NaturallyHicks on LTK

Free mulch alert! 🍁 Instead of raking and dumping, try this trick to protect your soil all winter long 🌱

#homestead #mulch #gardentips #fallgarden

Free mulch alert! 🍁 Instead of raking and dumping, try this trick to protect your soil all winter long 🌱 homestead mulch gardentips fallgarden

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If your seedlings are looking ✨fine-ish✨ but not thriving… this might be your sign to up-pot 🌱

Here’s why it matters:
Your seedlings outgrow those tiny starter cells FAST. When they do, roots get cramped, nutrients run low, and growth stalls out.

Up-potting = giving them room to actually thrive 🙌

🌱 Signs it’s time:
• Roots coming out the bottom
• Soil drying out super fast
• Growth seems stunted
• They just look… sad 😅

🌿 Seedlings that LOVE to be up-potted:
• Tomatoes (they’ll grow roots all along the stem 🙌)
• Peppers
• Broccoli / cabbage / cauliflower
• Herbs like basil

What I do:
Start in small cells with @espomaorganic seed starting mix → up-pot into larger containers with epsom garden mix → plant out strong.

Trust me… this step makes a BIG difference in how your plants perform later 🌿

#seedstarting #gardeningtips #homesteadinglife #growyourownfood #gardenbeginners

🌱 Your seedlings fighting for their life?? Yeah… same 😅

If they sprout and then immediately ✨struggle✨… it’s probably not you (ok… maybe a little 😆)

It’s your soil.

Enter: vermiculite —

✨ Keeps your soil from drying out in 0.2 seconds
✨ Stops that weird crunchy crust on top
✨ Gives baby roots a fighting chance
✨ Helps prevent the dreaded seedling flop

What I do:
Plant seeds → sprinkle vermiculite on top → water

And somehow… it works every time 🌿

Also — Epic Gardening seedling trays are still on sale and honestly… they make this whole process way easier 🙌

Save this so your next batch doesn’t humble you 🤍

#seedstarting #gardeningtips #zone4garden #epicgardeningspringsale #epcigardening

Give me all the sun, soil, and garden and I’ll be happy ☀️

#midwestgarden #gardening #raisedbedgardening #provenwinners

Checking soil temps before planting has been a game changer

#LTKdayinmylife

Proof that it’s worth the wait.

Every tomato, cucumber, pumpkin, and handful of beans started as a tiny seed in my kitchen.

If you’re staring at seed trays right now wondering if it’s worth it… this is your sign.

Zone 4 gardeners — summer always comes.

#zone4garden #midwestgarden #growyourownfood #homesteadlife #gardeningseason

It’s March… time to get serious about starting seeds🌱

If you garden in Minnesota (Zone 4), this is the window.

Right now I’m starting:
• Onions
• Leeks
• Celery
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Early herbs

Because our growing season is short — and if you wait until April, you’ll be behind.

Summer harvest doesn’t start in June.
It starts under grow lights in March.

Save this so you don’t forget what to start.
Are you team “already planted” or team “still thinking about it”? 👀

#zone4garden #minnesotagardening #seedstarting #midwestgarden #growyourown

It’s not planting season yet in Minnesota… but it is prep season 🌱

Here’s what I’m doing to get my raised beds ready for spring:

• Cleaning out old debris
• Cutting back anything I left for winter habitat
• Lightly raking the surface
• Adding a fresh layer of compost

I don’t till my beds — I focus on feeding the soil instead 🤎

Slow work now = better harvest later.

Are you team “wait until May” or already outside every sunny day like me?

#zone4garden #midwestgarden #raisedbedgardening #gardenprep #homesteadlife

If you’re struggling with weeds, poor soil, or drainage… this is your sign to try raised beds.

They make gardening:
🌱 simpler
🌱 more manageable
🌱 way less overwhelming

And honestly? I’ll never go back.

I use beds from @vego_garden and @epicgardening and they’ve been amazing through Minnesota winters.

#gardeningforbeginners #raisedbeds #midwestgardener #gardeninspo #backyardgarden

🌱 1. Don’t Overwater

Most seedlings die from too much love.
• Soil should feel like a wrung-out sponge
• Bottom water when possible
• Let the top slightly dry between watering

💡 In Minnesota’s late winter, dry indoor air can trick you into overwatering.

