What is on this site
This site is for growing things—plants, seeds, and the quiet work of cultivating them. You’ll find practical advice for every stage, from choosing the right soil to troubleshooting wilting leaves, along with seasonal guides for what to plant (and when).
The site is organised by need, not by plant. Need to know how to prune roses? There’s a step-by-step guide. Wondering why your tomatoes aren’t ripening? The troubleshooting section covers it. The ‘Garden by Season’ section tells you what to do each month, down to the last frost date.
| Where | What is there | Go here if |
|---|---|---|
| The Garden by Season | Monthly tasks, planting charts, and what grows best now | you’re planning your spring or autumn garden |
| Plant Profiles | Growth habits, care needs, and troubleshooting for 50+ species | you’re picking plants for your space or climate |
| Soil & Tools | Testing soil, choosing containers, and what tools actually work | your plants are struggling and you suspect the basics |
| Troubleshooting | Pests, diseases, and environmental fixes—with photos | your leaves are yellowing, wilting, or disappearing |
How to read a page here
Every page starts with a clear goal—whether it’s ‘How to grow basil from seed’ or ‘Fixing root rot in houseplants’—so you know right away if it’s what you need.
Numbers in parentheses (like *Step 3*) mark the order of actions, and bold terms (such as *full sun*) are defined in the glossary at the bottom.
Units are metric by default (centimetres, grams) with imperial conversions in brackets where needed. Timings assume average conditions—adjust for your local climate or microclimate (e.g., a balcony in shade may need longer watering).
Skip the ‘Further Reading’ section on a first read unless you’re curious about related topics. The ‘Key Takeaways’ box at the end sums up the essentials, and the ‘Warning’ callouts flag mistakes that derail more beginners than you’d think.
When it does not work
If a guide isn’t helping, the problem might not be the advice—it could be your soil, water, or local pests. Before you quit, check if you’re missing a step (like pre-soaking seeds) or misreading a condition (e.g., ‘part shade’ means 3–6 hours of sun, not all day).
Before you give up
- Double-check your plant’s light needs—most indoor failures start here.
- Test your soil pH and drainage; amending it often fixes ‘mysterious’ problems.
- Look for patterns: Are new leaves wilting? Old ones yellowing? That narrows the issue.
- Try the ‘wait and observe’ rule—some plants (like onions) take months to show stress.
Who we are
This site is shaped by one person’s decades of digging, pruning, and learning from failures—starting with that first tomato vine.
| The colophon | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Adriana Pennington, who writes about gardening as she’s done it: with a trowel in one hand and a notebook in the other, often both muddy. |
| Tested in | A 1970s split-level in the Pacific Northwest, where the garden shares space with a shed full of half-empty seed packets and a compost bin that never quite finishes. |
| Written with | A mechanical pencil (for notes in the rain), a cheap digital scale, and a garden journal held together by duct tape. |
| Learned from | A retired horticulturist who taught her that ‘dead plants are data,’ and from every seed that refused to germinate. |
| Still getting wrong | The exact moment to harvest zucchini—it’s always too late or too soon. |
Gardening is equal parts science and patience. If you’re here, you’ve already started the hard work—now let’s make sure the rest doesn’t get lost in the weeds.
If you need something that is not here
Ask about a plant not covered, a pest you can’t identify, or a technique that’s baffling you. The contact page is the place to describe your problem—include photos if you can, and note your climate zone. We’ll point you to what works, or tell you why it’s not possible (yet).
The guides are grouped by category: Advice, Aphids, Blooming, Companion Plants, Container Gardens and Diseases.