Two Minutes in the Garden: Gardening Tips, Science, Myths Empress of Dirt

Carrots are one of the most popular vegetables to grow in the garden, and you can get them in a range of sizes and a rainbow of colors.
ALSO FROM Empress of Dirt: How To Grow Carrots Indoors At Home In Flower Pots
AND: How To Grow Fairy Carrots In Jars

Does hitting the trunk of a tree with a baseball bat or or a stick make it produce more leaves -- or maybe more flowers or fruit? It sounds crazy, but is there anything to it?
NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Houseplants & Humidity: Tips That Help (& Those That Do Not)

In permaculture circles, they're called dynamic accumulators -- plants that accumulate above average levels of particular nutrients in their leaves, which we can then add to compost piles, use as mulch or in other ways make the nutrients available to our plants. Do they work?
NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Grow Leafy Greens Indoors at Home (Simple & Fast Method)

Humidity doesn't get as much attention as temperature, light and soil moisture, but it can have a big effect on our plants. Many houseplants prefer more humidity than we give them, especially over the winter. What can we do about that?
NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Homemade Peanut Butter Suet for Birds (Easy Recipe)

It's one of the world's most popular houseplants. Easy to grow and easy to propagate -- and maybe even a handy source of some skincare gel.

What makes the leaves of some trees change color? Is there a benefit to the trees? And what about deciduous trees that keep leaves over the winter?
NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Propagate African Violets (Step-By-Step Tutorial)