How to Grow

Have you always wanted to know how to grow a garden but never took the plunge? Well you're in the right place. The Hometalk community of garden enthusiasts will get you started with all you need to know about growing everything, from cucumbers to roses, and all the materials, tools, and techniques in between. Happy gardening!

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Top Projects for Growing

Are you ready to check out the top how-to growing projects on Hometalk? Look around.

Quick, Easy, and Creative Ways to Grow an Avocado Tree From a Pit

Avocados have become an extremely popular menu item in recent years. At the same time interest in growing avocado trees has risen, as well. While the indoor trees may not bear fruit, they make wonderful houseplants. There’s no need to visit the garden center to purchase a starter plant or even a seed. With a pit from your next healthy meal, you can grow your very own avocado tree in no time and for free.

Best Of Hometalk

How to Grow Marigolds for a Splash of Sunny Garden Color

By Alexa EricksonBeautifully bright marigolds are low-maintenance annuals that deserve a place in every garden. They sprout quickly, reliably bloom within two months, last all summer and into fall, and have very little disease and insect issues. For these reasons, marigolds make for a colorful and satisfying addition to the yard that both gardening newbies and aficionados can appreciate. Plus, even though they’re technically annual flowers, it’s almost guaranteed that they’ll come back and bloom year after year without you having to lift a finger. Dig into this breezy how-to guide to grow the cheerful flowers yourself.

Alexa

How to Grow and Harvest Juicy, Delicious Watermelon

By Alexa EricksonJuicy, hydrating, vibrant watermelon is a deliciously healthy fruit that exudes the essence of summer. The scrambling and trailing vine-like plant is one of the most popular fruits to grow in the garden, and although it requires a lot of space, sun, and water, it’s possible to grow in your own backyard. This how-to guide will help you plant, grow, and enjoy watermelon in your garden.

Alexa

How to Prune Tomato Plants for Your Biggest Harvest Ever

By Hannah TwietmeyerWhen it comes to gardens, there’s a big difference between lush and overgrown greenery. Sure, those of us with green thumbs may be able to slightly manipulate how a plant grows, but it’s not often that everything planted will stay neat and tidy as it matures. When it comes to tomatoes, knowing how to best care for the plant—and how to keep it under control—is essential to growing a successful crop of plump, juicy tomatoes. This involves pruning, among other tomato-growing tips.The process is more than just shaping the landscaping bushes around your house; pruning is when a gardener selectively cuts off unwanted or overgrown parts of a plant, promoting healthy plant growth. But before you pick up your pruning shears and start snipping off stems, take some advice from us and set aside time to learn the details on pruning tomato plants.

Hannah Twietmeyer

How to Grow a Pineapple at Home

If you want to enjoy pineapple year-round, consider growing a pineapple at home. This post will teach you how to grow a pineapple both indoors and outdoors so that you can enjoy the taste of summer all year round.

Best Of Hometalk

How to Harvest Potatoes From Garden Beds and Containers

By Nicole KinningPotatoes are the ultimate root vegetable: They’re versatile in cooking, they’re a good source of dietary energy, and when you grow them yourself and keep them under the right conditions, they stay fresh on the shelf all winter long.The best part about planting and harvesting your own potatoes is that, unlike most homegrown produce like tomatoes and berries that require canning to keep, all potatoes need to stay fresh through the winter months is an environment that’ll make them happy. Whether you’re new to potato gardening or you’re an experienced potato harvester looking for pointers, we’ve put together a guide on how to harvest potatoes, plus tips and tricks on curing and storing them through the winter.

How-To Guides

Don't Toss Out Your Food Quite Yet—Here's How to Make Compost

By Hannah TwietmeyerRecognize this scene? Banana peel in one hand, other hand reaching for the kitchen garbage lid—stop there and consider composting instead. Learning how to make compost for the garden is easy, as long as you're using the right materials and giving it the right care. Think of compost like raising plants: It's not just a set-it-and-forget-it product like your average garden mulch.So, the number one question you probably have is: how do I make compost? We’ve got the help you need with this comprehensive guide on how to create compost.

Hannah Twietmeyer

How to Start a Garden in 8 Steps

By Hannah TwietmeyerNothing can quite compare to the taste or aesthetic of fresh produce. Picture this: You’re perusing the local farmers market, eyeing up piles of lettuce, carrots, radishes, potatoes, and flowers, gradually filling up your tote with fresh goods straight from the farm. There’s something about supporting and getting to know your community’s local producers, but what if you were able to grow your own abundance of blooms, fruits, and veggies right at home?Well, the good news is that you can. Gardening is a commitment, though, and one that requires the right research, tools, crops, tedious care, and patience. If you’re ready to get your hands dirty and stick to it, then keep reading. Here’s how to start your own garden at home in a few steps.

