One of the most wonderful aspects of gardening is there are endless ways to do it right. For instance, do you prefer to till your garden soil each year or slowly build up a no-till garden? Will you apply only compost or incorporate specialty fertilizers? Build neat rows of raised beds or plant dense patches into the ground? The correct answers to all these questions, and many more, will vary based on your preferences and goals!...
It’s hard to resist the urge to run outside and plant seeds on a beautiful day. I know that for a fact because I’m looking out my window at gorgeous weather and far too much bare dirt in our garden as I write this. Alas, it’s mid-January today, and the sad truth is that even in our milder climate, January is far too early to plant warm-weather seeds outdoors with confidence....
Picture this: It’s a beautiful Spring morning. The sun’s shining and your seedlings, lovingly grown under the perfect conditions for weeks, are ready to make the move outside. You transplant them into the perfect spot in your garden, water generously, and walk away to let mother nature do her thing. Only to be crushed to find weak or dying plants at the end of the day. And with them your dreams of Spring salads and fresh Summer tomatoes....
Planting your garden from seeds is a terrific choice. Not only are seeds unbelievably less expensive than store-bought seedlings, seed packets are your portal to a world of seemingly endless plant varieties. Planting from seeds is simple to start too; a humble seed tray and a south-facing window is a surprisingly effective combination. In other words, you absolutely don’t need a dedicated system complete with grow lights, heat mats, and timers to start planting from seeds!...