Teaming With Microbes

This week, Jeff and Jonathan discuss caring for amaryllis flowers, focusing on the importance of feeding them phosphorus-rich nutrients like bone meal. Jeff then shares fascinating new research explaining how shrubs and trees survive winter through cellular adaptation. Finally, they explore the significance of World Soil Day. All this and more on this episode of "Teaming with Microbes." **********...

This week, Jeff and Jonathan kick off their weekly conversation by exploring "forcing the bulb"—a technique that tricks bulbs into blooming early by mimicking the natural temperature cycles of fall, winter, and spring. They explore various strategies, ideal temperatures, and timing for this process. After the break, they examine fascinating plants like the corpse flower, which uses thermogenesis t...

Jeff revisits his disdain for poinsettias while introducing some great winter alternatives: holiday cacti. He breaks down various cacti for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, highlighting how shortening days and cool nights trigger their growth. Jonathan adds that amaryllis are also superb holiday plants. After the break, the team discusses ways to care for a lawn in winter, particularly in plac...

Jeff is back from his tour of Iceland, Scotland, and England—just in time for snow in Alaska! Speaking of snow, the guys discuss how it isn't necessarily bad for gardens. Known as "poor man's fertilizer," snow acts as an insulator, adds nitrogen to the soil, and releases nutrients slowly as it melts. This slow release is more beneficial than rain due to reduced runoff. After the break, the guys di...

This week, Jeff is traveling the world, spreading the message of the soil food web. Meanwhile, Jonathan chats with Evan (the show producer) about his gardening goals, including growing garlic. After the break, Evan interviews Jonathan about his gardening roots and his friendship with Jeff, exploring their long-standing commitment to soil food web gardening. Finally, they address listener questions...

This week, Jeff and Jonathan are discussing fall lawn care. Should you rake your leaves or mulch them? This year, Jeff isn't doing anything as he'll be traveling. He'll make sure to report back next summer on how things worked out. After the break, the guys explore various indoor gardening methods for the winter months. You can grow a variety of plants and vegetables, including lettuce, sprouts, a...

This week, Jeff is teaming with science, sharing some exciting new studies about the effect of white noise on fungi. After the break, the guys discuss recent research on endosymbiosis—the biological relationship where one organism (the endosymbiont) lives inside another (the host). Jeff believes this science is the future of agriculture. Finally, they talk about ways to prepare and care for poinse...

In this episode, Jeff and Jonathan talk about frost and how it affects gardening. They explain the difference between "hard frost" and "soft frost" (or "light frost"), and how these different types of frost impact plants. They also compare dew and frost, pointing out that dew can actually be good for gardens and lawns at certain times of the year. After a short break, the guys discuss the pros and...

This week, Jeff and Jonathan are talking about mosquitoes, focusing on their surprising scarcity in Alaska. They explore the declining mosquito population in the region, attributing it to warming temperatures. The conversation then shifts to dragonflies, a common predator of mosquitoes and other small insects. It also happens to be one of Alaska’s state insects! After a break, the discussion moves...

Jeff recounts his favorite gardening column of all time, where he wrote about the intricate relationship between cluster flies and the soil food web.   After the break, the guys debunk some common myths about planting bulbs in the fall.  Additionally, they give some good planting tips. Finally, they answer a trio of listener questions, ranging from growing garlic to pet waste in compost. All this...

Last week the guys talked about applying organics to the garden to nurture the soil food web.  This week, they talk about another contributor to healthy soil: Springtails! Springtails are very small insects that break down organics by ingesting bacteria and fungi.  They can also jump about 2 feet.  This means when they jump around, they carry bacteria and fungal spores with them - which helps spre...

As the weather transitions from summer to fall, it's time to consider how this change affects your garden. Jeff encourages listeners to apply organic matter to their gardens now to prepare for next year's crops. He also suggests that this is an ideal time to get your soil tested. However, he emphasizes the importance of using a reputable soil tester that employs either the Reams Method or Albrecht...

This week, Jeff and Jonathan are discussing healthy soil structure—particularly the role of worms. As the true engineers of the soil food web, worms bring organic matter from the surface down into the soil. This action creates burrows that hold air, water, and organic matter, forming the building blocks for a thriving organic soil structure. After the break, the duo addresses a listener question a...