⸻

💡 2. Light Is EVERYTHING

A sunny window isn’t enough this time of year.
• Keep grow lights 1–2 inches above seedlings
• 14–16 hours per day
• Raise lights as plants grow

Leggy seedlings = not enough light.

⸻

🌡 3. Warm Soil = Better Germination

Especially for peppers & tomatoes.
• Use a heat mat
• Ideal soil temp: 70–80°F for warm crops
• Remove heat once seeds sprout

Cold soil = slow or uneven germination (very common in Zone 4 homes).

More seedling trays of course!

Seed starting doesn’t have to be hard 🌱

Follow along for my tried-and-true tips & tricks so you can have a successful year in the garden.

Happy garden planning!

#seedstarting #seeds #midwestgarden #mngarden #zone4garden

Organizing all my new seeds

Grow lights I’ve used for the last few years

Growing potatoes in pails is by far my favorite way! Make sure you are buying food grade pails. #containergardening #garden

A successful garden doesn’t happen by accident.
I plan and strategize every inch before planting—and that prep is what makes all the difference. 🌱

Join me this winter to plan for next seasons harvest.

Happy planning!

#gardening #raisedbedgardening #gardenplanning

Seed starting doesn’t have to be complex.

🌱 Get yourself some soil - I use seed starting mix from @espomaorganic
💧 water
🌱 seedling trays - you can get creative here. I use seedling trays from @epicgardening.
🌱 labels - yes you will forget what you planted where.
💡 natural or grow lights.

📺 YouTube video coming soon on how I start my seeds.
🛒 For a list/link of everything I use check out my link in my bio.

Happy seed starting!

#seedstarting #seeds #gardening #raisedbedgarden

A spring garden is built in winter!

Do yourself a favor and spend the next month planning your garden space. I always start with a rough draft of what my tried and true crops are - then add some new fun varieties. And don’t skip the flowers! It’s super easy to hit add all to your cart when it comes to seeds but trust me when I say it will be worth taking the extra time to plan and map out your space before purchasing seeds.

January is the perfect time to start planning for your 2026 garden in zone 4.

Happy planting!

#zone4 #zone4garden #midwestgarden #raisedbedgarden #seedstarting

If your garden feels tired and your new crops are struggling, it’s probably not you — it’s your soil.

🥦➡️🌾 Brassicas are heavy feeders, so follow them up with cover crops or nitrogen-fixers like peas, clover, or beans. Your soil will thank you next season! ✨

#SoilHealth #CropRotation #midwestgarden #backyardgardening

Dreaming about next season’s garden layout? Now’s the perfect time to plan ahead and invest in your raised beds and grow towers 🌱

@epicgardening is running a big sale — vertical planters 25% off + raised beds 25% off + BOGO 50%, and you can stack my code NATURALLYHICKS2025 for an extra 5% off!

Build your dream garden setup now so it’s ready to fill with green come spring 🌸

Zone 4 friends… you still have a few important tasks you can do before true winter hits. ❄️
Here’s what I’m focusing on right now to set myself up for a smoother spring.
🍂Cleaning up raised beds - pulling weed especially
🍂Putting those leaves to good use - they make a great mulch
🍂Winterizing all the berries

What’s still happening in your garden?

#raisedbedgarden #gardening #zone4 #zone4garden

As the garden sleeps, I’m already planning what to grow next. My @epicgardening seed trays make it so easy to start strong—no more flimsy plastic or failed starts. Here’s to another season of fresh beginnings! 🌱✨

Grab seed starting trays for yourself — or the gardener in your life — during @epicgardening’s Black Friday event! 🌱✨
They’re 25% off plus you can use my link in my bio for an extra 5% off your order.
Perfect time to stock up before seed starting season begins! 🌿

#seedstarting #epicgardening #gardenready #gardeninggifts #blackfridaydeals #gardentools

I’ve loved watching this space change with every season — proof that a garden really is a living thing. 🌿

Growing in raised beds (like these cedar ones from @eartheasy ) makes gardening easier in so many ways — better drainage, warmer soil in spring, fewer weeds, and less bending to plant or harvest.

It’s a setup that looks good and works hard, no matter the season. 🌸

🛒 shop the sale, link in my bio

The secret to the sweetest carrots? A few frosty mornings. 🥕❄️ When the temps drop, carrots turn their starches into sugar — kind of like nature’s way of adding a little sweetness before winter settles in.

#gardening #zone4gardening #midwestgarden #raisedbedgarden #carrots #harvesting #fallgarden