BOILED SWEET POTATOES Have you tried boiling swee

BOILED SWEET POTATOES
Have you tried boiling sweet potatoes ? If so, what were your thoughts on the ?

Sweet Potatoes are a very healing food especially if you grow them yourself.

We used up all of our larger ones for baking and roasting & I stilI had quite a few of these tiny ones that I was going to compost, but then I heard that boiling them instead can boost their antioxidant power by 2-3X, making them even better for you.

Boiling them also makes them easier to digest and keep your blood sugar steady because they have a lower glycemic index!

If you have tiny sweet potatoes, try boiling them…just cook until tender. The skin usually slips off
A simple, practical way to use the smaller harvest instead of composting.

Do you usually boil or bake your sweet potatoes?

#sweetpotatoes #lowglycemicindex #healingfood #boiledveggies

Tiny seeds got you down? No worries! This little

Tiny seeds got you down?
No worries! This little trick will solve your problem. I think I first learned this trick from my friend @ Julia Dimakos.

Tiny seeds like Snapdragons, Oregano, Lavendar, Rosemary are especially tiny and they are the ones that also have to be started early in January-February depending on your zone.

What do you think? Would you try this hack or do you have other tricks for tiny seeds? Share them in the comments⬇️

This one is for @bj.brown8 “Don’t waste the wat

This one is for @bj.brown8

“Don’t waste the
water”, my friend said.

So simple.

Are we really
wasting water
when we pour it
down the sink,
technically no it
goes back into
the system, 🌎
but for our plants
that water could
still do work!

What are your thoughts?

Is this just overkill or
resourceful seed starting
and gardening?

#resourceful #seedstarting #dontwastewater

Afterall the Best Fall Garden cleanup is no cleanu

Afterall the Best Fall Garden cleanup is no cleanup.

Not sure if you noticed, but I left a lot of branches on my perennials that I won’t clean up until spring. This is because leaving those branches with the seed heads not only feed the birds but also provide shelter for many native bees & insects.

And don’t worry while we did shred some leaves we didn’t shred all of them. We also leave piles of them laying in the corners of our yard for the wildlife.

SEEDlLING CARE 101 Once they sprout, it’s time t

SEEDlLING CARE 101

Once they sprout, it’s time to take them off the heat mat and out from under the humidity dome. If you leave them in that warm, humid environment too long, they can get weak — and that’s when problems start.

So these little guys are headed under the grow lights in a 10×20 tray for bottom watering, and the rest are staying cozy until they’re ready.

There is seriously nothing better than seeing that first green come through the soil 🥹🌱

If you’re interested in the seed trays I’m using, comment SEEDS and I’ll send you the link in your DMs 💌✨

#seedstarting #gardeningtips #beginnergardener

Growing SPROUTS Grow your own fresh sprouts at h

Growing SPROUTS

Grow your own fresh sprouts at home! I’m loving this Seed Sprouter & using sandwich mix and salad mix sprouting seeds all from @botanical_interests

1️⃣ Soak seeds 8–12 hrs in water (about 3× their depth).
2️⃣ Spread in a tray, single layer seeds will expand as they sprout!
3️⃣ Rinse 2-5 x daily with plenty of water then drain well.
4️⃣ Keep in indirect light; sprouts edible in 2–9 days.

💡 Tip: Once grown, store in the fridge and enjoy within 3–5 days for peak freshness!

Sprouts are easy, nutritious, and perfect on toast, salads, or bowls. 🥗

P.S. I am a @botanical_interests ambassador so you can get 5% off of this Seed Sprouter & all their products with CODE: MICHELLE

Happy Sprouting!

Follow👉 @michellesgardengrows for more Garden encouragement 😊

#sprouts #growingsprouts #michellesgardengrows #sprouting

Grow Shelf Setup ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Getting my seed starting

Grow Shelf Setup

⬇️⬇️⬇️
Getting my
seed starting
setup ready.

Is it fancy?
No.

Are there
better versions?
Yes.

But this is
what I started with
as a beginner gardener
six years ago.

