The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

Self-watering container designs are a dime a dozen, but this one is special. It's got drainage holes, a 6" water chamber, and perfect wicking action to make sure the soil layer is well-irrigated...all for about $10. Keep Growing, Kevin Support Epic Gardening Support Epic Gardening on Patreon Follow Epic Gardening YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Buy the Epic Soil Starter Organic Fertilizer! How do you super-charge your soil with good, inexpensive organic matter? That was the question I sought to answer when I designed this custom-mixed fertilizer with my friends over at Garden Maker Naturals. It's designed to take your ordinary raised bed garden soil and give it enough organic matter to kick-start your growing season. Order Your Epic Soil Starter Here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I talk a lot about the root knot nematode in some of the pieces I do, and that’s because this microscopic parasite can do a lot of damage to your plants. It’s not easy to determine if you’re battling against them, and yet your plant will suffer its effects. So let’s discuss what these itty bitty parasites are, and what they actually do. We’ll go over methods to try to eliminate them from your yard, and talk about the differences between good nematodes and bad ones. By the time we’re done, you should know the basics of how to deal with this particular batch of parasites to the best of your ability, and how to keep them away from your prized plants! Learn More: Root Knot Nematode: How To Wipe Out These Plant Parasites Keep Growing, Kevin Support Epic Gardening Support Epic Gardening on Patreon Follow Epic Gardening YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Buy the Epic Soil Starter Organic Fertilizer! How do you super-charge your soil with good, inexpensive organic matter? That was the question I sought to answer when I designed this custom-mixed fertilizer with my friends over at Garden Maker Naturals. It's designed to take your ordinary raised bed garden soil and give it enough organic matter to kick-start your growing season. Order Your Epic Soil Starter Here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The last thing you want to do is throw out your old potting soil. It's easy to refresh with a few simple steps. We'll also talk a bit about the times where you may NOT want to re-use potting soil...so listen in! Keep Growing, Kevin Support Epic Gardening Support Epic Gardening on Patreon Follow Epic Gardening YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Buy the Epic Soil Starter Organic Fertilizer! How do you super-charge your soil with good, inexpensive organic matter? That was the question I sought to answer when I designed this custom-mixed fertilizer with my friends over at Garden Maker Naturals. It's designed to take your ordinary raised bed garden soil and give it enough organic matter to kick-start your growing season. Order Your Epic Soil Starter Here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grown either as a loquat tree or a shrub, this fruiting plant is an interesting one. A relative of the rose, Eriobotrya japonica makes small fruits which taste like a blend of peaches, citrus and mango, and some describe it as having a honey note. But most people have never tasted it and know virtually nothing about this unusual fruit or the lushly-tropical tree it grows on! I’m going to fix that right now, because loquats are delicious, nutritious, and quite fun to grow if you’re in the right climate to do it. The evergreen tree is a beautiful ornamental species, but when you add on the perk of having fresh fruit, it’s definitely worth growing! Learn More: Loquat Tree: How To Grow Tiny, Tangy And Uncommon Asian Fruits Keep Growing, Kevin Support Epic Gardening Support Epic Gardening on Patreon Follow Epic Gardening YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Buy the Epic Soil Starter Organic Fertilizer! How do you super-charge your soil with good, inexpensive organic matter? That was the question I sought to answer when I designed this custom-mixed fertilizer with my friends over at Garden Maker Naturals. It's designed to take your ordinary raised bed garden soil and give it enough organic matter to kick-start your growing season. Order Your Epic Soil Starter Here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever been browsing in the succulent section of a garden center, and discovered a pot with nothing more than a pair of flat-topped rocks in it? If so, you may have discovered the lithops plant, an unusual African genus of succulent. Sometimes called split rocks or pebble plants, living stone plants are extremely drought-resistant and are widely popular in low-water gardens in desert regions. They can be grown both indoors and outdoors, but outdoor growers should be careful that they don’t get too much water. The term lithops is both singular and plural, so don’t go searching for a lithop… always look for lithops. But this living stone plant is easy and