The Beanstalk : A Podcast for Gardeners

Episode 36 – New Year, New Growth A new year always feels like a fresh planting season, and this episode of The Beanstalk is all about new growth in more ways than one 🌱  John reflects on how the podcast began, why community matters more than ever, and what the launch of Patreon means for the future of The Beanstalk. From self-reliance and food security to shared knowledge and slow, steady progre...

Episode 35 — Lettuce - Fast, Fresh and Forgiving Lettuce might seem simple, but growing it at home changes everything 🌿 In this episode of The Beanstalk, John breaks down how to grow, harvest, and enjoy lettuce for maximum freshness and flavor.  From pest problems and bolting to companion planting and seed saving, this episode covers everything you need to keep the salads coming. If you want fast...

Episode 34 – A Gardener’s Christmas - Holiday Plants & Traditions Celebrate the season with The Beanstalk in this Christmas special episode! 🎄 John walks through the plants at the heart of holiday tradition, from holly and mistletoe to poinsettias, Christmas cactus, ivy, and evergreen trees.  You’ll hear some of the fascinating botanical and cultural stories behind each one, learn why they be...

Episode 33 — Broccoli - Demanding, Nutritious and Surprisingly Productive Broccoli might look calm, but it’s a demanding, nutrient-packed powerhouse that keeps gardeners on their toes 🥦  In this episode of The Beanstalk, John digs into how to grow, harvest, and protect broccoli from pests while getting the most flavor and nutrition possible.  From cool-season timing to soil health, pest battles,...

Episode 32 — Spinach - Fast, Fearless, and Foolproof Spinach might be humble, but it’s one of the hardest-working plants in the garden 🌿 In this episode of The Beanstalk, John breaks down why spinach is such a powerhouse crop, how to grow it successfully in cool weather, and how to keep it producing before heat sets in. You’ll learn about harvesting, pests, seed saving, and even how spinach earne...

Episode 31 – Radishes – Fast, Fiery and Underrated  Radishes might be small, but they pack a serious punch, and today on The Beanstalk we’re giving them the respect they deserve. 🌱  In this episode, I dig into why radishes are one of the fastest, most useful crops you can grow, how to grow them well, and what they can teach you about your soil. We’ll talk varieties, pests, harvesting at the right...

Episode 30 — Chickens - The Real Garden MVPs Today on The Beanstalk, we’re stepping beyond the raised beds and diving straight into the coop for a deep, feathery, long-form episode all about backyard chickens. 🐔  I talk about why chickens are some of the best companions a gardener can have, how to raise them in a way that complements your garden, and all the joys and challenges they bring to a ho...

Episode 29 - Beets - Nature’s Sweet Root With a Sassy Attitude In Episode 29 of The Beanstalk , we’re diving into the colorful, earthy, surprisingly sweet world of beets ! From choosing the right varieties to growing, thinning, harvesting, and dealing with leaf miners, this episode is packed with practical tips and fun stories. We’ll talk root development issues, companion planting, and how to sav...

🌻 Episode 28 — Sunchokes - Abundant, Resilient, and Infamously Gassy Sunchokes are hardy, productive, and… let’s be honest, a little infamous for what they do to your digestive system. In this episode, we dig into how to grow them, why they spread like they’re trying to take over the world, and how to harvest and cook them without fear.  I also share a fun story about my friend Laura giving me so...

Episode 27 — Winter Gardening - The Best Time to Plan, Repair, and Grow 🌱 In this episode, John tackles Winter Gardening —the season of planning and repair! Learn why the freeze-thaw cycle is actually good for your soil and how to monitor hardy crops like kale and garlic. We cover essential indoor gardening ideas (like microgreens) and the crucial steps for winterizing your water lines and tools....

The Beanstalk, Episode 26 - Sweet Potatoes (Thanksgiving Special!) Celebrate Thanksgiving with a deep dive into one of the holiday’s favorite crops— sweet potatoes ! In this festive episode, John covers everything you need to know about growing sweet potatoes, including choosing slips, preparing warm soil, managing vines, and curing your harvest for the best flavor and longest storage life. We’ll...

🌱 Episode 25 — Carrots - Crunchy, Colorful, and Completely Worth Growing In this episode, we dig into everything you need to know about growing carrots—soil prep, planting, thinning, watering, harvesting, and dealing with pests like carrot rust fly. We also cover companion planting, how to save carrot seeds, and the differences between colorful carrot varieties. Plus, stick around for a simple ho...

