Explore every episode of the podcast Just Grow Something | Evidence-Based Home Gardening

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	Title	Pub. Date	Duration
	Attacking Perennial Weeds in Fall: Find Them, Dig Them, Starve Them - Ep 325	03 Nov 2026	00:33:20
Perennial weeds live in their roots, and fall is when those roots are filling up for winter. That's why you hear so much about fall being weed-killing season. But if you garden without herbicides, the real value of fall is a little different. It's the season to find these weeds while they're easy to see, dig the ones you can dig while the soil is soft, block the light on the ones you can't, and set yourself up to hit them next spring when their roots are at their weakest. In this episode I'm walking you through why perennial weeds keep coming back, and what the research says about the popular fixes, including vinegar sprays, cardboard and mulch, tilling, and counting on a hard freeze. Then I'll give you a fall and winter game plan that changes depending on whether your winters are frozen, moderate, or mild. And then we'll go weed by weed through bindweed, Canada thistle, Johnson grass and Bermuda grass, nutsedge, dandelions, and poison hemlock. Let's dig in! Get a quote for your personalized garden consultation: https://justgrowsomething.com/gardenconsulting Get your fair-trade, organic coffee and support the show at https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow References and Resources Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County (Browning) — Fall Weed Control (perennials move carbohydrates to roots in fall; fall control of annual weeds is unnecessary): https://lancaster.unl.edu/fall-weed-control SARE (Mohler, Teasdale, & DiTommaso) — Manage Weeds On Your Farm: Canada Thistle (lowest root reserves at ~1-foot shoots and flower bud; 21-day weeding schedule; exhaust roots within two years; loose mulch ineffective, tough tarp effective; surface root fragments killed at 14–21°F; fall cover grains favor thistle): https://www.sare.org/publications/manage-weeds-on-your-farm/canada-thistle/ SARE (Mohler, Teasdale, & DiTommaso) — Manage Weeds On Your Farm: Bindweeds (lowest reserves at 12–28-inch stems with 4–6 leaves; roots withstand 21°F; hedge bindweed through 18 inches of bark mulch; 2-inch root piece produced 25 shoots in four months and spread 9.4 feet in 15 months; forage soybean shade; fall-planted cover crops): https://www.sare.org/publications/manage-weeds-on-your-farm/bindweeds/ SARE (Mohler, Teasdale, & DiTommaso) — Manage Weeds On Your Farm: Johnsongrass (lowest reserves 10–30 days after emergence at 6–12 inches; late-fall tillage won't prompt sprouting; rhizomes die below ~16°F daily minimum soil temperature; freeze-kill varies year to year; shattercane lacks rhizomes): https://www.sare.org/publications/manage-weeds-on-your-farm/johnson-grass/ Oregon State University Extension, Ask Extension (Bubl) — Does vinegar help with controlling weeds? (contact action, perennials hardest to control; homemade vinegar–Epsom salt–soap test on Canada thistle): https://extension.oregonstate.edu/ask-extension/featured/does-vinegar-help-controlling-weeds University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Lounsbury, Birthisel, Lilley, & Maher) — Bulletin #1075, Tarping in the Northeast: Types of Tarps and How They Work (annual weeds killed in under a week in summer, up to three weeks in cool seasons; perennials knocked back but not eliminated by under six weeks; nutsedge resistant; ~10% of farmers saw some weeds worsen; no regional research on long tarping and perennial bud banks): https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/1075e/types-of-tarps-and-how-they-work/ Oregon State University Extension (Filley) — EM 9652, Tracking weeds is first step in controlling them (weed mapping, weed calendaring, identification through Extension): https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/em-9652-tracking-weeds-first-step-controlling-them Colorado State University Extension (Beck) — Canada Thistle (roots 15+ feet horizontal, 6–15 feet vertical; 0.25-inch root pieces regrow; shoots emerge ~15 days after tillage; pieces survive 100 days; fall flush; seedlings perennial at 7–8 weeks): https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/canada-thistle/ Purdue University Extension (Fry, Stout, Griffin, et al.) — FNR-647-W, Johnsongrass Control (seedlings form rhizomes in 19 days; heavy fall tillage exposes rhizomes to killing cold; light fall tillage spreads them): https://purdue.edu/fnr/extension/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/FNR-647-JohnsongrassADA-final-comp.pdf UC Statewide IPM Program — Pest Notes: Bermudagrass, Publication 7453 (rhizomes usually 1–6 inches deep; black plastic 6–8 weeks in summer; plastic in winter ineffective; solarization 4–6 weeks during high sun; early-spring solarization can promote growth; wood chips ineffective without fabric): https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/bermudagrass/ UC Statewide IPM Program — Pest Notes: Nutsedge, Publication 7432 (remove before 5–6 leaves, every 2–3 weeks in summer; tubers survive 1–3 years; 60% and 20% reserve use; resprout 3+ times; dig 8–14 inches; plastic ineffective; nonwoven fabric works; thrives in waterlogged soil): https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/nutsedge/ Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	How to Attract Pollinators and Natural Pest Predators with Native Plants - Ep. 324	27 Oct 2026	00:33:40