fun, and definitely something different to mix into your succulent garden! Learn More: Lithops: How To Grow And Care For Living Stone Plants Keep Growing, Kevin Support Epic Gardening Support Epic Gardening on Patreon Follow Epic Gardening YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Buy the Epic Soil Starter Organic Fertilizer! How do you super-charge your soil with good, inexpensive organic matter? That was the question I sought to answer when I designed this custom-mixed fertilizer with my friends over at Garden Maker Naturals. It's designed to take your ordinary raised bed garden soil and give it enough organic matter to kick-start your growing season. Order Your Epic Soil Starter Here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I don't know about you, but it's been HOT where I live. And my garden has suffered as a result. Here are a few of my top tips for mitigating extreme heat in your garden. Keep Growing, Kevin Support Epic Gardening Support Epic Gardening on Patreon Follow Epic Gardening YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Buy the Epic Soil Starter Organic Fertilizer! How do you super-charge your soil with good, inexpensive organic matter? That was the question I sought to answer when I designed this custom-mixed fertilizer with my friends over at Garden Maker Naturals. It's designed to take your ordinary raised bed garden soil and give it enough organic matter to kick-start your growing season. Order Your Epic Soil Starter Here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do hydroponic herbs require the same amount of light as soil-grown herbs? Find out in today's show, + more hydro garden goodness! Learn More: Hydroponic Herb Garden Guide Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode with Steven Cornett is all about how to use shade cloth to protect your garden! If you're in the Northern hemisphere right now, it's probably pretty hot where you live...so check these tips out! Learn More: Subscribe to Nature's Always Right on YouTube Follow Nature's Always Right on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode with Steven Cornett is all about the "lower and lean" trellis system, which is a super productive way to grow indeterminate tomatoes. Give it a try at home! Learn More: Subscribe to Nature's Always Right on YouTube Follow Nature's Always Right on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode with Steven Cornett is all about how to get creative and find land to grow on. He was clever in getting his first piece of land and is looking to expand now, so is back on the hunt! Learn More: Subscribe to Nature's Always Right on YouTube Follow Nature's Always Right on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode with Steven Cornett is all about secret marketing and sales techniques at the farmers market. If you're a vendor, this is a crucial episode for you. If you're a shopper...be on the lookout for stand-out farms using these techniques! Learn More: Subscribe to Nature's Always Right on YouTube Follow Nature's Always Right on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special treat! We're back with Steven Cornett of Nature's Always Right, one of my good friends here in San Diego. He's a market gardener and is making a living doing it after quitting his job. Today's episode is an update on the past 6-9 months of his farm progress. Learn More: Subscribe to Nature's Always Right on YouTube Follow Nature's Always Right on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 8 of 8 with Jason of Bohica Pepper Hut, we discuss a hotly-debated topic in the pepper world: topping. This is the practice of pruning early to make your pepper plants bush out and (theoretically) produce more fruit. But is it true? Find out in today's show. Learn More: Bohica Pepper Hut Follow Bohica Pepper Hut on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 7 of 8 with Jason of Bohica Pepper Hut, we talk about growing peppers as perennials to get a head start in the Spring. It's possible with a little bit of care, and can drastically speed up how long it takes to get your first peppers of the season. Learn More: Bohica Pepper Hut Follow Bohica Pepper Hut on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 6 of 8 with Jason of Bohica Pepper Hut, we're talking pepper harvesting! How do you know when a pepper is ripe? And after harvest, how do you store for maximum shelf life? Learn the answers in today's show. Learn More: Bohica Pepper Hut Follow Bohica Pepper Hut on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 5 of 8 with Jason of Bohica Pepper Hut, it's all about leaf and fruit related pepper problems. Wrinkly, bubbly leaves or dark purple or black fruits? We'll show you how to solve them. Learn More: Bohica Pepper Hut Follow Bohica Pepper Hut on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 4 of 8 with Jason of Bohica Pepper Hut, we're talking pepper problems. Specifically problems you'll run into BEFORE your pepper fruits set. Yellowing leaves? Flowers falling off? Listen to today's show. Learn