What is winter squash and how can you tell when it's ready to be harvested?

Sign up for our free series of fall gardening ideas at Empress of Dirt: Get Your Fall Garden Ideas and Turn Over a New Leaf

There's lots of advice out there about when to harvest your watermelons. What's practical for a home gardener?

Sign up for our free series of fall gardening ideas at Empress of Dirt: Get Your Fall Garden Ideas and Turn Over a New Leaf

You hear lots of experts recommending balanced fertilizer -- but how do they know what your soil needs?

A mulch that might last for decades! But it has drawbacks and there's still a lot we don't know.

Cooler temperatures are coming. Can you pick your tomatoes from the vine and have them ripen indoors?

READ MORE at Empress of Dirt: 25 Fruits That Ripen After Picking (and Those That Don't)

The use of peat in gardening has become a hot button issue. What damage does it do to the environment?

Contaminants get into water as it runs down your roof. Is it still okay to use in the garden?

Gardeners bring a lot of plastic home from the store and much of it doesn't get used for very long.

Part one of an occasional series of episodes on the basics of plant propagation. What is propagation?

READ MORE at Empress of Dirt: Kitchen Propagation Handbook | 7 Fruits & Veggies to Regrow

The underlying science is complex, but you can quickly and easily get started creating your own houseplants.

READ MORE at Empress of Dirt: Kitchen Propagation Handbook | 7 Fruits & Veggies to Regrow