The Grow Guide

Unusually warm temperatures in southern-Manitoba have inspired Maggie and Dave to switch things up in this week's episode. They start by shouting out a whole crew of awesome listeners. Then it's the first ever Grow Guide book club review followed by a throwback to three older episodes. Hear snippets from Season 1 content on hardy trees & shrubs, grow lights and succulents.   Maggie's Favourite Thi...

Dave is back in action this week and the co-hosts have reunited again to talk houseplants! With the colder weather outside, it's common to see your houseplants react by either dropping leaves, browning or stopping growth. This episode provides solutions to these common issues and more. Plus, for Dave's favourite thing this week, he shares about a concept for growing peach trees in cold climates. M...

This week things are a little different on The Grow Guide. Filling in for Dave while he's out of studio is the wonderful Will Bergmann a.k.a. WTF (Will the Farmer) a.k.a. 'The Modern Farmer.' Will brings his own spin to the podcast, sharing about his unique farm where his family grows both conventional crops and an organic CSA market garden. Will gets REAL talking about the common misconceptions t...

The winter is creeping up on us cold climate growers, and it's just about time to put the garden to rest. But before you pack up for the season, give some love to your soil! In this episode, Maggie and Dave share their top five ways to improve your soil's health. You can implement these practices starting right now up until the ground freezes. These tips range from your classic "must-dos" to a few...

This week is Part 2 of the composting discussion with a focus on indoor composting year round! Kristen Malec from Green Action Centre continues sharing her tips for success, including how to start a vermicompost bin and how to properly compost livestock. She also busts some common composting myths, like how long it really takes for compostable takeout containers to break down.  Join the Grow Guide...

Maggie is back after her week away, and her and Dave are stoked to chat composting with Kristen Malec from the Green Action Centre. Kristen shared so much amazing info that this episode has become a two-parter: this week focuses on composting basics and outdoor systems while next week the conversation picks up with a focus on composting indoors, as well as some rapid fire and an interesting listen...

Dave is flying solo this week as Maggie gets caught up on some things outside the pod... but that doesn't stop Maggie from passing along her exciting "favourite" thing of the week, and its all about chickens! Dave shares a classic herb-guy fav, and also reminds everyone about the Grow Guide "garlic plant-a-thon" planned for Saturday, October 12th. Then Dave gets into the pesky problem of pests ind...

Your houseplants are peaking right now, full of vitality after soaking up the energy of summer... which makes now a perfect time to make plant babies! Learn five techniques for vegetatively propagating houseplants in this week's easy-listening guide to multiplying your plants. Plus, a listener question about garlic, details on our garlic plant-a-thon and Dave and Maggie's favourite garden "thing o...

Happy Autumnal Equinox! This week's episode is all about embracing Fall and the flavours of harvest. Dave shares about the Tepin Pepper — a Mexican variety perfect to bring indoors at this time of year. Maggie's "Fav Thing" is her Tango Celery, a variety bred for Canadian winters. Chef at Nonsuch Brewing Co., Tyrone Welchinski then joins the pod to share his passion for sourcing and cooking with l...

It's been an unpredictable Fall across Canada, starting with low night time temps, leading into heavy rains and now, hot sunshine-y days. All to say, gardening season isn't over yet! This week Maggie and Dave encourage you to get back into the garden and start thinking about the 2020 season by saving some seeds. They discuss five fun yet unusual seeds you've probably never considered saving, inclu...

This exciting episode covers a whole array of topics with this week's guest, the wonderful, Kevin Espiritu from Epic Gardening . Maggie and Dave chat with Kevin about how he was able to grow enough food to survive off of in his 120 square-foot backyard garden, as well as his love for a garden challenge. PLUS, The Grow Guide Patreon page is officially live! Learn how you can show your support for t...

September is here and it officially feels like Fall in the garden! Maggie and Dave take some time off to enjoy the September long weekend and bring you content from last season that is perfect for this time of year. Get inspired to bring the green indoors with a herb garden. But first, it's all about this week's GIVEAWAY. The Grow Guide has teamed up with Sustainable South Osborne to give one of y...

