Encyclopedia Botanica

This Q+A Episode is all about seed starting! We answer questions about starting sweet potato slips, grow lights, and when to move your transplants outside.  {We're busy lining up late-spring and early summer episodes of the #EBPodcast and we need your support!}  Consider m aking a one-time contribution here  or supporting us at the $5/month level for access to our Slack group. For more info, check...

In this episode Hilary and Michela Colley continue their conversation on Seed Saving for the Home Gardener. This week they'll talk more about the practice of seed saving and share tips on how to best to utilize your space, timing your crops for seed saving, and the types of plants you might want to start with. {We're busy lining up late-spring and early summer episodes of the #EBPodcast and we nee...

In this episode Hilary and guest expert Micaela Colley of the Organic Seed Alliance discuss terminology related to seed-saving, including: "open-pollinated", "heirloom" and "hybrid" seeds. {We're busy lining up late-spring and early summer episodes of the #EBPodcast and we need your support!}  Consider m aking a one-time contribution here  or supporting us at the $5/month level for access to our S...

This week Hilary and guest expert Justin Wheeler of the  Xerces Society  will be talking about how to create an effective pollinator habitat in your garden by choosing cultivars that support beneficial insects. We're trying to keep this podcast listener supported, so any contribution helps! Consider supporting us at the $5/month level for access to our Slack group. For more info, check out our Pat...

This week Hilary is joined by Alley Swiss, the owner of Filaree Garlic Farm. Filaree Farm, which is know for their premium quality garlic seed, has been expanding their offerings to include several new seed products such as shallot sets, seed potatoes, sweet potato plants, and the newest addition, asparagus crowns. This episode is all about asparagus (well..maybe they discuss garlic a LITTLE), so...

This week we're bring back the Slack Q+A episodes! In this episode we'll address questions about crop planning, growing fruit trees in containers, dahlias and much more. The questions that make up the content for these episodes are pulled from our online Slack group, which is an online community where you can share questions and gardening tips with me and an awesome group of edible gardeners. Your...

In this episode Hilary and special guest Simon Crawford of Owls Acre Seed share tips on growing gorgeous sweet peas!  Your support is what keeps this podcast going! Any contribution helps. Consider supporting us at the $5/month level for access to our Slack group! For more info, check out our Patreon page! Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/encyclopediabotanica Show notes: h ttp://www.seattleurbanf...

In this episode Hilary and guest expert Niki Jabbour discuss some of the unusual vegetable crops featured in Niki's new book, Veggie Garden Remix! If you're looking to add some variety to your garden this year or you've found yourself frustrated with some of the more traditional vegetable crops, this episode is packed with inspiration.  Your support is what keeps this podcast going! Any contributi...

If you're thinking about adding edible perennials to your garden, sourcing bare-root plants is not only an economical way to go, but it is also likely to provide you with the most options when it comes to choosing plant variety. Many plant nurseries will also ship bare root plants, making them a great way to go if you don't live nearby a nursery with an extensive selection. Your support is what ke...

This week on the podcast I'm joined by guest expert, Rod Lamborn. Rod is the son of the well known plant breeder, Dr. Calvin Lamborn, who's also known as the Father of the Sugar Snap Pea. I'm sorry to say that Calvin passed away in 2017, but it's an honor to have Rod here to share with us a little bit about his father's legacy and the future of the Sugar Snap Pea. Check out the show notes for pea...

In this episode Nick Gitts, owner of Swan Island Dahilas, answers all of my burning dahlia care questions. Swan Island Dahlias is a 40 acre dahlia farm located in the Willamette Valley of Oregon and they grow over 360 varieties of dahlias and Nick has been running the farm since 1975.  Your support is what keeps this podcast going! Any contribution helps. Consider supporting us at the $5/month lev...

Starting your own onion transplants from seed is inexpensive and allows you the most control when it comes to picking varieties that are well suited for your garden and culinary needs. In this episode guest expert Colin McCrate and I discuss how and when to start your onions from seed, our favorite onion varieties, and factors to consider when planting your baby onions out in the garden.  Your sup...

