🌿 Gardening Tips & Tricks for a Thriving Garden
Growing your own food is one of the most rewarding things you can do—not only for your health, but for your home and daily life. Over the years, I’ve learned that a successful garden doesn’t come from doing everything “by the book”—it comes from experimenting, observing, and keeping what actually works.
To be honest, I don’t always follow traditional growing guidelines. A lot of standard advice doesn’t always translate in real life. Everything I share here is based on what I’ve personally tried in my own garden—and what has consistently worked.
What I’ve learned most is this:
✨ When you work with nature instead of against it, everything begins to thrive together.
Here are some of my go-to tips for growing tomatoes, peppers, squash, kale, and more 🌱
🌱 Start with Your Soil (This is Everything)
If there’s one thing that will make or break your garden, it’s your soil.
Tomatoes (and most vegetable plants) are very hungry feeders, meaning they need nutrient-rich soil to truly thrive and produce.
When preparing your garden beds, I like to build a nutrient-dense base using:
- Compost (homemade or store-bought)
- Worm castings
- G&B Harvest Supreme
- Vegetable & Herb Fertilizer
- Bone meal
- 420 Bloom/Fruiting fertilizer
I typically add about ½ cup of each fertilizer into every planting hole, mix it into the soil, and plant directly into that rich base.
✨ Tip: I use this same mixture for all of my plants—not just tomatoes.
🍅 Plant Tomatoes Deep for Stronger Growth
When planting tomatoes, always plant them deep.
Instead of planting at surface level, bury the plant about one-third of the way up the stem.
Why this works:
- Roots grow along the buried stem
- Creates a stronger root system
- Leads to healthier, more productive plants
The deeper the plant, the stronger the foundation 🌿
🌿 Rethinking Spacing (Less Empty Space = Healthier Soil)
You’ll often hear to space plants far apart—but in my experience, spacing too far actually works against you.
When soil is exposed:
- it dries out faster
- loses moisture quickly
- and you end up needing things like mulch
Instead, I like my garden to feel more full and layered.
This helps:
- naturally retain moisture
- protect soil from sun exposure
- create a self-sustaining environment
🌱 Companion Planting (Let the Garden Work for You)
Rather than relying on store-bought mulch or pesticides, I let plants do the work.
Between my tomato plants, I always plant:
- Basil
- Marigolds
- Dill
Throughout the rest of my beds, I add:
- Lettuce as ground cover
- Wildflowers
- And a TON of onions 🌿
Why this works:
- Retains moisture (like a living mulch)
- Repels unwanted pests naturally
- Attracts beneficial insects
- Supports a balanced ecosystem
- Enhances flavor of tomatoes
🧅 Why I Plant Leeks & Onions Everywhere
Leeks and onions are one of my favorite additions to any garden.
They:
- Naturally repel pests with their strong scent
- Don’t compete for space (easy to tuck between plants)
- Help shade soil and retain moisture
- Support a healthy garden balance
👉 Think of them as a built-in protection system for your garden.
🐞 A Shift in Mindset About Bugs
One of the most eye-opening things I learned (from Earthbound Farm bug walk):
✨ Out of every 10 bugs in your garden, 9 are actually beneficial.
That completely changed everything for me.
Instead of trying to eliminate bugs, the goal becomes:
creating an environment where everything balances itself.
Once I started companion planting with basil, dill, lettuce, and onions, I noticed:
- fewer pest issues
- stronger plants
- and a much healthier garden overall
In many cases, pest damage became rare.
🐝 Don’t Forget the Pollinators
Planting wildflowers throughout your garden is a game changer.
They:
- attract bees and pollinators
- increase production
- support your ecosystem
And honestly—they just make the garden feel magical 🌸
🪴 Upgrade Your Tomato Support System
One of the best upgrades I’ve made is switching from traditional cages to galvanized fencing.
We:
- Bought 5×10 ft panels
- Cut them into ~2 ft sections
- Bent them into an L-shape
Why it works:
- Supports tall, heavy plants
- Encourages upward growth
- Produces more fruit
- Lasts for years (no rust or breakage)
✨ I use these for peppers too.
🪵 How We Built Our Raised Garden Beds
We built our beds in 2019—and they’re still going strong.
Frame: Untreated Wood
- No chemicals in your soil
- Safe for food
- Natural and sustainable
Sides: Galvanized Metal
- Rust-resistant
- Long-lasting
- Protects wood from moisture
- Clean, elevated look
Top: Wood Cap
- Keeps edges cool
- Comfortable to lean on
- Gives a finished look
🌼 Final Thoughts
Gardening doesn’t have to be complicated—it just needs to be intentional.
For me, it’s about:
- trusting what works in your own space
- working with nature instead of against it
- and creating an ecosystem where everything supports each other
When you focus on:
- healthy soil
- companion planting
- pollinators
- and strong structure
Your garden will thrive in a way that feels natural and sustainable.
✨ There’s nothing better than stepping outside, harvesting fresh ingredients, and bringing them straight into your kitchen.
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