And it works.

Seriously though,
you don’t need
full spectrum lights
you can just use
shop lights,
but again I
started with
these lights and
that’s what
I’m still using.

You don’t need
perfect.

You just need
to begin. 🌱

Happy Seed Starting
💚Michelle @michellesgardengrows

#seedstarting #seedstartingsupplies #michellesgardengrows #beginnergardener

❄️Winter Garden The snow has been here for almost

❄️Winter Garden
The snow has been here
for almost a month ❄️

As you can see
I didn’t get a chance
to clean up the garden
last fall.

And honestly…
I’m kind of glad I didn’t.

Old vines.
Frozen tomatoes.
Snow-covered beds.

It’s quiet.
It’s surprising.
It’s kind of magical.
but also getting kind of old! 😬

Is your garden still covered in snow? Let me know in the comments!

#winter #gardentour #michellesgardengrows #snowygarden

Do you still have snow in your garden?

SEED STARTING TIME 🌶️These are a few of the crops

SEED STARTING TIME
🌶️These are a few of the crops that really benefit from getting an early indoor start. I started these on Saturday February 7, 2026.

If you’re a beginner gardener, I hope this video helps you feel a little less intimidated and a little more equipped!

If you’d like my full guide on navigating the stages of indoor seed starting (from sowing to planting out), just comment SEEDS and I’ll send the blog post straight to your DMs 💌🌱

And remember everyone seed starts a little differently. This is what works well for me in my zone 7b & setup.

Gardening isn’t about perfection… it’s about learning your rhythm. 💚

Happy seed starting!
💚Michelle ~Michelles Garden Grows

#seedstarting #beginnergardener #michellesgardengrows

New to gardening or just want an easy win this sea

New to gardening or just want an easy win this season? 🌱

This Beginner’s Garden Bundle by @botanical_interests is a great way to help you start strong. It’s packed with dependable, beginner-friendly varieties that are easy to grow, forgiving if you’re learning, and rewarding to harvest.

Whether you’re planting in containers, raised beds, or a backyard garden, this bundle gives you a balanced mix of fresh greens, classic veggies, flavorful herbs, and joyful blooms.

🌿 What’s included & When to plant. ⬇️

These both need a head start! Transplant outside after frost danger has passed and soil is warm⬇️

1. Early Jalapeño Chile Pepper (Organic) START INDOORS (8–10 weeks before last frost)
2. Gardener’s Delight Pole Cherry tomato: START INDOORS (🌱 6–8 weeks before your last frost date)

🌿 DIRECT SOW BEFORE OR AROUND LAST FROST (Cool-season crops)
3. Danvers 126 Carrot (Organic)
4. Farmer’s Market Blend Mesclun Lettuce
5. Lacinato “Dinosaur” Kale
These can handle cooler temps and light frost.

☀️ DIRECT SOW AFTER LAST FROST (Warm-season crops)
6. Blue Lake 274 Bush Bean (Organic)
7. Emerald Delight Summer Squash
8. Marketmore Cucumber (Organic)
9. Italian Genovese Basil (Organic)
10. Lilliput Zinnia (Organic)
11. Zohar Sunflower (Organic)

Wait until nighttime temps are consistently above 50°F and soil has warmed up.

🎁 Perfect for gifting or keeping your seeds organized as it comes in beautifully themed packaging for the season.

I am a botanical interests ambassador and have a special code for you to save⬇️

💸 Affiliate + Coupon:
Use my COUPON CODE: MGG5 at checkout to save 5% off your order.

https://glnk.io/73j50/michellesgardengrows or find link in my bio 🌱)

Save this for planting season 🌱✨

Happy Seed Starting!
💚Michelle
👉@michellesgardengrows

#seeds #beginnergarden #botanicalinterests #seedpackets

WINTER SOWING IN A MILK JUG (STEP-BY-STEP) 🚨 I

WINTER SOWING
IN A MILK JUG (STEP-BY-STEP)

🚨 I forgot to show in the video that you’re supposed to poke holes in the bottom of the jugs, so don’t miss that step.

