The Purple Tomato: The First GMO Garden Seed
Two Minutes in the Garden
We always used to be able to say that there were no GMO garden seeds. That's still true in most of the world but, in the U.S., gardeners can now buy seeds for the genetically engineered, high-antioxidant Purple Tomato. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt:
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Does Garden-Grown Produce Have A High Carbon Footprint?
Two Minutes in the Garden
A recent study claimed that urban-grown fruits and vegetables had a carbon footprint six times that of those from conventional farms. Rants ensued. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt:
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Does Touching Soil Make Us Happier?
Two Minutes in the Garden
For the last 15 years, gardeners have been told that soil acts like an antidepressant, thanks to a particular bacterium. Is there anything to it? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt:
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Do Gardeners Need Crop Rotation?
Two Minutes in the Garden
It can do great things on farms, but does crop rotation make sense in a garden? What are the benefits claimed for crop rotation, and can we get those same benefits in easier ways? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt:
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Plant Nutrients (Part 4): "Up, Down, All Around" and the Phosphorus Myth
Two Minutes in the Garden
Do nutrients really specialize in one aspect of plant growth, like roots or shoots? Why adding more of one nutrient to your soil, like phosphorus-heavy bloom boosters, often don't provide any benefit. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt:
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Plant Nutrients (Part 3): The Trouble with Balanced Fertilizers
Two Minutes in the Garden
Are you using a balanced fertilizer in your garden? It may seem like a simple and effective way to provide nutrients to your plants, but it could also cause problems for your soil and for the environment. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt:
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Plant Nutrients (Part 2): What Do NPK Labels Mean?
Two Minutes in the Garden
Most countries use a confusing and outdated NPK labelling system for fertilizer packages. What do the numbers mean? Depending on where you live, it's probably not what you think. And why is a "balanced fertilizer" not so balanced after all? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt:
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Plant Nutrients (Part 1): What You Need to Know
Two Minutes in the Garden
Our plants can't live without them, but how do we know that they're getting them? Do we need to feed them to our plants? And what are these essential nutrients? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt:
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Mushrooms: Friends or Foes in the Garden?
Two Minutes in the Garden
Not everyone wants them in their garden, but others grow them deliberately. They aren't even plants. So what are mushrooms and are they okay around our plants? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt:
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Is Soap Safe to Use in the Garden?
Two Minutes in the Garden
What kinds of soap should we be using -- or avoiding -- in the garden? What about liquid dish soap? And we're all familiar with soap, but what is it, exactly? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt:
info_outlineSo much of the success of our garden depends on our soil -- a very thin layer where rocks, the atmosphere, living things and water all come together.
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