More: Bohica Pepper Hut Follow Bohica Pepper Hut on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 3 of 8 with Jason of Bohica Pepper Hut we're talking pepper care from A-Z. After you've got your peppers established in the ground, learn how to bring them to harvest successfully without making any of the classic mistakes! Learn More: Bohica Pepper Hut Follow Bohica Pepper Hut on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is episode 2 of 8 with Jason of Bohica Pepper Hut, and we're talking about the best soil for peppers. It's not too different from most potting soils, but I figured I'd ask a man who's growing hundreds of peppers commercially for his pro tips! Learn More: Bohica Pepper Hut Follow Bohica Pepper Hut on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today kicks off an 8-part series with my friend Jason of Bohica Pepper Hut, a rare and superhot pepper growing company. In today's show we're going to learn how to start pepper seed successfully and care for them up until the time you transplant them outdoors! Learn More: Bohica Pepper Hut Website Follow Bohica Pepper Hut on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our final episode, Craig talks in-depth about the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomato varieties, and why you might want to grow one type over the other. Learn More: Craig's Website The Dwarf Tomato Project Buy Craig's Book, Epic Tomatoe email Craig! Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To prune tomato suckers or not to prune...that is the question. Today Craig demystifies the confusing world of pruning tomatoes. Learn More: Craig's Website The Dwarf Tomato Project Buy Craig's Book, Epic Tomatoe email Craig! Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tomatoes can be tough...but if you know how to prevent and control the few BIG issues you'll run into when growing these juicy veggies, your success rate will skyrocket. Today Craig outlines the major tomato growing problems and how to avoid them. Learn More: Craig's Website The Dwarf Tomato Project Buy Craig's Book, Epic Tomatoe email Craig! Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've never grown in your front-yard before, listen to today's show. Both Craig and I are front-yard gardeners and the benefits are immense. Craig's house is even subject to HOA rules and he's been able to grow without any issues. Learn More: Craig's Website The Dwarf Tomato Project Buy Craig's Book, Epic Tomatoe email Craig! Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we're talking about an awesome dwarf tomato breeding program that Craig started and has grown to 500 volunteers around the country and world! Learn More: Craig's Website The Dwarf Tomato Project Buy Craig's Book, Epic Tomatoe email Craig! Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back again with Craig LeHoullier, author of Epic Tomatoes and all-around tomato pro! He's grown over 3,500 varieties of tomatoes over the years, so I figured I'd ask him what his favorites were! Learn More: Craig's Website The Dwarf Tomato Project Buy Craig's Book, Epic Tomatoe email Craig! Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, we're welcoming Craig LeHoullier, the NC Tomatoman! He's a long-time tomato grower, having been the first to grow and name the Cherokee purple tomato in 1990! Today we'll talk about the difference between heirloom and hybrid tomatoes. Enjoy! Learn More: Craig's Website The Dwarf Tomato Project Buy Craig's Book, Epic Tomatoes Craig's email Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Caroline from the Verdant North is a huge monarch butterfly fan, having even raised them in the past! In today's show she talks about that process, plus attracting them naturally to your garden. Learn More: Listen to the Verdant North Podcast Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Caroline and Dan from the Verdant North are beer and cocktail lovers, so naturally the conversation turned to alcohol and how to spice up your drinks with herbs from the garden. Learn More: Listen to the Verdant North Podcast Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we talk about some things you can do to avoid spreading diseases and pests from one plant to another. As you might guess, we're back with the Verdant North team! Learn More: Listen to the Verdant North Podcast Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we learn all about tree pruning...and there's more to know than you think! For example, did you know there's something called a "branch collar" that you never want to cut off? Learn More: Listen to the Verdant North Podcast Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even if you're living in a climate with extreme seasons, it's possible to have beautiful blooms almost all year long by picking the right flowers and caring for them the right way! Learn which in today's show. Learn More: Listen to the Verdant North Podcast Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we learn all about cultivating a garden that smells AMAZING. You're sure to learn about a lot of plants you wouldn't normally grow, so enjoy! Learn More: Listen to the Verdant North Podcast Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we have the folks from The Verdant North on the podcast! Caroline and Dan are HILARIOUS and chock-full of gardening knowledge. You're sure to laugh a lot in this episode on pathogenic fungi and how to prevent it! Learn More: Check out The Verdant North Podcast! Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once the warmth of summer comes on, cucumbers are a favorite addition to summer salads and sandwiches. Growing cucumbers at home is surprisingly easy, and you’ll find that the ones you grow are far superior to anything you can buy at the store. Whether used to make pickles, eaten fresh from the garden, or used for their juice, cucumber is a great source of vitamins and micronutrients. They’re packed with water and fiber, two things essential to our health. And they’re low-calorie, making them a favorite food of the diet-conscious. Learn More: Growing Cucumbers: The Ultimate Guide To Cucumis Sativus Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's question comes from a listener in Vegas, who doesn't get much sun on her balcony AND lives in that devilish Vegas heat. What can she do?! Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The squash vine borer is not common along the west coast, but for the majority of the United States it’s a common pest. The larvae burrow deep into the soft vines of zucchini or summer squash and kill off the plant. Today I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the lifecycle of these red and black moths and their offspring, and how to get rid of them when they appear! Learn More: Squash Vine Borer: Protecting Your Food Crops From These Pests Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's question comes in from a reader, who wonders if you can still use the Square Foot Gardening method if you're not growing in a raised bed! Learn More: Square Foot Gardens: Where Efficiency Meets Beauty Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's question comes from Dan. He wonders how, when, and what to fertilize his container citrus and fig trees with! Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's question is more of a story from Farmer Phyl on how she drastically improved her heavy clay soil in just three short years. Learn More: Clay Soil Got You Down? Top Tips For Amending Clay Soil Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's show, I talk with Sam and Mark of Vinder, a cool app that allows gardeners to connect with their neighbors to buy and sell produce. Learn More: Check Out the Vinder App Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've been convinced of the power of soil algae like me, you might want to know how to cultivate it at home. Well...that's what this episode will walk you through ;) Learn More: Soil Algae on Kickstarter Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This whole week has been singing the praises of algae...so let's look at the opposite side of the coin. When is it bad to have algae in the garden, and what can you do about it? Learn More: Soil Algae on Kickstarter Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is a quick refresher course on basic soil microbiology :) Learn More: Soil Algae on Kickstarter Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The benefits of cultivating a strong soil food web are unparalleled, but many of us don't realize that algae plays a crucial part! Find out what it does for your soil in today's show. Learn More: Soil Algae on Kickstarter Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that we know the difference between algae and plants, what types of algae will we find in our soil...and what effects do they have on our plants? Learn More: Soil Algae on Kickstarter Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's algae episode, Matt and I look at the difference between algae and plants, and what it means for the garden. Learn More: Soil Algae on Kickstarter Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we kick off ALGAE WEEK on the podcast with my friend Matt Huber of Soil Algae. Matt's an oceanographer and algae researcher who's got a TON to say about algae's relationship to soil and our gardens. In this episode, we talk about the different types of plant pigments and their effect on photosynthesis. It's a must-listen. Learn More: Soil Algae on Kickstarter Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's question comes from Phil Koster, a long-time listener of the podcast. He wants to know if it's truth or myth that floating seeds won't germinate. As with most things...the answer depends on a few factors! Find out which in today's show :) Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Insecticidal soaps are a great 'all purpose' pest destroyer, and for good reason: they make short work of soft-bodied insects. Things like aphids, thrips, whiteflies, and so on. Here's how to make it at home. Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices