Hardening off is the process of adapting seedlings to the outside to get used to sun, wind, rain and more extreme temperatures. If you start seeds indoors or buy young seedlings from a retailer or farmers market, you’ll need to know how to harden off seedlings! Hardening off is important because without taking that important…
You’ve probably heard about the “Dirty Dozen,” but do you know what produce is on the list and why? If you’re concerned about exposure to pesticides and other chemicals, you’re in luck: Many of these fruits and veggies can be grown organically in containers! What are the Dirty Dozen foods? The Environmental Working Group (EWG)…
Whether they have some scientific basis or they’re purely folklore, there are some WEIRD fertilizers out there! From banana water to aquarium water to weed tea to buried pennies … gardeners are willing to try just about any home remedies for plants to boost their veggies and increase yield. Not all of these have scientific…
I don’t know about you, but for me, gardening is pure therapy. Digging my hands in potting soil literally grounds me, connecting me to the earth. Starting seeds and transplanting seedlings gives me a front-row seat to the life cycle of plants. Watching things grow, slowly, teaches me patience and reverence. Tending to my plants…
If you’re growing veggies in your container garden, you most likely need pollinators! They’re vital for flowering plants to produce fruit and play an important role in plant life … and all life, for that matter! Seventy-five percent of our food depends on pollinators. Once you know how to attract pollinators to your vegetable garden,…
Composting is a great way to improve your container garden, save some money, reduce your carbon footprint and do something good for the environment. But wait! If you’re picturing a huge yard with big compost bins … or walking out to the back acreage with a pitchfork to turn the pile … never fear. You…
Compost sounds like something you find on a farm or near a big, in-ground garden. But that’s not always the case! Small compost bins can make it possible for just about anyone to make their own “black gold.” Composting is a great way to save some money, reduce your carbon footprint and do something good…
Many vegetables commonly grown in container gardens need help with pollination. Learning how to hand pollinate vegetables will help you make the most of your growing garden. Bees, wasps and other pollinator insects (and even some birds) usually do most of the work. One early morning this summer, I was checking my plants and happened…
Are you looking for the perfect gardening tools to make your container garden thrive? Look no further! I’ve compiled a list of the most essential tools you need to grow the container garden of your dreams. From watering cans and trowels to gloves and shears, everything I recommend here is practical and affordable. I also…
Have you ever seen sugary violet flowers sparkling on top of a cake? Or had warm, savory, stuffed squash flowers as an appetizer? Those are two of the most well-known edible flowers, but there are so many more, and you can grow them in your container garden! Edible flowers are a great addition to many…