As rain pelts Southcentral Alaska, mushrooms (and wood frogs) are popping up everywhere. Jeff and Jonathan point out that mushrooms in lawns or meadows are usually a positive sign, indicating thriving soil microbiology. In fact, fungal activity in your lawn is beneficial, as mushrooms are great decomposers in the food chain. After the break, the guys discuss growing potatoes and ways to ensure you...

Record rainfall has hit Southcentral Alaska. However, as the guys discuss this week, gardens can still thrive despite the wet conditions. The team acknowledges that Alaskans are experts at gardening in wet soil. Jonathan points out that raised beds are excellent for rainy gardening, while Jeff mentions that containers are also effective. However, the best way to ensure your garden thrives in wet s...

This week, the guys discuss the fascinating world of hydrangeas. Jeff mentions that these vibrant flowers are the top-selling plant in garden centers across the U.S. because they are both gorgeous and easy to maintain. He notes that their popularity is due to their colorful appearance as well as their resilience and adaptability. Jonathan adds that hydrangeas thrive in warm soil and temperatures,...

This week, Jeff and Jonathan talk about all things lawns! But first, Jeff shares his thoughts on the benefits of going digital, including his weekly column at ADN. Next, they dive into lawn care. Jeff advocates for getting creative with mowing, especially with different designs. For example, you can switch things up every mow with new patterns like diagonals, criss-crosses, waves, and even hearts!...

This week, the guys share plenty of tips on getting the most out of your garden, especially on how to harvest your plants and vegetables efficiently. In Alaska, things grow quickly, particularly cole crops like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage. Jeff emphasizes picking vegetables before they flower, while Jonathan suggests using a juicer to make the most of every bit of the garden. After the...

The guys are talking about all the rain happening in Southcentral Alaska recently, and Jonathan asks: Is too much rain bad for your garden? It turns out this is a nuanced question. For example, if your outdoor soil food web garden is healthy, rain shouldn't be too big of a deal. Just remember that too much water for indoor plants can be a bad thing. After the break, the team discusses some abundan...

This week, Jeff and Jonathan are dealing with the vast amounts of cottonwood seeds flying around Southcentral Alaska. Jonathan highlights how the seeds trigger allergies, while Jeff shares some science facts. For example, did you know a cottonwood tree can produce 1 to 2 million seeds per year? Additionally, parts of the cottonwood are edible, and it can even be harvested for syrup. After the brea...

This week, the guys are talking all about lilacs. In Alaska, there is a short window when lilacs are in full bloom (about 6 weeks), so it’s important to care for them properly to keep them healthy year after year. Fun fact: Jeff’s grandfather hybridized a lilac! After the break, Jeff shares the battery-powered tools he uses for gardening: Small chainsaw Blower Weed eater Jeff is disappointed with...

Jonathan reveals his fondness for chickweed, while Jeff expresses his dislike for this rapidly growing weed. However, they both agree on chickweed's resilient nature and its ability to spread. Digging a bit deeper, Jeff introduces the plant's alternative names, such as mouse ears, starflower and satin weed. Some fascinating aspects of chickweed include its ability to grow with minimal light and it...

Jonathan is bummed out that the dandelions are turning white.  However, Jeff reminds him that each flower has about 300 seeds (making it a powerful spreader).  This kicks off a discussion about the hidden powers of dandelions.  For example, did you know that you can make teas, wine and even tempura with them?  Also, the dandelion taproot can burrow 15 feet into the ground! After the break, Jonatha...

In this week's episode, Jeff and Jonathan dive into strategies for planting and caring for different types of beans and peas. Jeff begins by discussing the history of sweet peas, emphasizing their delightful fragrance, vibrant colors, and easy cultivation. Next, they compare sweet and snap peas, with Jeff emphasizing the importance of pinching and picking the flowers. After the break, Jonathan rec...

This week, Jeff and Jonathan celebrate the bountiful dandelions flourishing in Southcentral Alaska, prompting an important question: where do they originate? They discuss how attitudes towards dandelions have evolved over the years and explore strategies to prevent their overgrowth. Next, they share tips on introducing native plants to your yard, garden, or meadow, including optimal planting locat...