The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

A reader wrote me and told me about something called anthroponics, also known as "peeponics." I HAD to look into it...here's what I found out. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aphids are easily some of the most annoying pests in the garden. They proliferate like crazy and can destroy your hard work in no time. Learn how to get rid of them for good. Learn More: Annoying Aphids: All About Aphididae And How To Get Rid of Them Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many gardeners are afraid to compost weeds...don't be! In this episode I show you how to compost weeds in 5 ways that ensure no weed seeds will survive. Learn More: 5 Foolproof Ways to Compost Weeds Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I've recommended green lacewings often on the podcast, so I figured I'd cover what they are and why they're such beneficial bugs. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ah, potato beetles. These spherical pests will munch on all of your potato leaves until there are none left. With proper control, you can get rid of them for good - find out how. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we move into fall, you might be growing asparagus. And if you're growing asparagus, you might have asparagus beetles. Learn how to get this annoying beetles out of your garden. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

These big, fat caterpillars can decimate your tomato plants. Here's how to get them OUT of your garden for good. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We hear about beneficial insects all of the time, but never how to keep them in our gardens. Enter: insect houses. These helpful contraptions provide shelter for our beneficial bugs. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I've been dealing with the super annoying cabbage worms and moths in my garden lately, munching on all of my brassicas. Here is what I've been doing to ensure I never see any of these stupid bugs again. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we look at how you might go about saving strawberry seeds to grow new plants from seed. It's actually a clever method, one that I am going to do very soon! Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's question comes from Christine, who is growing sprouts for her parrots! She wondered if presoaking seeds in warm water was a good idea. Let's find out! Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you want to clear a section of your grass out for a garden or hydroponic setup, how do you do it? I answer this reader question today and riff on some outdoor hydroponics tips. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know those fruit and veggie washes you see at Whole Foods and other fancy grocery stores? Are they even worth the money, and can you make the same thing at home? Find out in today's episode. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the more common questions I'm asked on the blog is about plastic use, specifically, "What plastics are safe for use in the garden?" Since a lot of Epic Gardening readers are into hydroponics and aquaponics over soil gardening, there are a lot of people with a lot of plastic in their setup that are curious about their safety and place in the garden. Well, I was curious too, so I decided to go deep into the world of plastics and figure it all out for you all! Learn More: Which Plastics Are Safe For Gardening? Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I can't tell you how many times I hear from people who are killing succulents! They're one of the easiest plants to grow, so I figured I'd do a quick episode breaking down how to care for them. Learn More: Stunning Succulents: Fertilizing Your Drought-Tolerant Plants Products Mentioned: Top Choice: Espoma Organic Cactus Food (1-2-2) Slightly Stronger: Schultz Cactus Plus (2-7-7) Compost Tea Option: Malibu Compost’s version For Indoor Succulents: Miracle-Gro’s succulent formula Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is part 5 of the 5-part interview with Michael Bell. Michael is a teacher, Texan, competitive bodybuilder...and an urban farmer! In this episode he talks about the surprisingly easy parts of starting an urban farm as well as the things that gave him a much harder time than he expected. We also talk about his plans for the future. Reach out to Michael Bell [email protected] Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is part 4 of the 5-part interview with Michael Bell. Michael is a teacher, Texan, competitive bodybuilder...and an urban farmer! In this episode he talks about how he thinks about planning his urban farm, and what lessons he might give to home gardeners who want to get better at planning their own gardens. Reach out to Michael Bell [email protected] Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is part 3 of the 5-part interview with Michael Bell. Michael is a teacher, Texan, competitive bodybuilder...and an urban farmer! In this episode he talks about the business model of his farm. Hint: it's a BIT different than the traditional small farms out there. Reach out to Michael Bell [email protected] Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is part 2 of the 5-part interview with Michael Bell. Michael is a teacher, Texan, competitive bodybuilder...and an urban farmer! In this episode he talks about how he started his farm for nearly $0 with some creative bartering and hard work. Reach out to Michael Bell [email protected] Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode kicks off another 5-part interview series, this time with Michael Bell. Michael is a teacher, Texan, competitive bodybuilder...and an urban farmer! We get into how he started his urban farm in this first episode. Reach out to Michael Bell [email protected] Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talked about hardneck vs. softneck garlic on yesterday's episode, but how do you grow garlic? What about planting it? Harvesting it? Storing it?! All of these questions (and more) are answered today. Keep growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we move into Fall, we're moving into garlic season...but what's the difference between 'hardneck' and 'softneck' garlic? Which should you grow in your garden? Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’re starting to find holes in the leaves of your kale, and for that matter, in your cabbage, brussels sprouts, or other brassica-family plants. The leaves of the neat rows of radishes you’ve planted are showing signs of chewing, too. Some leaves have little off-white or yellowish spots on their undersides. And you just saw a little green worm wandering over a leaf on your produce. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you probably have cabbage worms (Pieris rapae or Pieris brassicae). Learn More: Cabbage Worms: Everything You Need To Know About the Pieris Species Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s something crawling along the leaves of your arugula, and it looks like a little inchworm. It’s green, and it is snacking as it goes, leaving holes throughout your plants. There’s another on your cabbage, and another one on your radish leaves. What’s going on here? Learn More: Cabbage Loopers: All About Trichoplusia Ni And How To Eliminate Them Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the first 'brand review' I've ever done on the podcast, and it's about a popular LED light system on Amazon. Is it worth it? Learn More: Viparspectra Review: Are These LEDs Worth It? Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you approach fall gardening? When do you plan, what do you grow, and what fall crops should you plant? Learn More: Fall Garden Guide: How to Plan, Pick, and Grow The Best Fall Vegetables Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you have garden tools that have gotten all rusty and neglected? They're easily saved with a little vinegar, lubricant, and a scouring pad. Find out how in today's episode. YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUrcJUmfYiE Blog Post: How to Remove Rust From Tools The Easiest Way Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the biggest complaints I get from potential hydroponic growers is just how UGLY hydroponics systems can look. In this episode I riff on some ways to beautify your gardens. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's question comes from Phil Koster, who wanted to know about the differences in animal manure and whether it's a balanced fertilizer. Well, I went a bit numbers-crazy in this episode but I hope you still enjoy! Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's question comes from Phil, who wonders why his iceberg lettuce didn't form a head. There's an easy answer... Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's question comes from Phil, who asks about planting asparagus in late fall. Is it possible? Find out the answer, plus how to grow asparagus in general in today's episode. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is part 5 of 5 in my conversation with Khaled Majouji, better known as "The Plant Charmer" on Instagram. He owns an organic, vertical, and profitable farm in Canada. In this final episode, we talk about Khaled's vision for the future of his farm, and farming in general. Follow Khaled on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is part 4 of 5 in my conversation with Khaled Majouji, better known as "The Plant Charmer" on Instagram. He owns an organic, vertical, and profitable farm in Canada. In this 4th episode, we talk about how Khaled makes double-filtered, liquid chicken fertilizer and runs it through a drip line. We also talk about how you can do something similar at home in a DIY fashion! Follow Khaled on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is part 3 of 5 in my conversation with Khaled Majouji, better known as "The Plant Charmer" on Instagram. He owns an organic, vertical, and profitable farm in Canada. In this 3rd episode, we talk about why he chose to farm vertically instead of growing in the fertile soil of his farm. Follow Khaled on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is part 2 of 5 in my conversation with Khaled Majouji, better known as "The Plant Charmer" on Instagram. He owns an organic, vertical, and profitable farm in Canada. In this second episode, we talk about how he grows EPIC strawberries (which he is famous for) in a simple and easy-to-follow way. Follow Khaled on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is part 1 of 5 in my conversation with Khaled Majouji, better known as "The Plant Charmer" on Instagram. He owns an organic, vertical, and profitable farm in Canada. In this first episode, we talk about how his farm has managed to survive and thrive in the first year of operation. Follow Khaled on Instagram Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you keep a productive and healthy garden in the fall! In this episode we go over: Why PROTECTION is the #1 rule of Fall What crops will thrive in your garden A few products you may want to consider Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the comments I hear most from friends is, "I can't garden yet...I don't have enough space." That's nonsense! In this episode, you'll get a basic primer of how to garden in an apartment. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've heard of giant veggies but have NO IDEA how they're grown, here's a step-by-step guide on growing giant fall carrots! Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You already know bees are vital for your garden...but you're having a hard time getting them to actually COME to your garden! Learn 5 things you might want to try. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Venus flytraps are a fascinating but often confusing plant to grow and care for. Learn why you're probably killing your venus flytraps! Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's question comes from Pegi, who asks about the basics behind cover crops. If you think they're just for larger-scale growers...think again! Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I don’t know about you, but I’m obsessed with gardening videos and documentaries. There are so many different ways to garden and such a wealth of knowledge on YouTube these days that it’s hard not to be addicted to it. Plus, everyone is sharing all of this information for free! There are some truly inspiring gardens and gardeners here, as well as some older documentaries that are hard to find, but packed with absolutely wonderful gardening information. Learn More: 20+ Inspiring and Free Gardening Documentaries Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I get this question all of the time - what do you do with the soil after you harvest your microgreens? It's a great question, and there isn't one answer, so listen in! Learn More: Microgreens Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it possible to grow chili peppers year-round indoors? In this episode I answer this question and explain exactly why so you can apply it to other plants. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crotons offer a splash of color to any environment. With thick, leathery leaves that have a shiny surface and that grow in a wide variety of colors, they’re admired as an ornamental. They even flower, with both male and female flowers on a given plant — but their inflorescence pales in comparison to the red, orange, yellow, black, even green or bluish-purple hues that the leaves produce. Learn More: Crotons: How To Grow And Care For Codiaeum Variegatum Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Orchids are a bit of an outlier when it comes to how they grow, which makes it hard to know when to repot them. Learn how, when, and why in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever heard of the "tickle me" plant? It's a plant that moves when you touch it. Cool, but are there actually benefits to touching all of your plants? Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is coming at you from the road so it will be short. This is all about what I noticed foraging for blueberries and both Maine and Alaska, plus a question for all of you at the end! Keep growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In my time studying gardeners and working with them, I've noticed habits that the better gardeners practice every single day. Here are eight of them that I noticed. Which do you NOT do? Keep growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices