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.
Vegetables
23 posts
Step-by-step guides to growing vegetables in containers and small spaces — from seed to harvest. Learn how to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, garlic, beets and more on your balcony or patio, with real photos and videos from Dina’s Garden.
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.…
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…
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.
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…
How to Grow Grape Tomatoes on Your Balcony: Complete Guide
Imagine stepping onto your balcony every morning and picking sun-warmed, sweet tomatoes for your breakfast. Growing grape tomatoes in containers transforms even the tiniest urban space into a productive food…
How to Grow Bell Peppers in Containers on Your Balcony
You know that moment when you bite into a bell pepper from the grocery store and it tastes like… well, nothing? Yeah, I’ve been there too. That’s exactly what pushed…
How to Grow Eggplants in Containers: Detailed Step-by-Step Guide
Growing eggplants at home is an incredibly fulfilling gardening adventure, bringing delicious, nutritious produce directly from your own garden to your kitchen. Eggplants are versatile in recipes and easy to…
How to Grow Spinach in Containers: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
Spinach is one of the easiest and most rewarding leafy greens to grow in containers. It’s fast-growing, full of nutrients, and thrives in cool weather. With just a bit of…
How to Grow Romaine Lettuce in Containers – A Complete Guide
Romaine is one of those crops that just makes sense to grow yourself. It’s quick to sprout, doesn’t need much space, and tastes better than anything you’ll find in a…