Companion Planting

How to Deal with Squash Bugs and Hornworms: Rescue Your Garden Naturally

How to Deal with Squash Bugs and Hornworms: Rescue Your Garden Naturally

Early summer mornings in the garden often begin with quiet joy—coffee in hand, sunlight catching on dew-kissed leaves, and the promise of tomatoes ripening on the vine… until you notice a chewed leaf, a trail of droppings, or a wilted squash plant. Friend, I’ve been there. The first time I discovered hornworms on my heirloom…

Heat-Tolerant Greens for Summer Gardening
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Heat-Tolerant Greens for Summer Gardening

I used to think leafy greens were only for spring and fall—until I watched my romaine bolt faster than a squirrel in the melon patch. But once I discovered heat-tolerant greens, a whole new world opened up. Now, even in the dog days of summer, we’re still snipping fresh greens for dinner. These resilient, nutrient-dense…

Summer Fertilizing & Pest Control for Peppers and Tomatoes
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Summer Fertilizing & Pest Control for Peppers and Tomatoes

A No-Fuss Organic Guide for a Lush, Productive Garden If you’re anything like me, by mid-summer your tomatoes and peppers are loaded with flowers, bursting with green fruit—and attracting every bug in a five-mile radius. These heavy-feeders need just the right kind of support to keep producing through the heat, and a solid organic routine…

April Gardening in Zone 9: Growth, Beauty & Preparing for the Heat!
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April Gardening in Zone 9: Growth, Beauty & Preparing for the Heat!

April is the month when my garden starts showing off—the tomato plants are stretching taller each day, the squash vines are running wild, and the first marigolds are popping open like little bursts of sunshine. But with all this growth comes the real work of maintaining it. If you’re following the 15-Minutes-a-Day Gardening Calendar, you…

February Gardening in Zone 9: Seed Starting, Soil Prep & Gearing Up for Spring!
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February Gardening in Zone 9: Seed Starting, Soil Prep & Gearing Up for Spring!

If you’ve been following along with the 15-Minutes-a-Day Gardening Calendar, you already know that this system is designed to help you build and maintain a thriving garden—without burnout. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, this approach breaks everything down into small, daily steps so that gardening feels fun, doable, and rewarding. February…

January Gardening in Zone 9: Kickstart Your Best Growing Season Yet!
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January Gardening in Zone 9: Kickstart Your Best Growing Season Yet!

January may feel like a slow month in the garden, but don’t let that fool you—this is the foundation-building season. While the rest of the country is bundled up indoors, Zone 9 gardeners get a head start on the growing year. This is the time to plan, prep, and plant so that your garden thrives…