Hannah Twietmeyer

Natural Weed Killer

Raise your hand if you hate weeds! I totally hate weeds. Can't stand them, and they're always creeping up into my yard, between my pavers, everywhere! Most people I know use that awful poison, and while that works, I do not want to spray that stuff anywhere I step. This recipe is a great organic weed killer. It's definitely the best natural weed killer, and you can easily substitute the apple cider vinegar for white vinegar.

Shawna Bailey

Turn Paper Towel Rolls Into Cheap, Biodegradable, Seed Starter Pots

I've been wanting to plant some seeds for a while now, and I thought of using paper towels. My only problem was that we don’t actually use too many paper towels in our house; I like re-washing our towels to be eco-friendly. So I had to get some from our friendly neighbors. Turning paper towel rolls into starter pots is a really great project. It’s practically free, it upcycles your paper towels, and it helps your garden flourish.

Shawna Bailey

Quick, Easy, and Creative Ways to Grow an Avocado Tree From a Pit

Best Of Hometalk

How to Grow Marigolds for a Splash of Sunny Garden Color

Alexa

How to Grow and Harvest Juicy, Delicious Watermelon

Alexa

How to Prune Tomato Plants for Your Biggest Harvest Ever

Hannah Twietmeyer

How to Grow a Pineapple at Home

Best Of Hometalk

How to Harvest Potatoes From Garden Beds and Containers

How-To Guides

Don't Toss Out Your Food Quite Yet—Here's How to Make Compost

Hannah Twietmeyer

How to Start a Garden in 8 Steps

Hannah Twietmeyer

Natural Weed Killer

Shawna Bailey

Turn Paper Towel Rolls Into Cheap, Biodegradable, Seed Starter Pots

Shawna Bailey

Growing Videos

We've got the DIY video tutorials to get you started in the world of gardening.

Epsom Salt for Your Plants - Inside and Out

Did you know you could use Epsom salt for your outdoor plants and your houseplants? It says so right on the label!!

Alicia W

How to Grow a Pineapple at Home

Best Of Hometalk

Turn Paper Towel Rolls Into Cheap, Biodegradable, Seed Starter Pots

Shawna Bailey

Heart Shaped Wildflower Seed Bombs

These 3 ingredient seed bombs are inexpensive and so easy to make. Simply toss them anywhere there is dirt... along the side of the road, in an open field etc. The next time it rains they will dissolve, and before you know it there will be a little more beauty in the world.

Nancy at Craft Your Happiness

Hometalkers' Favorite DIY Growing Projects

We've collected the best how-to-grow and garden DIY projects for you here.

Seed Paper - Making a Valentine’s Day Gift

Now that we’re in Old Man Winter’s clutches, I’m wishing for days filled with warm weather and planting in my garden. A trip to my garden center answer my wish...Seeds for sale!

Alicia W

The Complete Guide to Growing Succulent Plants

Succulents have become extremely popular in recent years due to their relatively hearty nature. They’re easy to care for since they don’t need a ton of water to thrive, which makes them a perfect choice for reluctant gardeners. Want to jump in on this trend, but aren’t sure where to start? We’ve got the answers for you right here in our complete guide to growing succulent plants. Shall we get started?

Best Of Hometalk

Hang an Indoor Herb Garden

I love cooking with fresh herbs, but when I go to a supermarket or farmers market, the fresh herbs there are always in amounts that I can’t seem to use before they’ve spoiled. I started thinking about how to have a great indoor herb garden and began looking for herb garden ideas. When I found some lovely mugs on sale, I knew I was going to make a kitchen herb garden that I could snip from to use whenever I needed. Step 1: Put the herbs in a container

Shawna Bailey

How to Grow Grass for a Lawn the Neighbors Will Envy

Is there anything better than the feeling of lush green grass under your bare feet on a warm summer day? Whether you are looking to grow a lawn that rivals a putting green or just need to fix some bare patches in your yard, growing grass doesn’t have to be complicated. Learn how to grow the right grass for your location quickly and easily so that you’ll have the best lawn on the block.

Best Of Hometalk

Some Easy Tips on Growing Potatoes at Home

A Beginner’s Guide on How to Grow PotatoesHave you ever wanted to grow your own potatoes, but you weren’t sure where to start? If that sounds like something you’ve thought about, this guide is for you. Thanks to our community of creative types, we’ve collected some of the best tips and tricks for growing potatoes. From simple solutions for those on a budget to DIY projects for those that enjoy working with wood, this guide will help you grow potatoes almost anywhere and in any way. So, if you’re ready to start planting, read on as we show you how to grow potatoes in a way that suits you.

Best Of Hometalk

Re-grown Veggie Scraps

If you've seen any of my posts in the past regarding anything outdoors, I'm sure you already know that I'm not much of a gardener; however, I do try. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. What can I say, I'm the Jane of all trades with a brown thumb! I think my problem is that I "set it and forget it" (I know there was once an infomercial where the presenter said that often)--I plant the seed and I forget about watering it, or I overwater it. I'm hoping this little experiment I came across will prove to be a turning point in my gardening skills--at least it's super cute for now--and it's a great way to grow things in a small space!We want to help you DIY, so some of the materials in this post are linked to sellers. Just so you know, Hometalk may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.

