Grow Your Own Food

2-year old blueberry plants in pots growing on deck.

Growing Blueberries in Pots: Best Container Size, Varieties and How Long They Live

Quick Summary: Grow blueberries in wide pots (at least 20 inches in diameter) with acidic soil (half peat, half potting mix). Choose half-high varieties for pots (Polaris, Northland, Chippewa). Full sun (6+ hours) is essential. Expect a lifespan of 8 to 12 years when grown in pots; 20-30 years when grown in a garden bed. […]

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Tumbling Tom small tomatoes hanging in clusters from a pot.

Hanging Tomato Plants for Baskets and Balconies: Best Varieties and Growing Tips

Quick Summary: Grow tomatoes in hanging baskets using small, determinate varieties like Tumbler, Tumbling Tom, or Tiny Tim. Use a sturdy basket at least 12 inches wide and deep with drainage holes. Water daily in summer heat. Fertilize regularly since nutrients leach with each watering. Choose a sunny spot protected from strong wind. Read time:

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A balcony garden with a railing full of plants and two large windows behind it.

How to Grow Herbs on a Balcony (or Deck): A Detailed Beginners Guide

Quick Summary: A complete guide to starting a balcony herb garden. Covers which herbs grow best in containers, design ideas for small spaces, care basics (light, water, soil), and troubleshooting common problems. Perfect for urban gardeners and apartment dwellers with limited outdoor space. Jump to: Which Herbs to Choose | Purchase or Start from Seed?

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Hand holding tomato plant that is not in a pot and shows the root ball.

Tomato Plants that are Root Bound: How to Fix Them

Quick Summary: Root bound tomatoes have roots circling into a dense mat from being in a too-small container too long. Signs include roots spilling from drainage holes, stunted growth, and misshapen leaves. Fix by gently loosening the root ball before transplanting. Prevention: pot up seedlings when they have two sets of true leaves, and use

Tomato Plants that are Root Bound: How to Fix Them Read Post »

Large black grow bag showing bark chip mulch as topping and small seedling.

Reuse Grow Bags for Tomatoes: Cleaning, Storage, and Soil Tips

Quick Summary: Grow bags are reusable for multiple seasons if cleaned and stored properly. After harvest, remove soil, scrub the bag, soak in warm soapy water, rinse, and dry completely before storing flat. Replace potting soil each year for tomatoes to avoid disease buildup, or solarize old soil and add fresh compost. Quality bags last

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Rows of grow bags with tomato seedlings lined up on a tiered stand.

Tomatoes in Grow Bags: Sizes, Setup, and Growing Tips

Quick Summary: Grow bags offer excellent drainage and air pruning for tomato roots. Use 7-10 gallon bags for determinate varieties, 15-20 gallons for indeterminate. The porous fabric dries out faster than plastic pots, so check soil daily in hot weather. One plant per bag for best results. Read time: 12 min | Experience level: Beginner

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Tomato Seedling Problems: How to Fix Wilting, Yellow Leaves, Stunted Growth and Other Common Problems

Signs of Nutritional Deficiencies in Heirloom Tomato Seedlings and solutions to help prevent a range of tomato diseases

Tomato Seedling Problems: How to Fix Wilting, Yellow Leaves, Stunted Growth and Other Common Problems Read Post »

Leggy tomato seedlings on a window sill.

Leggy Tomato Seedlings? Causes and Fixes

Quick Summary: Leggy tomato seedlings are caused by insufficient light, excessive heat, overcrowding, or starting seeds too early. Fix them by moving grow lights closer, reducing temperature after germination, thinning seedlings, and planting deep when transplanting. Tomatoes grow roots from buried stems, so deep planting corrects legginess. Read time: 8 min | Experience level: Beginner

Leggy Tomato Seedlings? Causes and Fixes Read Post »

Cherry blossom tree signaling best time to plant vegetables in Zone 4

When to Plant Tomatoes in Minnesota: Use Nature’s Cues (Phenology) for Planting Vegetables

Quick Summary: Phenology uses nature’s signals (blooming plants, migrating birds, emerging insects) to determine optimal planting times. For tomatoes in Zone 4-5, wait until Memorial Day regardless of warm spring temperatures. Other cues: plant corn when oak leaves are squirrel-ear sized, potatoes when dandelions bloom, peas at apple blossom time, squash and beans when lilacs

When to Plant Tomatoes in Minnesota: Use Nature’s Cues (Phenology) for Planting Vegetables Read Post »

Tractor bucket full of heirloom squash and pumpkins.

