Eggplant Leaves: Curling, Pests, Yellowing, Spots, and more
Growing Black Beauty eggplants has made me appreciate the resilience of eggplant leaves. Don’t get me wrong, flea beetles and…
Guide to fertilizing tomato plants for ambitious home gardeners
To grow large and tasty tomatoes, you must understand when, why, and how to fertilize your tomato plants. And to…
Guide to pruning tomato plants for home gardeners
Prune indeterminate tomato plants for bigger and tastier fruits and overall healthier plants. Determinate plants can also benefit from pruning,…
Can tomato plants recover from transplant shock? Expert tips and insights.
It is pretty common for tomato plants to suffer from transplant shock, and I have, over the years, developed my…
Best Inexpensive & Free Containers for Container Gardening
Container gardening is a great way to maximize the yield from available space, especially when space is limited. But buying…
Getting rid of aphids – 5 scenarios with proven fixes
I have learned to eliminate aphids by necessity throughout the different stages of my plants’ life cycle. I would even…
What size container to grow parsley for continuous harvest?
I recently received a question from a reader about the size container for growing parsley for continuous harvest. And as…
Jumping flies on leaves (Leafhoppers and what to do)
Leafhoppers are funny pests. But even if I call them funny, trust me, they will kill your plant unless you…
Coming to grips with aphids on seedlings and plants (tips)
I have come to accept that aphids are a part of my gardening experience. I can do everything right; still,…
5 Tomato Growing Tips Everyone Should Know [With Bonus Tip]
Tomato growing season is upon us, and some home gardeners are already posting photos of seedlings and young tomato plants…
Can garlic protect herbs and vegetables from pests and diseases?
This is a follow-up post on the article I wrote on garlic as a companion plant a while back. And…
Guide to growing tomatoes like a master gardener
Tomatoes are relatively easy to grow, but to be successful, you must provide the proper support and care throughout the…
Do I need full spectrum grow lights for seed starting and seedlings? (for any budget)
While not required, the short answer is that your seedlings will grow stronger and more compact with properly placed grow…
How to grow larger garlic bulbs – every time
Everyone should grow garlic. It is easy and low maintenance, and when you get it right, you are rewarded with…
Keeping cats out of the vegetable garden (by a cat lover)
Growing up, we had dogs. But later in life, my family adopted a stray cat where the owner was nowhere…
Perlite vs. vermiculite – when, why, and how to use
Many home gardeners get confused about when and why to use the soil amendments perlite and vermiculite. The color is…
Peat moss – an excellent soil amendment (and why I do not use it anymore)
Peat moss, also known as sphagnum moss, is a type of organic matter often used as a soil amendment in…
What to do with green tomatoes (easy and delicious)
Growing tomatoes is one of the more rewarding home gardening projects for gardeners. Quick facts: Green tomatoes can be frozen…
White spots on tomato leaves (prevent and treat)
Did you seemingly overnight find white spots all over your tomato plants? Don’t worry. You are not alone. Here in…
Top 7 reasons to use grow bags for growing tomatoes
It makes all the sense in the world to use grow bags for growing tomatoes. Still, I know that not…
Tomato leaves turning white (explanation and fixes)
As you can see from the pictures below, some of our beefsteak tomato plants suffered leaves turning white this year….
Why are my pepper leaves turning yellow?
When your pepper plant leaves turn yellow, it signals that something is incorrect or even very wrong. This is when…
How to thin seedlings without killing them
To be successful as a home gardener you need to master the skill of thinning out seedlings without damaging –…
Are your oregano leaves yellow? Learn why & how to fix
Starting an oregano plant from seed holds a particular type of attraction for both experienced and new gardeners. But why…
How to use Neem oil on tomatoes (and other plants)
In this article, we will show you how to make and use your own Neem oil spray and explain why…
Why tomato leaves are curling & what to do
Tomato leaves curling is not necessarily an indication of pests or disease. It is, however, a sign that something is…
Why are seedlings turning yellow (Yellowing leaves)?
Seedling leaves turn yellow for a host of different reasons. But from my experience, the three main culprits are overwatering,…
Get rid of fungus gnats for good – effective home gardener fixes
Fungus gnats are a real nuisance, and if you leave a fungus gnat infestation untreated, you can set yourself up…
When to harvest oregano (proven method)
Quick facts: Harvest oregano in the morning after the dew has dried and the aromatic oils are at their highest…
How to germinate seeds (or 12 reasons seeds do not germinate)
Spending time understanding how to germinate seeds is an investment that will pay off many times over. As with most…
Why are my leaves turning brown? (and how to fix it)
Leaves turning brown is usually an indication of problems with watering or the root system but can also be as…
Companion planting for peppers (beginners guide)
I used to find companion planting for peppers, tomatoes and other vegetables extremely confusing. And looking online did not really…
Our top 16 basil plant care tips (and tricks)
Basil is one of the more popular aromatic herbs to use in the kitchen and to plant and care for…
7 houseplants for better indoor air quality
It’s long been known that keeping indoor plants in our home can give us better air quality. However the question…
Best time to water plants (and how you can know)
If you are looking for a short answer, the best time to water plants is early morning between 5am and…
14 seed starter tricks to germinate seeds more successfully
It does not have to be complicated to germinate seeds. Plant the seeds in potting soil, cover the seeds lightly,…
How to fix leggy seedlings
Fixing leggy seedlings most often comes down to correcting improper lighting, adjusting the temperature, pruning your seedlings, going easy on…
23 essential composting tips for beginners
If you’re new to composting, you may be wondering where to start. Composting can seem like a complicated process, but…
Composting for beginners: Guide to get started
Composting is a great way to improve your garden while being eco-friendly! And composting is a lot less work than most…
Why is my Basil turning yellow? And what to do About it
Basil (ocimum basilicum) has to be one of the most popular herbs for home gardeners. And most garden enthusiasts growing…
How to grow herbs – 13 mistakes to avoid (and what to do)
I get a lot of questions about how to grow herbs and vegetables from friends, family, and fellow enthusiasts. Today…
Bottom-watering vs. top-watering – why, when & how
Is bottom-watering better than top watering? Sometimes, but it is not always practical. I bottom-water pots and containers when it…
Recycle plants: how to reuse or recycle potted plants and soil
It is inevitable. Plants do not last forever. But we do not necessarily have to throw away the entire plant….
The importance of ph level in soil (how to test & fix it)
Plant care is important. But what about the pH level of soil? We spend time on potting mixes, nutrients and…
How to water herbs growing in pots and containers
We all want our herbs and plants to grow and thrive. Learning how to water herbs and plants correctly plays…
White Squiggly lines on leaves (Leaf miners and what to do)
I often have to ask Google or fellow gardeners when I find a new insect on a plant. But when…
Which pots to use – a guide for beginners
You have many good choices in choosing a pot to grow your herbs or vegetables. In this guide, we will…
Photos of cotyledons from our plant garden
Here we publish some photos from our herb and vegetable plant garden. This gallery shows seed leaves also known as…
3 ways to preserve garden herbs
We grow garden herbs for that healthy, guaranteed organic extra flavour kick to our cooking. And when we grow we need…