Are you ready to dig in?
Whether you want to grow plants indoors or outdoors, I’ve got you covered.
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.
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.
Here in Ontario, Canada (zone 6b), I grow vegetables, fruit, flowering perennials, trees, and shrubs. I also have two small ponds and welcome the wild things that gather there.
You can see a yearly photo tour of my garden here.
I produce as much compost as I can to enrich the soil (an ongoing struggle) and avoid all short-term fixes including sprays.
Grow
Grow Topics
Click any link to jump to the topic
1Outdoor Gardening
- Seasonal | Spring | Summer | Fall and Winter
- Monthly Garden Tasks | What to sow, grow, and create
- Flower Growing Guides | Tips for popular plants
- Fruit & Vegetable Growing Tips | Grow food anywhere
- Garden Fundamentals | Basics for new growers and garden folklore
- Frugal & Organic Garden Tips | Save money: kind to earth
- Pruning and Deadheading | When to snip and clip
- Plant Lists | Handy idea lists
- Ponds and Water Features | Water is life!
2Plant Propagation Tips
- Plant Propagation Tips | Seeds, cuttings, and more.
3Indoor Gardening
- Houseplants | Tropical plants and succulent care
- Indoor Food Growing | Veggies and herbs
- Winter-Busting Indoor Garden Projects
4Empress of Dirt Books
- Popular Topics | Get all the goodness in an instant download
1Outdoor Gardening
Spring
Summer
Fall & Winter
Monthly Garden Tasks
Flowering Growing Tips
Fruit & Vegetable Growing Tips
Garden Fundamentals
Frugal & Organic Garden Tips
Pruning and Deadheading
2Plant Propagation Tips
3Indoor Gardening
These are my best tips for successfully growing tropical houseplants and veggies indoors.
Houseplants
Indoor Food Growing
How to get started growing vegetables and herbs in your home without any special equipment.
4Empress of Dirt Books
These delightful ebooks are available for instant download.
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