🌽 Episode 24 — Corn - Tall, Sweet, and Traditional Welcome back to The Beanstalk ! Today we dive into corn — choosing varieties, planting, block-style pollination, feeding, pest fixes, harvest timing, companion planting, and seed-saving basics. Stick around for fun facts, a Garden Nerd Corner, and a tasty grilled Mexican street corn (elote) recipe to celebrate the harvest.

🌿 Episode 23 – Turmeric - the Golden Spice of Life Dig into the vibrant world of turmeric — a golden root with incredible flavor, health benefits, and beauty for your garden. In this episode, we’ll cover how to grow, harvest, and use turmeric both indoors and out, plus explore its tropical companions, fun cultural history, and a cozy golden milk latte recipe. Tune in and bring a little sunshine t...

🌿 Episode 22 – Peas - The Sweethearts of Spring Welcome back to The Beanstalk ! This week we’re diving into the world of peas — those crisp, sweet gems of early spring. From snow and snap to shelling varieties, we’ll cover how to grow, trellis, and harvest them, save your own seeds, and choose perfect companion plants. Plus, a creamy parmesan and pea risotto recipe to wrap up the season’s first h...

Episode 21 – Growing Together - A Thank You from The Beanstalk John shares heartfelt thanks to listeners around the world and reflects on how gardening connects us all, even in a divided world. Enjoy a cozy Potato & Leek Soup recipe, explore how gardening improves mental health in the Garden Nerd Corner, and discover fun facts about gardens worldwide. From our patch to yours… keep on climbing....

🌿 Episode 20 – Compost: Turning Scraps into Garden Gold Welcome back to The Beanstalk , fellow Beans! 🌱 In today’s episode, we’re digging deep—literally—into the magic of composting. Whether you’re managing a small backyard bin or a full-sized pile, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to turn kitchen scraps and garden waste into nutrient-rich, living soil. We’ll explore hot vs. cold c...

 In this fiery episode of The Beanstalk , John digs deep into one of the boldest and most underrated plants you can grow — horseradish! 🌱🔥 Learn how to plant, harvest, and contain this hardy root, and discover why it’s been prized for flavor and medicine since ancient times. We’ll talk about how to keep it from taking over your garden, what makes it so spicy, and how to make your very own homema...

🌿 Episode 18 – When the Garden Floods - Lessons from the Storm Sometimes nature reminds us who’s really in charge. In this special episode, John shares his personal experience waking up to find his garden, business office, garage, and even his chicken coop under several inches of floodwater — and what it took to recover. We’ll dig into how to handle flooding while it’s happening , what to do afte...

Parsley may have a reputation as just a plate garnish, but in this episode of The Beanstalk we dig into why it’s so much more. 🌱 Learn how to grow both curly and flat-leaf parsley. ✂️ Find out the best ways to harvest and store it. 🐛 Discover how to deal with pests like the parsley worm. We’ll also explore parsley’s surprising history, its powerhouse nutrition, and why it’s such a helpful compan...

🌱 Episode 16 – Mint: Invincible and Aromatic 🌿 Welcome back to The Beanstalk , fellow Beans! This week we’re tackling one of the most unstoppable herbs in the garden— mint . Known for its bold fragrance, refreshing flavor, and vigorous growth, mint is both a blessing and a bit of a challenge for gardeners. In this episode, we’ll cover: The best ways to plant mint without letting it take over you...

🌿 Episode 15 – Onions - Layered and Long-Growing Onions may be humble, but they’re one of the most rewarding crops you can grow. In this episode of The Beanstalk , John peels back the layers on this kitchen essential—covering how to grow them from seed, sets, or transplants, why day length matters, and the secrets to harvesting and curing for long storage. You’ll learn fun onion history, why they...

🌿 Episode 14 – Basil - The King of Summer Herbs Basil isn’t just any herb — it’s the King of Summer . In this episode of The Beanstalk , John shares why basil deserves a spot in every garden, how to grow it successfully, and the secrets to harvesting it for maximum flavor. We’ll cover common pests and problems, the pros and cons of working with this fragrant favorite, and wrap things up with a re...

Episode 13 - Strawberries - The Sweet Reward of Patience 🍓 In this episode of The Beanstalk , we’re diving into one of the most beloved garden crops of all time — strawberries! Whether you’re after juicy June-bearing harvests, steady everbearing plants, or the flexibility of day-neutral types, strawberries can be a sweet reward for any gardener with a little patience. We’ll cover how to plant and...

🌿 Episode 12 : Rhubarb : The Tart Titan of the Garden Welcome back to The Beanstalk ! My name is John, and today we’re diving into one of the most misunderstood and underappreciated garden crops— rhubarb . This tart perennial veggie masquerading as a fruit has deep roots in garden history and deserves a spot in your patch, especially if you're looking for a low-maintenance, high-reward plant. In...