The joe gardener Show - Organic Gardening - Vegetable Gardening - Expert Garden Advice From Joe Lamp'l

To mark the release of my new book, " The Vegetable Gardening Book ," which hit shelves on Tuesday, for the podcast this week we're going to turn the tables: My friend and frequent podcast guest Meg Cowden of Seed to Fork is going to interview me.  Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It's what I...

Much of the United States is experiencing drought as of this writing and millions of Americans are facing water shortages right now or in the near future. I thought this week would be the perfect time to revisit my conversation with Charles Fishman, author of " The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water ."  Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most imp...

There are myriad upsides to growing cool-season vegetables in fall, but too many gardeners miss out on this opportunity. The fact is, the vegetable gardening season is far from over when summer ends. To give you the knowledge and confidence you need to grow a fall vegetable garden successfully, this week I'm sharing an updated encore presentation of my comprehensive primer on how to do just that....

For earlier pops of color, a buffet for pollinators, and overall hardier plants, gardeners should be growing cool-season annuals — flowers that are started in fall or very early spring and bloom weeks or months earlier than heat-loving plants. To offer a primer on successfully planting and growing these flowers, my guest this week is flower farmer, teacher and author Lisa Mason Ziegler.  Download...

When touting the benefits of gardening, the first things to come to mind are often beautifying spaces and providing fresh produce to eat, but gardeners also enjoy physical, emotional and mental health benefits. To talk about self-sustaining regenerative gardens and the power of gardens to heal, my guest this week is Stephanie Rose, a Master Gardener and prolific writer on gardening and DIY. Downlo...

There is so much that we can learn about plant science to improve our understanding of how plants work, so gardener, writer and biochemist Robert Pavlis is back on the podcast this week for part two of our conversation on plant science for gardeners. Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It's what...

A lack of space is one of the top reasons people give for not having a garden, but with a little knowledge and ingenuity, it's possible to grow flowers, herbs and even vegetables in urban environments. Mark Ridsdill Smith has become a trusted authority on container gardening in small spaces, and he's my guest this week, here to share his advice for getting started. Download my free eBook 5 Steps t...

I'm always encouraging gardeners to learn the "why do" behind the "how to," because I believe gaining that understanding makes us better at what we do, and to help me do that this week, I'm welcoming back to the podcast Robert Pavlis, a garden myth buster who can break down the plant science behind good gardening. Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps...

The hardest part of growing a gorgeous flower garden that provides interest in all seasons is getting started. Until you've done it, you don't know where to begin. Lucky for us, my guest this week, gardener, writer and educator Jenny Rose Carey, has a new book, The Ultimate Guide to Flower Growing, that walks readers through the steps to successfully combine various flower shapes, colors and textu...

It's hard to pull ourselves away from our gardens at the height of the growing season, but summer is also prime time for vacation and we all need to take breaks periodically to unwind and reset. Here are steps you can take to prepare your garden so you can enjoy your vacation without ever having to worry about what's happening to your plants while you're away.  Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Yo...

The time that we take out of our busy days to spend in the garden is precious, and we should always strive to make it as productive and enjoyable as possible, especially during the very trying times of summer. This week, I'm sharing my tips for having a successful summer in the garden while reducing stress on your plants, and yourself! Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the...

Tomatoes enjoy warm weather, but they don't like it too hot. Extended periods of heat can stress out plants and lead to a number of problems. Joining me on the podcast this week to discuss how to overcome the tomato-growing challenges that arise in high heat is tomato expert Craig LeHoullier.  Download my free guide- Tomato Care Checklist. The key steps every gardener should take to minimize commo...

An old tree is a marvel to gaze upon but it's the unseen things an ancient tree does in a forest that are truly astounding. To talk about the vital importance of "mother trees" in regenerative forest ecosystems, my guest this week is ecologist Suzanne Simard, Ph. D. Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or lands...

Regenerative agriculture is one of the best tools we have at hand for combating climate change and increasing biodiversity, but convincing lawmakers, farmers and the public at large of its merits is a challenge. To discuss those merits and how regeneration works, my guest this week is Finian Makepeace of Kiss the Ground, an advocacy organization that promotes soil health as an integral part of the...

If you have been gardening for any amount of time, you've experienced how being with plants can bring great joy. My guest this week, self-professed plant killer turned plant lady Maria Failla, has penned a book that explores how and why plants lift our spirits, and she's here to share the wellness benefits of raising houseplants and gardening. Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Eve...

Native plants are all the rage right now — or all the buzz, considering how much pollinators love native flowers. But finding a nursery that sells the right native plants for your area can be a challenge. To explain why native plants are vital to wildlife and how we can find native plant collections that are the correct fit for our ecoregions, Mary Phillips of the National Wildlife Federation join...

When it comes to bees, everyone's familiar with the iconic honeybee, but what many don't realize is that honeybees are not native to North America. The 4,000 or so native bee species in the United States behave much differently than honeybee colonies and are generally not well understood. To educate us on the diversity of native bees, pollinator conservationist and author Heather Holm joins me on...

Hydroponic gardening is a soil-free horticulture method for raising crops both indoors and out, and it's a lot simpler than it appears to be. To share what you need to know to get started in hydroponics, my guest this week is Master Gardener and experienced hydroponic gardener Roger Sadowski. Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have...

PittMoss has emerged as an alternative to peat moss as a growing medium and potting mix  — and that's great news for gardeners who wish to break their peat habit in favor of a sustainable product. Here to explain what PittMoss is, how it's made, and the advantages of using recycled materials is Dr. Charles Bethke, a horticultural soil and nutrition consultant. Download my free eBook 5 Steps to You...

The insect apocalypse is negatively affecting the world in ways that we are only beginning to understand, and if we continue on our current path, insect decline and the loss of biodiversity across all types of animals and plants will not only continue but also accelerate. To help us understand the scope of the problem and explain ways we as gardeners can help reverse this trend, Professor Dave Gou...

When the history of American gardening is told, the contributions of Black Americans are often overlooked. My guest this week, horticulturist and writer Abra Lee, is working to rectify that, and she joins me to highlight a few of the little-known stories that deserve to be shared. Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving...

Coconut coir is growing in popularity as a seed starting and growing medium, especially, as a replacement for peat moss. But using coir for this purpose has its challenges. To shed light on the history of coir in horticulture and how its naturally high salt content can be overcome for seed starting and seedling growth, my guest this week is international agricultural consultant Dr. Hugh Allen Pool...

Carnivorous plants pique the interest of every gardener and houseplant hoarder at some point, but bringing a Venus flytrap home on a whim with no idea how to care for it will soon lead to disappointment. Fortunately, to explain how to keep carnivorous plants alive and thriving, my guest this week is International Carnivorous Plant Society Education Director Kenny Coogan, who runs a successful carn...

Gardening hurdles are those challenges that stop us from gardening as much as we'd like to — or that stop us from getting started in the first place. On this week's podcast, I share advice on overcoming common gardening hurdles that listeners have shared. Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It's...

Plant breeding isn't just for commercial growers. With some knowledge, a bit of effort and a fair amount of patience, any home gardener can breed new crosses of flowers or vegetables. To discuss how to create hybrid and open-pollinated plant varieties, my guest this week is garden writer and plant breeder Joseph Tychonievich. Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most imp...