Beautiful, tasty, crunchy, and healthy—these are just a few words that describe the humble carrot. Whether you enjoy them raw or cooked, sweet or spicy, juiced, fermented, pickled, or baked, carrots offer endless culinary possibilities. If you're an aspiring gardener or simply someone who loves to ...
A Complete Guide to Growing Hardy Raspberries in Cold Climates
Raspberries are one of my favorite berries. Growing raspberries in a cold climate is not difficult because raspberries are quite hardy. Caring for the raspberry patch was one of the first tasks I learned in my childhood on my parents' homestead. If you did not have the opportunity to learn hands-on, ...
Essential Care for Seedlings: Growth Tips and Transplanting Methods
You have successfully planted your seeds, and they are growing—congratulations! Now, the question arises: what is next? Do they need to be up-potted, or can they continue to grow in the pots they were started in? This largely depends on how you started the seeds and the types of plants you are ...
Why I am Not Using Seed Snails for Seed Starting
Seed snails, also known as snail rolls, are becoming popular in the gardening world as a new method for starting seeds. However, I first learned about this technique many years ago from experienced Russian gardeners. At the time, I recognized it as an option but didn’t find it particularly useful ...
How to Soak or Sprout Seeds Before Planting
How to Soak or Sprout Seeds Before Planting. Seed soaking or spouting is an option to speed up germination. Although it is not required in most cases, we have used it often enough to dedicate a blog article to it. A sprouted seed can yield better results in your flower or vegetable garden. The ...
Tips on Buying Vegetable and Herb Seedlings
Here at Northern Homestead, we often dive into seed starting because it's a valuable skill. However, it’s perfectly okay to buy seedlings, too! Buying vegetable or herb seedlings doesn’t mean you’re failing in your gardening journey. When is it advisable to buy seedlings? There are plenty ...
Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors
Winter in our area is still holding on. The last frost date is still a few months away. But spring is coming, and with it the next growing season! Starting vegetable seeds indoors is the first step. When we say "starting seeds indoors," we don't mean in the house (though it can be that), but in ...
Gardening 101: Everything You Need to Know to Begin
The article is all about starting a garden to help, especially new gardeners, get off to a good start. If you are a new gardener or know someone who wants to learn more about growing food, please feel free to share it with them. "Gardening 101: Everything You Need to Know to Begin" is a ...
Starting Seeds in Vermiculite
Starting seeds in vermiculite is one of many great tips from the All New Square Foot Gardening book. It is a good method for starting indoor seedlings grown in soil, outdoor planting, and hydroponics. Try it and let us know if you like it. There's no one-size-fits-all approach to how to ...
Raised Garden Beds vs Container Gardens
Raised garden beds have gained popularity, especially among new gardeners. However, there seems to be confusion about raised garden beds vs container gardens. They often look the same, but they are fundamentally different. We wanted to explain it in this blog article. A raised garden bed is ...
