The Organic Gardener

The birds are out singing, and Doug is looking forward to spring. Doug starts the show by sharing details on organizing seeds and winter blooms. Doug has an upcoming Facebook Live Free Masterclass on pruning with Dick Till from Davey Tree and answers questions on pruning. Learn along with the callers as Doug also answers questions regarding growing lavender and tomato sprouts. 

Snow has finally arrived in Pittsburgh!  Doug says snowdrops are up but you don't need to worry about sprouting bulbs. Doug shares a tip on how to get indoor blooms on a forsythia and an essay about finding paradise in the woods . You can join Doug on a trip to Croatia in 2021, but space is limited so get in contact with him soon! Learn along with our callers as Doug answers questions on mole...

Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow, and Doug is excited that spring will arrive early this year. He starts the show by sharing his new favorite hosta varieties and the story behind a tomato variety called Marianna's Peace. Doug is joined by Associate Director of Exhibits at Phipps Conservatory, Jordyn Melino, to preview the Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show . Learn along with the callers as Do...

Doug is going back to what inspired him to garden in the first place - crazy crops! Doug shares information on the strange and unusual crops he is planning for his spring garden, like Huazontle and pepper xigole. Doug also has the details on a tomato seeds found during WWII. Learn along with the callers as Doug answers questions on growing corn, lime for soil PH control and how to construct raised...

Doug & Jess are planning ahead for their spring gardens, but there is still so much to do in winter! Doug and Jess discuss winter interest shrubs and plants and how winter is the perfect time to track critters that come in and out of your garden. Doug also shares his favorite finds from the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, like Dragon Slayer Holly and the SunBelievable annual sunflower. Learn...

The warm weather has Jess thinking about spring! She shares tips on how to reduce plastic consumption, cost effective mulch planning and how a perennial herb garden can scratch the seed planting itch. Mrs. Know It All calls in to share her favorite finds from the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show in Baltimore. Learn along with the callers as Jess answers questions on plum trees with advanced black n...

Happy New Year from Doug & Jess! Doug and Jess discussed leftover garlic at Hahn's Nursery, heart to heart caladiums and Norfolk pines. Learn along with the callers as Doug and Jess answer questions on weeping Alaskan cedar trees, preventing tomato blight and more. 

Happy New Year from Doug & Jess! Doug is joined this week by special guest Robert Mulvihill, an ornithologist with the National Aviary to discuss how and why you should attract birds to your garden. Doug also shared information on growing indoor herbs and answered questions from callers regarding black walnuts, house plants and Brussels sprouts. 

Merry Christmas from Doug and Jessica! Doug and Jess discuss indoor herbs, easy to grow berries winter interest crops and winter interest crops to get you through the cold weather. Learn along with our callers as the Organic Gardners answer questions regarding abrbor vitae, beetle bumps red bud trees and flowering dogwood trees.

Doug joined Rob Pratte to discuss the exciting new additions to his garden, including Everleaf Emerald Towers basil and Park Seed and Stoke's Seeds. Doug also shared tips on how to evaluate the bones of your garden and outside of the box holiday plants.

Missing the garden already? Don't worry, Doug and Jessica have plenty of ideas on how to stay busy during the colder months. They share tips for how to start growing microgreens and also some gift ideas for the gardener in your life! 

December has finally arrived! Doug was out in the garden all weekend and finally got all of his planting completed. Jess shares how she found unexpected leafage in a plant she's overwintering. Doug and Jess discuss the importance of feeding the birds and establishing a foraging route. Learn along with the callers as Doug and Jess answer questions on planting garlic, saving an oak tree, perennial g...

Happy Thanksgiving from Doug and Jessica! Doug and Jess are thankful for all the bulbs that still need to be planted and the root crops they are looking after. They answer questions from callers on how to start a compost pile, orchid dormancy, planting garlic bulbs and more.

It's a great time of year to start a compost pile. Doug and Jess share their tips for composting and what to do with all the fall foliage. Doug and Jess also talk about how there are bulbs, bulbs, bulbs everywhere just waiting to be planted. They answer questions from callers regarding proper lawn care, garlic bulbs and bleeding-hearts.

Everything is done for the fall growing season. Doug and Jess share the success of their gardens and their tips for closing up for winter. Learn with the callers as Doug and Jess answer questions on small trees in pots, zinnias, ornamental sweet potato, butterfly bushes, perennials, geraniums and Lamb's ears.

It's the official end of the growing season for tender plants with the frost coming in, but there is always work do be done! Doug shares the wonderful weekend he's had in his garden and how excited he is to plant more bulbs. Learn along with the callers as Doug answers questions on shaping holly bushes, best time to prune lilacs, when to separate planted bulbs, how to keep an indoor, potted lilac...

Doug and Jess talk about preparing your garden for the chilly weather on the horizon. They take calls from listeners concerning a variety of subjects, including peat moss and blue bananas. Ms. Know-It-All joins in on the conversation to share some of her insight. 

It's slowly getting colder and it is time to prepare your plants for winter.  Learn along with the callers as Doug gives tips on how to overwinter potted asparagus and Boston ferns, how to keep a garden fertilized over winter and how to eliminate Hosta roots.  Doug also shared highlights from his recent trip to Isle of Man and shared how to keep bulbs safe from critters. 

It's time to harvest your squash and pumpkin! Jess shares how she celebrated the fall season at Soergel's Pumpkin Patch & how crucial it is to prepare your plants for the upcoming frost and winter. She answers questions from callers on how to prune a willow tree, trees losing their leaves, how to winter over a hibiscus and more!

Fall just arrived, but winter is just around the corner! Doug and Jess open the show talking about Epimedium growth and great bulbs. They also talk about how it has been a great growing year for plants with berries and a great use for button bushes. Dick Till of DaveyTree joins Doug and Jess to share essential tips for winter tree care. Learn with the callers as Jess and Doug answer questions on g...

It's the perfect time for planting perennials and other garden plants that will come back year after year. Doug has all the details you need to know. Chad Whepley of the Pittsburgh Agway stores joins Doug to discuss the organic products they sell and the pride Whepley feels in running a family-owned business. Learn along with their callers as Doug answers questions about gladiolas, burning bushes,...

Doug and Jess have trees on their minds - they open the show talking about the different varieties of trees they would like to plant and how to protect the ones they currently have. Of course, the garden gets some love as well - Jess shares her plans for kale and oat cover crops. Miles Stephens with Davey Tree joins in to discuss this warm, dry tree planting season. Learn along with their callers...

Fall has arrived and there is so much to do! Doug and Jess talk about cold weather crops, using a cold frame, cover crops, weed management and the joy of starting a garden for the first time. Learn how to transplant a redbud tree, replant and divide houseplants like Swedish ivy and peace lilies, identify wild garlic, caring for a gerbera daisy over winter and why a winter pear tree might lose leav...

It's your last chance to plant vegetable crops for the fall, and Jess breaks down if and when you should plant your trees and shrubs. Jess explains the history of plant patents to Rob Pratte and Mrs. Know It All calls in to talk knockout roses. Jess answers questions from callers on a phalaenopsis orchid during dormancy, bagworms on a pine tree, pruning pumpkins and a diseased dogwood tree.

Dick Till from Davey Tree joins Doug and Jess this week to talk fall care for trees. Callers ask about Juniper tip blight, early leaf drop, and more. Mrs. Know-It-All joins the program to talk about the proper pruning of trees.