The GrowByCity Blog
Expert planting guides, seasonal tips, and gardening knowledge — all grounded in real climate data for your city.
Water-Wise Gardening: Conservation Tips for Home Gardeners
Practical strategies for reducing water use in your garden without sacrificing yields, including mulching, drip irrigation, rain barrels, drought-tolerant plants, watering timing, and xeriscaping principles.
Companion Planting: The Science Behind What Works
A science-based look at companion planting, covering proven combinations like the Three Sisters and basil with tomatoes, pest-deterrent plants, allelopathy, and common myths that do not hold up.
Raised Beds vs In-Ground Gardening: Which Is Right for You?
A practical comparison of raised bed and in-ground gardening, covering cost, soil quality, drainage, maintenance, accessibility, and which crops grow best in each setup.
Year-Round Gardening: What to Plant Every Season
A month-by-month guide to keeping your garden productive all year, covering indoor seed starting, direct sowing, cover crops, and season extension techniques for every climate.
The 10 Easiest Vegetables to Grow in Any Climate
These 10 vegetables and herbs thrive in nearly every climate, from cool northern zones to warm southern gardens. Each one is beginner-friendly with a fast path to harvest.
Frost Dates Demystified: Building Your Perfect Planting Calendar
Learn how last and first frost dates are calculated, why they matter, and how to build a season-by-season planting calendar using frost dates, cool-season and warm-season crops, and succession planting.
USDA Hardiness Zones Explained: How to Use Them for Better Gardening
A deep dive into USDA hardiness zones: what they measure, how the 2023 map update shifted zones, the role of microclimates and heat zones, and the system's real limitations.
Understanding USDA Hardiness Zones: A Complete Guide
What USDA hardiness zones actually mean, how to find your zone, and how to use zone information to choose the right plants for your garden.
Container Gardening: Grow Food on a Balcony
Everything you need to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruits in containers on a balcony or small outdoor space — from choosing containers to the best crops for limited space.
Starting an Indoor Herb Garden: The Beginner's Complete Guide
Everything you need to grow fresh herbs indoors year-round, from choosing the right herbs and containers to mastering light, soil, watering, and harvesting techniques.
Spring Planting Guide 2026: What to Grow Right Now
A zone-by-zone breakdown of the top 10 vegetables to plant this spring, with exact timing, spacing, and the fastest path from seed to harvest.
15 Easiest Vegetables for First-Time Gardeners
Data-backed picks: these 15 vegetables and herbs are rated 'easy' in the most cities worldwide, making them the safest bets for beginner gardeners.
Find Your City's Planting Calendar
Get personalized planting dates based on your city's climate — not just a generic zone number.