Garden ~ Homestead and Chill

Garden

Ready to grow? Come learn how to plan a garden, start seeds, grow organic vegetables, flowers and herbs, build raised garden beds, tend to your soil, compost, control pests and disease, DIY projects, irrigation and more. Browse popular articles and categories below!

Getting Started

ALL GETTING STARTED POSTS >

Learn gardening fundamentals and beginner basics.

16 Best Gardening Books + Other Homestead Guides

How To Start A Garden: 101

How to Start a Homestead: 9 Must-Read Tips for New Homesteaders

A map of the United States which is covered in a variety of colors from red, orange, yellow, green to various shades of blue and purple. The color signifies the average cold temperature in the certain area of the country.

Garden Zones 101: New Hardiness Zone Map, Planting Charts, Limitations

ALL GETTING STARTED POSTS >

Raised Garden Beds

ALL RAISED BED ARTICLES >

Learn everything you need to know about growing food in raised garden beds – building, filling, amending, irrigation and beyond!

Deanna crouching next to a wood raised garden bed full of growing vegetable plants. Beyond are a number of other raised beds with various plants growing in them.

How to Build a DIY Raised Garden Bed: Step-by-Step Guide

A garden or wooden raised beds with a variety of vegetables growing in each one.

7 Ways To Make Wood Garden Beds Last: Nontoxic Sealer & More

A few raised garden beds are set amongst a gravel hardscape. Many young vegetable plants are growing in each of the raised beds.

The Best Materials for Raised Garden Beds: Pros and Cons

Many newly built wood raised beds that are freshly filled with soil.

How to Fill Raised Garden Beds with Organic Soil

ALL RAISED BED ARTICLES >

Seed Starting

ALL SEED STARTING POSTS >

Learn seed starting basics in these helpful tutorials. Not growing from seed? See how to choose the best nursery seedlings here.

Many seed packets and seed catalogues are laid out on a table. A seed storage box is nearby as well.

13 Best Places to Buy Vegetable Seeds: Organic, Heirloom, Non-GMO

A small tray with a number of cell packs that contain a number of small seedlings is sitting on a wood table, a few fresh tomatoes are surrounding the seedlings.

7 Useful Seed Starting Supplies for Success Indoors

Trays full of young homegrown veggie seedling sprouts in a greenhouse

How to Start Seeds Indoors: The Ultimate Guide + Seedling Care Tips

A woman holding a large plastic case like a suitcase which contains packs of garden seeds.

Seed Storage: The Best Way to Store and Organize Garden Seeds

ALL SEED STARTING POSTS >

FREE Garden Planner
& Planting Calendars

Stay connected and learn! Sign up for our weekly newsletter with the best seasonal gardening tips, recipes, crafts and more – and get a free 21-page printable gardening planning toolkit, complete with seed starting and planting calendars for every growing zone.

Vegetable Grow Guides

ALL VEGETABLE GUIDES >

Browse grow guides for dozens of vegetables, plus troubleshooting, training or harvest tips.

A hand is holding a bunch of garlic upwards with the bulbs pointing upwards.

How to Plant and Grow Garlic: The Ultimate Guide

Zucchini flowers are forming on a squash plant. Some of the flowers are male and a few are female flowers attached to the ends of small zucchini.

How to Hand Pollinate Zucchini and Squash to Prevent End Rot, Increase Yields

A man holding a very large head of white cauliflower out in front of him, standing in a garden.

How to Grow Cauliflower from Seed to Harvest

A number of artichokes growing on plants are reaching towards the sun.

How to Grow Artichokes: A Complete Guide with Photos

ALL VEGETABLE GUIDES >

Flowers & Herbs

ALL FLOWERS AND HERBS >

Learn to grow herbs and flowers for medicinal or culinary use, pollinators, and beauty.

Orange calendula flowers are blooming on dark green plants along with purple borage flowers peaking in from the side.

7 Best Easy Annual Companion Flowers to Grow from Seed

Harvested calendula flowers are laid out on dehydrator trays after harvest.

All About Calendula: How to Grow, Harvest, Dry, & Use Calendula Flowers

A paver lined pathway amongst gravel hardscape is winding between four raised garden beds full of vegetable plants and flowers.

Garden Companion Planting Chart, Plans, and Benefits

Thyme, oregano, and sage growing in a large rectangular terracotta container.

Growing Herbs 101: How to Start a Kitchen Herb Garden, Indoors or Out

ALL FLOWERS AND HERBS >

Fruit & Trees

ALL FRUIT AND TREES >

Learn how to select, plant, grow and tend to fruit trees here. We also have guides on specific fruits like figs, avocado, and more!

What Are Fruit Tree Chill Hours? Helpful Charts + Area Maps

A hand is held out which contains many small inedible nectarine fruit. Beyond is a small fruit tree from which the fruit came.

How to Thin Fruit Trees: Apples, Peaches, Plums and More

DeannaCat standing with a potted avocado tree in the Homestead and Chill gardens, about to plant the tree

How to Plant a Tree: Best Practices for Success

A woman is standing next to a fruit tree that is in a 15 gallon pot. Many flowering perennials, agaves, and a pepper tree are in the background.

How to Choose Fruit Trees to Plant: Climate, Varieties & More

ALL FRUIT AND TREES >

Don't miss our favorite garden tools & supplies!

SHOP HERE

Come browse our favorite garden tools and gadgets, including seed starting supplies, books, grow lights, raised bed kits, padded kneelers, crop protection/pest control & more!