1️⃣ Clean an empty milk jug
2️⃣ Poke drainage holes in the bottom
3️⃣ Cut the jug almost in half, leaving it attached under the handle
4️⃣ Fill with 3–4 inches of damp potting mix
5️⃣ Plant seeds (follow depth instructions — some stay on the surface)
6️⃣ Water gently
7️⃣ Close the jug and tape it shut
8️⃣ Remove the cap for ventilation
9️⃣ Label with seed name + date
🔟 Set outside in the sun — even snow is OK ❄️☀️

🌼 Let nature do the work
🌼 Open/vent on warm days once seeds sprout
🌼 Transplant when seedlings are ready

Perfect for cool-season veggies & cold-tolerant flowers like lettuce, pansies, and snapdragons!

#gardening #wintersowing #startingseeds

✅Landscape Fabric Have you tried this before? My

✅Landscape Fabric
Have you tried this before?
My husband tried it for the first time last year and it worked great! He used leftover landscape fabric from years ago. Glad we finally found a way to use up that stuff because it didn’t work in the yard 😂
🙏Praying everyone stay safe over the weekend!

🌿Growing more than gardens in 2026! And no, that d

🌿Growing more than gardens in 2026! And no, that doesn’t say grow your SOIL, although that’s a great idea too😂

New YT video is live! I’m sharing my garden-art Bibles + The Bible Recap plan to read through the Bible chronologically in 1 year. It’s not too late for you to join me!

➡️ Details on YouTube (link in bio) or comment GROW & I’ll send the link to your DMS.

No more bagging leaves here. Before I became a g

No more bagging leaves here.

Before I became a gardener, we used to just bag up all our leaves in Hefty Lawn and Leaf plastic bags.

In fact, the bags in the video were from someone in my neighborhood this year!

But after getting into gardening, I learned how to use what I already have in my backyard more sustainably.

We started mowing over the leaves with a bagged mower and using the shredded leaves as mulch around perennials, covering garden beds for the winter, and adding them to our compost bin since shredded leaves break down much faster.

We also made leaf mold, which is amazing for the garden.

Last year, we got a chipper shredder from Harbor Freight-it not only handles the leaves but also shreds all the little twigs that fall from our trees, making yard cleanup so much easier.

Shredding leaves is one of the easiest, cheapest ways to boost soil health, reduce waste, and nourish your plants naturally.

Do you leave the leaves entirely or do you shred them up for mulch & compost?

~Michelle

👉Follow along @michellesgardengrows for more garden adventures

Upgrade your garden 👇 Black Friday SALE Nov 9 – D

Upgrade your garden 👇

Black Friday SALE Nov 9 – Dec 1

✋DISCLOSURE: I am an Epic gardening ambassador and there is an affiliate link in this post which means if you buy through my link, I will make a small commission.  ✨ 25% OFF almost everything sitewide (and yes — my code MGG5 stacks for an extra 5% off = up to 30% off!)

If you’ve been wanting to upgrade your garden for spring or shop for the gardener in your life… this is THE sale. 🙌

Here’s what you unlock ⬇️ 💵 $50+ Free Shipping 🎁 $100+ Choose: Veggie Bundle or 4-Cell Seed Tray 8-Pack 🎁 $200+ Veggie Bundle + 4-Cell Seed Tray 8-Pack 🎁 $400+ Epic Seed Bundle + 4-Cell Seed Tray 8-Pack
🔥 Birdies Metal Raised Beds -25% OFF or BOGO 50% 🔥 Vertical Planters -25% OFF or BOGO 50% 🌱 Seed Starting Supplies -25% OFF 🪴 Grow Bags -25% OFF 🌿 Yes, even the GreenStalk planter is included!

