Techniques

Grow a bed's worth of sweet potato plants from a few whole tubers. Bed them in straw until they sprout, pull the sprouts as slips, root the slips in water on a windowsill, and plant them out once the soil is warm.

Knock aphids, mites, and other soft-bodied pests off plants with a strong jet of water — no pesticide needed.

Prune indeterminate tomatoes to one or two stems and stake them for better airflow, bigger fruit, and easier picking.

Support indeterminate tomatoes on hooks and twine, lowering and leaning the vines as they grow tall.

Replant beds as crops finish — or stagger sowings — for continuous harvests instead of one big glut.

Pair plants that help each other — deterring pests, attracting beneficials, or using space and nutrients well.

Divide a bed into a 1-foot grid and plant each square intensively for an organized, high-yield small garden.

Move plant families to different beds each year to break pest and disease cycles and balance the soil.

Deliver water slowly and directly to plant roots, saving water and reducing leaf disease.

Cover bare soil with an organic layer to hold moisture, suppress weeds, and feed the soil as it breaks down.

Make finished compost fast with a balanced, well-aerated pile that heats up as it breaks down.

Turn kitchen scraps into rich worm castings using a compact worm bin — great for small spaces.

Build fertility by layering compost on the surface and leaving the soil undisturbed, protecting its structure and life.

Grow in contained, elevated beds for better drainage, looser soil, fewer weeds, and easier access.