Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Very Good Gardening

How is my garden really doing this year?

In this episode of the Very Good Gardening Podcast, I'm giving my garden a full report card. From tomatoes and peppers to broccoli, strawberries, and everything in between, I'm grading each crop based on production, health, pest pressure, and whether it's actually earning its spot in the garden.

Some crops are exceeding expectations. Some are struggling. And a few have completely surprised me.

I'll also talk about what I've learned so far this season, what changes I'm already planning, and which crops I would recommend to beginning gardeners based on my experience this year.

🌱 Looking for more fun gardening merch? Check out my Fourthwall shop for gardening shirts, stickers, and other goodies: VeryGoodGardening Fourthwall

Thanks for listening and supporting Very Good Gardening!

What if you could only grow food in a single 4x8 raised bed?

In this episode, I'm taking on a gardening challenge: designing the ultimate raised bed for maximum harvests. I'll walk through the crops I'd choose, how I'd arrange them, what I'd plant together, and the strategies I'd use to keep fresh food coming all season long.

Whether you're working with a small garden, a few raised beds, or just getting started, this episode is packed with ideas for making the most of your growing space.

🌱 Want to support the podcast and pick up some Very Good Gardening merch? Check out my shop:

Very Good Gardening Fourthwall

You'll find shirts, hats, mugs, and more designed for gardeners who love growing their own food.

Thanks for listening, and happy gardening!

Everyone says gardening saves money… but does it really?

In this episode, I break down the real costs of gardening — seeds, soil, supplies, raised beds, water, and time — and compare them to what we actually harvest from our garden. Some crops save us a ton of money, while others honestly might not be worth growing financially.

I also talk about the things that are harder to put a price on:
• fresher food
• healthier meals
• teaching kids where food comes from
• the peace that comes from growing something yourself

Whether you’re a beginner gardener or have been growing food for years, this episode might change the way you think about the value of a garden.

🌱 Check out my new gardening designs here:
FourthWall

Thanks for listening and supporting Very Good Gardening.

Check out my FourthWall shop for some really fun garden merch.

Gardening advice is everywhere… but not all of it actually matters.

In this episode, I’m talking about the gardening “rules” I break regularly and why learning to adapt your garden to YOUR life is far more important than following every tip perfectly.

We talk about:

• Why perfectionism hurts new gardeners
• Common gardening advice that isn’t always necessary
• Breaking rules around spacing, watering, seed starting, and more
• Gardening realistically with a busy life
• Learning through experimentation instead of fear

A lot of gardening “rules” are really just guidelines — and sometimes the best thing you can do is ignore them and grow anyway.

Whether you’re a beginner gardener or someone feeling overwhelmed trying to do everything “right,” this episode is a reminder that your garden doesn’t have to be perfect to be successful.

Everyone asks me the same question:
“How do you have time for all of this?”

In this episode, I’m sharing the real answer.

Between teaching, raising 3 kids, filming content, editing videos, and managing a productive garden in Maryland, I’ve had to figure out systems that actually work in real life, not just on social media.

I’m talking about:

• How I structure my gardening tasks
• What I DON’T do anymore
• Why consistency matters more than perfection
• The routines that save me time every week
• How I balance content creation with real life
• The truth about burnout and busy seasons

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t have enough time to garden, this episode is for you.

🌱 Shop merch & support the channel: VeryGoodGardening Fourthwall

#gardening #podcast #gardenlife #productivity #homestead #vegetablegarden

If I had to start my entire garden over again in the beginning of May… this is exactly what I would do.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the biggest mistakes gardeners make this time of year—and how to recover quickly so you can still have a successful season.

In this episode:

• What I would plant (and skip) in early May
• The mistakes I’d avoid if I could start over
• How to catch up if you feel behind
• Simple strategies to still get a productive garden

If you're feeling behind or unsure what to do next, this will help you reset and move forward with confidence.

Here is my FourthWall

In this episode of the podcast, I’m walking you through a full late April garden update and what it actually looks like to get warm-weather crops into the ground at the right time.

We’re talking real timing, real conditions, and what I’m doing right now in my own garden to set up a strong summer harvest. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “too early” or “too late” to transplant things like tomatoes, peppers, and other warm-season crops, this episode will help you make those decisions with more confidence.

If you want to support the show and grab something from the garden-inspired shop, you can check out my Fourthwall here: https://verygoodgardening-shop.fourthwall.com

Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.

Episode 19 is your full April garden tour, where I walk you through everything that’s happening right now in real time. From what’s thriving to what’s just getting started, I’m breaking down exactly what’s growing in my Zone 7b garden and what I’m focusing on this month.

