The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

Today kicks off 6 episodes with Peter Nelson, the director of the upcoming documentary The Pollinators, which is playing at the Newport Beach Film Festival May 1st if you're in the Southern California area. In today's show, we go over the broad overview of the film as well as introduce the "managed honeybee" industry to you. Learn More About Peter and The Pollinators Documentary: Website Facebook...

Lingonberry plants are an underrated perennial berry that you should consider growing in your garden. Here's a basic overview on their care! Learn More: How to Grow Lingonberry Plants 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 heirl...

What happens if you skip the composting process and just bury your scraps right in the soil? Today we answer this question, brought up by my friend Mark from Self Sufficient Me. Learn More: Watch Mark's video on burying food scraps   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@epi...

Raised beds are one of the best ways to make gardening EASIER - both on your body and your plants. Here are my 5 top reasons why I prefer raised beds in my front yard garden. Learn More: Buy Birdies Raised Beds in the USA here. 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@epicgarde...

When Simon and Garfunkel recorded the song “Scarborough Fair,” they sang about parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. The first thought that goes through my head when I hear this song on the radio is “but what about basil?” I love growing basil! Learn More: Growing Basil 101 Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, will be out May 7, 2019. If you pre-order the boo...

Tomatoes are one of those weird plants that "break the rules" when it comes to transplanting. Here's how I do it for EPIC success.   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 seeds from one of my favorite seed sup...

Ollas are an ancient self-watering irrigation technique that are still in wide use today. They make incredibly good use of water, which is vital if you're in a hot, dry climate.   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,...

Lavender is a notoriously difficult plant to grow from seed. The seed is finicky and needs a LOT of TLC to get started. If you've ever had trouble, here's how I recommend starting it.   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 hei...

Air layering is a fun propagation technique that is extremely effective when used for certain plants. In fact, it's the most effective way to propagate many of your favorite trees. Learn More: Air Layering 101 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 sen...

What type of mulch should you use? Let's talk about the differences between organic and inorganic mulch options.   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 seeds from one of my favorite seed suppliers! Pre-Order ...

No one, and I mean NO ONE truly has a "brown thumb."   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 seeds from one of my favorite seed suppliers! Pre-Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening Support Epic Gardening Suppor...

Today's show focuses on 8 simple, cheap, or free ways you can start building your garden soil up.   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 seeds from one of my favorite seed suppliers! Pre-Order Field Guide to...

We talk about pests often here on the podcast, but sometimes neglect those beneficial insects that make our gardening life much easier. Here are 5 to keep an eye out for 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'll send you a free pack of h...

We hear about heirloom veggies all of the time, but do you know what 'heirloom' actually means? It's a bit tricky, so tune in to today's show.   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 seeds from one of my favor...

If you've got a lawn, you've got grass clippings. And if you've got grass clippings...you have FREE MULCH Learn More: 20+ Cheap Mulch Ideas 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 seeds from one of my favorite s...

Today is April 8, with less than two months left to my Apocalypse Grow challenge, where I will grow, forage, or fish all of my food for a month. I'm scared...but it's fun at the same time. I figured I'd update you all as to where I'm at on this challenge.   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 y...

Radishes are a wonderful crop - easy to squeeze in, easy to grow...unless they don't form bulbs. After all, that's why we grow them, right? Here are 4 reasons why your radishes might not be bulbing up.   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...

Are you having problems deciding when it’s time to water? If so, you’re not alone. That’s where the best soil moisture meter comes into play. These useful devices help you decide when you should be hydrating your plants. But there’s all kinds of them out there. They range from a few dollars to hundreds, and there’s a mix of types. Finding the best soil moisture meter can be a challenge. Let me hel...

Snake plants are a super-popular low-light tolerant succulent houseplant. They prefer being a bit rootbound, but eventually will need a repotting. Today's episode goes over how to do that successfully.  Pre-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 y...

We think of cucumbers as trailing or vining plants, but there are a ton of compact, bush varieties you should consider when growing in smaller urban spaces. Pre-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 seeds from...

Today we talk about maximizing the yield of your strawberry plants, whether you're in your first year, growing June bearing, or ever bearing plants. There's a method for everyone! Pre-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 heirl...

Today's episode is a humble ask from me to you: if you've gotten value from the gardening content I've put out there...consider pre-ordering my book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening. In today's show I go into the details of what's in this book and why I think it's a great buy for you if you're a beginner to intermediate gardener looking to round out your knowledge. Learn More: Pre-Order Field Guide...

Kevin Fortey of Giant Veg is on the podcast today, talking about the genetic component of growing massive veggies...saving their seeds and propagating a line of epic vegetables. Learn More: Website Instagram Facebook Giant Veg Growing Community 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 t...

Kevin Fortey of Giant Veg is on the podcast today, talking about growing and pruning techniques to have an EPIC-sized cucumber. Learn More: Website Instagram Facebook Giant Veg Growing Community 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 pa...

Kevin Fortey of Giant Veg is on the podcast today, talking about growing giant carrots, as well as growing LONG carrots...different techniques! Learn More: Website Instagram Facebook Giant Veg Growing Community 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 se...