This is where Benjamin Greenfield writes down what happens on his family farm in Oregon: year-round vegetable gardening in no-dig raised beds, with home-made compost and companion planting. Each article takes one job at a time, from working out where the sun falls to curing onions for the winter, and says what worked, what failed and why. The method is the one in his book, The Year-Round Vegetable Garden for Beginners; the blog is where year-round vegetable gardening meets the weather.
Browse by topic: Garden Planning · Soil & Compost · Seeds & Seedlings · Growing Guides · Watering & Irrigation · Pests & Diseases · Harvest & Storage · Season Extension
First Frost Date: How to Find Yours and Protect Your Crops
Every fall garden runs on a single number, and most gardeners get it slightly wrong. The first frost date is…
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Curing Onions: How to Dry Bulbs That Store All Winter
There is a morning in late summer when the onion bed simply gives up. The tall green tops that stood…
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Bottom Watering Seedlings: The Best Way to Prevent Overwatering and Fungus Gnats
There is a quiet, profound pride in watching your first garden sprouts push their way through the dark soil. If…
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Growing Radicchio: Cultivating Bitter Italian Chicory in Fall Gardens
There is a moment in the late autumn garden when most vegetable beds are winding down, leaving behind empty spaces…
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Vegetable Cross Pollination: How to Prevent Hybridization in Seed Saving
There is a distinct, quiet magic in collecting seeds from your own backyard crops. It represents the ultimate cycle of…
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Harvesting Garlic Scapes: How to Prune and Eat Garlic Flower Buds
There is a magical moment in the late spring garden when the straight, emerald-green leaves of garlic suddenly produce a…
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Soil Temperature for Planting: When to Safely Sow Warm-Season Crops
As the winter snow melts and the first warm rays of spring sun kiss the garden, an undeniable itch takes…
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Growing Rhubarb: How to Plant and Harvest Perennial Tart Stalks
Few garden plants evoke the same sense of nostalgic, early-summer comfort as a mature patch of rhubarb. With its massive,…
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Floating Row Covers: Protecting Brassicas from Pests and Frost
The crisp, cool days of autumn and early spring are the playground of the brassica family. For passionate food growers,…
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Damping Off Disease: How to Prevent Seedling Rot and Fungal Death
There is nothing quite like the thrill of seeing those first tiny green loops push their way through the dark…
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Growing Ginger Indoors: Cultivating Fresh Rhizomes in Any Climate
Winter weather frequently destroys outdoor gardening ambitions entirely. Freezing temperatures force passionate growers to abandon their favorite raised beds for…
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Foliar Feeding Vegetables: How to Spray Nutrients for Instant Plant Boosts
Every backyard gardener strives to build incredibly rich, black soil. However, sometimes your hungry plants demand an immediate, fast-acting nutritional…
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Dwarf Tomato Varieties: Heavy Yields for Small Spaces and Containers
Growing fresh, sweet tomatoes represents the ultimate rite of passage for backyard farmers. Traditional indeterminate vines, however, grow incredibly tall…
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Soil Solarization Method: Using the Sun to Clear Weeds and Pathogens
Waking up to a garden overrun by aggressive weeds causes immense frustration for any passionate backyard grower. You spend countless…
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Growing Sweet Corn: Master Pollination for Plump Backyard Kernels
Waking up to a barren corn cob feels incredibly disappointing for any passionate backyard grower. You invest weeks of intense…
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Lasagna Gardening Method: Build Rich Soil with No Digging and No Wood
Establishing a brand new garden shouldn't drain your personal savings account or strain your physical health. Unfortunately, conventional methods often…
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Seed Germination Test: How to Check If Your Old Seeds Will Grow
Finding an old, dusty shoebox filled with forgotten seed packets brings a sudden wave of hope to any backyard gardener….
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Olla Irrigation System: How to Use Clay Pots for Lazy Watering
Dry summer heatwaves routinely dry out backyard vegetable plots. Consequently, keeping your crops alive often feels like a full-time job….
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Tomato Hornworm Control: Organic Ways to Stop the Green Monster
Walking into a lush tomato patch brings immense joy to any backyard gardener. You spend months carefully prepping your soil,…
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Growing Microgreens Indoors: Fresh Superfoods Year-Round
Winter weather frequently forces passionate gardeners into an unwanted hiatus. Frozen soil and biting winds usually bring backyard food production…
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