Two Minutes in the Garden
By Empress of Dirt
Bite-sized informative updates on gardening basics, solutions, myths, news and other subjects of interest to gardeners both new and experienced. From the popular Empress of Dirt website (empressofdirt.net), home of creative and frugal ideas for your backyard garden.
Latest episode
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The Purple Tomato: The First GMO Garden Seed
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. -
Does Garden-Grown Produce Have A High Carbon Footprint?
A recent study claimed that urban-grown fruits and vegetables had a carbon footprint six times that of those from conventional farms. Rants ensued. -
Does Touching Soil Make Us Happier?
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? -
Do Gardeners Need Crop Rotation?
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? -
Plant Nutrients (Part 4): "Up, Down, All Around" and the Phosphorus Myth
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. -
Plant Nutrients (Part 3): The Trouble with Balanced Fertilizers
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. -
Plant Nutrients (Part 2): What Do NPK Labels Mean?
Most countries use a confusing and outdated NPK labelling system for fertilizer packages.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? -
Plant Nutrients (Part 1): What You Need to Know
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? -
Mushrooms: Friends or Foes 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? -
Is Soap Safe to Use 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?
