Is this introduction really necessary?

If you’ve ever read any of her magazines, or watched her television shows, or viewed the much-discussed Netflix documentary about her life, or follow her on Instagram, or are just a living, breathing human, you already know the outlines of Martha Stewart’s origin story: A former stockbroker, Martha launched a catering business out of her home in Westport, Connecticut, in 1972, which led to a book on entertaining, which led to more books and, eventually, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, an expansive portfolio built around her flagship magazine, Martha Stewart Living.

At 83, she’s far from ready to exit the spotlight. In April, she will co-host a primetime cooking competition show for NBC with José Andrés. And just this past week, she released her 101st book, Martha Stewart’s Gardening Handbook, a comprehensive reference tome for anyone on the gardening spectrum, from the newbie planter to the seasoned green thumb. A serious hands-on gardener herself, she’s played a hand in creating stunning landscapes in every home she’s ever owned. 

Below, Martha reveals a few things even the most ardent fan may not know about her—including the color she avoids introducing into her plantings, the gardening hack that really works, the tool she can’t live without, and why she prefers a garden over a spouse.

Your first garden memory:

It was the garden of my childhood in Nutley, New Jersey. I wasn’t even 3 years old when we moved from a walk-up apartment in Jersey City to the house of my parents’ dreams, a very modest two-story with ultimately six children. There were three bedrooms, a tiny sewing room, one bathroom and a very basic kitchen that would later be remodeled in the only major renovation my parents ever undertook—except, of course, for my father’s garden. That garden took precedence over all other projects for my father. I always think of that garden as his dream, his escape, and his pride. For 16 years, his crops grew beautifully, and he provided us with nourishing vegetables and fruits and berries. It was a garden I will never forget.

Garden-related book you return to time and again:

I wrote my first gardening book in 1991, Martha Stewart’s Gardening, which really offered readers month-by-month insight into how I gardened. It was a very inspirational book about my Turkey Hill garden in Westport, Conn. My latest garden book, Martha Stewart’s Gardening Handbook: The Essential Guide to Designing, Planting, and Growing, just came out on March 18th and is a wonderful reference for the whole year, for both novices and established gardeners.

Instagram account that inspires you:

There are so many. I learn a lot on social media, in a very short time. I learn how extraordinary things happen. I see hacks—well, they’re not exactly hacks, but more of a generational influence on the way things that have been done for a very long time—and they are still the best way to do things. I think social media has done a tremendous service in the proliferation of gardening sites. I find myself going down the rabbit hole—like all of us—looking at spectacular gardens, spectacular growing techniques, spectacular new methods of propagating, and I think it all has spurred a real grounded interest in gardening, farming, and backyards—across many generations. My granddaughter, Jude, likes Plant Finder and uses it when she sees something she doesn’t recognize. I’m also very active on my own personal Instagram handle and blog. I read all the feedback from my followers and always learn from them.

Describe in three words your garden aesthetic.

Don’t be afraid. If you’ve done something that doesn’t work or that you’re not happy with, you can change it. A garden is not ephemeral—it is long-lasting. Don’t be afraid to transplant something or rethink your layout—just be sure to do it at the right time. A garden can and should evolve.

Plant that makes you swoon:

I love plants—trees, flowers, bulbs, shrubs! I’m a plant nerd. I’ve always loved roses, ever since my paternal grandmother’s rose garden in Nutley, New Jersey. Babcia Helen grew hybrid tea roses in a 10 x 40 foot bed. She learned to propagate roses from cuttings: She would take a cutting, remove most of the leaves, and insert them, four or five in a circle, in the soil, under a large glass mayonnaise or pickle jar from the deli. She would give rooted plants to her three children, and we grandchildren would take the large blooms to our teachers for presents.

Recently, I had a hybrid tea rose named after me—the Martha Stewart Rose! It has large pink blooms and lush, dark green foliage and the most intoxicating scent: notes of citrus and sweet honeysuckle. You can buy it at Edmunds’ Roses. We’re going to plant our new rose garden with all Martha roses. I can’t wait!

Plant that makes you want to run the other way:

I’m not very fond of red flowers, though I’m starting to be a little more lenient with red geraniums.

Favorite go-to plant:

I have so many, but certainly peonies. I often threw parties, catered by my longtime friend, chef Pierre Schaedelin, in May to celebrate the blooming of my beautiful herbaceous peonies.

Hardest gardening lesson you’ve learned:

Knowing that things are going to die. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and wonder if a plant or tree is okay.

Old wives’ tale gardening trick that actually works:

A common one is coffee grinds: When my offices were in the beautiful Starrett Lehigh Building, I had a café in the lobby. I don’t believe in waste, so I would take the coffee grinds from the café home and spread them around my azaleas. They really thrived.

My father used fish as a fertilizer on his tomatoes: Growing up, he would take me fishing for bluefish down at the Jersey Shore, bring them home, and clean them into trenches right into the tomato garden. And he was famous for his tomatoes. You probably can’t do that today with all the rodents and animals getting into the garden—but the point is, it’s important to feed, and water, your plants.

Favorite gardening hack:

It’s hard work. You need to be prepared to give effort. Be prepared to work.

Favorite way to bring the outdoors in.

Potted plants. My house—and greenhouse—is filled with orchids, begonias, Dracaena, button ferns, succulents, lots of exotic plants—most of which are planted in Guy and Ben Wolff pots.

Every garden needs …

To start with good soil and compost.

Tool you can’t live without:

A quality hori hori, a Japanese weeder. It’s an indispensable multi-purpose tool—great for many gardening tasks—from scarifying a rootball to planting bulbs.

Go-to gardening outfit:

I have a brand-new line out of work shirts, chore jackets, gloves, and overalls at Tractor Supply that I like to wear.

Favorite nursery, plant shop, or seed company:

I enjoy trying seeds from various vendors, but two of my favorites are Johnny’s Selected Seeds and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. And when I’m in Paris, I go straight to Vilmorin and buy every kind of vegetable seed. I grow everything from seed. I just love reading seed catalogues and choosing seeds.

Not-to-be-missed public garden/park/botanical garden:

NYBG and Wave Hill, of course. Though, I’d have to say that my favorite garden in the whole world is Cantitoe Corners, which is my garden [in Bedford, NY], because it’s where I work, where I plan, where I plant.

The REAL reason you garden:

Well, I always say, If you want to be happy for a year, take a spouse. If you want to be happy for a decade, get a dog. If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, make a garden.

Thanks so much, Martha! (You can follow her on Instagram @marthastewart48.)

For our full archive of Quick Takes, head here.