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True Leaf Market Knowledge Center

cucumber seedlings

April Planting Guide by Zone

Written By Lara Wadsworth They say that April showers bring May flowers. I say that April seed sowing brings September harvesting! It's not quite as quippy, but it's still true. For much of the country, April is just the beginning...

Ashleigh Smith

Mar 24 · 13 min read · 0

Mar 24 · 13 min read

How to Improve Soil Drainage

Written By Lara Wadsworth Proper soil drainage is a major part of a successful garden. When the soil retains too much water and becomes soggy for long periods of time, it can cause problems with plant health, inhibit root growth,...

Ashleigh Smith

Mar 20 · 6 min read · 0

Mar 20 · 6 min read

blue hydrangeas

How to Change the pH of Your Soil

Written By Lara Wadsworth Soil pH is an important and frequently overlooked factor in gardening and agriculture. It dramatically impacts plant health and can be the difference between a thriving ecosystem and a garden with plenty of room for improvement....

Ashleigh Smith

Mar 20 · 5 min read · 0

Mar 20 · 5 min read

A woman lets soil fall from one hand to the other

Understanding Soil Texture and Common Soil Problems

Written By Lara Wadsworth Gardening can be likened to cooking. Your plants need the right ingredients in order to achieve success. Your garden soil is the foundation of your plant's health and success, so it's essential to get it just...

Ashleigh Smith

Mar 18 · 8 min read · 0

Mar 18 · 8 min read

food scraps and compost

How to Compost Without Attracting Animals

Written By Lara Wadsworth Many gardeners are completely deterred from composting due to critter attraction. This is a major problem for many urban, suburban, and rural residents. The reality is that there are animals everywhere, and if you are putting...

Ashleigh Smith

Mar 18 · 5 min read · 0 ·

Mar 18 · 5 min read

Understanding the Essentials of Soil Composition

Understanding the Essentials of Soil Composition

Written By Lara Wadsworth Understanding the composition of your soil is key to understanding your garden and succeeding as a grower. The best soils for growing nearly any plant are loamy soils. Loam is a balanced mix of sand, silt,...

Ashleigh Smith

Mar 11 · 8 min read · 0

Mar 11 · 8 min read

hands holding compost over soil in a garden

A Beginner’s Guide to Soil Amendments

Written By Lara Wadsworth Whether you are a true gardening beginner or only just getting into soil science, amendments can be a daunting subject. Soil amendments are seemingly magical ingredients that can transform your soil, leading to healthier plants and...

Ashleigh Smith

Mar 10 · 8 min read · 1

Mar 10 · 8 min read

Women in Agriculture

Women in Agriculture

March is recognized as Women’s Month, with March 8th, 2025, also being recognized as International Women’s Day. To celebrate, we wanted to highlight some key contributions made to the fields of Agriculture and Horticulture by notable women. While women have...

Ashleigh Smith

Mar 3 · 8 min read · 0

Mar 3 · 8 min read

girl holding a wildflower bouquet

The Beauty of Regional Wildflowers

Written By Lara Wadsworth What goes through your head when you see a wildflower? Probably something about how beautiful and amazing it is, right? While wildflowers are impressive earthly adornments, their significance extends far beyond beauty. Flowers of all kinds...

Ashleigh Smith

Feb 27 · 7 min read · 4

Feb 27 · 7 min read

gloved hands transplanting vegetables

March Planting Guide By Zone

Written By Lara Wadsworth March is the month that most people equate to spring, or at least the promise of spring. Temperatures are steadily warming up (whatever that means for you), and while the northern zones are likely to experience...

Ashleigh Smith

Feb 24 · 11 min read · 0

Feb 24 · 11 min read

hands planting seeds in small pots

February Planting Guide by Zone

Written By Lara Wadsworth My least favorite month of the year is February. As I am writing this, we are deep into it. What I love least about it is that we have already endured a long winter season, and...

Ashleigh Smith

Feb 17 · 10 min read · 0

Feb 17 · 10 min read

Sprout Out Loud: My First Bite-Sized Harvest

Sprout Out Loud: My First Bite-Sized Harvest

Written By Lara Wadsworth As a writer here at True Leaf Market, I am frequently researching and writing about a wide range of seeds and growing techniques. I learn about the health benefits of all sorts of plants as well...

Ashleigh Smith

Feb 10 · 3 min read · 0

Feb 10 · 3 min read

What Are Treated Seeds?

What Are Treated Seeds?

Written By Lara Wadsworth At True Leaf Market you may notice some seeds are labeled as “Treated” in their titles. This means that it has been coated in a light fungicide. The purpose of this is to reduce seed rot...

Ashleigh Smith

Feb 10 · 6 min read · 0

Feb 10 · 6 min read

Restaurant-style mung bean sprouts

How to Grow Restaurant-Style Mung Bean Sprouts

Mung beans are one of the most popularly grown sprouts for their taste, texture, and many benefits. You can often find mung bean sprouts garnishing popular Asian cuisines, such as pad Thai, spring rolls, pho, and many other soups, stir-fries,...

Ashleigh Smith

Feb 3 · 2 min read · 0

Feb 3 · 2 min read

baby greens close up

Winter Wellness: Embracing Microgreens and Cool Season Vegetables

Written By Lara Wadsworth According to the University of Texas, at least ten million Americans suffer from seasonal affective disorder, otherwise known as seasonal depression. As the Holidays have passed and life has returned to normal, it is hard not...

Ashleigh Smith

Feb 3 · 7 min read · 0

Feb 3 · 7 min read

hands transplanting tomatoes

Restoring the Hamson Tomato Genetics

If you have grown the Hamson tomato over the last several years, you may have noticed a mix of Roma and round-shaped fruits developing on your plants. This happens as a result of shifts in the genetics. Though tomatoes are...

Ashleigh Smith

Jan 27 · 3 min read · 1

Jan 27 · 3 min read

sprout for health blog header with illustrated green sprouts

Sprout for Health - Beyond the Challenge

If you are just completing this challenge, CONGRATULATIONS! You have learned how to grow sprouts, microgreens, wheatgrass, and know a thing or two about the many benefits of these superfoods and more! If you are just learning about this challenge,...

Ashleigh Smith

Jan 27 · 3 min read · 1

Jan 27 · 3 min read

Strawberries on a white table

Everbearing vs June Bearing Strawberry Types

Written By Lara Wadsworth Strawberries are one of America’s favorite fruits from adult to child. With the average American consuming 8 pounds of strawberries annually, it is hard to ignore these sweet little fruits. Growing strawberries at home is not...

Ashleigh Smith

Jan 21 · 4 min read · 0

Jan 21 · 4 min read

Sachem Public Library Seed Library 2024 Display

Sachem Seed Library: Establishing Gardens and Connecting Community

There are always members of your community that can be helped through gardening. The Sachem Public Library has created greater access to gardening and fresh, healthy foods in their community by creating a seed library where local patrons can access...

Ashleigh Smith

Jan 20 · 2 min read · 2

Jan 20 · 2 min read

sprout for health header green with sprout illustrations

Sprout for Health - Wheatgrass and Superfoods

This week is all about wheatgrass and superfoods. When people think about eating healthy, they often focus on calorie counting and portion sizes, but we want to focus on the quality of the food being consumed instead. Healthy foods are...

Ashleigh Smith

Jan 20 · 3 min read · 0

Jan 20 · 3 min read

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