Seed starting is easier than you think. There’s nothing to be afraid of if you follow our simple steps. A lot of gardeners will back away slowly when the conversation turns to seed trays and heating mats, and they start muttering things like, “I just buy organic seedlings from my local nursery.” That’s one way to go. But to get the most out of your gardening dollar you cannot beat starting vegetables and flowers from seeds. Plus (and this is what motivates many gardeners)…
Our video on Seedling Care shows how Tricia grows her seedlings with proper light and fertilizer. Then she transplants her seedlings from trays to pots, and hardens them off before planting them outdoors. Here are more tips to help you grow strong seedlings and starts. Light for seedlings How much light will your seedlings need? Seeds have varying needs for light during their initial germination. Some seeds like to germinate in the dark (pot marigolds, verbenas), some are indifferent to light (hollyhocks,…
Did you ever want to poison a gopher? If you have gophers in your garden you know how hard it can be to control them organically. One of the worst moments for a vegetable gardener is watching a tall tomato…
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Everyone tells you to mulch your vegetable garden—but exactly how should you choose a mulch? In our new video, Tricia shows you the basics of mulching. What’s the difference between compost…
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Most cover crops are planted in late summer, but there are some cover crop seed mixes that can go in the ground in the springtime and give you benefits by the end of the summer. Cover cropping is a cheap…
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Just who is in a beehive? Three kinds of bees live in a hive: One female Queen bee Many female Worker bees A few male Drones God Save the Queen bee The term “Queen bee” is widely used to describe…
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Do you grow roses? DId you ever think about growing them organically? That way you not only keep synthetic pesticides out of your garden and groundwater, but you can EAT and DRINK your roses too. In our…
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Make your organic orchard bountiful by fertilizing your fruit trees. In our latest, research-based video, Tricia explains IF, when, and how much to fertilize your fruit trees. Keep reading here to learn…
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Micronutrients are vitamins for your plants, says Tricia in our new video about secondary macronutrients and the micronutrients. You know about the major nutrients, N-P-K. Those are the symbols for the…
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Lasagna gardening is just as wonderful as it sounds. You choose the “pan” (a raised bed or a piece of ground), add layers of brown and green, then top with Compostex fabric and let the soil…
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February 28, 2013 - Charlotte from Peaceful Valley
It’s really quite simple to apply your “outdoor” organic gardening knowledge to your house plants. Who doesn’t want a lush mass of greenery inside during the winter months? When…
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February 21, 2013 - Charlotte from Peaceful Valley
We’re always talking about extending your growing season with floating row covers, low tunnels, and hoop houses. These all protect your plants from frost. Today we’ll give you easy instructions…
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