random flat plastic bin lid from Ikea) $30 for two 8 qt....

So you’ve decided to level up your composting game and introduce worms into the mix? Well that’s fantastic news because worm composting (aka vermicomposting) produces not only fantastic nutrients for your garden - it’s extremely efficient! Both cheap to set up and maintain, vermicomposting is a perfect complement to a traditional compost bin and the backyard chicken flock for turning food scraps into beneficial inputs for your plants. While there are a number of effective vermicomposting setups, this article will walk you through a cheap, effective, and super simple strategy....

Fall is just around the corner, bringing with it Halloween and Thanksgiving (for our readers in the U.S.) and all things pumpkin. If you’ve got fond childhood memories of hitting the local pumpkin patch, let’s bring that feeling home! Don’t worry if you don’t have a big garden patch or giant raised bed to plant in. While pumpkins are a large vining plant with notoriously deep root systems, they can absolutely be grown successfully and produce large fruits in simple grow bags....

Chances are good that your yard features an empty, neglected spot under partial shade cover. Time to remedy that! Check out the list below for a selection of vegetables we recommend to fill those shady areas with edible plants, increase your harvest, and lower those grocery bills. What is partial shade? Unfortunately, growing vegetables successfully in partial shade isn’t as easy as moving a planter box under an awning where the sun’s rays never reach....

Starting your seeds in trays is a smart choice. Done correctly, it provides more timing flexibility, control, and ultimately better germination outcomes vs. sewing direct-in-ground. That said, it’s not without its own challenges and you may find yourself frustrated with wasted seeds failing to germinate. Consider if one of these issues could be the cause. Note this list is specific to germination, not the seedling phase which brings a separate set of conditions to watch out for!...