These are my personal favorites in my own garden: • Metal raised beds (we fully transitioned from wood & it’s been a game changer 🙌) • Grow bags (we use them for blueberries + potatoes!) • Seed trays (incredibly sturdy for winter starts) • Harvest basket — I use it constantly 🤍

✨ Shop the Epic Gardening Sale
https://shop.epicgardening.com/MGG5

⏳ Don’t wait, sale ends Dec 1!
 💚 Use my code MGG5 at checkout for an extra 5% off — it stacks on top of the sale price for up to 30% off

Happy Gardening! 🌿💛
Michelle 👉 @michellesgardengrows

@epicgardening
#epicgardening #gardenproducts #epicgardeningpartner

Do you do this too? 👇 I pray for my husband, coll

Do you do this too? 👇

I pray for my husband, college-age son, and daughter, my relatives and friends, and my spiritual family: (my husband’s a congregational leader shepherds a community of Faith) and the women I coordinate in our Sisterhood women’s ministry.

I also pray for our local officials & national leaders in the government .

Sometimes it’s hard to remember everyone, but garden tasks make it meditative.

I say each name aloud, trusting God knows their needs beyond what some have already shared with me. 🙏❤️

Happy Gardening & Praying
💚Michelle

👉 Follow along @michellesgardengrows for more garden & faith inspiration

#pray #gardentip #marigolds #homegardener #peacefulliving #suburbangardening

Marigolds plus a @newmansown Salsa jar =a simple A

Marigolds plus a @newmansown Salsa jar =a simple Autumn Bouquet. Now, if I can only make them last until Thanksgiving!

I love @newmansown salsa and have saved so many of their jars. I have tons of marigolds and we’re getting our first real big frost in the next few days so I harvested a bunch of marigolds and made a bunch of bouquets.

I grew so many marigolds in my raised beds this year. I only wish I could remember which variety I grew as they have been amazing! I love that they’ve lasted this long too.

Have you tried making Marigold bouquets?

👉 follow along @michellesgardengrows for more gardening inspiration 🌱

#marigolds #gardeninginspiration #bouquet #beginnergardener #raisedbedgardening

Sungolds for the win! Did you know that Sungold t

Sungolds for the win!
Did you know that Sungold tomatoes are indeterminate tomatoes, which means they are a binging tomato that will produce all summer long until the first frost, and actually mine have lasted even through a light frost!

We are getting our first really cold temps on Monday, which will dip down into the high 20s degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, I’m trying to salvage my last few Sungold tomatoes !

#tomato #sungoldtomatoes #raisedbedgardening #homegardener #novembergarden #indeterminate

Check back in June! Garlic isn’t as complicated

Check back in June!

Garlic isn’t as complicated as I once thought! At first, I was confused about when to plant when harvest, which end of the garlic goes into soil, whether to plant hard neck or soft neck and so forth 🌱🧄

This year I planted Music garlic, a hardneck variety with big, flavorful cloves and tall scapes in spring. Hardneck garlic loves colder climates, softneck does better in warmer areas, and here in zone 7B, I can grow both!

As a Botanical Interests Ambassador, if you use my link https://www.botanicalinterests.com/MICHELLE you can shop any Botanical Interests or Epic Gardening products & get 5% off. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. 💚✨

Who else is planting garlic this fall? Share your plans below!

👉Follow along @michellesgardengrows for more garden inspiration

#gardeninspiration #garlic #beginnergardener #raisedbedgardening

I love stopping by @rockcoopgc @acehardware Their

I love stopping by @rockcoopgc @acehardware
Their Garden center is part of a farm cooperative here in Virginia called Rockingham Cooperative.

The Garden Center staff Cynthia & Bobby are true gems: knowlegable & always ready to help. Plus they always have the @coastofmaineorganic soils I use in stock. 👏

I recently picked up Quoddy Blend Compost from there to prep for planting garlic. The compost will add structure & increase the soil health in my raised bed garden.

***I’ve been using Coast of Maine products for a few years now. I’m also a Coast Of Maine ambassador & this compost was a gifted to me.

Feeding the soil first is the secret to healthy plants.

Good soil. Good garden. ✨

👉Follow along @michellesgardengrows to see how this garlic grows & it being harvested next June. 📆

@ coastofmaineorganic
#compost #healthysoil #raisedbedgardening #feedthesoil #virginiagardener

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BOILED SWEET POTATOES Have you tried boiling swee

BOILED SWEET POTATOES
Have you tried boiling sweet potatoes ? If so, what were your thoughts on the ?