Rob & Courtney M, Hometalk Team

Seed Paper - Making a Valentine’s Day Gift

Now that we’re in Old Man Winter’s clutches, I’m wishing for days filled with warm weather and planting in my garden. A trip to my garden center answer my wish...Seeds for sale!

Alicia W

The Complete Guide to Growing Succulent Plants

Best Of Hometalk

Hang an Indoor Herb Garden

Shawna Bailey

How to Grow Grass for a Lawn the Neighbors Will Envy

Best Of Hometalk

Some Easy Tips on Growing Potatoes at Home

Best Of Hometalk

Re-grown Veggie Scraps

Rob & Courtney M, Hometalk Team

Popular Growing Discussions

Come see the discussions we are having about growing and gardening.

What can I do to help my gardenia plant flourish?

/> Robin

Help! What am I doing wrong

What can I do to help my gardenia plant flourish?

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What plants like Epsom salts?

/> Marianne

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How can I revive a barely alive gardenia bush?

/> Colleen Sturma Reynolds

I have a gardenia bush that is in a planter, it was one of my mothers prized plants. It's barely hanging in there...any suggestions?

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Can you help me identify this plant (pic)?

/> Angela

Large leaf, white tuber shaped flower with purple center. Thanks so much.

Can you help me identify this plant (pic)?

View discussion

New Growing Projects

Want to see what's hot in the world of growing and gardening? Check it out.

How to Attract Bees: An Easy Guide to a Bountiful Garden

Bees play a crucial role in maintaining a strong and prosperous garden. Learn how to attract bees to your garden with these helpful tips. Bees are the Earth’s greatest pollinators, and they can improve the health of your garden in several ways.It’s important to understand the difference between native bees and honey bees. Native bees pollinate numerous crops more effectively and thoroughly than honey bees, but they do not produce honey. However, honey bees are still responsible for helping pollinate several crops, as well as producing honey. Honey bees can not be called native bees because they were originally imported to North America. Honey bees are native to Africa and Asia but they have been domesticated for hundreds of years.Native bees are affiliated with their specific environments and they pollinate a variety of gardens and orchards. Bumblebees, sweat bees, orchard mason bees, squash bees, and mining bees are the five main types of native bees that provide pollination. They provide countless benefits to crops grown all over the country. In fact, pollinators help to produce over 150 food crops in the United States. Young adult native bees arise from their nests at different times throughout the year. Their emergence typically corresponds with the blooming period of these food crops.Certain crops, such as strawberries, blueberries and the entire squash family depend on pollination from native bees to yield high quality crops. Tomatoes that are frequented by bumblebees will produce bigger fruit. This is due to the excess pollen shaken by their buzzing, in comparison to the pollen released by just the wind. Strawberries that are pollinated by several types of bees produce a smaller number of misshapen berries. Pumpkins that are pollinated by squash bees are much larger than those that are not.

Wet & Forget

Save Your Heuchera Seed to Get Free Heuchera

Since it is the time of year that all those beautiful Heuchera are setting seed I thought I would share with you how to save those seeds so you can grow your own for free. I personally love Heuchera-they are very adaptable, carefree, generally pest and disease resistant and come in some amazing colors. One thing I do not like about them is the price-some can range from 6.00 to upwards of 15.00. So to combat the price a few years ago I started growing them from seed using my own seed and also by exchanging seeds with others. I now have upwards of 40 plants (probably closer to 50) and more than half I grew from seed. The best part of growing them from seed is you don't know what you are going to get-sometimes a new "hybrid" will pop into the mix. A few varieties will come true from seed, these include "Dale's Strain" and "Palace Purple" while others will hybridize and maybe give you something unique. Here are pictures of a few of the Heuchera I have grown from seed:

Rhonda B

Super Easy Spring Garden Tasks

Is spring finally here? It feels like it’s been a long winter, but it is pouring rain outside today and I finally feel like there is an end in sight. With the turn of the seasons comes a host of spring garden tasks. Including mulching spring plants, starting spring vegetables, pruning spring fruits and picking spring flowers. See my full list of Spring Garden Tasks: http://www.thehiphomestead.com/spring-garden-tasks/

Jana The Hip Homestead

First Harvest of the Year With My Indoor Garden/seed Starting Setup

Who doesn't love fresh herbs? I just picked my first batch of Basil today from some plants I have been growing under lights since February. They were delicious!

Rhonda B

Drive Bugs Away With These 10 Pest Repellent Plants

Pests such as bloodthirsty mosquitoes and tomato-destroying nematodes can send you running indoors and keep you from getting the most out of your garden. Chemical repellents are one way to go, but these 10 plants can give you a beautiful, all-natural hand with driving pests out of your garden. Re-claim your territory!

Wet & Forget