Fall is the best time of year to plant native perennials, and it's also the easiest. The seeds of most native wildflowers need a winter outside before they'll sprout, and plugs planted while the soil is still warm get a head start on roots before they go dormant. In this episode I'm walking you through why it's worth making room for natives at all, including what researchers are finding about the decline of butterflies, bumble bees, and the insects that birds depend on. Then we'll get into how fall and winter planting works, from dormant seeding after a few hard frosts to the six-week window for plugs, and how that changes if your winters are snowy, rainy, or barely there. After that we'll go plant by plant through milkweeds, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, bergamot, asters, goldenrod, golden alexanders, and mountain mint, with whether each one is best started from seed, a plug, or either. We'll also talk about the plants that feed the lady beetles, lacewings, and tiny wasps that eat your garden pests. Let's dig in. Support the show at https://larryscoffee.com/justgrow and get a free gift! Work with me! Get a quote for your garden consultation at https://justgrowsomething.com/gardenconsulting References and Resources: Edwards, C.B., Zipkin, E.F., Henry, E.H., et al. (2025). Rapid butterfly declines across the United States during the 21st century. Science 387(6738): 1090 (22% decline in butterfly abundance, 2000–2020, 554 species): https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adp4671 USDA National Agroforestry Center (Vaughan & Black) — Agroforestry Note 34: Enhancing Nest Sites for Native Bee Crop Pollinators (4,000 native bee species, ~70% ground nesting, ~30% tunnel nesting, ~45 bumble bee species, overwintering and mowing timing): https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/assets/documents/agroforestrynotes/an34g08.pdf University of Delaware, UDaily — Biodiversity for the birds (summary of the chickadee study; oaks support 557 caterpillar species, ginkgo zero): https://www.udel.edu/udaily/2018/october/non-native-plants-birds-insects-washington-chickadee-desiree-narango-doug-tallamy/ University of Illinois Extension — Plant native perennials in the fall for healthy spring growth (plugs six weeks before first frost, seed after first hard frost, watering, no fall fertilizer, mulch timing): https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/plant-native-perennials-fall-healthy-spring-growth Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Utah Pollinator Habitat Program — Native Seed Planting Guide (sow after several hard frosts, soil below 55°F, seeding before snow, 1:8 seed-to-sand mix, pressing seed, 3–4 years to establish): https://ag.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Seed-Planting-Guide.pdf Michigan State University Extension — Attracting Beneficial Insects with Native Flowering Plants, Bulletin E-2973 (seed flowers in 3–5 years vs. plugs in 1–2 years; nectar and pollen extend natural enemies' life span and egg laying): https://sanweb.lib.msu.edu/DMC/extension_publications/e2973/E2973-2007.PDF Oklahoma State University Extension — Native Milkweed Germination Guide, HLA-6503 (30-day cold stratification for most milkweeds, 60–90 for some; 90% vs. under 1% germination for green antelopehorn): https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/native-milkweed-germination-guide University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension — Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa (zones 3a–9b, deep taproot, fall sowing, 2–3 years to bloom from seed): https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/butterflyweed-asclepias-tuberosa/ University of Georgia, Odum School of Ecology — Tropical Milkweed and Parasite Infections in Resident Monarchs in the Southern U.S. (cut tropical milkweed to 6 inches monthly, October–February; replace with natives): https://ecology.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/monarch-factsheet-2018-1.pdf USDA NRCS — Plant Guide: Eastern Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea (germinates without cold; overwintered seed germinates rapidly; goldfinches and seed): https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_ecpu.pdf USDA NRCS — Plant Fact Sheet: Golden Alexanders, Zizia aurea (90-day cold stratification, pollen and nectar for short-mouthed beneficial insects, fall seeding and plugs): https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_ziau.pdf University of Illinois Extension — Autumn allergies: don't blame goldenrod (insect-pollinated goldenrod vs. wind-pollinated ragweed; 88% of plants animal-pollinated): https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2022-10-21-autumn-allergies-dont-blame-goldenrod New Mexico State University Extension — Guide H-169: Using Insectary Plants to Attract and Sustain Beneficial Insects for Biological Pest Control (alyssum and brassica pests; spring sowing of annual insectaries): https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_h/H169/ Nevison, K.A. (2016). Considering a role for native plant cultivars in ecological landscaping: an experiment evaluating insect preferences and nectar forage values of Phlox species vs. its cultivars. M.S. thesis, University of Delaware (most phlox cultivars equal to species; some wild selections better): https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/21442 Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Newsletter link: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/757286/109572786559649154/share Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Overwintering Tender Garden Plants - Ep. 323	20 Oct 2026	00:36:54
Every fall I look at my pepper plants loaded with fruit and my rosemary at its biggest, and I hate the idea of handing them over to the first hard freeze. The good news is you don't have to. Peppers, rosemary, and geraniums are all perennials somewhere in the world, and basil will keep going for a while on a windowsill if you start it right. But whether a plant makes it to spring gets decided mostly before it ever comes through the door. In this episode we're talking about which plants are worth the space, when to bring them in, and whether to keep them growing, put them to sleep, or just take cuttings. Then we'll get into my step-by-step for leaving aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and fungus gnats outside, including why dish soap isn't the same as insecticidal soap and how long to keep new arrivals away from your houseplants. We'll finish with plant-by-plant care for peppers, rosemary, basil, and geraniums, plus a place where the experts don't agree. Let’s dig in. Get your fair-trade, organic coffee and support the show at https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow Root Boost Rooting Hormone: https://amzn.to/4BeOCWX Pure Castile Soap for insecticidal soap: https://amzn.to/3U0HnBb References and Resources: Pests and Insecticidal Soap Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden — Can I Use Dish Soap Instead of Insecticidal Soap to Treat for Insect Pests? (detergent vs. true soap, phytotoxicity, contact-only action, reapplying): https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/can-i-use-dish-soap-instead-insecticidal-soap-treat-insect-pests University of Florida IFAS Gardening Solutions — Soaps, Detergents and Pest Management (don't treat drought-stressed plants or above 90°F): https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/pests-and-diseases/pests/soaps-detergents-and-pest-management/ Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County — Washing Pests Away, Sarah Browning (2–3 applications at 4–7 day intervals, testing a small area first): https://lancaster.unl.edu/washing-pests-away/ University of Minnesota Extension — Houseplant Pests (spider mite white paper tap test, mealybugs, fungus gnat management): https://extension.umn.edu/news/houseplant-pests Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden — Spider Mites on Houseplants (dry winter air, stippling, webbing, rinsing in the shower): https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/article/2007/12-5/SpiderMites.html Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden — Fungus Gnats in Houseplants (overwatering, letting soil dry): https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/article/2023/02/fungus-gnats-houseplants Peppers New Mexico State University, Southwest Yard & Garden — Chiles Can Be Grown Year-Round if They Are Brought Indoors (south window with about 4 hours of sun, nights around 50°F, underwatering losses, monthly fertilizer): https://swyg.nmsu.edu/2014/101814.html New Mexico State University, Southwest Yard & Garden — Chiles for New Mexico Holiday Houseplants (chiles as frost-tender perennials): https://swyg.nmsu.edu/2007/110307.html Ask Extension — Overwintering Peppers (nights above 50°F, days around 70°F, artificial light for fruiting; hot peppers more resilient; dormancy option): https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=855650 Rosemary University of Illinois Extension, The Garden Scoop — Rosemary, Ryan Pankau (50–60°F indoors, very bright light, hardiness zone 7, 'Arp' and 'Hill Hardy' to zone 6, outdoor protection): https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2018-10-18-rosemary Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County — Rosemary, An Herb for All Seasons, Sarah Browning (zones 7–10, 50–55°F indoors, watering): https://lancaster.unl.edu/rosemary-herb-all-seasons University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension — Rosemary, Janet B. Carson (overwatering as the biggest indoor risk, coolest sunny room, holiday topiaries): https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/home-landscape/adgrosemaryjan2018.pdf