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Gardening articles from Common Sense Home. From finding the right seeds to preserving the harvest, we share tested tips and information.

I (Laurie) have been working the soil for over 50 years, since I was a toddler following my mom around in the dirt. We’ve tried a lot of different things, researched, and talked with friends to bring you real, practical information.

Gardening categories covered on the site include:

Getting Started – Soil Health and Fertilizers – Seed Starting – Vegetables – Tomatoes – Fruits – Herbs – Vertical Gardening – Tools and Equipment – Pest Control – Permaculture – Season Extension – Crop Storage – Preserving the Harvest – Inspiration – Book Reviews – Wildcrafting – Using Your Weeds

Keep an eye out for printable charts (featured in several different articles). We have a free garden planner for newsletter subscribers, and offer online gardening courses for more information.

bowl of garlic bulbs

How to Grow Garlic in the Garden – From Planting to Harvest

Read More How to Grow Garlic in the Garden – From Planting to Harvest

plant hardiness zones map for North America

Plant Hardiness Zones and Garden Microclimates

Read More Plant Hardiness Zones and Garden Microclimates

cold frame for frost protection

Protecting Plants from Frost – 12 Ways to Beat the Cold Weather

Read More Protecting Plants from Frost – 12 Ways to Beat the Cold Weather

Finished compost in compost bin

Composting 101 – Easy Compost Making and Troubleshooting Tips

Read More Composting 101 – Easy Compost Making and Troubleshooting Tips

Organic Fertilizer - Garden fertilizers that work with natural soil organisms to improve soil health and provide superior plant nutrition.

Organic Fertilizer – Feed Your Plants, Soil and Microbes

Read More Organic Fertilizer – Feed Your Plants, Soil and Microbes

The Forest Garden Greenhouse book

The Forest Garden Greenhouse – Book Review

Read More The Forest Garden Greenhouse – Book Review

The Resilient Gardener is a solid guide for growing Potatoes, Corn, Beans, Squash, & Eggs in the Pacific Northwest, with detailed seed saving instructions.

The Resilient Gardener – Book Review

Read More The Resilient Gardener – Book Review

papaya ringspot virus on squash

Papaya Ringspot Virus in the Garden – Control and Prevention

Read More Papaya Ringspot Virus in the Garden – Control and Prevention

vermicomposting worm

Vermicomposting – How to Start an Earthworm Bin for Composting

Read More Vermicomposting – How to Start an Earthworm Bin for Composting

Learn what to do when wind or hail causes damaged crops - treatment for leaf damage, flower damage, and fruit damage, plus hail protection options.

Damaged Crops – What to Do When Hail and Wind Damage Your Garden

Read More Damaged Crops – What to Do When Hail and Wind Damage Your Garden

too much rain in garden

Too Much Rain in the Garden – What to Do

Read More Too Much Rain in the Garden – What to Do

weed in mulch

Natural Weed Control – Non-Toxic Weed Control Options

Read More Natural Weed Control – Non-Toxic Weed Control Options

6 Ways to Use Garlic in the Garden and Yard - From Pest and Disease Control to Companion Plantings, garlic is a "must have" for any organic garden.

6 Ways to Use Garlic in the Garden

Read More 6 Ways to Use Garlic in the Garden

The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower's Handbook is a call for organic growers to extend the production season of local produce and make money doing it.

The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook – Book Review

Read More The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook – Book Review

Mycorrhizal Planet shifts the focus from killing insects and fighting disease to building vigorous, thriving ecosystems with plant and fungi partnerships.

Mycorrhizal Planet – Book Review

Read More Mycorrhizal Planet – Book Review

sunchoke tubers

Before You Plant Sunchokes, You Need to Read This Post

Read More Before You Plant Sunchokes, You Need to Read This Post

Tools last longer when cleaned and sharpened, plus a well sharpened edge makes gardening easier - learn how to maintain your tools in a step-by-step process.

Cleaning and Sharpening Garden Tools

Read More Cleaning and Sharpening Garden Tools

Tips for growing giant vegetables, plus a listing of 10 current world record holding vegetables. You won't believe how big these veggies can get!

Giant Vegetables – How Big Do the Record Holders Get?

Read More Giant Vegetables – How Big Do the Record Holders Get?

3 easy homemade bug spray recipes that you can make with ingredients from your garden and pantry. Control bugs without waging heavy duty chemical warfare.

