Peppers in containers: why it keeps failing
Separate two things in peppers in containers: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink the action…
Hand-pollinating cucumbers: key points and exceptions
If you have already tried hand-pollinating cucumbers and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an environment…
What strawberries need in a pot: standard, rhythm, floor
Put what strawberries need in a pot back into a real week, with overtime, travel and days you cannot be bothered. Any plan that only survives good…
Getting coriander to germinate: breaking the problem apart
If you only read one paragraph, read this: getting coriander to germinate depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time.…
How deep to sow radishes: why it keeps failing
There is plenty written about how deep to sow radishes and little you can act on. This piece stays concrete: every action can be done on the kitchen…
How much weight a balcony holds: key points and exceptions
Most people want how much weight a balcony holds to make things better. The workable version of that goal is steadier: a floor you can hit on a bad…
When and how much to water: a cheaper route
If you only read one paragraph, read this: when and how much to water depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time.…
The rhythm of feeding: why it keeps failing
If you only read one paragraph, read this: the rhythm of feeding depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time. Arrange the…
Physical pest control: when to change approach
Most people want physical pest control to make things better. The workable version of that goal is steadier: a floor you can hit on a bad day.…
Insulating a balcony for winter: what you only learn by doing
There is plenty written about insulating a balcony for winter and little you can act on. This piece stays concrete: every action can be done on the…
Using seed trays: it isn't actually complicated
Separate two things in using seed trays: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink the action instead of…
Rotation and resting soil: when to change approach
Separate two things in rotation and resting soil: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink the action…
Judging when to harvest: key points and exceptions
Most people want judging when to harvest to make things better. The workable version of that goal is steadier: a floor you can hit on a bad day.…
Kitchen waste composting: breaking the problem apart
Advice on kitchen waste composting tends to split in two: impossibly complex, or sold as one click. Reality sits between. It needs some patience and…
Keeping plants alive while away: out of the misconceptions
Put keeping plants alive while away back into a real week, with overtime, travel and days you cannot be bothered. Any plan that only survives good…
What grows on a north-facing balcony: a cheaper route
If you have already tried what grows on a north-facing balcony and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an…
Choosing containers for food crops: why it keeps failing
Most people want choosing containers for food crops to make things better. The workable version of that goal is steadier: a floor you can hit on a…
Mixing your own potting soil: a cheaper route
Separate two things in mixing your own potting soil: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink the action…
Placing base fertiliser: out of the misconceptions
If you have already tried placing base fertiliser and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an environment…
Sowing density for lettuce: out of the misconceptions
Anyone who has spent time on sowing density for lettuce has a failure story: a strong start, a collapse in the middle, then silence. This is not…