The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

There are small ways to make massive gardening projects much easier. Divide your projects into their main parts. Plan out how you’re going to work through your project. Ask for help from friends and family. Overall, have fun! That’s how it’s supposed to be. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4aA2CfWBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4aENk9xBook Collection Page: h...

Sometimes the garden can actually be a source of stress. But there are ways to mitigate your garden stresses with garden joys. The source of this joy is shifting towards a #GardenBreak. Relax, restore, do nothing sometimes, and tackle plant problems as they arise. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage:  https://growepic.co/4cOKq43Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4aoijafBook Collection...

Gardening is not just about epic yields. It also benefits your overall well being. This fact is the reason that Perla Sofía Curbelo Santiago decided to pursue a career in Horticultural Therapy. With conscious adjustments, people can glean so much more than great food from their gardens. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4cMPmpMBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/...

Humans don’t just grow plants because they are beloved. They have functions in the garden as well. Whether they’re grown for trap cropping, companion planting, or for cultivation, there are social and cultural elements that led us to co-evolve with plants. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4czYgHgBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4cG9ev1Book Collection Page: ht...

If you have ever wondered how humans learned what wild foods were edible, you’re not alone! It took a lot of involved, sustained effort by our ancestors, who gnawed on plants for eight to ten hours per day. The story of how we consumed beans is one fascinating example of how we learned to cook foods. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage:  https://growepic.co/4aA3wc5Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https...

Did you know that melons weren’t the lucious sweet fruit we adore today? The melons of medieval times were more like gherkins. It wasn’t until growers cultivated melons and cross-bred them enough that they ripened to sweetness. This caused a massive melon craze. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage:  https://growepic.co/3TCIWAYBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3THggquBook Collection P...

Interestingly, pandemics were much less common before the development of agriculture. As we gained proficiency growing food, we dealt with various offsets that led to higher incidences of disease. Margot discusses the factors related to these here. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4ahMPmaBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4aeIIHcBook Collection Page: https://gr...

The COVID-19 lockdown changed the way Margot Kelley practiced gardening. Not only did it become the most hardcore gardening year for her, it also gave her more motivation to cultivate life. By buckling down in the summer, she was prepared for winter. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage:  https://growepic.co/49bq2XGBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3TXjOGuBook Collection Page: https:/...

As a leader of marketing at Bailey Nurseries, Ryan McEnaney is in the know about the hottest trends in landscape design. While nostalgic plant varieties are always of interest, new and unique landscape designs are also important. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3vpwi06Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4aiLRWiBook Collection Page: https://growepic.co/3VzJJFoEG...

Because nurseries can be such a huge operation with plenty of offsets, having sustainable practices looped into their daily activities is important. At Bailey, Ryan and his team use different production techniques, from rainwater capture, to using recycled materials. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3TNf71ZBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3PzXbVTBook Collecti...

While propagating plants is fairly easy, developing cultivars with desired traits can take several generations. There are a lot of surprises in the process, too. Ryan McEnaney of Bailey Nurseries provides a little BTS look at the company’s focus on creating new plants. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3vsgw4MBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/497ZvKYBook Collec...

How do plants get to the nursery, and into home gardens? Wholesale nurseries are the source! Behind every nursery is a huge operation, usually with a focus on particular types of plants. Bailey Nurseries is one example of this model. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3TziF6uBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3TyugmfBook Collection Page: https://growepic.co/3IU6W...

Horticulture is an industry full of opportunity. Many of the people working at Bailey Nurseries, for instance, started their careers simply from their love of plants. A job in Horticulture does not require a degree. Ryan McEnaney of Bailey Nurseries is a testament to this statement. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3TOYuTpBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3xh4...

How do you get those really large leaves on your houseplants? Aside from the obvious foundation of proper conditions, you can water slightly more frequently, and provide a highly diluted liquid fertilizer. Add a moss pole, and you won’t struggle to build your own thriving indoor garden. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/493zsUVBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/...

When it comes to basic houseplant care, Jan suggests you skip the store bought potting mixes, and develop your own. Water your moss poles frequently, and provide containers that are not too big or too small. You’ll have lots of success with a good basis and the willingness to adjust. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/43jjgO6Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3Vk...

Sometimes conditions in your home are ideal and your care regimen causes problems. Sometimes you should adjust your care to create better conditions. If a houseplant dies in your care, try to learn from it! That’s what Jan has done in the past. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3PqJEzXBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3TiRfllBook Collection Page: https://growep...

Moss poles are not just a way to support vertical houseplant growth; they are also an extension of the container in which the plant grows. Here, Jan outlines the many ways houseplant gardeners can build their own at home, and how to care for poled-up plants. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4ad4XgoBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4ciuEhqBook Collection Page:...

According to Jan Gettmann, the Sydney Plant Guy, houseplants have certain conditions they need to thrive, and proper care aligns with those conditions. Incorporating proper lighting, humidity, and watering ensures all houseplants are happy and healthyEpic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3VkKH8zBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/49WApQeBook Collection Page:  https:/...

Grafting and cross-pollinating dragon fruit is a fun gardening hack that can be really addicting. But what happens after you cross two plants? In this episode, Richard Le outlines the best ways to hybridize dragon fruit cacti. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/437e9k0Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3wSviBWBook Collection Page: https://growepic.co/3uTSob1EG Ho...

Did you know the dragon fruit is a tropical cactus? That means it needs slightly more water than your standard desert cactus. However, too much water causes rot. Richard Le of Grafting Dragon Fruit runs down the most common dragon fruit mistakes, and how to avoid them.  Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/43gvEP1Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/48RvPRTBook Colle...

Late winter into spring is the best time to get started with dragon fruit. If you’re wondering what the top 5 beginner varieties are, Richard has you covered! Here, he discusses the best first-time cultivars, and why someone might prefer each. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3wFAKIiBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3ItDsmXBook Collection Page: https://growepi...

How should someone begin their own dragon fruit orchard? It’s super easy! Take a cactus cutting, plant it, and prepare for pollination. In this episode, Kevin and Richard detail ways to get started, growing tips, and the different varieties you can grow. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/48GnOzmBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4a6apBUBook Collection Page: http...

When Richard Le got into dragon fruit in Orange County, California, it was all a mystery to him. He received a plant and learned he could grow one without even trying. This led him to a desire to learn more about dragon fruit cultivation and care.  Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3To9TcJBotanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4a3yp8BBook Collection Page: https://gr...

A two to four inch layer of mulch controls soil temperatures, conserves water, and supports biodiversity. Most of all, it reduces the need to weed by 80 to 90%. Choosing the right mulch, and spreading it correctly will benefit the backyard orchard immensely.   Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3UOx80P Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3USvrzu Book Collection Pa...

Here, Tom Spellman breaks down the different kinds of citrus growers in the tropics and subtropics can grow. He also discusses regionality, and how to maintain different trees. Both experienced citrus growers and those new to fruit trees will get something from this citrus discussion. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3wrnqqR Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3...