VIDEO: Starting Radishes & Onions from Seed 🌱 + Planting String of Watermelon Succulents 🍉 with Garden Answer

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Spring is the perfect time to get seeds started and give houseplants a refresh! In this video, Laura from Garden Answer walks through planting onions and radishes from seed using her go-to Espoma Organic Seed Starter Mix and Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix—trusted for their high-quality ingredients.

But the gardening fun doesn’t stop there! Laura also repots String of Watermelon Succulents using Espoma Organic Cactus Mix, sharing expert plant care tips to keep these unique trailing plants thriving.

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VIDEO: Seed Starting Tips with Farmer Nick 🌱

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Starting seeds is an essential part of gardening. It’s a great way to get a head start on the next season and ensure there are always fresh plants ready to replace spent ones—a method known as succession planting. Follow along with Farmer Nick as he shares his top tips to set seeds up for success!

1) Start with High-Quality Organic Potting Soil

The foundation of strong seedlings begins with the right soil. While seeds can germinate in regular potting or garden soil, a high-quality organic seed starting mix—like Espoma Organic Seed Starter—is specifically designed to be lightweight, allowing roots to spread easily while providing essential nutrients to support those first delicate sprouts.

Pro Tip: Always moisten the soil before planting. This keeps seeds in place, provides immediate hydration, and helps ensure an even pack in seed trays.

2) Provide Warmth for Germination

Once the seeds are planted, maintaining the right temperature is key. A heat mat can speed up germination by keeping the soil warm, but it also dries out the mix quickly, so it’s important to keep the soil consistently moist but not overly saturated. A misting bottle is a great tool for gentle hydration.

Pro Tip: Using a smart outlet to control the heat mat allows for easy scheduling. Nick typically runs his mat for about 8 hours overnight, when temperatures drop. Once most of the seedlings have sprouted, he removes them from the heat mat.

3) Light is Essential for Growth

While light isn’t necessary for germination, it becomes crucial once seeds sprout. A grow light helps seedlings develop strong, sturdy stems rather than becoming weak and leggy.

Pro Tip: Always plant a few more seeds than needed. Not every seed will germinate, and extra plants can be thinned out or shared with fellow gardeners.

4) Don’t Forget to Label!

It may sound simple, but labeling seeds is a step many gardeners—Nick included—tend to overlook. Without labels, it’s easy to mix up cucumbers and zucchinis, leading to a fun (but avoidable) guessing game when the plants mature.

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By following these seed-starting tips, gardeners can set themselves up for a successful season, ensuring healthy seedlings that are ready to thrive in the garden.

For the best results, start with a high-quality organic seed-starting mix like Espoma Organic Seed Starting Mix. When it’s time to repot your new plants, switch to Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix for optimal growth. And don’t forget to feed your plants with a high-quality organic liquid fertilizer like Espoma Organic Indoor! to keep them strong and thriving!

 

Learn More about Farmer Nick here: 

Website: Farmer Nick.com 

Instagram: @farmernick

Facebook: @FarmerNick

TikTok: @farmer_nick

YouTube: @FarmerNickJr

Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Potting Mix Bag Espoma Organic Seed Starter Premium Potting Mix Bag Espoma Organic Indoor! liquid plant food - Organic fertilizer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: 7 Tips For Growing Herbs From Seed 🌿🌱with Garden Answer!

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Follow along with Laura from @gardenanswer as she walks you through a step-by-step guide on planting herbs from seed. Laura recommends using a high-quality organic potting soil mix, like our Espoma Organic Seed Starter Mix, to create the ideal environment for seed germination.

1) Choose your herbs! – Everyone has their food preferences. choose the herbs that you want to grow and eat!

2) Growing Location – Choose a location that provides adequate sunlight. Most herbs require at least 6-8 hours of full sunlight for germination.

3) Gather supplies:

  • Herb seeds.
  • I.D. tags or labels.
  • Grab a writing utensil.
  • Planting containers or pots.
  • Humidity dome.
  • High-quality organic potting soil mix like Espoma Organic Seed Starter Mix.
  • Spray bottle or water mister.