We’ll take a look at the beds, talk about what’s ready to harvest, what’s been recently planted, and what’s coming next. I’ll share what’s working, what I’m keeping an eye on, and how I’m managing the transition from early spring into the busier planting season. If you’ve ever wondered what a productive April garden actually looks like, this episode gives you a clear, honest snapshot.

If you enjoy following along and want to support what I’m building, you can check out my Fourthwall shop for gardening gear and merch designed for growers like us.

What should you be planting right now and what should you wait on?

In this video, I break down exactly what to plant right now in Maryland, Zone 7b, and across the United States, based on timing, soil temperature, and what actually works in a real garden. I also cover the crops that might be tempting to plant too early and why waiting can make a huge difference in your success.

If you have ever rushed into planting and ended up with poor germination, stunted growth, or wasted seeds, this will help you avoid those mistakes. I walk through cool season crops you should already have in the ground, what still has time to go in, and which warm season plants need a little more patience.

The goal is simple. Plant at the right time, get better results, and waste less effort.

If you want more help, I have beginner friendly gear and resources linked in my Fourthwall shop, and I will be adding digital gardening guides soon to make planning your garden even easier.

If I had to start my garden all over again… what would I do differently?

In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly how I would approach gardening if I were a complete beginner today—no experience, no overwhelm, just a simple, practical plan that actually works.

We’ll talk about what I would focus on first, what I would completely ignore, and the biggest mistakes I’d avoid if I could go back to day one. Whether you're just getting started or feeling stuck in your garden, this episode will help you simplify the process and grow with confidence.

I’m sharing real, honest advice based on what’s actually worked for me here in Maryland (Zone 7b, United States), so you can skip the frustration and start seeing success faster.

And stay tuned—I'm working on some beginner-friendly resources that will make this whole process even easier. Those will be available soon on my Fourthwall! In the meantime, get some awesome gardening shirts to make you look and feel the part of a real gardener! Fourthwall

Follow along for more at VeryGoodGardening

In this episode, we’re breaking down one of the most common questions gardeners have this time of year: which seeds should you start indoors, and which ones are better off going straight into the garden?

I’ll walk you through the difference between crops that thrive with an early indoor start versus those that actually perform better when directly sown outside. We’ll talk about timing, common mistakes, and how to avoid wasting seeds (and time) by starting things the wrong way. Whether you're a beginner or just looking to fine-tune your spring planting strategy, this episode will help you make smarter decisions and set your garden up for success.

If you’re looking for fun gardening merch and ways to support what I’m building, check out my Fourthwall shop. Every purchase directly supports my content and helps me keep creating helpful resources for you.

Thanks for listening and go grow something Very Good.

Welcome to Episode 15 of the Very Good Gardening Podcast. In this episode I am answering your gardening questions in a community Q and A using questions submitted from my social media pages.

We cover a wide range of beginner and intermediate gardening topics including how to grow garlic, when to harvest common garden vegetables, how to plant potatoes, and what gardening zone I grow in here in Maryland. If you are planning your vegetable garden for the season or trying to improve your harvests, this episode is packed with practical tips that will help you grow more food successfully.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• How to grow garlic in a home garden

• When and how to harvest popular garden crops

• Planting potatoes for a productive harvest

• Beginner vegetable gardening tips

• Growing food in a backyard garden

• Common gardening mistakes and how to avoid them

If you are interested in vegetable gardening, beginner gardening tips, growing garlic, planting potatoes, harvesting vegetables, or gardening in USDA Zone 7b, this episode will give you helpful guidance for the growing season.

If you enjoy the podcast and want to support Very Good Gardening, check out my gardening merch shop on Fourthwall. You will find gardening themed shirts and other items designed for people who love growing their own food.

You can also join my Bonus View page where I share exclusive harvest to table recipes using food grown in the garden. These recipes are not shared anywhere else and are perfect if you want ideas for cooking what you grow.

Follow Very Good Gardening for more vegetable gardening tips, garden planning advice, seed starting help, and seasonal gardening guidance.

Now go grow something very good.

In this episode of the Very Good Gardening podcast, we’re talking all about peppers. Whether you want to grow sweet peppers, hot peppers, or a mix of both, peppers are one of the most rewarding crops you can grow in your garden.

I’m breaking down the differences between sweet and hot peppers, how I start my pepper seeds using heat mats, and why peppers need such a long growing season. I’ll also talk about common questions gardeners have like whether or not you should top your pepper plants, how to help them thrive through the summer, and what you can do now to set yourself up for a successful pepper harvest later in the season.

