Basics

Whether you're new to gardening or experienced, everyone needs some gardening basics to get going!

In this category, you'll find a wealth of information that spans a wide number of topics. From seed starting to grow bag gardening, pruning tips to raised bed tricks, you'll find the fundamentals of gardening awaiting you here.

While it's optimized towards new gardeners, even a pro can find useful tips in our Basics category. We all need to get back to basics sometimes, and there are always useful tools and tips that other gardeners have developed along the way to add to your own practices.

Our Basics category can inspire you to new gardening heights, too. Those who have experience with in-ground planting can learn about other techniques such as raised beds or vertical gardening.

A close-up shot of a basket of freshly harvest ripe and red fruits, alongside a composition of developing fruit-bearing vines on a large brick container, showcasing raised bed tomato varieties

Raised Bed Gardening

Our Favorite Tomato Varieties for Raised Beds

Tomatoes are one of the first things gardeners reach for when growing in raised beds. Gardening expert Madison Moulton shares her picks for the best tomato varieties to grow in raised beds, from reliable slicers and rich heirloom beefsteaks to cherry tomatoes you'll eat faster than you can harvest them.

A close-up shot of a person's hand in the process of using a pruner to trim and cut a common lilac, showcasing spring perennial pruning

Gardening Tips

Spring Perennial Pruning Done Right: Our Best Tips

Before you take care of spring perennial pruning, there are a few things you should know. Certain tips will guide your pruning process, and ultimately, they’ll help you understand your garden more. Experienced gardener Sarah Jay covers five basic pointers to help you with your snip sesh.

A close-up shot of a person's hand holding a pile of black ovules beside a sunflower, showcasing which to plant in ground May

Seeds

Plant These Seeds Straight in the Ground in May

While there are many seeds you can direct sow in May, it’s best to prioritize those that need to go in the ground vs sowing indoors. Gardening expert Madison Moulton shares her picks for seeds that skip the indoor fuss and go directly into the garden in May, from fast-maturing radishes to heat-loving melons.

A close-up shot of a turned off red, colored mower beside flowering weeds, showcasing no mow May

Gardening Tips

It’s No Mow May: How to Do it Right

In an effort to better support pollinators, people all over the world start spring with No Mow May. This well-intentioned action gives early spring pollinators some food as other plants just begin to bloom. But by taking a few extra steps, you can make your No Mow May even better. Master Naturalist, Sarah Jay, shows you how.

A close-up shot of a tray and several gardening equipment and tools, alongside nursery pots with sprouting plants, showcasing may seed starting

Seeds

May Seed-Starting: What to Plant Now

Whether you’re continuing your seed sowing from April or only starting in now, there is something for everyone to plant in May. Gardening expert Madison Moulton covers which seeds are worth starting, including heat-loving crops that are finally safe to sow and fast-finishing vegetables that still have plenty of time to produce.

A close-up shot of a pile and a container of brown colored ovule, beside blue flowers on thin stems, showcasing how to grow flaxseeds

Seeds

How to Grow Your Own Flaxseeds

It’s very easy to grow flaxseeds, as long as you know which to plant and how to care for them. Knowing how to harvest helps too! Get these things right, and you’re on your way to a huge supply of your own homegrown flaxseeds. Experienced gardener Sarah Jay shows you how to grow them here.

An overhead and close-up, flat-lay shot of several ovules, seedlings, tools, and equipment, showcasing how to squash seeds indoors

Seeds

How to Start Squash Seeds Indoors

Starting squash seeds indoors gives you a head start on the season, but squash seedlings don't tolerate root disturbance well. Gardening expert Madison Moulton explains how to time, sow, and transplant squash seedlings without losing them in the process.

A close-up and overhead shot of a basket full of freshly harvested crops all from a subsistence garden

Gardening Tips

How to Start a Subsistence Garden: Plant These First

If you want to reduce your food budget and make the most of your garden space, a subsistence garden is a great place to start. Gardening expert Madison Moulton explains which crops to prioritize when the goal is feeding yourself, and how to think about yield, calories, and storage from the start.