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Growing Softwood Cuttings: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Published on January 23, 2024 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Diagram showing how to take softwood cuttings and plant them in potting mix.

Use softwood cuttings to propagate new plants from favorite annuals and perennials. Includes recommended plants and detailed step-by-step instructions. In late fall and winter, you can root older … [Read more...]

How to Grow a Sweet Pea Arch

Published on January 17, 2024 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Sweet pea arch in garden.

Make a sweet pea arch using these step-by-step DIY instructions. Use willow rods to create a beautiful, scented floral archway for your garden. This project is from the book, Gardening on a … [Read more...]

How to Get Delphiniums to Bloom Twice in One Season

Published on December 1, 2023 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Delphiniums and other flowers in the garden.

If you want a second set of blooms after your delphiniums have flowered, use this simple method to encourage additional blooms. For more delphinium growing tips, also see Delphiniums: Growing … [Read more...]

How to Grow Sweet Pea Flowers & What to Avoid

Published on August 30, 2023 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Pink sweet pea flowers growing in the garden.

Use these tips to grow sweet pea flowers (Lathyrus odoratus) from seed in your garden in spring or a greenhouse in fall. With the right growing conditions and care, these old-fashioned flowers will … [Read more...]

25 Vegetables You Can Grow in Shade

Published on July 11, 2023 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Vegetables growing in part shade.

Forget the old-fashioned advice that you need full sun to grow a vegetable garden. There are lots of crops like broccoli, beans, and spinach that can grow just fine with part-sun or shade during the … [Read more...]

25 Fruits That Ripen After Picking (& Those That Don’t)

Published on July 4, 2023 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Fruits that can and cannot ripen after picking.

While some fruits can ripen after picking, others will not. Whether homegrown or from the grocery store, use these lists to know which unripe or nearly-ripe fruits can ripen or sweeten on your kitchen … [Read more...]

How to Know Which Vegetable & Fruit Crops Need Pollinators

Published on June 29, 2023 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Crops that do and do not require pollinators to produce fruit.

How can you tell which garden vegetables or fruits require pollination to produce crops? Use these tips to know which crops require exposure to pollinators like bees or birds and those that can … [Read more...]

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Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada).
Join me as I share creative + frugal home & garden ideas with a dash of humor.
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