A 3-part series
Garden Starter
Growing food, composting, and turning a patch of dirt into something useful.
We killed a lot of plants before we figured this out. Overwatered, underwatered, planted in the wrong season, gave up too early. Gardening looks simple from the outside, but there are a few things nobody tells beginners that make the difference between a thriving garden and a pile of dead seedlings. This series covers the basics of starting a garden and building the soil to support it.
What you'll learn
- ✓ How to start a garden from scratch, even in a small space
- ✓ How to compost kitchen scraps and improve your soil for free
- ✓ How to grow tomatoes at home with the right soil, sun, and timing
How to Grow Tomatoes
Grow tomatoes in a pot or a garden bed, from choosing a variety that fits your space to planting deep, staking at planting time, watering evenly, and picking the fruit ripe.
How to Start a Garden
Start a first herb and vegetable garden in pots, a raised bed, or the ground. Pick a spot with 6 hours of sun, prepare the soil, choose easy plants, and plant, water, and feed them.
How to Compost
Turn kitchen scraps and yard waste into finished compost in a backyard bin, with EPA's list of what to leave out, the browns-to-greens ratio, and the signs that a pile is ready to use.