Sweet Potatoes are a very healing food especially if you grow them yourself.

We used up all of our larger ones for baking and roasting & I stilI had quite a few of these tiny ones that I was going to compost, but then I heard that boiling them instead can boost their antioxidant power by 2-3X, making them even better for you.

Boiling them also makes them easier to digest and keep your blood sugar steady because they have a lower glycemic index!

If you have tiny sweet potatoes, try boiling them…just cook until tender. The skin usually slips off
A simple, practical way to use the smaller harvest instead of composting.

Do you usually boil or bake your sweet potatoes?

#sweetpotatoes #lowglycemicindex #healingfood #boiledveggies

Tiny seeds got you down? No worries! This little

Tiny seeds got you down?
No worries! This little trick will solve your problem. I think I first learned this trick from my friend @ Julia Dimakos.

Tiny seeds like Snapdragons, Oregano, Lavendar, Rosemary are especially tiny and they are the ones that also have to be started early in January-February depending on your zone.

What do you think? Would you try this hack or do you have other tricks for tiny seeds? Share them in the comments⬇️

This one is for @bj.brown8 “Don’t waste the wat

This one is for @bj.brown8

“Don’t waste the
water”, my friend said.

So simple.

Are we really
wasting water
when we pour it
down the sink,
technically no it
goes back into
the system, 🌎
but for our plants
that water could
still do work!

What are your thoughts?

Is this just overkill or
resourceful seed starting
and gardening?

#resourceful #seedstarting #dontwastewater

Afterall the Best Fall Garden cleanup is no cleanu

Afterall the Best Fall Garden cleanup is no cleanup.

Not sure if you noticed, but I left a lot of branches on my perennials that I won’t clean up until spring. This is because leaving those branches with the seed heads not only feed the birds but also provide shelter for many native bees & insects.

And don’t worry while we did shred some leaves we didn’t shred all of them. We also leave piles of them laying in the corners of our yard for the wildlife.

SEEDlLING CARE 101 Once they sprout, it’s time t

SEEDlLING CARE 101

Once they sprout, it’s time to take them off the heat mat and out from under the humidity dome. If you leave them in that warm, humid environment too long, they can get weak — and that’s when problems start.

So these little guys are headed under the grow lights in a 10×20 tray for bottom watering, and the rest are staying cozy until they’re ready.

There is seriously nothing better than seeing that first green come through the soil 🥹🌱

If you’re interested in the seed trays I’m using, comment SEEDS and I’ll send you the link in your DMs 💌✨

#seedstarting #gardeningtips #beginnergardener

Growing SPROUTS Grow your own fresh sprouts at h

Growing SPROUTS

Grow your own fresh sprouts at home! I’m loving this Seed Sprouter & using sandwich mix and salad mix sprouting seeds all from @botanical_interests

1️⃣ Soak seeds 8–12 hrs in water (about 3× their depth).
2️⃣ Spread in a tray, single layer seeds will expand as they sprout!
3️⃣ Rinse 2-5 x daily with plenty of water then drain well.
4️⃣ Keep in indirect light; sprouts edible in 2–9 days.

💡 Tip: Once grown, store in the fridge and enjoy within 3–5 days for peak freshness!

Sprouts are easy, nutritious, and perfect on toast, salads, or bowls. 🥗

P.S. I am a @botanical_interests ambassador so you can get 5% off of this Seed Sprouter & all their products with CODE: MICHELLE

Happy Sprouting!

Follow👉 @michellesgardengrows for more Garden encouragement 😊

#sprouts #growingsprouts #michellesgardengrows #sprouting

Grow Shelf Setup ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Getting my seed starting

Grow Shelf Setup

⬇️⬇️⬇️
Getting my
seed starting
setup ready.

Is it fancy?
No.

Are there
better versions?
Yes.

But this is
what I started with
as a beginner gardener
six years ago.