Homemade Bug Spray for the Garden – 3 Easy Recipes

Read More Homemade Bug Spray for the Garden – 3 Easy Recipes

Strawberry Spinach - Also known as strawberry blite, this self-seeding annual adds color and texture to summer salads with its edible leaves and berries.

Strawberry Spinach – Easy Care Salad Green with Edible Berries

Read More Strawberry Spinach – Easy Care Salad Green with Edible Berries

Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist is a colorful romp through the backyard most of us wish we had, with herb spirals, food forests, mushrooms & more.

Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist

Read More Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist

The Market Gardener book

The Market Gardener – Make Money Farming on Small Acreage

Read More The Market Gardener – Make Money Farming on Small Acreage

"Pawpaw - In Search of America's Forgotten Fruit" tells a story of a uniquely American treasure that was lost but is being found again.

Pawpaw – The Story of a Lost Treasure, Found

Read More Pawpaw – The Story of a Lost Treasure, Found

The Bio-Integrated Farm book

The Bio-Integrated Farm – Water Gardening Like You Never Imagined

Read More The Bio-Integrated Farm – Water Gardening Like You Never Imagined

Permaculture Design - 3 Key Elements You Need to Know, Plus an Introduction to the First High School Permaculture Textbook, The Permaculture Student 2.

Permaculture Design Elements – 3 Keys You Need to Know

Read More Permaculture Design Elements – 3 Keys You Need to Know

Bring back the backyard fruit tree with Stella Otto's "The Backyard Orchardist - A Complete Guide to Growing Fruit Trees in the Home Garden".

The BackYard Orchardist – Learn to Grow Over 10 Different Fruits

Read More The BackYard Orchardist – Learn to Grow Over 10 Different Fruits

onions grown from seed

Growing Onions From Seed – 5 Tips for a Great Harvest

Read More Growing Onions From Seed – 5 Tips for a Great Harvest

Biochar has been called a modern twist on Terra Preta, the legendary man-made fertile soil of the Amazon, but you need to use it correctly to enrich your garden.

Biochar – Amazon Secret Rediscovered

Read More Biochar – Amazon Secret Rediscovered

The Permaculture Student Online Self Reliance Course

Building Self Reliance with Permaculture

Read More Building Self Reliance with Permaculture

5 Tips to Grow Big Broccoli Heads, plus general broccoli growing requirements, broccoli companion plants, and troubleshooting tips for broccoli problems.

5 Tips to Grow Big Broccoli Heads

Read More 5 Tips to Grow Big Broccoli Heads

St. John's Wort

Put Your Weeds to Work – 5 Reasons I Want Weeds in My Garden

Read More Put Your Weeds to Work – 5 Reasons I Want Weeds in My Garden

The Common Sense Homestead Permaculture Project - Part 1 - Site Overview

Homestead Permaculture Project – Site Overview

Read More Homestead Permaculture Project – Site Overview

Introduction to Permaculture

Introduction to Permaculture with Matt Powers

Read More Introduction to Permaculture with Matt Powers

drought-resistant-farming

Sustainable Methods for Dealing with Drought

Read More Sustainable Methods for Dealing with Drought

Introduction to Aquaponics: Growing Fish and Vegetables Together

Introduction to Aquaponics: Growing Fish and Vegetables Together

Read More Introduction to Aquaponics: Growing Fish and Vegetables Together

Learn how to build your own simple seed starting shelves with grow lights and room for up to 576 seedlings. Sturdy, moveable and easy enough for a weekend project.

Build Your Own Simple Seed Starting Shelves

Read More Build Your Own Simple Seed Starting Shelves

Whizbang-Idea-Book

The Planet Whizbang Idea Book for Gardeners

Read More The Planet Whizbang Idea Book for Gardeners

"Working with Nature - Shifting Paradigms" will open your horizons to new gardening techniques that can dramatically improve the health of your garden.

Working with Nature – Shifting Paradigms – Book Review

Read More Working with Nature – Shifting Paradigms – Book Review

Building Soils Naturally: Innovative Methods for Organic Gardeners

Building Soils Naturally: Innovative Methods for Organic Gardeners – Review

Read More Building Soils Naturally: Innovative Methods for Organic Gardeners – Review

favorite garden cookbooks @ Common Sense Homesteading

Favorite Garden Cookbooks – Take Advantage of Seasonal Produce

Read More Favorite Garden Cookbooks – Take Advantage of Seasonal Produce

messy-gardener

Confessions of a Messy Gardener

Read More Confessions of a Messy Gardener

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