The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

We don’t often think of companion planting to prevent diseases, but it’s definitely worth considering. And the strategies are quite practical! Connect With Jessica Walliser: Jessica Walliser is a horticulturist, founding partner at Savvy Gardening, and the author of multiple books including the upcoming Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden. Shop the...

The most popular request for companion planting has to do with pest management. Marigolds top the list...but today Jessica explains why the REASON marigolds are a good idea isn’t quite what you might think. Connect With Jessica Walliser: Jessica Walliser is a horticulturist, founding partner at Savvy Gardening, and the author of multiple books including the upcoming Plant Partners: Science-Based C...

This episode contains some of the best tips you’ve never heard on weed management, including using cucumbers to control weeds?! Connect With Jessica Walliser: Jessica Walliser is a horticulturist, founding partner at Savvy Gardening, and the author of multiple books including the upcoming Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden. Shop the Store As an exc...

With soil health, you have to broaden your idea of companion planting - some of the best strategies involve planting one crop months ahead of time to prepare the soil for your “real” crop. Cover cropping and other strategies are discussed in today’s show. Connect With Jessica Walliser: Jessica Walliser is a horticulturist, founding partner at Savvy Gardening, and the author of multiple books inclu...

Companion planting is an often overused and misunderstood term in gardening. Jessica Walliser joins us on the show to talk about a science-based approach to companion planting, starting out with understanding the ways in which plants interact with one another. Connect With Jessica Walliser: Jessica Walliser is a horticulturist, founding partner at Savvy Gardening, and the author of multiple books...

Carrots are one of Kevin’s favorite crops to grow, but he’s never grown a giant. Ryan Cook shares some of his tips on how to make sure you get a massive carrot...including transplanting them!? Connect With Ryan Cook: Ryan Cook is a giant vegetable grower from Summers County, West Virginia and set a world record for the most varieties of giant fruits and vegetables grown in a single season, along w...

Ryan Cook grew a 19.61lb rutabaga and bagged the West Virginia state record by over TEN pounds. Kevin and Ryan riff on rutabagas and how climate affects growing giant veg. Connect With Ryan Cook: Ryan Cook is a giant vegetable grower from Summers County, West Virginia and set a world record for the most varieties of giant fruits and vegetables grown in a single season, along with a butternut squas...

So you’ve grown a giant pumpkin…how do you know when to harvest…or how!? Remember, these bad boys can get up to 2,500+ lbs. Ryan shares some tips from a pro. Connect With Ryan Cook: Ryan Cook is a giant vegetable grower from Summers County, West Virginia and set a world record for the most varieties of giant fruits and vegetables grown in a single season, along with a butternut squash world record...

If you’ve got a giant pumpkin seed started and transplanted…what next? There’s a lot that goes into the growth phase that Ryan Cook explains in today’s episode. Connect With Ryan Cook: Ryan Cook is a giant vegetable grower from Summers County, West Virginia and set a world record for the most varieties of giant fruits and vegetables grown in a single season, along with a butternut squash world rec...

Giant pumpkins are the plant that kicked off the entire giant veggie crazy, and Ryan’s grown a few over 1,000lb. Today he shares the first installment of growing massive pumpkins. Connect With Ryan Cook: Ryan Cook is a giant vegetable grower from Summers County, West Virginia and set a world record for the most varieties of giant fruits and vegetables grown in a single season, along with a buttern...

How did Ryan Cook become a giant veggie aficionado? The story is not what you’d think. Connect With Ryan Cook: Ryan Cook is a giant vegetable grower from Summers County, West Virginia and set a world record for the most varieties of giant fruits and vegetables grown in a single season, along with a butternut squash world record. Heavenly Hills Homestead Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners...

The world of giant vegetables is a deep one, and we’re diving in with Ryan Cook, who has a world record on butternut squash, amongst other epic veggies. Connect With Ryan Cook: Ryan Cook is a giant vegetable grower from Summers County, West Virginia and set a world record for the most varieties of giant fruits and vegetables grown in a single season, along with a butternut squash world record. Hea...

