Vegetables
Ten Tomato Growing Mistakes I've Already Made for You
Iris Bramble10 min read
I have killed more tomato plants than I care to admit. Here are the ten specific mistakes that cost me real fruit, and what I do differently now.
The Archive
Every entry in the journal
The whole notebook, newest first. A small journal, so the list is short and every entry is here because I learned something worth writing down. Brew something warm and pick one.
Soil & Compost
Composting in Small Yards Without the Smell
Iris Bramble9 min read
A compost pile in a small yard gets a bad reputation for good reason. Here is the setup that kept mine sweet-smelling through a Portland summer.
Perennials
Drought-Resistant Perennials That Actually Thrive
Iris Bramble10 min read
Every list of drought-tolerant plants I read my first few years overpromised. These are the ones that held up through the real thing in my zone 8b garden.
Soil & Compost
The Raised Bed Soil Mix That Kept Working for Us
Iris Bramble9 min read
I have refilled these beds four spring seasons in a row. The mix I settled on is not fancy, but it produces, and I can explain why every ingredient earns its place.
Pests & Problems
Dealing With Aphids Without Losing Your Mind
Iris Bramble8 min read
Aphids are not the emergency most gardening forums make them out to be. Here is what I reach for first, second, and last, in that order.
Small Spaces
The Patio Vegetable Garden: A Realistic 20-Square-Foot Plan
Iris Bramble10 min read
Twenty square feet of container space can feed a small household most of the summer if you pick the right crops. Here is the layout that worked on our second-floor balcony.
Vegetables
Seed Starting Indoors: What I've Learned
Iris Bramble9 min read
Most seed-starting advice leaves out the part where you explain why your seedlings went leggy in week two. I will tell you. It was the light, and also the heat, and also me.
Perennials
When to Prune Everything: A Simple Month-by-Month Guide
Iris Bramble10 min read
Pruning timing feels mysterious until you write it down month by month. Here is the calendar I keep taped inside the potting shed, and why each plant lands where it does.
Perennials
Building a Pollinator Garden on a Budget
Iris Bramble9 min read
A pollinator garden can be expensive if you buy every plant in a 1-gallon pot at the nursery. It does not have to be. Here is how I built ours for under $120.
Vegetables
Winter Garden Maintenance: The Ten Things That Actually Matter
Iris Bramble8 min read
Most of what you read about winter gardening is aspirational. Here is the short list of chores I actually do between November and February, and what happens if you skip them.