In this issue:

  1. February in the Garden – Gotta Love the Garden
  2. Video: How to Sprout Seed Potatoes
  3. Gardenerd Tip of the Month: Spring Garden Planning
  4. Gardenerd Product of the Month: Bolting to Seed – a New Novel

1. February in the Garden – Gotta Love the Garden

February went by in a flash, it seems. For many folks, the garden is under snow. For others (like us) we’re starting seeds for warm and hot weather crops (looking at you, tomatoes and peppers) and harvesting winter crops on the regular. Whether you are stuck indoors or working hard on your garden, there is always plenty to think about for the season ahead.

Here at Gardenerd HQ, the wisteria we pruned last month is now budding and sending up beautiful, fragrant flowers. We started tomato and pepper seeds under grow lights and everything popped up! We’re harvesting beets, salad greens, herbs, citrus fruits, and loads of kale. It’s time to cut down cover crops to prep the soil for spring planting in warm-winter climates. In cold climates, it’s time to plan that garden on paper.

In this newsletter, you’ll find a tips for sprouting potatoes, your guide to spring planning, and news about my new cozy mystery novel. I look forward to doing spring with you this season.

Happy gardening,

Christy

Monarch on milkweed
The Monarchs are coming through every day. We’ve got milkweed for them (It’s a non-native that we cut down in fall to prevent pathogens).

2. Video: How to Sprout Seed Potatotes

Don’t plant potatoes without sprouting them first! We show you the best conditions for sprouting in our latest YouTube video.

It’s important to sprout potatoes before planting, and even more important to sprout them so they will grow strong. We show you the best way to do it here:

How to Sprout Seed Potatoes

3. Gardenerd Tip of the Month – Spring Garden Planning

Spring is almost here! Take our Plan Your Abundant Edible Garden course to get a head-start on the process.

Spring Garden Planning Help

Feeling the itch to get started? Plan that spring garden on paper (or computer) before you plant a single seed. We’re here to help with our tried and true techniques that give you the most efficient, productive garden possible. Plan Your Abundant Edible Garden course is the way to go. Learn Christy’s methods that she’s used for nearly 30 years!

Don’t know what to grow when? Watch this YouTube video to learn more.

4. Gardenerd Product of the Month – Get Ready for This Cozy Mystery!

Christy’s new book continues the story of Vista Mar Gardens

Bolting to Seed is the continuation of Christy’s first novel, Garden Variety, but this time, there’s a murder. We’re getting ready to publish in April, and the Kickstarter launches on March 10, 2026. Take a moment to sign up to get notified when it launches. We’re working on rewards for each giving tier and can’t wait to share those with you when we launch. Find out more here.

And…

Get your copy of High Yield Small Space Organic Gardening at your favorite bookseller, or order an autographed copy for the gardenerd in your life (even if that’s you!). We look forward to growing with you this spring.

Stay tuned for more tips and tidbits from Gardenerd.com. You gotta love the garden even when it’s dormant. Let’s bring it to life together.

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