Flower Power Garden Hour

The backbone of any organic garden are hard working beneficial/parasitic insects. I talk with founder of ARBICO-Organics, Sheri Herrera de Frey, about which ones are a must for gardeners to incorporate. We discuss controls for whiteflies, Japanese and cucumber beetles, gnats, borers and so many more. Plus -- learn why releasing beneficial nematodes should be on your garden to do list.  ARBICO-Orga...

Listener Q&A episode.  Topics include: Propagating a String of Pearls Basil infested with caterpillars Mandarin bush – will it produce late in the season Azalea – how to care for Overwintering eggplants & peppers – when to prepare Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow – best time of year & method to transplant   To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram email Marlene at marleneth...

Avocados, blueberries and Hydrangeas - 3 plants I get a lot of questions about. In some parts of the world they grow like weeds, but in many locations they can be tricky. I talk to Bruce Ritter -- co-founder of the Sacramento Botanical Garden -- about growing these, as well as how the plan to build a world class garden in Sacramento is going.   To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Fa...

In this episode, I discuss September garden To-Do tasks.  There is a big variety with a lot on the list, including: Clean up – remove certain vegetables. There are certain ones to leave (peppers, eggplants, etc) as cool temperatures can help them.  Plant Fall/Winter vegetables, including brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, cabbage, kales, swiss chard Harvest gourds such as pumpkins and...

What does it take to grow healthy CBD with organic regenerative practices? I talk to founder of Sunset Lake CBD, Sam Bellavance and farmer/grower Caitlin Silber to hear about how they produce the most beautiful plants in Vermont. We discuss how they feed the soil, prevent most pest and disease problems and what they use to treat powdery mildew. Plus -- we talk about all their wonderful products an...

A plant out of place… this is a universal definition  of a weed. Weeds are many gardeners' biggest nemesis.  If left unchecked they can cause numerous issues in a garden. I breakdown how weeds get to your garden, how to control them and the single most important task to prevent an inundation. 

Grab bag listener Q&A episode – fruit tree pruning, orchids, hibiscus…..topics include:  Old wood chippings – what can I use for? Orchids – how to treat ant infestation Hibiscus – part is green, part is brown….diagnosis? Spotted spurge – how to mitigate this weed Peach tree – how to prune to prevent branch breakage To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram email Marlene...

The dog days of summer are upon us, and heat and smoke from wildfires is everyday life.  In this episode, I discuss this as well as all August to-do tasks, which compared to other months are not as daunting.  These include your fall vegetable planning/prep, summer fruit tree pruning, and some beginning thoughts on water issues.     To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instag...

Doing a bit of summer fruit tree care can go a long way for a plentiful, healthy crop the following year.  I talk to Don Shor, owner of Redwood Barn nursery, about the benefits of summer pruning, what you should be fertilizing with, summer pests, how to tell if you watering enough and many more helpful tips. Don and Redwood Barn can be found at: Website:   redwoodbarn.com Instagram:   redwoodbarnn...

Grab bag listener Q&A episode – tree issues and recommendations, vegetables, pests….  Jade – why is it turning red Thrips – how to mitigate Cucumbers – why very pale in color Limbs dropping on a tree that seems healthy Maple tree – roots are starting to show at the base….should they be covered with soil To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram email Marlene at marlenet...

Sonya Harris is a lifetime educator. Working with kids with special needs she became aware of the importance of alternative learning and began her journey creating a school garden. Sonya's energy and dedication quickly morphed into a bigger mission -- eventually leading to the nonprofit Bullock Garden Project. The mission of the organization is stated below: We are dedicated to empowering individu...

Summer is in full swing, and oppressive heat is dominating the western US.  Even with that, believe it or not this is the time of year I start thinking about my plan for winter vegetables.  In this episode, I discuss this as well as all other July garden to-do tasks including…vegetables to plant, summer fruit tree pruning, pruning hydrangeas, and lavender and blueberry care.    To find Marlene on...

