Are bagged soil risks worth the cost and convenience? The answer to that question isn’t a simple one, and it’s largely contingent upon your garden and its particular needs. To examine the potential pitfalls, experienced gardener Sarah Jay outlines a few risks so you can decide how to build your own soil.

The post Should You Buy Bagged Soil?: 5 Risks to Your Garden is by Sarah Jay and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

You may have heard to bury your tomato sideways for an even bigger harvest. While that may be the case in certain contexts, there are some caveats to consider. So before you plant your tomato on its side, read what experienced gardener and tomato grower Sarah Jay has to say about it.

The post Should you Bury Your Tomato Plants Sideways? is by Sarah Jay and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

Cucumbers are an incredibly rewarding crop to grow. If you’re looking to try them this year, here are our top cucumber varieties for the 2026 growing season, covering everything from classic slicers and pickling powerhouses to compact container options and heat-tolerant standouts.

The post Our Favorite Cucumber Varieties for 2026 is by Madison Moulton and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

You can garden with rabbits cruelty-free, and all it takes is a little planning and intention. There are rabbit-resistant plants, covers, and modes for doing it that don’t require a ton of effort. Experienced gardener and master naturalist Sarah Jay covers a few ways you can grow with rabbits nearby.

The post Rabbits in the Garden: How to Protect Your Crops Without Cruelty is by Sarah Jay and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

Peony flowers are so beautiful and short-lived that it’s hard not to want more of them. Gardening expert Madison Moulton shares practical steps to help your peonies produce more flowers.

The post 7 Easy Ways to Get Your Peonies to Bloom More is by Madison Moulton and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

When you decide to grow a perennial garden, containers are an option! So many lovely plants remain root hardy in containers and return year after year. With the right care, it’s possible to maintain a thriving perennial garden in your favorite planters. Experienced gardener, Sarah Jay, shows you how here.

The post How to Grow a Perennial Garden in Pots and Containers is by Sarah Jay and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

Japanese gardening tools have a storied history and are exceptionally practical by design. Many of these useful implements were developed centuries ago, and are still effective in gardens all over the world. Experienced gardener Sarah Jay covers five of the best ones that will make your gardening tasks easier.

The post 5 Japanese Gardening Tools That Will Make Your Life Easier is by Sarah Jay and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

If you’ve never tried growing vegetables before, beans are a great place to start. Gardening expert Madison Moulton walks beginners through every step of growing beans, from choosing between bush and pole types to knowing exactly when a pod is ready to pick.

The post How to Grow Beans for Beginners is by Madison Moulton and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

Does your gardening zone have a big impact on how you garden? Gardening expert Madison Moulton breaks down what USDA hardiness zones can and can't tell you about your garden, and explains why the number on the map is only the beginning of understanding what will thrive where you live.

The post Does Your Gardening Zone Even Matter? is by Madison Moulton and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

At the Epic Homestead, Kevin and the crew grew the biggest sweet potato crop ever. Here, we detail what steps they took and the different methods they used, so you can grow your own with ease. Experienced gardener Sarah Jay details their process here.

The post How to Get the Biggest Sweet Potato Crop at Home is by Sarah Jay and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.