How deep to sow radishes: for a first attempt
If you have already tried how deep to sow radishes and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an environment…
How much weight a balcony holds: when to change approach
Anyone who has spent time on how much weight a balcony holds has a failure story: a strong start, a collapse in the middle, then silence. This is not…
When and how much to water: when to change approach
There is plenty written about when and how much to water and little you can act on. This piece stays concrete: every action can be done by the…
The rhythm of feeding: for a first attempt
Separate two things in the rhythm of feeding: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink the action…
Physical pest control: out of the misconceptions
If you have already tried physical pest control and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an environment…
Insulating a balcony for winter: key points and exceptions
Most people want insulating a balcony for winter to make things better. The workable version of that goal is steadier: a floor you can hit on a bad…
Using seed trays: for a first attempt
Put using seed trays back into a real week, with overtime, travel and days you cannot be bothered. Any plan that only survives good months will not…
Rotation and resting soil: for a first attempt
If you only read one paragraph, read this: rotation and resting soil depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time. Arrange…
Judging when to harvest: when to change approach
If you only read one paragraph, read this: judging when to harvest depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time. Arrange…
Kitchen waste composting: out of the misconceptions
If you have already tried kitchen waste composting and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an environment…
Keeping plants alive while away: key points and exceptions
Put keeping plants alive while away back into a real week, with overtime, travel and days you cannot be bothered. Any plan that only survives good…
What grows on a north-facing balcony: a cheaper route
Separate two things in what grows on a north-facing balcony: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink…
Choosing containers for food crops: when to change approach
Let us set the limits of choosing containers for food crops first: it reliably improves a visible record of growth, and it does not deliver…
Mixing your own potting soil: when to change approach
There is plenty written about mixing your own potting soil and little you can act on. This piece stays concrete: every action can be done on the…
Placing base fertiliser: breaking the problem apart
Advice on placing base fertiliser tends to split in two: impossibly complex, or sold as one click. Reality sits between. It needs some patience and…
Sowing density for lettuce: out of the misconceptions
Advice on sowing density for lettuce tends to split in two: impossibly complex, or sold as one click. Reality sits between. It needs some patience…
Cutting spring onions again and again: it isn't actually complicated
If you have already tried cutting spring onions again and again and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an…
Staking tomatoes properly: breaking the problem apart
There is plenty written about staking tomatoes properly and little you can act on. This piece stays concrete: every action can be done on the kitchen…
Peppers in containers: what you only learn by doing
Most people do not fail at peppers in containers from misunderstanding it. They fail because understanding is not doing. What follows is the doing…
Hand-pollinating cucumbers: what you only learn by doing
There is plenty written about hand-pollinating cucumbers and little you can act on. This piece stays concrete: every action can be done on the…