The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

Organic NPK fertilizers are a fantastic way to add slow-release fertility to your garden...but there are many types. Here's a brief breakdown. Learn More: 21+ Organic Fertilizers and How To Use Them In Your Garden   Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, will be out May 7, 2019. If you pre-order the book and forward your receipt to kevin@epicgardening.com, I'...

Because they grow underground, knowing the right moment to harvest carrots can be a challenge. Here are a few considerations for you! Learn More: Growing Carrots: Grow A Rainbow Of Tasty Vegetables In Your Yard   Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, will be out May 7, 2019. If you pre-order the book and forward your receipt to kevin@epicgardening.com, I'll...

Carrots can be challenging, especially if you have clay or rocky soil...so what about growing them in containers? Learn More: Growing Carrots: Grow A Rainbow Of Tasty Vegetables In Your Yard   Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, will be out May 7, 2019. If you pre-order the book and forward your receipt to kevin@epicgardening.com, I'll send you a free pack...

When harvesting broccoli, timing is of the essence. You want a full, thick head but you don't want the florets to begin to open. Learn More: 27 Types of Broccoli You Should Grow   Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, will be out May 7, 2019. If you pre-order the book and forward your receipt to kevin@epicgardening.com, I'll send you a free pack of heirloom,...

A quintessential fall crop, broccoli has some specific soil requirements it LIKES in order to grow to epic proportions. Learn More: 27 Types of Broccoli You Should Grow Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, will be out May 7, 2019. If you pre-order the book and forward your receipt to kevin@epicgardening.com, I'll send you a free pack of heirloom, organic se...

Festive and full, Christmas cactus is a pleasure to have any time of year. It’s popular for its unique stem design and brightly colored flowers. We’ve already covered that in our extensive Schlumbergera care guide in the past. The fun doesn’t stop there, though. Propagating Christmas cactus is incredibly easy to do! Learn More: Propagating Christmas Cactus: Easy Holiday Gifts Order Field Guide to...

You finally got it: your first succulent! Or second, or third, or maybe you’ve lost track. You love them, but you just can’t keep your precious succulents alive! Do you know how often to water succulents? What’s causing this sad state? Learn More: How Often To Water Succulents: A Quick Guide Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, will be out May 7, 2019. If y...

Fresh from the store, succulents are so neat and compact. It’s a shame that eventually the leaves die, stems grow, and things get a little crazy. That’s when maintenance comes in. With a good pruning succulents can remain just as tidy as the day you bought them. Learn More: Pruning Succulents: Everything You Need to Know Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening,...

One of the oldest cultivated crops, figs have been a staple food for years. There’s many cultivars, but the Chicago hardy fig is one that’s growing in popularity. Surprisingly cold-hardy, this tree can tolerate cooler climate conditions than other fig trees. Learn More: Chicago Hardy Fig Care Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, will be out May 7, 2019. If...

Growing certified disease-free garlic seed and rotating crops are the first tiers of defense against pesky pests and diseases. Hardneck garlic isn’t typically a high-drama endeavor, but there are some pests and diseases to watch out for. Learn More: Hardneck Garlic Problems Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, will be out May 7, 2019. If you pre-order the b...

Planting hardneck garlic is as easy as separating the cloves from the bulb and poking them into the soil. Larger cloves will produce larger bulbs, so be sure to set the little ones aside for cooking. Learn More: How to Plant Hardneck Garlic Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, will be out May 7, 2019. If you pre-order the book and forward your receipt to ke...

Hardneck garlic might be the easiest, most satisfying kitchen staple to grow. Whether you’re a first-time grower or a seasoned pro, pulling plump bulbs out of the ground feels like magic! Learn More: Hardneck Garlic Types Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, will be out May 7, 2019. If you pre-order the book and forward your receipt to kevin@epicgardening.c...

When moving to a wilder style of gardening and farming, increasing native pollinators is a must. They do a LOT of your work for you, so give them a home! About Nancy Hayden: Nancy and her husband John are the co-owners of The Farm Between in Vermont, as well as the authors of the new book Farming on the Wild Side, available now. Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Ga...

If you're a berry addict like me, this episode will inspire you to expand your berry palette in the garden and grow some "weird" ones! About Nancy Hayden: Nancy and her husband John are the co-owners of The Farm Between in Vermont, as well as the authors of the new book Farming on the Wild Side, available now. Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, will be ou...

As an annual veggie gardener primarily, I confess I haven't grown as much fruit as I'd like. Mostly due to space. But Nancy makes a compelling case for growing your own fruit in today's show! About Nancy Hayden: Nancy and her husband John are the co-owners of The Farm Between in Vermont, as well as the authors of the new book Farming on the Wild Side, available now. Order Field Guide to Urban Gard...

Today we discuss how to cultivate healthy, living soil by talking with Nancy Hayden and learning how she did it on her farm, The Farm Between. About Nancy Hayden: Nancy and her husband John are the co-owners of The Farm Between in Vermont, as well as the authors of the new book Farming on the Wild Side, available now. Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, wi...

Beyond being a "nice thing to do", landscaping with native plants has a whole host of benefits for your yard, garden, or farm. About Nancy Hayden: Nancy and her husband John are the co-owners of The Farm Between in Vermont, as well as the authors of the new book Farming on the Wild Side, available now. Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, will be out May 7,...

Today we dive into the book, Farming on the Wild Side, with Nancy Hayden. About Nancy Hayden: Nancy and her husband John are the co-owners of The Farm Between in Vermont, as well as the authors of the new book Farming on the Wild Side, available now. Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, will be out May 7, 2019. If you pre-order the book and forward your rec...

Have you ever had the fantasy of starting a farm, but having it feel more like a wild garden than a conventional farm? Well, this week's guest did exactly that. Join us for an exciting week of episodes. About Nancy Hayden: Nancy and her husband John are the co-owners of The Farm Between in Vermont, as well as the authors of the new book Farming on the Wild Side, available now. Order Field Guide to...

What is the Urban Worm Bag, and why was it invented by an airline pilot who had never composted before in his life?! Today's show is all about Steve Churchill's founding story of the Urban Worm Company. 10% Off an Urban Worm Bag By Clicking This Link Steve is the founder of the Urban Worm Company and makes the Urban Worm Bag, which is my favorite worm composting system. It's a flow-through system...

New to worm composting and want a complete step-by-step guide? Today's show is for you. Steve walks you through filling up your first worm bin. 10% Off an Urban Worm Bag By Clicking This Link Steve is the founder of the Urban Worm Company and makes the Urban Worm Bag, which is my favorite worm composting system. It's a flow-through system instead of a bin style design, which makes it less smelly,...

Is worm tea the same as leachate? What is leachate? Is it even GOOD to have in a worm composting system? All of these questions answer and more in today's show. 10% Off an Urban Worm Bag By Clicking This Link Steve is the founder of the Urban Worm Company and makes the Urban Worm Bag, which is my favorite worm composting system. It's a flow-through system instead of a bin style design, which makes...

Today we answer some common questions gardeners have about using worms in the garden, compost, or vermicompost. The answers may surprise you! 10% Off an Urban Worm Bag By Clicking This Link Steve is the founder of the Urban Worm Company and makes the Urban Worm Bag, which is my favorite worm composting system. It's a flow-through system instead of a bin style design, which makes it less smelly, me...

Do worm castings have a unique effect on dreaded damping off disease? Turns out the answer is yes...learn more in today's show. 10% Off an Urban Worm Bag By Clicking This Link Steve is the founder of the Urban Worm Company and makes the Urban Worm Bag, which is my favorite worm composting system. It's a flow-through system instead of a bin style design, which makes it less smelly, messy, and quite...

If you're new to vermicomposting, you're PROBABLY going to make this mistake, and it leads to almost all other issues you'll run into when worm composting. 10% Off an Urban Worm Bag By Clicking This Link Steve is the founder of the Urban Worm Company and makes the Urban Worm Bag, which is my favorite worm composting system. It's a flow-through system instead of a bin style design, which makes it l...