Grab bag listener Q&A episode – vegetables, flowers, trees, pests….  Butternut squash identification  Japanese Maple – what are the white spots on leaves? Hydrangea -- flowers dying prematurely Lavender – why are leaves turning yellow? Tomatoes – what are the small, red insects and webbing? Magnolia tree – limbs have been dying for a few years.  Anything that can be done?   To ask questions for fu...

Soils are key to a healthy garden, but it can be a bit confusing when knowing what to buy or add.  Jim McKinley of EB Stone Organics joins me to discuss ways to improve your soil health. Is compost always a good thing? What is a soilless media? What is better… chicken or steer manure and many more questions/topics are discussed. Website: org Facebook: EBStoneOrganics Instagram: ebstone_organics Yo...

The summer heat is here – or it's at least starting.  With that, vegetables are in full swing – as are an assortment of pests.  I discuss these as well as all other June garden to-do tasks To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram YouTube email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

What started out as a passing interest for Natasha McCrary's son has turned into a full fledged farm with the primary mission of promoting and saving baby doll sheep. As the years progressed, the farm has now become a source of cut flowers, essential oil products, farm events and more. I talk to Natasha about how she goes about growing cut flowers in her home state of Alabama. For anyone wanting t...

Gardening is a continuous journey of learning, experimenting and cultivating. It doesn't matter how long you have been gardening or how big your garden is, we can all learn from anyone who has put a trowel in the ground. In this episode I talk to photographer David Art about his journey into gardening. As a youth he watched his grandma garden and grow grapes in a small plot in New Jersey. Today he...

While growing in raised garden beds is not necessary, it can make gardening easier and be a solution to certain issues (can you say gophers!) Joe and I go over how we built my new ones and ones I've used in the past. We cover: What materials work the best Type of soil to fill them with What sizes work best How to barricade against gophers and more   To find Marlene on social media or ask questions...

Many of us have memories of shucking corn on a warm summer evening, but it's even better if that corn is grown in your own garden. I talk to Farmer Fred Hoffman of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast -- he discusses everything you need to know to grow your own sweet corn and popcorn. As a former popcorn farmer, Fred dives into the primary pests and diseases, how to tell when corn is ripe an...

Spring is a time of growth in the garden ... but that can also mean proliferation of pests and diseases. In this mini-episode, I address a few of the most common problems and how to counteract them... peach leaf curl, powdery mildew, aphids and more.  To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram YouTube email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@g...

Spring is in full swing. In Zone 9 all summer veggies can be planted, perennials should go in the ground before the heat comes and summer bulbs should be planted. I discuss these as well as all other May garden to-do tasks To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram YouTube email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

May 5th  is World Carnivorous Plant Day! I'm joined by carnivorous plant experts Kenny Coogan and Carson Drexler to discuss the online events people can take part in, including talks led by carnivorous plant experts from around the world. And of course -- Carson and Kenny discuss all the tips for growing carnivorous plants. Check out the links below, including ones to Carson's online Sarracenia nu...

Permaculture. It is a word that most gardeners have heard but what is it really? I talk to Greg Peterson, host of the very popular Urban Farm Podcast, who has been practicing permaculture for over 30 years. Whether you are growing vegetables or ornamentals, permaculture is a philosophy of gardening that encompasses the entire system of nature around you. Greg details the steps to implement permacu...

Spring is in full swing and there is a lot to do in the garden. I'll address which veggies you can plant now and which ones you should hold off on for a bit longer. I'll also discuss peach leaf curl, weeds, perennial planting and discuss my annoyance with finding a perfect weed eater. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.c...

Located along the bluffs of Mendocino is a botanical gem…the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. I speak to horticulturalists Jim and Jaime about a few of the stand-out plants the garden is known for -- Rhododendrons and Camellias. Jaime discusses the history of the gardens and the overall growing techniques of the plants. Former Rhododendron nursery owner Jim shares his years of growing expertise...