Posts By

Emily Estep

Emily Estep has a master’s degree in Environmental and Plant Biology from Ohio University, where she studied sustainable agriculture and conducted research on alternatives to synthetic fertilizer at the OHIO Student Farm. Recently, she has contributed to The Spruce and Better Homes & Gardens as a fact checker and an editor.

A gardener holds a potted Aglaonema Iceberg, showcasing its striking foliage with broad, glossy leaves that feature a vibrant mix of green and creamy white variegation, all set against a sturdy, compact stem.

Houseplants

How Long Can You Leave Houseplants in Their Original Plastic Pot?

Have you ever wondered exactly how long you can leave houseplants in their original plastic pots? The truth is that there’s no standard amount of time that you need to wait. Instead, you should make the decision based on a variety of factors. Houseplant enthusiast Emily Estep will walk you through the thought process, helping you decide how long to leave your plants in their original pots.

A vibrant fall gold raspberry bush adorned with bright green leaves, showcasing ripe golden raspberries against a blurred garden backdrop.

Fruits

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for ‘Fall Gold’ Raspberry Bushes

Looking to add some berry bushes to your edible garden? ‘Fall Gold’ raspberry bushes have small, golden fruits that are sweet and just a little bit tart. You could plant one shrub, start an entire berry patch, or even use these perennials as a fruit-filled privacy fence. Plant biologist Emily Estep has rounded up all the information you need to keep these shrubs healthy, happy, and covered in berries.

The Schlumbergera truncata plant displays vibrant pink flowers emerging from thick, flattened, segmented green stems, surrounded by lush foliage that cascades over the edge of the planter.

Houseplants

7 Signs It’s Time to Prune Your Christmas Cactus

A Christmas cactus is a staple in any houseplant collection. Whether you just purchased yours or it’s been in your family for generations, you may be wondering if and when you should prune it. Houseplant enthusiast Emily Estep has gathered a list of seven situations in which pruning is prudent, with some tips on how to do so properly for maximum blooms and plant health.

A focused shot of the mythic dragonite alocasia

Ornamental Gardens

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Mythic® Dragonite™ Alocasia

If you’re looking to squeeze another eye-catching houseplant into your collection without taking up too much space, look no further than Mythic® Dragonite Alocasia. This herbaceous species has scaly, dragon-esque leaves with a fun and unique texture. Once you have it set up properly, it’s fairly low-maintenance. Houseplant enthusiast Emily Estep will walk you through all the details on how to plant, grow, and care for Mythic® Dragonite.

Shallots display long, tubular green leaves, while their underground bulbs form tight clusters with smooth, reddish skins.

Edible

How and When to Plant Shallots in the Garden

Shallots will elevate your game in both the garden and the kitchen. If you’ve never grown these onion relatives before, then you may be a bit confused about how to get started. With the right timing and techniques, you’ll have a bountiful crop. Plant biologist Emily Estep explains how and when to plant shallots in the garden for success.

Close-up of a hand in a blue glove conducting a soil test in a fall garden, with several test tubes containing different liquids placed on the soil.

Soil Improvement

9 Reasons You Should Test Your Soil in Fall

Now that the major growing season is coming to a close, your mind may be on cleaning up the garden, processing your last harvests, and raking up all the leaves. However, fall is also an excellent time to test your soil. This will give you plenty of time to make any adjustments needed before next year, balancing the nutrients and the pH level. Plant biologist Emily Estep will give you nine reasons why.

Close-up of large, tightly clustered Brassica oleracea heads with thick, vibrant pink leaves edged in light green, filling the entire frame in a well-lit indoor environment.

Ornamental Gardens

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for ‘Crane Red’ Ornamental Kale

You thought flowers were the only option for a bouquet? Think again. ‘Crane Red’ ornamental kale is a stunning cultivar with a hot pink center that fades to blue-green on the outer leaves. With a rapid vertical growth rate, it quickly forms the shape of a rose, with a distinct “flower” and stem. As the season gets colder, the pink grows even stronger. Plant biologist Emily Estep will explain how to plant, grow, and care for ‘Crane Red’ kale.

After you save pumpkin seeds, placed in a woven basket beside a round orange pumpkin on a wooden surface with straw in the background

Gardening Tips

How to Save Pumpkin Seeds for Next Year: 7 Pro-Tips

If you loved growing pumpkins this year, why not try to save the seeds and grow them again next year? Instead of buying more, you can attempt to re-create this year’s bounty. The straight-forward process will be even more successful with some pro tips. Plant biologist Emily Estep shares all you need to know about saving pumpkin seeds for next year.

Two plump, bell-shaped fruits of Pyrus communis hanging from a sturdy branch, their skin a blend of yellow and soft green, speckled lightly with brown dots, surrounded by large, smooth, dark green leaves.

Fruits

How and When to Harvest Pears for the Juiciest Fruit

Pears are a bit unusual, because they fall into two major categories and aren’t always harvested when ripe. While Asian varieties are left to fully mature on the tree, gardeners pick European varieties early and keep them in cold storage. So exactly how and when do you harvest for the juiciest, most flavorful fruit? Plant biologist Emily Estep will explain everything you need to know.

The Spotted Lanternfly features a smooth, elongated body with a mottled appearance, characterized by an intricate design of black spots and a pair of strikingly colorful wings.

Garden Pests

Spotted Lanternflies: How to ID and Manage Them in the Garden

Whether you’re already seeing spotted lanternflies at home or anticipate that they may spread to your region soon, you’re probably wondering about these invasive pests. Exactly how detrimental are they to the garden? Are they dangerous? What do they look like, and how do I manage them? Plant biologist Emily Estep will give you all the basics on spotted lanternflies, including how to ID them during their multiple stages and how to manage them in the garden.

A close up shot of a healthy, vibrant green leaves of turnip greens

Vegetables

9 Tips for Growing and Harvesting the Tastiest Turnip Greens

Are you looking for cool-weather greens that you can grow in fall, besides the usual spinach, lettuce, and kale? Enter turnip greens, the above-ground foliage portion of turnip plants. In addition to the root, you can enjoy these nutritious, peppery leaves. The process is a bit different, but gardening enthusiast Emily Estep has 9 tips for growing and harvesting the best turnip greens to get you started.

A dense field of tall, straight, dark green leafy plants with thick, cylindrical stalks rising from the rich, brown soil, the lines of greenery forming uniform rows that stretch towards the horizon under a clear sky.

Vegetables

When and How to Harvest Leeks

Are you growing leeks this year? Since they’re a little bit different from onions, knowing exactly when and how to harvest can be difficult, especially for new gardeners. Thankfully, the process is simple. Plant biologist Emily Estep will tell you all about when and how to harvest leeks.