Winter Squash Varieties: 10 Picks for Flavor and Cooking

Quick Summary: Heirloom winter squash varieties offer superior flavor compared to commercial hybrids. Top picks include Blue Hubbard (roasting), Sweet Meat (soups), Cinderella/Rouge Vif D’Etampes (pies), Long Island Cheese (classic pumpkin pie), Butternut (versatile), and Red Kuri/Hokkaido (nutty and sweet). Cure squash for 1-2 weeks after harvest to harden skins for winter storage. Read time:

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Overwintering Potted Plants in Cold Climates

Quick Summary: Potted plants need extra winter protection because roots aren’t insulated by ground soil. Rule of thumb: subtract 2 zones from a plant’s hardiness rating for containers. Hardy plants can stay outdoors with protection (mulch, wrapping, burying pots). Tender plants go indoors to a garage, greenhouse, or cool room. Stop fertilizing in fall; reduce

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Indoor Vertical Gardening: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Food at Home

We’re all well aware of the benefits of growing your own food: it’s tasty, it’s cheap and it’s fun. But what if you don’t have a big garden to grow your vegetables, fruits or herbs in? Although I am able to grow my own produce on our 23-acre farm, my son is an apartment dweller

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Example of vertical garden using pallets.

Vertical Gardening: How to Grow Food in Small Spaces

You don’t need land to grow food. A balcony, deck, or small patio can produce vegetables, herbs, and even fruit if you grow vertically. I’ve helped customers at the Twin Cities farmers markets set up vertical gardens, and the results are always better than they expect. This guide covers design options from simple hanging baskets

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Salsa rojo made in a molcajete (mortar and pestle).

How to Grow a Salsa Garden and Make Salsa Roja

Quick Summary: A salsa container garden needs two 24-inch planters: one with a staked tomato, garlic, onions, and cilantro; one with a pepper plant and more onions and cilantro. Choose meaty, high-acid tomatoes (Opalka, Box Car Willie, Druzba) and jalapeños for classic salsa. Full sun (6+ hours), consistent watering, and regular fertilizing are essential. Harvest

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Basket of fresh vegetables from the garden.

Best Vegetables to Grow on a Budget (And 6 to Skip)

Quick Summary: Best vegetables to grow for savings: tomatoes (taste difference is dramatic), bell peppers (expensive to buy), herbs (pricey and often wilted in stores), lettuce (harvest as needed, reduce waste), winter squash (prolific and stores for months), and perennials like asparagus and rhubarb (plant once, harvest for years). Skip corn, potatoes, onions, celery, and

Best Vegetables to Grow on a Budget (And 6 to Skip) Read Post »

Butterfly enjoying the nectar of a flowering plant.

How to Attract Butterflies: Best Flowers and Herbs for Your Garden

Quick Summary: Attract butterflies by planting nectar flowers (milkweed, aster, coneflower, black-eyed Susan) and host plants for caterpillars (milkweed for monarchs, fennel for swallowtails). Herbs like lavender, basil, and mint also attract butterflies when allowed to flower. Avoid pesticides, install a butterfly watering station, and leave some overripe fruit out for species like red admirals.

How to Attract Butterflies: Best Flowers and Herbs for Your Garden Read Post »

Licorice root and spice brewed herbal tea from Dorothy Stainbrook's Wellness tea collection

How to Blend Herbal Teas: A Beginner’s Guide with 9 Recipes

Quick Summary: Blending your own herbal teas is easier than you think, and the results taste far better than anything from a store. This guide walks you through a simple base + star + accent formula, with flavor profiles for common herbs and 9 tested blend recipes with food pairings. No special equipment needed. Just

How to Blend Herbal Teas: A Beginner’s Guide with 9 Recipes Read Post »

Dorothy Stainbrook in the herb garden with a cup of wellness tea

10 Best Herbs for a Beginners Herbal Tea Garden

Quick Summary: These ten herbs are easy to grow in containers or garden beds and produce flavorful homemade herbal blends for tea. Chamomile, mint, lavender, lemon balm, and rosemary are beginner-friendly options that thrive with minimal care. Growing your own herbs means fresher tea with better flavor and more health benefits than store-bought blends. Includes

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Black beauty eggplant variety growing on the plant.

