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Overwintering

The Complete Guide to Winter Sowing Seeds: Tips & Timing

Published on December 2, 2025 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Winter sowing supplies including milk jug cut open in middle with seedlings growing inside.

Winter sowing is a popular new way to start seeds outdoors in jugs or containers for spring sprouting—perfect for a variety of plants. Grab old milk jugs or other containers to act like mini … [Read more...]

How & When to Bring Plants Inside: Timing & Debugging Tips

Published on July 3, 2023 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Preparing a potted plant for life indoors by removing any bugs from the stems and leaves.

Want to bring plants indoors without the bugs? Find out the best way to debug your plants along with the recommended timing and temperatures for a smooth transition. If you want to keep a small … [Read more...]

How to Overwinter Potted Fruit Trees

Published on September 12, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Potted fig trees.

If you are growing fruit trees that are hardy or semi-hardy outdoors in containers in a cold climate, this shows how to keep them safe during the winter and ready to grow again in spring. How To … [Read more...]

4 Easy Ways to Overwinter Geraniums

Published on September 4, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Red geranium (Pelargonium) flowers.

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 … [Read more...]

How to Grow An Apple Tree From Seed (Easy Tutorial)

Published on January 19, 2021Last updated November 18, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Apple, apple seeds, and apple tree seedlings.

Use this simple tutorial to grow an apple tree from seeds found in grocery store fruit. It’s a great beginner-friendly propagation project that works for pears too. Want to turn other food into … [Read more...]

How to Grow Sweet Potato Vine from Cuttings

Published on July 30, 2019Last updated November 18, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Rooting sweet potato vine cuttings in jars of water.

It’s easy to grow sweet potato vine from cuttings rooted in water. Use this method to fill summer planters or grow fresh indoor plants during the winter. You can also … [Read more...]

Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada).
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