Fruition Garden Journal
video tutorials, tried-and-true tips + our latest learnings to surround you with abundance all season long
How to Grow Microgreens at Home
Microgreens save us each winter, making it easy to get through the darkest months with luscious greens. Often harvested ten days after they're sown, microgreens may be the closest thing to instant gratification in our gardens.
And hey!
I'd love to share my free
How to Grow Microgreens at Home
webinar with you!
I'm soon sharing my knowledge and passion in a free half-hour webinar; even if you can't join us live I'll share the instant replay with you when you register. Learn more here and see you soon!
We've learned a lot about how to grow microgreens indoors across the years and I'm delighted to share the keys with you :)
What Seeds to Sow for Microgreens
Oh, the possibilities!
Anything delicious that sprouts quick is a great choice for microgreens. More colors = more nutrients, so lean into rainbow chard, purple basil and everything in between :)
Here are our favorites:
mesclun mix (our spicy mix is our favorite...
4 Easy Ways to Harvest More This Fall
Here in the Northeast, finding easy ways to extend our season is essential to eating well as the days grow short.
After years of working on farms and experimenting at Fruition, here are the four keys of season extension:
- sowing the right seeds
- using the right tools
- at just the right time
- and harvesting in just the right way
Let's dive in.
Cold-Hardy Seeds for Season Extention
In any season, the right seeds make all the difference. September in Zone 5 is no match for seeds selected to thrive in California, where most seed is grown, which is perhaps why so many gardeners don't grow into the fall. Oh yes, and we've all been working hard all summer, so we're ready to slow down, too! But I know my own childhood-self was deterred by lettuce that wasn't up for the cause.
Now, I am so grateful to know which ones are.
'Winter Green' mesclun mix has been selected by Dan Brisebois, in Montreal, to re-grow quickly in cold temperatures. We are grateful to...
Mmmmmm! 5 Keys to Eating Greens Before Memorial Day
Mmmmmmm!
5 Keys to Eating Greens Before Memorial Day
Traditional wisdom sends us to our garden Memorial Day weekend. And for good reason: the soil is finally warm, it is marvelous to not wear socks and all the quintessential summer crops (tomatoes, basil, beans) can be planted with confidence knowing there will (likely) not be another frost 'til fall.
Certainly, Memorial Day is a great time to start your garden but friends, there’s no need to wait. Especially if you love salad as much as Davi and I do :)
With the right seeds, the right tools and the right timing, you can be eating greens six weeks or more before Memorial Day, even in our short seasons here in the Finger Lakes.
Yes, even when it's still snowing on April 19th, as it is today :)
Here are my five ways to make sure you're eating salad before Memorial Day.
1. Sow in fall
When does nature sow her seeds?
In the fall!
Much more on this as autumn approaches :)
In the meantime,...
7 Essentials of Seed Starting: an Infographic
7 Essentials of Seed Starting
Many gardeners want to start seeds more successfully, so my friend Sal and I created this gorgeous infographic for you:
Where do I get...
...the LED grow light that we use? Here.
...easy to use soil blockers to make gorgeous soil blocks? Here.
...organic potting soil? Here.
...a heat mat that will change my life? Here.
And for our Ultimate Seed Starting Collection, head here.
What inspired us to make an infographic for you?
Dreaming of the season ahead, my dear friend Kc inspired me to make a list of the 7 essential things she needed to know to start seeds well...
...then I'm scheming to make supper with my dear friend Sal, whose illustrations are as vivid and whimsical as her gardens and stories. Eureka! Sal and I had SO much fun laughing and learning as we brought to life the 7 Essentials of Seed Starting through visual story.
Welcome to Sal's Garden!
Questions for Sal:
Petra: Whose advice do you always listen to?
Sal:...