If you’ve struggled with peppers in the past or you’re growing them for the first time, this episode will help you understand how to give them the best start possible.

If you want to support Very Good Gardening, check out my Fourthwall shop where you can find gardening themed merch. Every purchase helps support the podcast and the content I create.

And if you love turning your harvest into meals, make sure to check out my Bonus View page. That’s where I share exclusive harvest-to-table recipes that you won’t find anywhere else.

Thanks for listening and happy gardening.

In Episode 13 of the Very Good Gardening podcast, I’m walking you through everything I do in my Maryland Zone 7b garden during the month of March.

March is one of the busiest and most important months of the entire gardening season. This is when I clean and organize my greenhouse and garden shed, fertilize my garlic, start tomatoes, herbs, and flowers indoors, order and spread mulch throughout the walkways, and begin transitioning the garden from winter crops to spring growth. I’m also managing cold frames, checking on carrots and lettuce, and preparing beds for what’s coming next.

If you’ve ever wondered what you should actually be doing in March to set your garden up for success, this episode gives you a realistic, step by step look at how I approach it.

If you want to support the channel, check out my garden inspired apparel on Fourthwall. And if you’re looking for exclusive harvest to table recipes using what we grow, those are available only on my Bonus View page. That’s where I share the meals that turn our harvest into very good gardening and very good recipes.

Thanks for listening and happy gardening

Episode 12 is all about prepping for the garden and setting yourself up for a smooth, productive growing season.

In this episode, I’m walking through exactly what I’m doing right now to get ready for spring. We’re talking about planning layouts, checking seed inventory, starting seeds on schedule, refreshing soil, organizing supplies, and making sure your garden systems are ready before things get busy. Whether you’re growing in raised beds, in-ground rows, containers, or a greenhouse, this episode will help you feel prepared instead of overwhelmed.

If you want to support the channel, shop my garden-inspired merch on Fourthwall. Every purchase helps me keep creating free gardening content for you.

And if you love my harvest-to-table meals and want all of my recipes in one place, head over to BonusView. I have a free preview video there so you can see what it’s all about.

Thanks for listening and as always go grow something Very Good.

In this episode, I’m talking all about herbs and how they can completely transform your garden and your kitchen. We’re diving into perennial versus annual herbs, which ones are worth planting once and enjoying for years, and which ones I replant every season. I’m sharing how I start my herbs from seed, which varieties I choose and why, and how herbs can support pollinators while also filling your harvest basket.

We’ll also talk about preserving herbs so nothing goes to waste. From drying and freezing to making herb blends you will actually use, I’m walking through simple ways to make your garden work for you all year long. And of course, I’m sharing my favorite basil varieties and how I use them in everyday cooking.

If you want to grab some fun garden themed merch, check out my Fourthwall shop linked in the show notes. And if you love my harvest to table meals and want all the recipes in one place, head to my Bonus View page where you can watch a free preview video and see what it’s all about.

Thanks for listening to Very Good Gardening. As always, keep growing and keep it Very Good.

This is the tenth episode of the podcast, and today I’m talking all about gardening mistakes. Not the dramatic, garden-ending kind, but the very real, very common mistakes that almost every gardener makes at some point, including me.

From planting things too early, to overwatering, to growing crops you don’t actually like to eat, I’m walking through the lessons that only come from doing this year after year. These are the mistakes that taught me how to garden smarter, waste less time, and enjoy the process a whole lot more.

If you’re a beginner gardener, this episode will help you avoid some common frustrations. And if you’ve been gardening for a while, chances are you’ll recognize a few of these and maybe feel a little less alone in them.

If you enjoy garden-to-table cooking and want to see how I use what I grow in real meals, all of my full recipes and bonus content live on my BonusView page.

https://bonusview.com/verygoodgardening

And if you’re looking for gardening merch or want to support my work, you can find everything on my Fourthwall.

https://verygoodgardening-shop.fourthwall.com

Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode. Until then, go grow something very good.

Seed starting can feel overwhelming, especially when every chart and calendar seems to say something different. In this episode, I walk through exactly how I approach seed starting at home and what actually matters for beginner gardeners. I share what I have already started, including onions and brassicas, what I start later like peppers and tomatoes, and how I decide which herbs and flowers get an early start and which ones can wait.

We talk about timing, space, light, and realistic expectations so you can grow strong seedlings without burning yourself out or buying unnecessary supplies. This episode is focused on practical, real world seed starting for home gardeners who just want healthy plants and a productive garden.