And it works.

Seriously though,
you don’t need
full spectrum lights
you can just use
shop lights,
but again I
started with
these lights and
that’s what
I’m still using.

You don’t need
perfect.

You just need
to begin. 🌱

Happy Seed Starting
💚Michelle @michellesgardengrows

#seedstarting #seedstartingsupplies #michellesgardengrows #beginnergardener

❄️Winter Garden The snow has been here for almost

❄️Winter Garden
The snow has been here
for almost a month ❄️

As you can see
I didn’t get a chance
to clean up the garden
last fall.

And honestly…
I’m kind of glad I didn’t.

Old vines.
Frozen tomatoes.
Snow-covered beds.

It’s quiet.
It’s surprising.
It’s kind of magical.
but also getting kind of old! 😬

Is your garden still covered in snow? Let me know in the comments!

#winter #gardentour #michellesgardengrows #snowygarden

Do you still have snow in your garden?

SEED STARTING TIME 🌶️These are a few of the crops

SEED STARTING TIME
🌶️These are a few of the crops that really benefit from getting an early indoor start. I started these on Saturday February 7, 2026.

If you’re a beginner gardener, I hope this video helps you feel a little less intimidated and a little more equipped!

If you’d like my full guide on navigating the stages of indoor seed starting (from sowing to planting out), just comment SEEDS and I’ll send the blog post straight to your DMs 💌🌱

And remember everyone seed starts a little differently. This is what works well for me in my zone 7b & setup.

Gardening isn’t about perfection… it’s about learning your rhythm. 💚

Happy seed starting!
💚Michelle ~Michelles Garden Grows

#seedstarting #beginnergardener #michellesgardengrows

New to gardening or just want an easy win this sea

New to gardening or just want an easy win this season? 🌱

This Beginner’s Garden Bundle by @botanical_interests is a great way to help you start strong. It’s packed with dependable, beginner-friendly varieties that are easy to grow, forgiving if you’re learning, and rewarding to harvest.

Whether you’re planting in containers, raised beds, or a backyard garden, this bundle gives you a balanced mix of fresh greens, classic veggies, flavorful herbs, and joyful blooms.

🌿 What’s included & When to plant. ⬇️

These both need a head start! Transplant outside after frost danger has passed and soil is warm⬇️

1. Early Jalapeño Chile Pepper (Organic) START INDOORS (8–10 weeks before last frost)
2. Gardener’s Delight Pole Cherry tomato: START INDOORS (🌱 6–8 weeks before your last frost date)

🌿 DIRECT SOW BEFORE OR AROUND LAST FROST (Cool-season crops)
3. Danvers 126 Carrot (Organic)
4. Farmer’s Market Blend Mesclun Lettuce
5. Lacinato “Dinosaur” Kale
These can handle cooler temps and light frost.

☀️ DIRECT SOW AFTER LAST FROST (Warm-season crops)
6. Blue Lake 274 Bush Bean (Organic)
7. Emerald Delight Summer Squash
8. Marketmore Cucumber (Organic)
9. Italian Genovese Basil (Organic)
10. Lilliput Zinnia (Organic)
11. Zohar Sunflower (Organic)

Wait until nighttime temps are consistently above 50°F and soil has warmed up.

🎁 Perfect for gifting or keeping your seeds organized as it comes in beautifully themed packaging for the season.

I am a botanical interests ambassador and have a special code for you to save⬇️

💸 Affiliate + Coupon:
Use my COUPON CODE: MGG5 at checkout to save 5% off your order.

https://glnk.io/73j50/michellesgardengrows or find link in my bio 🌱)

Save this for planting season 🌱✨

Happy Seed Starting!
💚Michelle
👉@michellesgardengrows

#seeds #beginnergarden #botanicalinterests #seedpackets

WINTER SOWING IN A MILK JUG (STEP-BY-STEP) 🚨 I

WINTER SOWING
IN A MILK JUG (STEP-BY-STEP)

🚨 I forgot to show in the video that you’re supposed to poke holes in the bottom of the jugs, so don’t miss that step.

