Garden Journal
An open book of musings, inspiration, seasonal tasks, our recent projects and big ideas. Browse the latest articles below or search for a topic that interests you. Leave a comment and join the conversation.
Q&A: When are my sweet potatoes ready to harvest?
Not sure when to dig your sweet potatoes? You're not alone — it's one of the most common questions we get, right alongside carrots and regular potatoes. Since you can't see what's happening underground, it's tempting to pull them early just to check. This guide breaks down the real signs to watch for (hint: it's not just the calendar), why frost is the deadline that actually matters, and how curing is what turns bland, starchy roots into the sweet potatoes you're picturing.
Q&A: What’s the difference in raised beds versus smaller containers versus in-ground gardens in the fall?
We’ve posted a lot about fall gardening on Instagram recently, and we’ve gotten some thoughtful questions about how our garden advice applies to fall plants in smaller containers or directly planted in the ground. Although raised beds are certainly our jam, the difference in growing plants in raised beds, container, or in the ground really matters in the fall, and it can be helpful to dive deeper. All three approaches can produce a beautiful crop of lettuce, kale, carrots, herbs and other cool-season vegetables. But the soil around those plants behaves differently depending on how much of it there is—and how exposed it is to the air around it.
Here’s what to keep in mind: