Erin Hostetler

How to Plant & Grow Strawberries from Seeds

A guide to sprouting seeds from fresh berries Strawberries are perennial plants that grow sweet, delicious fruits year after year. These plants are low maintenance and super easy to grow from seeds—all you need is a fr...

How to

Prepare the Soil for Strawberries

Strawberries are a delicious crop that you can easily grow in your own garden. In order to grow the biggest and most flavorful berries, it’s important to prepare the soil before planting. Strawberries like soft, rich, ...

How to

Plant the Three Sisters

The three sisters is a traditional form of companion gardening first developed by Native Americans. By planting corn, beans, and squash together, you can reduce pests and disease while increasing the bounty of your crop....

How to

Grow and Process Tobacco

Most of today’s tobacco is grown and processed commercially, but it’s easy to grow tobacco in your own home or garden. While it does take time for it to finish curing, you can have homegrown tobacco that saves you mo...

The Beginner’s Guide to Growing Sweet Potatoes in Containers

What you need to know about growing perfect potatoes at homeSweet potatoes make for a nutritious and filling side dish to most meals. As their popularity increases, more and more intrepid gardeners are trying their hand ...

How to

Pick Strawberries

At the height of their season, there's nothing like delicious, fresh strawberries -- and picking them is an activity that can be fun for the entire family. If you've never gone strawberry picking before, it's not difficu...

How to

Transplant a Plant

Transplanting is an important part of plant care. Whether you need to move the plant into a bigger pot or outdoors, it is important that you do it right. How you take care of the plant before transplanting is just as imp...

How to Grow Delicious and Nutritious Plantains

Plantains and bananas (which are just different varieties of the same species) may grow into tall, tree-sized plants, but the whole thing is actually an herb without a true trunk or deep root system. This makes their pla...

How to

Graft a Fruit Tree

Grafting is a technique used to grow fruit tree cultivars that cannot be reproduced from seed. There are multiple grafting techniques you can use, but the process always involves attaching "scion" wood of your desired cu...

How to

Keep Outdoor Plants Watered when You're on Vacation

Although vacations are good for your health, they can be tough on your outdoor plants. The good news is that there are several ways to ensure your plants not only survive, but even thrive while you are away. With a littl...

How to

Plant Strawberries Indoors

Plant strawberries indoors in any season to keep them away from the cold and to give yourself a year-round supply of fresh, tasty fruit. Here is the easy process to follow.

How to

Grow Broccoli Sprouts

Broccoli sprouts are packed with nutrients, including carbohydrates, protein, fiber, antioxidants, and a variety of vitamins and minerals. Many grocery stores and health food stores carry broccoli sprouts, but you can al...

How to Use Your iPhone Camera to Identify Plants & Flowers

Look up the name of plants with just a photoHave you ever encountered a cool or interesting plant and weren't sure how to figure out what it is? If you have an iPhone, you're in luck—you can easily identify plants fro...