The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

Did you know supermarkets only buy the cream of the crop when it comes to veggies and fruits? It's a shame, because the ones that don't "look perfect" are still perfectly edible and nutritious. Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you live. Here's how to order:  Amazon Signed Co...

I've been in love with vining / trailing plants for a while now, because they offer such a unique look and texture to a room that's otherwise filled with bushy, shubby style houseplants. Here are 5 easy to care for options to experiment with in your own indoor jungle. Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growi...

If you want to turn your lawn into an edible or ornamental paradise, first you have to get rid of the lawn. Here are three great methods (plus one bad one). Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you live. Here's how to order:  Amazon Signed Copies EPIC Raised Beds I'm carrying Bi...

Today I take a question from a reader who's wondering how long it'll take to make their clay soil a bit better for growing fruit and veggies. I have a LOT of experience with this, and in the episode you'll learn the drastic measures I took to fix my soil. Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no...

We're back with 5 more indicators of unhealthy soil, or soil health practices to employ in your garden for those truly EPIC harvests. Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you live. Here's how to order:  Amazon Signed Copies EPIC Raised Beds I'm carrying Birdies Garden Products r...

Soil is the foundation of your garden's success...so observing it and how your plants grow in the soil you've got is a key habit to build. Here are 5 indicators to watch out for to see if your soil is healthy. Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you live. Here's how to order: ...

Fall leaves are nature's gift. What once seemed like a chore to clean up and throw away is now free, trace mineral rich organic matter to use in your garden in a variety of creative ways. Here are 3 of my favorites. Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you live. Here's how to or...

Why does no one grow rutabaga anymore?! It's a great fall root crop option that I'll be growing and I think you should consider as well. Similar to how you'd grow many root crops, it's a great hands-off plant to throw into the garden this coming season. Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no m...

There are a select few pests you can prevent with creative use of toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls...but how? Here are 3 creative uses for them in the garden...you're gonna want to try these! Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you live. Here's how to order:  Amazon Sign...

We often hear advice on not damaging our root balls for fear of hurting the plant. Well, the truth is that many root balls are unhealthy and in need of some serious TLC before the plant can be successfully transplanted into a new container or ground. Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matt...

Today we discuss an important topic: organic vs. synthetic...what does it ACTUALLY mean? I think it's very important we understand the definitions of these words so when we hear arguments or statements made, we understand the potential flaws in thinking, or the misunderstanding of what is actually being talked about. Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is...

We've never talked about pumice, a close cousin to perlite as far as its use cases in your garden. Learn why you may want to consider it as an alternative to perlite, as well as some classic mixtures to use for your succulents and cacti. Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you...

Love cilantro but hate its fast-to-bolt personality? Hate cilantro but crave an herby element in your homemade salsa? Up your culinary game with unsung garden hero, Vietnamese coriander! Vietnamese coriander, or Vietnamese cilantro, is a heat-loving perennial with slightly spicy, flavorful leaves that are a great culinary substitute for cilantro or mint. If papalo herb isn’t your thing, this may b...

Anyone who likes Asian cooking is likely to be a fan of the lemongrass plant. With its lemony, slightly-bitter citrus flavor and aroma, it’s commonly used in food. But what very few realize is that it’s fairly easy to grow at home if you’re in a warm climate. Even cooler-climate gardeners can grow it outdoors during the late spring and summer. It’s easy to bring a small clump indoors for the cold...

Today we discuss the difference between a "detergent" and a "soap", as well as why you should only use insecticidal soaps in the garden instead of DIY dish soap pest control recipes. My Favorite Insecticidal Soap: Safer Brand Insecticidal Soap Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter wher...

  You all know I'm a huge fan of grow bags for their light weight, portability, and breathability for your plants. Today I answer a listener question from Donna who's wondering what my favorite brands are! My Favorites: Smart Pots (available at most nurseries) Bootstrap Farmer Grow Bags Vivosun Grow Bags Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for...

You’ve noticed a disturbing trend. The lower leaves on your tomato plants have developed spotting. Some are turning yellow and are falling off. And it looks like it’s spreading. If this sounds familiar, you may have just discovered septoria leaf spot. But while this is likely the most common tomato disease known to home gardeners, it’s fixable. It’s also not limited to tomatoes — it may pop up in...

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are grown throughout the world as a nutritious, convenient, shelf-stable food. Potatoes are the #1 most-consumed vegetable in the Americas, Europe, and Asian countries. I cannot imagine life without potatoes, can you? Potato cultivars vary in appearance, days to maturity, growth requirements, and culinary qualities. If you live in a temperate climate region like I do,...

Cereus peruvianus, which is more commonly referred to as Cereus repandus these days, makes a unique addition to your ornamental oredible landscape with its tall, thorny, columnar appearance and low care requirements. Also known as the Peruvian apple cactus, you might be surprised to find that the Cereus fruits, called Peruvian apples, are actually edible! In fact, they make a wonderful source of f...

Tomatoes are the quintessential garden crop…but they can also be one of the most confusing! With determinate and indeterminate varieties, there’s no absolute right formula for tomato plant spacing. Your selection of tomato variety along with your garden soil, light, and growing conditions all give clues to answer the question, “How far apart do you plant tomatoes?” Learn More: Tomato Plant Spacing...

It’s cute. It’s crisp. It’s slightly pungent. It’s the perfect, bite-size snack on a hot, muggy day. What could this garden snack-bite be? If you guessed cucamelon, you’re right!   Affectionately referred to as the “world’s smallest watermelon”, the cucamelon is a vine that bears edible mini-melons about the size of grapes. The cucamelon tastes like a cucumber with a burst of citrusy tartness from...

Aquaponics has come a long way in its storied history...and Greg Peterson has been around for most of it! Hear his history of aquaculture and aquaponics, and what he thinks of the growing method today. Connect with Greg Peterson: Farmer Greg is the founder of Urban Farm U and the Urban Farm Podcast, and has been a permaculturist and urban homesteaders for decades. His wealth of experience shows in...

When it comes to gardening, the importance of building a community network to support one another is paramount. Today you’ll learn how Greg Peterson cultivated a thriving community in his local area and got some pretty epic tools together for the entire growing network in Phoenix, AZ to use. Connect with Greg Peterson: Farmer Greg is the founder of Urban Farm U and the Urban Farm Podcast, and has...

  Sustainability is the hottest topic out there right now...so what’s wrong with it? Isn’t it the wave of the future? Not quite. Today I talk with Greg Peterson on why sustainability may be the wrong lens to look at gardening through. Connect with Greg Peterson: Farmer Greg is the founder of Urban Farm U and the Urban Farm Podcast, and has been a permaculturist and urban homesteaders for decades....

What...who would want to KILL their fruit tree?! In today’s show, we talk about the things first time fruit growers often do that lead them to destroy their precious trees, in an effort to help you avoid these critical mistakes. Connect with Greg Peterson: Farmer Greg is the founder of Urban Farm U and the Urban Farm Podcast, and has been a permaculturist and urban homesteaders for decades. His we...