How to Grow Eggplant from Seed: Containers or Garden Plot

Eggplant is one of the most beautiful vegetables you can grow. It has broad leaves, lavender flowers, and glossy fruit in colors from deep purple to white to striped. I grow several heirloom varieties at HeathGlen Organic Farm in Minnesota, including Rosa Bianca and Japanese White Egg. If you want anything beyond the standard Black

How to Grow Eggplant from Seed: Containers or Garden Plot Read Post »

Baskets of heirloom tomatoes at the farmers market

Best Seed Catalogs for Heirloom Tomatoes

These are the top 5 seed catalogs for heirloom tomatoes based on selections for flavor, growth habits and cost

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Tian vs Ratatouille: Two Similar Low Carb Summer Vegetable Recipes

Quick Summary: Quick Summary: A French tian is ratatouille’s elegant cousin: thinly sliced eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, and tomatoes arranged vertically in a robust tomato-pepper sauce. This dish showcases late summer vegetables at their peak. Prep: 30 min | Cook: 1 hr 15 min | Serves: 4 Jump to: RECIPE | How is Tian Different

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Strawberries in plastic containers on wood crates.

Growing Strawberries in Pots or Garden: 5 Keys to Sweet, Long-Lived Berries

Guide for the beginner on growing strawberries at home, whether in a container, raised bed, or in the garden

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Best Grow Lights for Starting Seeds Indoors: LED vs Fluorescent

Quick Summary: LED shop lights cost more upfront but last longer and produce faster seedling growth than fluorescents. For starting tomatoes and peppers indoors, 5000-lumen daylight LEDs positioned about 4 inches above seedlings for 14 to 16 hours daily works well. Read time: 8 min | Experience level: Beginner to intermediate Jump to: LED vs

Best Grow Lights for Starting Seeds Indoors: LED vs Fluorescent Read Post »

Herbs for seafood dishes or partial shade grown in large pot.

Herb Combinations That Grow Well Together in Pots: 6 Cooking Themes

Quick Summary: Six themed herb garden combinations for containers: Mediterranean cooking, Mexican cooking, seafood dishes, craft cocktails, herbal teas, and fresh salads. Each grouping considers which herbs grow well together and which culinary uses they serve. Works for balconies, patios, or decks. Jump to: Combining Herbs Around Cooking Preferences | Mediterranean | Mexican | Seafood

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3 different herb combinations growing in containers at HeathGlen Farm.

Growing Herbs in Containers: Combinations by Cuisine, Climate, and Use

Quick Summary: Group container herbs by growing conditions for success. Sun-loving herbs: basil, rosemary, sage, oregano, thyme, lavender. Shade-tolerant: parsley, cilantro, mint, chives. Moisture-loving: basil, mint, cilantro, parsley, chives. Drought-tolerant: rosemary, sage, thyme, lavender. Combine by cuisine theme: Mediterranean (rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme), Mexican (cilantro, oregano, chile peppers), tea garden (mint, chamomile, lemon balm, lavender).

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Array of heirloom tomatoes with no cracking

Best Tomato Varieties for Eating in Sauces, Salads Sandwiches, or Snacking

Quick Summary: Match tomato varieties to their best use. Slicers (Brandywine, Mortgage Lifter, Carmello) for sandwiches and fresh eating. Paste types (Opalka, San Marzano, Amish Paste) for sauces. Colorful varieties (Carbon, Cherokee Purple, Green Zebra) for salads. Cherry tomatoes (Sungold, Sweet 100, Matt’s Wild Cherry) for snacking. Read time: 8 min | Experience level: Beginner

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