What is on this site
This site is for anyone who grows plants—whether you’re starting with a single seed on a windowsill or managing a plot where the soil remembers your name. You’ll find practical advice on what to plant, when to plant it, and how to keep it alive through the seasons.
No fluff, no guesswork, just the kind of tips that save you from throwing out wilted basil or cursing at a frost-killed tomato patch.
The site is organised by what you’re trying to do: starting seeds, dealing with pests, extending the growing season, or troubleshooting a plant that’s not behaving. Each page follows the same structure so you can skip straight to the part you need.
And if you’re lost, the ‘When it does not work’ section tells you where to look next.
| Where | What is there | Go here if |
|---|---|---|
| The Homepage | Seasonal planting guides and recent updates | You’re unsure where to begin |
| The Plant Library | Detailed profiles of crops, herbs, and perennials | You need to know how deep to plant carrots |
| The Troubleshooting Guide | Symptoms, causes, and fixes for sick plants | Your zucchini leaves are yellowing |
| The Tools & Gear | Reviews and comparisons of real gardening equipment | You’re deciding between a drip system and soaker hoses |
How to read a page here
Every page starts with the key question it answers—like ‘How to save a dying tomato plant’—so you know right away if it’s what you need. Numbers in parentheses after headings (e.g., *3*) tell you how many steps or tips follow, so you can jump straight to the part that matters.
For example, a ‘How-to’ page might list *5 steps*, while a ‘Troubleshooting’ page uses *3 symptoms* to narrow down the problem.
Units are always metric (centimetres, grams) with imperial conversions in brackets where needed. Timings are precise—*‘6–8 weeks before last frost’*—because gardening moves at the speed of the seasons, not a clock. If a step says *‘until the soil is crumbly,’* that’s what it means: no vague ‘when ready.’
Ignore the sidebars on a first read. They’re for extra details—like soil pH ranges or companion planting notes—that you can come back to later. The main text is the path you need to follow, and the ‘Takeaways’ box at the end sums up the essentials in one place.
When it does not work
If a page isn’t helping, it’s usually because the advice doesn’t match your conditions. Your microclimate might be different, your soil might be heavier or sandier, or you might be growing in containers instead of in-ground beds.
The site assumes you’re working with *average* conditions—like well-draining soil and six hours of sunlight—but real life rarely is.
Before you give up
- Check the ‘Growing Conditions’ box at the top of the page—your sunlight, water access, or soil type might not match what’s described.
- Look for the ‘For Containers/Shade/Ground’ labels—some plants need adjustments if they’re not in full sun or in pots.
- Search for your *specific* plant variety—‘tomato’ is too broad; ‘Brandywine’ might have different needs than ‘Cherry Roma.’
- Try the ‘Troubleshooting Guide’ with your plant’s symptoms—what looks like ‘overwatering’ might just be compacted soil.
Who we are
This site is shaped by the hands that still get blistered every spring.
| The colophon | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Bernadette Abernathy, who learned to garden by watching her grandfather’s calloused fingers coax life from stubborn clay soil in West Virginia. |
| Tested in | A 100-square-foot urban plot in Portland, Oregon, where the soil is too sandy for potatoes but perfect for strawberries. |
| Written with | A trowel, a magnifying glass, and a notebook full of half-erased mistakes. |
| Learned from | A retired farmer who said, ‘Plants don’t care about your schedule—only the moon’s.’ |
| Still getting wrong | The exact moment to harvest green beans before they turn tough, even after twenty years. |
Somewhere between the seed packet’s promises and the reality of slugs and drought, there’s a middle path. This site is for the people who walk it—messy, patient, and unafraid to get their hands dirty.
If you need something that is not here
The site covers the basics of growing food, flowers, and perennials, but not specialty topics like bonsai, hydroponics, or large-scale commercial farming. If you’re looking for advice on reviving a dead houseplant from a desert climate or troubleshooting a rare orchid, it might not be here.
The same goes for questions about local regulations, soil tests, or custom irrigation setups—those require details this site can’t provide.
Before asking, check the ‘Plant Library’ for your specific variety or the ‘Troubleshooting Guide’ for common issues. If you still can’t find what you need, the contact page is the best place to ask.
Include your location, the plant in question, and what you’ve tried so far—it helps us give you an answer that actually works.
The guides are grouped by category: Advice, Aphids, Landscaping, Pests, Pests and Diseases and Planting.