Today we’re recapping our favorite crop varieties of 2017, along with our lessons learned and best garden tips. This is our last episode before we take a short winter break. During the break, we'll be working on getting our late-winter and early spring episodes lined up and ready for you, so don't worry, there will be lots of great content coming your way in the new year! Huge thanks to Elevate Ch...

This week we continue our conversation about laying hens with guest Anne Briggs. We discuss introducing new hens into your flock, building a chicken coop, and chickens in the vegetable garden.  Huge thanks to Elevate Chiropractic and Rehab for sponsoring this episode. For more info and for your complimentary garden rehab PDF visit:  www.elevatechiropracticrehab.com Your support is what keeps this...

This week on the podcast we have special guest Anne Briggs (a.k.a. Anne of All Trades) to talk with us about raising laying hens at home. We had so much to talk about on the subject that we ended up breaking this topic into two episodes. This week, in Part 1, we discuss Anne's favorite breeds of chickens, how to source your own laying hens, and the egg laying cycle.  Huge thanks to Elevate Chiropr...

We're taking this week off to spend time with our family and friends, but we wanted to share a quick update with you on what's going on in our gardens, what we're cooking from our gardens this holiday season, and some of our favorite fall and winter archives that will help you plan for spring. We also wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of our listeners, and in particular our Patreon supp...

Rhubarb is perennial garden crop and a low-maintenance gardener’s best friend. Once a rhubarb plant is established, it will require little or no care moving forward. However, additional care will improve your harvest, and on this episode, we’re sharing tips on managing your rhubarb, including dividing plants as they mature. Huge thanks to Elevate Chiropractic and Rehab for sponsoring this episode....

Fall is here, and the days are shorter and colder. Many of us are winding down in our gardens, but not in our garden questions! This episode has a veritable potpourri of topics, including garden pests, keeping pathways weed-free, how to dry cayenne peppers, drip irrigation, and planting garlic. Huge thanks to Elevate Chiropractic and Rehab for sponsoring this episode. For more info and for your co...

Whether you garden as a hobby or as professional, chances are that you garden because you love it. We all want to be able to do the things we love for a long time, so it’s important to be conscientious about how we’re using our bodies in the garden. We also don’t want our gardening to get in the way of other activities we love such as running, skiing, or playing with our kids. On this episode, we’...

Whether you’re expanding your garden to accommodate more crops or starting from scratch and building a brand new garden, there a few key factors to keep in mind when choosing a site that will help you make the most of the space you dedicate to your garden. We need your help to keep this podcast going! Any amount helps. Consider supporting us at the $5/month level for access to our Slack group- may...

Raspberries are relatively easy to grow, and with the right care and maintenance, can be an extremely productive crop in your garden. Lisa Devetter, Assistant Professor of Berry Crops at Washington State University (WSU), joins us on today’s podcast to talk about raspberry growing considerations, including the differences between June-bearing and Everbearing varieties.  We need your help to keep t...

The days are getting shorter and cooler, and that Fall crispness is definitely in the air. In this week’s episode, we answer questions that follow up on previous podcast episodes. Tune in for more information on harvesting sunflower seeds, planting garlic, using drip irrigation, and amending soil. Many thanks to our Club Encyclopedia Botanica podcast funders for asking such smart follow-up questio...

Last week we discussed the various benefits of drip irrigation, along with how to operate and maintain a system. Today we’re discussing the details and providing everything you need to know to install your own drip irrigation system. We need your help to keep this podcast going! Consider supporting us at the $5/month level for access to our Slack group- maybe we'll even answer one of your question...

When it comes to watering your vegetable garden, we've found that a drip irrigation system with an automatic timer is the best way to achieve the consistent watering that crops require. Join us for a chat about how and why we use drip irrigation, and some tips on setting up a new system and winterizing your existing system. We need your help to keep this podcast going! Consider supporting us at th...

Join Hilary and Kellie for a quick chat about what's happening in their gardens this week!  Become an evergreen sponsor of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast via Patreon and get access to our Slack group by signing up at $5/month level! For more info, check out our Patreon page! Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/encyclopediabotanica we love hearing from you!  Tweet us  @seattleurbnfarm  using hasht...