The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

Carol Connare just moved to a new property  in New Hampshire and in turn inherited a half acre permaculture forest. From hardy kiwis to raspberries, persimmons to paw paws, this new project poses plenty of excitement! With an added vegetable garden, abundance is in order.  Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3yzXQ4t Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3SINvdz Book...

Tomatoes are a gateway vegetable for new gardeners. That’s because they’re easy to grow, but require care techniques that can be applied to other veggies. In this episode, Editor of the Famer’s Almanac, Carol Connare covers the ins and outs of tomato cultivation. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4fF35Ri Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3Yxio8q Book Collection...

We’re not talking about gardens full of nighttime pollinator plants. We’re talking about coordinating growing with the 28 day moon cycle. What goes into moon gardening, and how can you practice it at home? Editor of the Farmer’s Almanac, Carol Connare explains here.  Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4dz7AuL Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3WCwFOE Book Collec...

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is an old standby for gardeners in North America. For centuries, this publication has given people access to useful and new information about gardening topics of all kinds. Here, Kevin and the Almanac’s 14th editor, Carol Connare discuss its origins.  Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3LYCrFm Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3yxG1my Bo...

Dr. Gerald Holmes, director of the CalPoly Strawberry Center knows how to cultivate the most delicious strawberries. Everything from varieties to grow, to how to grow them, and even to dealing with pests and diseases – this is the Strawberry Center’s focus. Listen as he and Kevin Espiritu discuss all of these topics and more.  Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3LNyR0q Botanical Int...

Gerald got started in the farming world through gardening with his dad. He developed an interest in horticulture in high school, and wanted to know more about agricultural practices around the world. Through Plant Pathology, he made his way to the Strawberry Center, which is celebrating its 10th year this summer.  Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4d78fno Botanical Interests Shop H...

Strawberries are supple fruits that can contract a host of diseases and pests. In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Gerald Holmes discuss the most common ones. From spider mites to Lygus bugs, and botrytis, they cover the best ways to keep these out of your strawberries. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3ykKitF Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3Sy6Rlx Book Collecti...

There are thousands of varieties of strawberries that have been developed for use in commercial farming. In stores, they aren’t labeled, so you don’t know if you’re eating short day or day neutral berries. For home growers, knowing where you live is the basis of selecting the best varieties to grow.  Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3WwVg7b Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https...

The garden strawberry came from cultivated wild strawberries. This occurred in regions all over the world, with strawberries specific to certain areas. Through cross pollination, people develop the delicious hybrids we love today.  Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3yrUnoD Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/46sY7Tn Book Collection Page: https://growepic.co/3SA1t...

Good combinations of sweet and acidity is what makes strawberry flavor for Dr. Gerald Holmes, Director of the CalPoly Strawberry Center. While varieties have traits that promote good flavor, proper cultivation and climate alters flavors in myriad ways.  Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3YvLyVw Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3LPSCEF Book Collection Page: htt...

In this full episode of the Beet Podcast, Kevin and Jacques have a conversation about their gardens. Crops that are flourishing in the summer season are in crank mode. If you want to know how to get your garden into crank mode, listen here! EG shop homepage:  https://growepic.co/4deLMEs Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3Yh1lHp EG book collection page: https://growepic.co/3Yh1...

Could you get a garden into crank mode sooner? It all starts with proper fertility – namely, available nitrogen. Follow up that base with appropriate amounts of macronutrients and trace minerals, and crank mode begins!   EG shop homepage:  https://growepic.co/3YkbXFz Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4cTUPec EG book collection page: https://growepic.co/3WGiRE1 EG homesteading...

Jacques tomatoes are simply popping off this year. The lack of May Grey in San Diego, and his attentive care and fertilization helped. In this episode, Kevin and Jacques discuss their top crops this summer, and what they did to get them to crank.  EG shop homepage:  https://growepic.co/3A0fkaJ Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3Sqys89 EG book collection page:  https://growepic...