There is a world of gardeners out there. Social media is like a digital garden for Ashlie as she cultivates community and develops friendships online with people who share a love for gardening and values. Connect With Ashlie Thomas:  Ashlie Thomas is an organic gardener in North Carolina, Zone 7b. She’s growing for food security, health, and wellness and has a new book out How to Become a Gardener...

We have all had setbacks in the garden. Ashlie talks about processing discouragement and focusing on the solution. Our “why” for gardening can be a powerful motivator when we tie it to our values. Connect With Ashlie Thomas:  Ashlie Thomas is an organic gardener in North Carolina, Zone 7b. She’s growing for food security, health, and wellness and has a new book out How to Become a Gardener. How to...

Get inspiration from Ashlie on what plants to grow next season to promote food security and nutrient density for health. These low maintenance and prolific plants include tomatoes, kale, peppers, cucumbers, and carrots. Connect With Ashlie Thomas:  Ashlie Thomas is an organic gardener in North Carolina, Zone 7b. She’s growing for food security, health, and wellness and has a new book out How to Be...

Ashlie and Kevin discuss how the green thumb is a journey. There is an assumption that those with “green thumbs” have an innate proficiency with growing plants and that is not the case. Plants grow themselves, we are here to learn how to give them environments in which they can be their best. Connect With Ashlie Thomas:  Ashlie Thomas is an organic gardener in North Carolina, Zone 7b. She’s growin...

Gardening teaches you so much more than simply how to grow plants. Ashlie shares some of the most transformative lessons the garden has to offer. Connect With Ashlie Thomas:  Ashlie Thomas is an organic gardener in North Carolina, Zone 7b. She’s growing for food security, health, and wellness and has a new book out How to Become a Gardener. How to Become a Gardener YouTube Instagram Shop the Store...

Join Kevin and Ashlie Thomas as she shares how she grows in North Carolina, Zone 7b. Connect With Ashlie Thomas:  Ashlie Thomas is an organic gardener in North Carolina, Zone 7b. She’s growing for food security, health, and wellness and has a new book out How to Become a Gardener. How to Become a Gardener YouTube Instagram Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% o...

One of the strongest reasons to grow plants is to grow your own food for your family and friends. Most of the world is 72 hours away from being food insecure if the trucks stop delivering! Connect With Ashlie Thomas:  Ashlie Thomas is an organic gardener in North Carolina, Zone 7b. She’s growing for food security, health, and wellness and has a new book out How to Become a Gardener. How to Become...

How did Chris end up on the Epic Gardening team? She shares a bit of her transformation from corporate worker to garden educator. Connect With Chris Chung: Instagram YouTube Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% off your entire first order on our store, featuring our flagship Birdies Raised Beds. These are the original metal raised beds, lasting up to 5-10x long...

The garden is never dull - join Chris and Kevin as they share some of their best and worst surprises in the garden this season. Connect With Chris Chung: Instagram YouTube Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% off your entire first order on our store, featuring our flagship Birdies Raised Beds. These are the original metal raised beds, lasting up to 5-10x longer...

No climate is perfect…not even Kevin’s in Zone 10b! As you listen, dream up plants of your own you wish you could grow. Who knows…maybe you can! Connect With Chris Chung: Instagram YouTube Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% off your entire first order on our store, featuring our flagship Birdies Raised Beds. These are the original metal raised beds, lasting u...

There are so many different skillsets in gardening, and none of us is a master of them all. Chris and Kevin daydream about gardening skills they wished they had more experience in. Connect With Chris Chung: Instagram YouTube Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% off your entire first order on our store, featuring our flagship Birdies Raised Beds. These are the o...

You may not be able to travel the world, but you can bring the plants of the world into your garden and experience them firsthand. Chris shares some of her favorites. Connect With Chris Chung: Instagram YouTube Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% off your entire first order on our store, featuring our flagship Birdies Raised Beds. These are the original metal...

Chris and Kevin chat about their greenhouse dreams and plans. Connect With Chris Chung: Instagram YouTube Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% off your entire first order on our store, featuring our flagship Birdies Raised Beds. These are the original metal raised beds, lasting up to 5-10x longer than wooden beds, are ethically made in Australia, and have a cus...