What is “Hardening Off”? A new gardening season is here and everyone is thinking about starting seeds. The process of preparing young seedlings for transplanting outdoors is the turning point for gardeners who are starting seeds for the first time. When you don’t know you have to harden off seedlings, you are likely to end…
Stretch Your Dollars Gardeners aren’t cheap. We’re thrifty! If not by choice, then by necessity. We find creative ways to give new life to throwaways and sniff out freebies wherever they may be found. Buying plants, soil amendments, tools and all of the other accouterments of our chosen occupation can get quite expensive if we…
Why I Decided to Use a Soil Blocker For years I have been putting off blocking my own soil for starting seeds. Amazing how hard it can be to actually change, even when you already believe in the potential of another way. That goes for a lot of things. Well, after being inspired by…
So Many Types of Peppers Capsicum annuum, also known as peppers and chiles, are members of the same botanical family as tomatoes, tomatillos, potatoes and eggplants. These nightshade relatives were thought to be poisonous when first introduced to the old world, but were soon adopted with enthusiasm by adventurous food lovers. Now sweet and spicy…