Kevin and Jacques discuss happenings in the four 4x4 test gardens at the Epic Homestead. Previous experiments involved soil-testing, and tomato-burying. There’s even more experimentation planned to give gardeners a good idea of what works and what doesn’t. EG shop homepage:  https://growepic.co/4cWbspL Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/46qrKof EG book collection page: https://...

What interesting plantings did Jacques and Kevin grow over the last couple of years? For Jacques, it’s okra with cucumbers as a living mulch. Kevin twined his indeterminate tomatoes with cucumbers. Unique and interesting pairings are a great way to ensure heavy yields. EG shop homepage:  https://growepic.co/46p8isg Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4bZw1QD EG book collection p...

Kevin and Jacques never know which part of their summer gardens will pop off. This year, it’s corn for Kevin, and tomatoes for Jacques. Is it a couple of seasons of compost added to the top of a raised bed that gets J and K into crank mode? Find out here! EG shop homepage:  https://growepic.co/3WGe6cr Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3ydIIJX EG book collection page: https://g...

Pest control is an important aspect of organic gardening. And as a master gardener, Susan Mulvihill has tons of experience with integrated pest management (IPM). In this full episode of the Beet Podcast, Susan and Kevin discuss common pests, misconceptions about them, and the best ways to control them and maintain a thriving organic garden. EG shop homepage: https://growepic.co/4cXX0xn Botanical I...

You have options while diagnosing your diseased plants. You can reach out to your local Master Gardeners group or you can consult Susan Mulvihill’s new book, The Vegetable Garden Problem Solver Handbook. EG shop homepage:  https://growepic.co/3YcB1hx Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3Whv0Of EG book collection page: https://growepic.co/3xWOEqJ EG homesteading book:  https://gr...

Is there such a thing as giving your plants too of a good thing? Actually, yes. Plants teach us many lessons, one of which is - everything in moderation!   EG shop homepage: https://growepic.co/46gIaQf Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3Sjeufh EG book collection page: https://growepic.co/4faAzGN EG homesteading book:  https://growepic.co/3SiemNd Learn More: 7 Mistakes to Avoid...

Susan Mulvihill and I are here to bust some myths for you! Before you go and dump gallons of milk on your garden or put Tums in the soil, please listen to this episode. EG shop homepage: https://growepic.co/46gKTsO Botanical Interests Shop Homepage:  https://growepic.co/4dbinuR  EG book collection page: https://growepic.co/4dabaer EG homesteading book:  https://growepic.co/46gI9f9 Learn More: 7 Mi...

Susan Mulvhill, author of The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook, walks us through the basics of IPM.  EG shop homepage: https://growepic.co/4d7bWcf Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3zQ81Cd EG book collection page: https://growepic.co/4f6x3gJ EG homesteading book: https://growepic.co/4d8ix65 Learn More: 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Fighting Garden PestsConnect With Susan Mulvihill:Su...

Getting started in the garden can be intimidating. There’s a lot to consider like where to put your garden, when and where to plant certain crops, the list goes on. Susan Mulvihill is back on the podcast this week to help us troubleshoot issues in our vegetable gardens.  EG shop homepage: https://growepic.co/3Yejea6 Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4bS0f8j EG book collection...

As the author of City Nature, Martha Retallick knows first hand about the effects of water scarcity. In that vein, she has harnessed the power of the Great Watering Can in the Sky. Today she harvests and stores rainwater, giving her the option to grow a lush garden amidst a desert climate.  Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3Y2xC4Z Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepi...

Why harvest rainwater? In Martha’s garden, the harvesting process has afforded her a thriving, lush garden, and her book, City Nature.  Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/466m9TX Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4cXsF1C Book Collection Page: https://growepic.co/4cCMFqpEG Homesteading Book:  https://growepic.co/3zHUZXo Learn More: Don't Make These 7 Watering Mis...

There are many different kinds of greywater systems, and ways to employ them in a garden. Martha uses greywater from her washing machine to water her fruit trees. She reaps other benefits, too, including financial incentives! Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4cZDkJ1Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4f5Lx07Book Collection Page: https://growepic.co/4cEVv75EGHome...