1️⃣ Clean an empty milk jug
2️⃣ Poke drainage holes in the bottom
3️⃣ Cut the jug almost in half, leaving it attached under the handle
4️⃣ Fill with 3–4 inches of damp potting mix
5️⃣ Plant seeds (follow depth instructions — some stay on the surface)
6️⃣ Water gently
7️⃣ Close the jug and tape it shut
8️⃣ Remove the cap for ventilation
9️⃣ Label with seed name + date
🔟 Set outside in the sun — even snow is OK ❄️☀️

🌼 Let nature do the work
🌼 Open/vent on warm days once seeds sprout
🌼 Transplant when seedlings are ready

Perfect for cool-season veggies & cold-tolerant flowers like lettuce, pansies, and snapdragons!

#gardening #wintersowing #startingseeds

✅Landscape Fabric Have you tried this before? My

✅Landscape Fabric
Have you tried this before?
My husband tried it for the first time last year and it worked great! He used leftover landscape fabric from years ago. Glad we finally found a way to use up that stuff because it didn’t work in the yard 😂
🙏Praying everyone stay safe over the weekend!

🌿Growing more than gardens in 2026! And no, that d

🌿Growing more than gardens in 2026! And no, that doesn’t say grow your SOIL, although that’s a great idea too😂

New YT video is live! I’m sharing my garden-art Bibles + The Bible Recap plan to read through the Bible chronologically in 1 year. It’s not too late for you to join me!

➡️ Details on YouTube (link in bio) or comment GROW & I’ll send the link to your DMS.

No more bagging leaves here. Before I became a g

No more bagging leaves here.

Before I became a gardener, we used to just bag up all our leaves in Hefty Lawn and Leaf plastic bags.

In fact, the bags in the video were from someone in my neighborhood this year!

But after getting into gardening, I learned how to use what I already have in my backyard more sustainably.

We started mowing over the leaves with a bagged mower and using the shredded leaves as mulch around perennials, covering garden beds for the winter, and adding them to our compost bin since shredded leaves break down much faster.

We also made leaf mold, which is amazing for the garden.

Last year, we got a chipper shredder from Harbor Freight-it not only handles the leaves but also shreds all the little twigs that fall from our trees, making yard cleanup so much easier.

Shredding leaves is one of the easiest, cheapest ways to boost soil health, reduce waste, and nourish your plants naturally.

Do you leave the leaves entirely or do you shred them up for mulch & compost?

~Michelle

👉Follow along @michellesgardengrows for more garden adventures

Upgrade your garden 👇 Black Friday SALE Nov 9 – D

Upgrade your garden 👇

Black Friday SALE Nov 9 – Dec 1

✋DISCLOSURE: I am an Epic gardening ambassador and there is an affiliate link in this post which means if you buy through my link, I will make a small commission.  ✨ 25% OFF almost everything sitewide (and yes — my code MGG5 stacks for an extra 5% off = up to 30% off!)

If you’ve been wanting to upgrade your garden for spring or shop for the gardener in your life… this is THE sale. 🙌

Here’s what you unlock ⬇️ 💵 $50+ Free Shipping 🎁 $100+ Choose: Veggie Bundle or 4-Cell Seed Tray 8-Pack 🎁 $200+ Veggie Bundle + 4-Cell Seed Tray 8-Pack 🎁 $400+ Epic Seed Bundle + 4-Cell Seed Tray 8-Pack
🔥 Birdies Metal Raised Beds -25% OFF or BOGO 50% 🔥 Vertical Planters -25% OFF or BOGO 50% 🌱 Seed Starting Supplies -25% OFF 🪴 Grow Bags -25% OFF 🌿 Yes, even the GreenStalk planter is included!

