Grow — Empress of Dirt

Are you ready to dig in?

Whether you want to grow plants indoors or outdoors, I’ve got you covered.

Garden filled with flowers and garden shed.

Greetings fellow plant fanatics!

Much of the advice here is suited to four-season cold climate gardens (USDA and Canadian hardiness zones 4 to 8). Some things may work for colder areas and I have no experience with hotter areas.

I have been gardening for many years and do my best to work with nature—not against it.

Backyard garden with grass path and flowering perennials in front of shed.

This means I grow organically, and, to keep it frugal, start a lot of plants from seed and expand on what thrives in this environment—with an emphasis on native plants.

Here in Ontario, Canada (zone 6b), I grow vegetables, fruit, flowering perennials, trees, vines, and shrubs. I also have two small ponds and welcome the wild things that gather here.

You can see a yearly photo tour of my garden here.

I produce as much compost as I can to enrich the extremely sandy soil (an ongoing struggle) and avoid all short-term fixes including sprays.

Grow Topics

Main Categories

By Season: Spring | Summer | Fall and Winter

Plant Propagation | Growing Tips | Food Growing
Seasonal Tips | Indoor Growing

Free Online Tools

Soil Calculator | Use this free tool to estimate the amount of soil, potting mix, mulch, or compost needed for your garden bed, raised beds, window box, or flower pots.

Garden Name Generator | Use this fun tool to find your garden’s true name. It’s creative and, dare we say, poetic, and gives ideas for garden signs.

How to Grow Avocado From Seed | If you’ve been trying to root avocado seeds by suspending them over a glass of water with toothpicks, there is an easier way. I’ll show you a no-fuss way to root avocado pits to create new houseplants.
How to Grow Vegetables Indoors | Find out what you can grow indoors all year-round.
How to Grow an Oak Tree From an Acorn (Step By Step) | How to propagate this beloved and important native species.
How to Grow Pothos From Cuttings | This simple tutorial shows how to take cuttings from your pothos houseplant (Epipremnum aureum) and root them for new plants.
How to Grow Mango From Seed | This easy method shows how to grow a mango tree from seed using a mango from the grocery store. Eat the mango, save the seed, and follow these simple steps to grow it into a plant.
Four Easy Ways to Overwinter Geraniums | There are several ways to overwinter geraniums (Pelargoniums) from your garden. With some newspaper, a cardboard box, paper bag, or a sunny windowsill, you can keep these tender perennials for the winter and have fresh blooms next spring and summer. I’ll walk you through the options and provide winter care tips.
How to Grow Pineapple From the Top | Yes, you can grow a pineapple plant from the top of the fruit. This shows you how to prepare the fruit, take the right cutting, and root it in water for a new plant.