If you want to support the podcast, check out my Fourthwall shop for gardening related items and merch. For full garden to table recipes, extended content, and behind the scenes access, you can find me on BonusView.

https://verygoodgardening-shop.fourthwall.com

https://bonusview.com/verygoodgardening

This episode describes all of the way I use my garden preserves during the winter. From canning to freezing to dehydrating, I use a variety of ways to make sure my garden harvests last throughout the year.

If you'd like to support the podcast, visit my fourthwall shop for some fun garden merch:

https://verygoodgardening-shop.fourthwall.com

*I recorded this episode back in the beginning of December. You may hear references to Thanksgiving and the holidays and that would be why. New updated episodes will be coming out next weekend*

This episode walks you through how to figure out how much to plant in order to get the yields you desire. At this point in my gardening journey I use trial and error but if you're a new gardener, you don't have the privilege of knowledge and experience. I explain my thought process and in the end of the episode I give you my estimates of what I think you should grow if you're looking to have your harvests last you throughout the year.

My Fourthwall shop is here:

https://verygoodgardening-shop.fourthwall.com

This episode is a true deep dive into the humble onion. I talk about what kind of onion to plant, when to plant, how to plant, and how to harvest once you've been successful. I also get into myths and history surrounding the onion.

This episode was recorded before the holidays so you may hear some mention of "the upcoming holidays" but you can always purchase garden merch here:

https://verygoodgardening-shop.fourthwall.com

And visit my substack here:

https://substack.com/@verygoodgardening?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page

Cold Weather Gardening: What You CAN Grow When It’s Freezing

In this week’s episode, we’re diving into one of my favorite topics, cold-weather gardening. Whether you’re working with a greenhouse, cold frames, or just a few containers up against the house, winter doesn’t have to mean the end of fresh produce.

I’ll walk you through my own winter garden setup here in Maryland (zone 7b), the crops that thrive in the cold, how I protect my beds from sudden temperature drops, and the small, strategic changes that make a huge difference in winter harvests.

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow lettuce in January or harvest carrots in February this episode is for you.

Stay connected:

Substack newsletter (weekly tips + behind-the-scenes): https://verygoodgardening.substack.com

VeryGoodGardening Fourthwall shop: https://verygoodgardening.fourthwall.com

Thanks for listening, and happy winter gardening!

In this episode, we’re diving deep into one of the most rewarding crops you can grow: garlic. Whether you're planting your very first clove or you’ve been growing for years, this episode breaks down everything you need to know about Garlic, from choosing the right varieties for your climate to prepping the soil, spacing your cloves, preventing common problems, and harvesting at the perfect time. I also share how I’m growing garlic in my own Maryland Zone 7b garden and the simple steps you can follow to get a “very good” garlic harvest of your own.

Stick around for beginner tips, real-life lessons from my fall garden, and easy ways to boost your success no matter the size of your growing space.

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Discover why pollinators are one of the most important parts of a successful garden. In this episode of the Very Good Gardening Podcast, I talk about bees, butterflies, hoverflies, hummingbirds, and all the tiny workers that keep your garden alive. I also share how I went from being scared of bees as a kid to respecting them as essential partners in my garden.

You will learn the best flowers, herbs, and vegetables to plant for pollinators, how to design your garden to attract them, and what you can do in the fall and winter to prepare for a pollinator friendly spring. If you want healthier plants and bigger harvests, this episode will help you build a garden that buzzes with life.

Topics covered:
• Why pollinators are important for your garden
• Types of pollinators and how they help
• Flowers that bees and butterflies love
• Herbs and veggie flowers that bring in pollinators
• How to arrange your garden for maximum pollinator activity
• Fall and winter prep for next spring
• My story about overcoming a fear of bees

Thank you for listening and supporting the podcast. For weekly garden tips, behind the scenes notes, and seasonal guides, subscribe to my Substack newsletter:
https://verygoodgardening.substack.com

Check out my gardening shirts, totes, and merch on Fourthwall:
https://verygoodgardening.fourthwall.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, and subscribe. It helps more gardeners find the show.

Today's episode of the Very Good Gardening Podcast is All About Tomatoes!

Explore the queen on the summer garden from seed selection to harvest and beyond.

In this episode I talk about my use of club soda. If you'd like to know a little more about how I use it in my garden, watch this video:

https://www.tiktok.com/@verygoodgardening/video/7355235986403593515

If you'd like to purchase some gardening merch head to my Fourth Wall:

https://verygoodgardening-shop.fourthwall.com

And subscribe to my SubStack here for more detailed gardening content:

https://verygoodgardening.substack.com

Christen McCoy from VeryGoodGardening explores the five things a beginner gardener should know before starting a garden.

This is the first podcast episode ever produced by Christen and she has learned a lot! The next episode should be much more polished!