Every growing guide on Dina’s Garden in one place, newest first. Each one follows a crop or plant from start to finish on a real balcony, with photos and a video of the same plant. If you prefer to browse by topic, start with a hub: vegetables, herbs, houseplants, microgreens, flowers, succulents, or the gardening tips that sit underneath all of them: seed starting, potting mix, pruning and seed saving.
How to Grow Radishes from Seed in Containers
Learn how to grow crisp radishes in containers or grow bags, from sowing to harvest in about 30 days, with tips on depth, spacing, watering and thinning.
How to Hand Pollinate Eggplant and Prune for More Fruit
Eggplant flowers dropping without fruit? Learn how to hand pollinate eggplant with a paintbrush, cotton swab or electric toothbrush, and how to prune for a bigger harvest.
How to Prune Cucumber Plants for a Bigger Harvest
Cucumber plants grow fast, and by midsummer they can turn into a tangle of leaves with fewer fruits than you hoped for. A few minutes of smart pruning changes that. The plant puts its energy…
How to Hand Pollinate Tomato Flowers: 4 Easy Methods
The first summer I grew tomatoes on my balcony the plants looked wonderful. Tall, dark green, covered in little yellow flowers. Then the flowers turned brown and dropped, one after another,…
How to Grow Bell Peppers From Store-Bought Peppers
You can grow bell peppers from supermarket seeds, as long as the pepper is fully ripe. Here is how I save, dry and sow them.
How to Grow Dwarf Zinnias from Seed in Pots and Containers
Learn how to grow dwarf zinnias from seed in pots and containers — sowing, transplanting, sun, watering and the cutting trick that multiplies the blooms.
How to Grow Basil from Store-Bought Basil Stems
Turn leftover store-bought basil stems into thriving new plants. Root them in water in one to two weeks, then pot them up — a simple step-by-step guide with real photos.
How to Plant Tulip Bulbs in Pots (Layering Method)
Tulips have a way of transforming any space. A simple pot can suddenly feel alive once those first flowers open. But when growing tulips in containers, there’s one common frustration,…
Jade Plant Propagation from Cuttings: Water & Soil Methods
The jade plant (Crassula ovata) is one of those houseplants that quietly earns its place over time. It doesn’t rush, it doesn’t demand attention, and it survives mistakes that would finish off…
Companion Planting Guide For Vegetable Garden
Did you know that plants are really picky about their neighbors? When certain species are planted close, they can support each other in so many ways. For instance, corn and lettuce are often…