4) Gather Information– Understanding how to care for the seeds you’ve chosen is key to successful growth. Most seed packets include planting and care instructions on the back to guide you in properly planting and nurturing your herbs.

5) Prep Your Soil – It’s important to use a high-quality seed-starting mix like Espoma Organic Seed Starter. These mixes are lighter than traditional potting soils, promoting better root development for young plants. Adding water to the soil will help provide adequate moisture for germination and will help with the soil structure by preventing settling in your container. 

6) Make Your Plant I.D. Tags – Labeling your pots before planting helps keep everything organized, ensuring you know exactly what to plant in each pot and preventing any mix-ups.

7) Plant your seeds! – plant at least 2-3 seeds per container you should always Refer to your seed packets for proper planting instructions.

Bonus Tip! – Skip the watering can! Laura recommends using a spray bottle or mister to gently water your seeds without disturbing them.

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6 Reasons to Start a Garden! 🍅🌺🌿

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Spring is here, and there’s no better time to dig in and grow something beautiful. April is National Gardening Month — a time to celebrate the joy and countless benefits that come from nurturing a garden. Across the country, you’ll find educational activities, local plant sales, garden center seminars, and more to inspire you to get growing.

Whether you’re starting fresh or picking up where you left off, now’s the perfect time to turn gardening into a healthy new habit. Here’s why:

vegetable garden

1. Homegrown is Healthier

When you grow your own vegetables, you control exactly what goes into your garden—and onto your plate. Using organic fertilizers like Espoma Organic Plant-tone or  Garden-tone and healthy soils like Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix or Potting Mix ensures your food is full of nutrients and free from synthetic chemicals. Plus, research shows that gardeners naturally eat more fruits and veggies, making it a smart step toward a healthier lifestyle.

man digging a hole in a garden

2. Gardening Gets You Moving

Gardening is a full-body workout disguised as a relaxing hobby. Activities like digging, planting, weeding, and watering can burn 300–400 calories per hour, while building strength and reducing stress. Whether you’re planting with Espoma Bio-tone Starter Plus for strong roots or amending your beds with Land & Sea Gourmet Compost, every moment spent in the garden helps you stay active and energized.

family in vegetable garden

3. Quality Time with Kids

Gardening offers an incredible opportunity to teach kids about nature, sustainability, and healthy eating. Planting sweet tomatoes, juicy strawberries, or colorful flowers together becomes a rewarding, hands-on way to connect. Boost their success—and excitement—by using organic fertilizers like Espoma Organic Tomato! Liquid Plant Food for veggies or Holly-tone for acid-loving favorites like blueberries and hydrangeas.

Bee and butterfly on flowers

4. A Garden Adds Beauty and Life

Whether it’s a vibrant flower container, a lush raised bed, or a pollinator-friendly garden, a little green can transform any space. Using rich, organic soils like Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix or Land & Sea Gourmet Compost gives your plants the foundation they need to grow strong and beautiful, while creating a welcoming home for butterflies, birds, and bees.

garden plants

5. An Outlet for Creativity

Your garden is your canvas. Try something new each season—like mixing bold annuals with native perennials or creating a mini kitchen garden filled with fresh herbs. Give new plantings a great start with Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus formulated to help plants establish strong roots.

happy gardener

6. A Personal Escape

When life gets hectic, your garden can be your sanctuary. Whether you’re pulling weeds, watering seedlings, or simply admiring the first bloom of the season, gardening offers simple, satisfying moments of peace. Plus, harvesting your own food, grown with organic care, makes every meal more meaningful.

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Want to learn how to grow your own organic vegetable garden? Click here for more tips and resources.

Featured Products: 

Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus Bag Image Espoma Organic Garden-tone

Espoma Organic Plant-tone organic fertilizer

Espoma Raised Bed Mix bag Espoma Organic Land and Sea

Espoma Organic Potting Mix Bag

Espoma Organic Tomato! Liquid Plant Food Image

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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