Time to review favourite plants from the 2019 season, so far. Hosts Dave and Maggie compare notes on ten awesome plants that have made an impact for them this growing season and it is no surprise that edible and fragrant selections are well represented... but houseplants and flowers make the list too! Dave and Maggie also get caught-up after their trips to the west coast and check in on a listener...

Love the idea of keeping your garden alive and thriving well into the cool fall? This week Dave and Maggie dive deep into the topic of succession planting, exploring techniques and strategies to help both rookie approved and more advanced gardeners get the most from outdoor gardens... even in zone 3! Dave also shares a favourite, highly unique tomato ad Maggie gushes about the unexpected beauty of...

Happy Mid-August (as Maggie says at the start of this episode)! But it really is that time of year where you can't help but be happy — the garden is filled with tons to harvest. This week The Grow Guide hopes to keep listeners' spirits high by answering all their burning questions. From acclimatizing house plants to your home, to ensuring your tomatoes ripen before the end of summer, to finding th...

It is mid-summer, a perfect time to compare notes on how Dave and Maggie's gardens are growing. Dave shares his enthusiasm for a unique, very leafy basil and Maggie dishes on her red cabbage then invites listeners to post their favourite things of the week for everyone to see. This week's listener question jumps ahead to fall with a query about how late potted perennials can be transferred to the...

Hey Grow Guiders! Last week you learned a little bit more about your co-host, Dave and this week it's all about, Maggie. But first, we have an exciting giveaway for all of you. The Grow Guide is turning its focus to pollinators and encouraging listeners to snap a few photos, post them on Instagram and use the hashtag #growguidepollinators. You could have the chance to win seeds for your fall sowin...

Maggie and Dave's July gardens are starting to burst and the harvests have begun. Dave chats bay rum— a spicy herb perfect for a summer cocktail. Maggie talks about her mysterious morning glories from an unidentified seed packet that are putting down vines throughout her garden. A listener question about what to do with straw mulch at the end of the season leads Maggie and Dave to go on about why...

As the heat and humidity start to make the prairies feel tropical Dave and Maggie revel in a tasty heirloom snap pea and inhale the sweet fragrance of an orange twist on the classic gardenia. A listener asks for help with a common problem, the Colorado potato beetle... and good news, there are some solutions! The big theme this week is houseplants with special guest Jane Perrone, the award-winning...

After a quick hiatus for Canada Day (happy belated, Canadians!), Maggie and Dave are back and chatting all about flowers and how to keep yours blooming all season long. Dave kicks this week off by sharing about his new favourite watering tool, The Growoya  —  a great option for gardeners facing drought-like weather this summer. Maggie gives a recap on how a few of the plants she's shared as her 'F...

With Canada Day giving us all a little opportunity for R & R, Dave and Maggie are taking the week off from recording and will be back with a brand new episode next Tuesday. That said, we are excited to share one of our most popular episodes as a re-post: this is episode 26, Native Prairie Plants with Kelly Leask, manager of Prairie Originals Nursery. Kelly is so full of insights and inspirations!...

As we head into the summer months plants can start to show a little neediness, particularly fast growing veggies. Dave and Maggie devote this episode to ten easy tips to help rookie growers (and let's admit it... veteran growers too!) find success and satisfaction in the vegetable garden. But before getting to the tips Dave has a surprising bit of industry-insider info to share, Maggie checks-in a...

With the summer solstice around the corner, Maggie and Dave start today's episode feeling nostalgic for last season as they reminisce on the podcast from one year ago. Tune into last year's summer solstice episode where The Grow Guide chats about square foot gardening!  Dave then shares what he loves most about his garden at this time of year while Maggie walks listeners through the behind-the-sce...

Every gardener has good days and bad, and Dave and Maggie chat about rolling with the busy season. Along the way they stumble upon a plant "of good cheer" and talk about a cucamelon relative that might just become a new fav. The big discussion today is all about sweet potatoes, with emphasis on how to grow an edible crop organically in northern gardens. Did you know sweet potatoes can grow just ab...

It's June and Maggie and Dave are officially in their garden playgrounds! The duo shares the plants they think are perfect for summer as their favourite things of the week, including a zinnia ideal for bouquets and a plant with unique edible berries. This week Stephanie Rose, from GardenTherapy.ca joins the podcast to share botanical infusions from the garden. She covers DIY recipes, must-have pla...