These are my personal favorites in my own garden: • Metal raised beds (we fully transitioned from wood & it’s been a game changer 🙌) • Grow bags (we use them for blueberries + potatoes!) • Seed trays (incredibly sturdy for winter starts) • Harvest basket — I use it constantly 🤍

✨ Shop the Epic Gardening Sale
https://shop.epicgardening.com/MGG5

⏳ Don’t wait, sale ends Dec 1!
 💚 Use my code MGG5 at checkout for an extra 5% off — it stacks on top of the sale price for up to 30% off

Happy Gardening! 🌿💛
Michelle 👉 @michellesgardengrows

@epicgardening
#epicgardening #gardenproducts #epicgardeningpartner

Do you do this too? 👇 I pray for my husband, coll

Do you do this too? 👇

I pray for my husband, college-age son, and daughter, my relatives and friends, and my spiritual family: (my husband’s a congregational leader shepherds a community of Faith) and the women I coordinate in our Sisterhood women’s ministry.

I also pray for our local officials & national leaders in the government .

Sometimes it’s hard to remember everyone, but garden tasks make it meditative.

I say each name aloud, trusting God knows their needs beyond what some have already shared with me. 🙏❤️

Happy Gardening & Praying
💚Michelle

👉 Follow along @michellesgardengrows for more garden & faith inspiration

#pray #gardentip #marigolds #homegardener #peacefulliving #suburbangardening

Marigolds plus a @newmansown Salsa jar =a simple A

Marigolds plus a @newmansown Salsa jar =a simple Autumn Bouquet. Now, if I can only make them last until Thanksgiving!

I love @newmansown salsa and have saved so many of their jars. I have tons of marigolds and we’re getting our first real big frost in the next few days so I harvested a bunch of marigolds and made a bunch of bouquets.

I grew so many marigolds in my raised beds this year. I only wish I could remember which variety I grew as they have been amazing! I love that they’ve lasted this long too.

Have you tried making Marigold bouquets?

👉 follow along @michellesgardengrows for more gardening inspiration 🌱

#marigolds #gardeninginspiration #bouquet #beginnergardener #raisedbedgardening

Sungolds for the win! Did you know that Sungold t

Sungolds for the win!
Did you know that Sungold tomatoes are indeterminate tomatoes, which means they are a binging tomato that will produce all summer long until the first frost, and actually mine have lasted even through a light frost!

We are getting our first really cold temps on Monday, which will dip down into the high 20s degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, I’m trying to salvage my last few Sungold tomatoes !

#tomato #sungoldtomatoes #raisedbedgardening #homegardener #novembergarden #indeterminate

Check back in June! Garlic isn’t as complicated

Check back in June!

Garlic isn’t as complicated as I once thought! At first, I was confused about when to plant when harvest, which end of the garlic goes into soil, whether to plant hard neck or soft neck and so forth 🌱🧄

This year I planted Music garlic, a hardneck variety with big, flavorful cloves and tall scapes in spring. Hardneck garlic loves colder climates, softneck does better in warmer areas, and here in zone 7B, I can grow both!

As a Botanical Interests Ambassador, if you use my link https://www.botanicalinterests.com/MICHELLE you can shop any Botanical Interests or Epic Gardening products & get 5% off. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. 💚✨

Who else is planting garlic this fall? Share your plans below!

👉Follow along @michellesgardengrows for more garden inspiration

#gardeninspiration #garlic #beginnergardener #raisedbedgardening

I love stopping by @rockcoopgc @acehardware Their

I love stopping by @rockcoopgc @acehardware
Their Garden center is part of a farm cooperative here in Virginia called Rockingham Cooperative.

The Garden Center staff Cynthia & Bobby are true gems: knowlegable & always ready to help. Plus they always have the @coastofmaineorganic soils I use in stock. 👏

I recently picked up Quoddy Blend Compost from there to prep for planting garlic. The compost will add structure & increase the soil health in my raised bed garden.

***I’ve been using Coast of Maine products for a few years now. I’m also a Coast Of Maine ambassador & this compost was a gifted to me.

Feeding the soil first is the secret to healthy plants.

Good soil. Good garden. ✨

👉Follow along @michellesgardengrows to see how this garlic grows & it being harvested next June. 📆

@ coastofmaineorganic
#compost #healthysoil #raisedbedgardening #feedthesoil #virginiagardener

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