The notebook
The longer answers. A calculator tells you how many cubic feet of soil a bed takes; these articles cover what to put in it, why the label on the fertilizer bag says what it says, and how to plan a season so beds are not empty in August.
Can You Reuse Potting Soil? The Extension-Backed Answer
Can you reuse potting soil? Yes — if last year's plants were healthy. Oklahoma State Extension explains when to refresh old mix and when to start fresh.
How to Amend Clay Soil: 5 Extension-Backed Methods
Learn how to amend clay soil with university extension methods: how much compost to add, why sand and gypsum fail, and the annual routine that works.
How to Make Potting Soil: 3 Extension-Tested Recipes
Learn how to make potting soil with three university-extension recipes. Exact ratios, lime and fertilizer rates, plus the ingredients to avoid.
When to Prune Roses: Timing for Every Type
When to prune roses depends on the type: repeat-bloomers in late winter to early spring, climbers and old roses after they flower. Extension rules.
How to Save Tomato Seeds: Ferment, Dry, and Store
How to save tomato seeds: ferment the gel off for 3–5 days, dry 1–2 weeks, and store labeled in a cool, dry place. Seeds stay viable up to 4 years.
How to Compost Leaves: Pile, Bin, and Bag Methods
How to compost leaves: layer fall leaves with nitrogen-rich greens, keep the pile damp like a wrung-out sponge, and turn it until dark and crumbly.
When to Harvest Potatoes: Signs, Timing, and Storage
When to harvest potatoes: dig new potatoes 7 to 8 weeks after planting, and storage potatoes once vines die back and skins set. Dig, cure, and store.
How to Dry Herbs: Air-Drying, Dehydrator, and Storage
How to dry herbs: harvest just before flowering, air-dry small bunches in a warm, dark spot, and store whole in airtight jars for up to a year.