Rude Insect
soil-health
Autumn Bed Inputs: Identify, Assess, Then Apply
Identify compost organisms versus jumping-worm soil, test whether compost is finished, then sheet-compost or incorporate only when soil moisture is right.
Sep 8, 2026
Know what your
garden needs next.
Practical garden diagnoses with Grant & Fiona, useful growing guides, and product comparisons that explain what fits your setup.
Pillar Guide
What's Eating My Garden? Identify the Damage
Use damage patterns and direct observations to identify likely garden pests, then match fences, covers and other protection to the animal.
Read the full guide →Latest from the garden
Rude Insect
vegetable-gardening
Fall Seedbeds: Moisture, Spacing, and Time Left
Count back from your local frost date, keep the seedbed evenly moist, thin to packet spacing, and reach the bed without stepping in it this fall.
Sep 8, 2026
Rude Insect
vegetable-gardening
Fall Raised Beds: Garlic, Greens, or a Cover Crop?
Choose a fall raised-bed plan from your local frost timing, soil conditions, and spring plans. Compare garlic, quick greens, cover crops, and mulch.
Sep 4, 2026
vegetable-gardening
Why Parsley Seeds Won't Germinate Fast
Troubleshoot slow parsley germination with source-based timing, seed quality, moisture and temperature checks before buying a heat mat or resowing.
Aug 26, 2026
Rude Insect
vegetable-gardening
Open-Pollinated vs Hybrid Seeds Guide
Understand open-pollinated, heirloom, and F1 hybrid seeds, including pollination and isolation. Decide when saved seed is likely to resemble its parent plants.
Aug 19, 2026
Rude Insect
vegetable-gardening
Volunteer Plants: What to Keep, Move or Remove
Identify self-sown plants before keeping or eating them. Compare keep, move and remove decisions, with special caution for volunteer squash.
Aug 17, 2026