University of Wisconsin Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic — November 2020: Houseplant Horrors (powdery mildew on rosemary indoors, kitchen humidity): https://pddc.wisc.edu/2020/11/11/november-2020-houseplant-horrors/ Basil and Indoor Herbs Brindisi, L.J., & Simon, J.E. (2023). Preharvest and postharvest techniques that optimize the shelf life of fresh basil (Ocimum basilicum): a review. Frontiers in Plant Science 14: 1237577 (chilling injury below about 54°F and severe below 50°F): https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1237577 University of Illinois Extension, Flowers, Fruits, and Frass — Growing Basil in Your Backyard, Brittnay Haag (tender annual, flowering makes plants woody and bitter, digging before frost extends the season): https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/flowers-fruits-and-frass/2020-05-13-growing-basil-your-backyard Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County — Herbs for Your Winter Windowsill, Pat Curran (digging basil in late summer, cutting back by a third to a half, rosemary leaves don't wilt, 1-gallon pots, separating outdoor plants from houseplants): https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/c/10116/files/Windowsill-Herbs-Pat-Curran-March-2017-21jwe6n.pdf University of Illinois Extension — Keep Growing Herbs Indoors This Fall, Winter, Christopher Enroth (6–8 hours of bright light, 12–16 hours under lights, 70°F or below): https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/keep-growing-herbs-indoors-fall-winter Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden — Can I Grow Herbs Indoors Over the Winter? (rosemary may need grow lights, clay pots, watering): https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/can-i-grow-herbs-indoors-over-winter University of Minnesota Extension — Basil Downy Mildew (symptoms, remove infected plants, Genovese susceptibility, DMR varieties): https://extension.umn.edu/diseases/basil-downy-mildew Geraniums University of Illinois Extension, Good Growing — How to Overwinter Geraniums for Next Year's Garden, Ken Johnson (three methods, 45–50°F bare-root storage, cuttings root in 4–8 weeks): https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2024-10-11-how-overwinter-geraniums-next-years-garden Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden — How Can I Over-Winter My Geraniums Indoors? (65–70°F, March pruning, 45–55°F bare-root storage, cuttings root in 6–8 weeks): https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-can-i-over-winter-my-geraniums-indoors University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension — Overwintering Tender Geraniums, Margaret Murphy (60–65°F, optional root soaking, soaked vs. dry comparison, cuttings as backup): https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/overwintering-tender-geraniums Missouri Botanical Garden — How Can I Overwinter My Geranium Plants? (cuttings root in 3–4 weeks, modern basements too warm and dry, soaking roots every few weeks): https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/gardening-help-faqs/question/1374/how-can-i-overwinter-my-geranium-plants Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Seed Saving: Harvesting, Drying and Storing for Next Season - Ep. 322	13 Oct 2026	00:43:10
Every fall somebody asks me if they can save the seeds from that amazing tomato or melon they just ate, and the answer is "maybe." Whether a saved seed grows into the plant you loved gets decided twice. The first time is months earlier, when the flower was pollinated, and the second is after harvest, when the seed either stays in the right conditions or doesn't. In this episode we're covering both. We'll talk about hybrids versus open-pollinated and heirloom varieties, which crops are easiest for beginners, why your zucchini and your pumpkin can cross but your cucumber and your cantaloupe can't, and why peppers cross more often than most people think. Then we'll get into harvesting and cleaning seeds, including what tomato seed fermentation does and doesn't do for seedborne disease, how to dry seeds without cooking them, the simple temperature-plus-humidity rule for storage, and why seed longevity charts don't agree with each other. Let’s dig in. Get your free gift, great coffee, and support the show at https://larryscoffee.com/justgrow Tell me about your garden goals and challenges, get a quote, and get on my calendar: https://JustGrowSomething.com/gardenconsulting Six Steps for Saving Seeds From Your Garden: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/blog/six-steps-for-saving-seeds-from-your-garden References and Resources Choosing Crops, Pollination, and Isolation University of Minnesota Extension — Saving Vegetable Seeds (open-pollinated vs. hybrid, cross-pollination, harvesting, storage, bacterial canker and seed treatments): https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/saving-vegetable-seeds University of Illinois Extension — How to Save Seeds (terms, isolation methods, isolation distance table, wet and dry harvesting): https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/how_to_save_seeds_062021.pdf University of Maryland Extension — Seed Saving 101: Vegetables (three levels of seed saving, tomato and potato-leaf isolation, pepper species crossing, squash after-ripening, storage rule of thumb): https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/2021-02/Seed%20Saving%20Veggies%20Resources.pdf UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, Orange County 4-H — Saving Seed from the Three Sisters and Tomatoes (population sizes for home gardens): https://oc4h.ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2016-09/248080.pdf NC State Extension, Onslow County — Saving Your Own Seed (hot and sweet pepper crossing): https://onslow.ces.ncsu.edu/2023/01/saving-your-own-seed/ Barchenger, D.W., et al. (2025). Producing High Quality Pepper Seed. World Vegetable Center, Publication No. 25-1099 (pepper outcrossing rates, bee visitation, seed moisture): https://worldveg.tind.io/record/76153/files/25-1099_Producing%20high%20quality%20pepper%20seed.pdf Harvesting, Cleaning, and Seedborne Disease Oregon State University Extension — Collecting and Storing Seeds From Your Garden (crop-by-crop harvesting, hand-pollinating squash, bean weevils, longevity groups, germination testing): https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/techniques/collecting-storing-seeds-your-garden Pradhanang, P.M., & Collier, G. (2009). How effective is hydrochloric acid treatment to control Clavibacter michiganensis michiganensis contamination in tomato seed? Acta Horticulturae 808: 81–86 (overnight fermentation vs. washing): https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.808.10 Drying, Storage, and Longevity Colorado State University Extension — Storing Vegetable and Flower Seeds, Fact Sheet 7.221 (drying temperatures, seed moisture, humidity, hard seed, federal minimum germination and longevity table): https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/storing-vegetable-and-flower-seeds/ University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, Weekly Crop Update — Storing Vegetable Seed (temperature-plus-humidity rule, storage life halving rules, freezing seed): https://sites.udel.edu/weeklycropupdate/?p=2967 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Preserving Without Canning - Ep. 321	06 Oct 2026	00:42:06
Canning gets most of the attention, but for a lot of what comes out of the garden, it isn't the best way to put food up. In this episode, we're opening up the rest of the preserving toolbox: freezing, drying, fermenting, refrigerator pickles, and good old-fashioned cold storage. We'll talk about why skipping the blanch (or cutting it short) costs you flavor and color in the freezer, which vegetables you can freeze raw, and why a full freezer rides out a power outage twice as long as a half-empty one. Then we'll get into drying in a humid climate, why vegetables need a blanch before the dehydrator, and what the research does and doesn't say about home freeze dryers. We'll make a simple, safe batch of sauerkraut, cover the one rule for fridge pickles, and wrap up with the temperature and humidity each storage crop wants, from potatoes and onions to carrots, sweet potatoes, and apples. There's a crop-by-crop quick-reference chart to download, and a fantastic fermenting book to check out. Let’s dig in! References and Resources: Larry's Coffee (affiliate): https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow Download the preserving guide: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/preserve Fermented Vegetables by Kristen and Christopher Shockey: https://amzn.to/4zjI2g4 Freezing National Center for Home Food Preservation — Blanching Vegetables: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/freeze-general-information/blanching-vegetables/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Tomatoes: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-tomatoes/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Onions: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-onions/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Bell or Sweet Peppers: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-bell-or-sweet-peppers/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Hot Peppers: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-hot-peppers/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Foods That Do Not Freeze Well: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/freeze-general-information/foods-that-do-not-freeze-well/ North Dakota State University Extension — Freezing Vegetables (blanching times, freezer loading, storage time): https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/freezing-vegetables University of Minnesota Extension — How to Freeze Fruit Safely: https://extension.umn.edu/food/preparing/cooking-at-home/food-preservation/freezing/freezing-fruit NC State Extension, Guilford County — Put a Freeze on Foodborne Illness: https://guilford.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/10/put-a-freeze-on-foodborne-illness University of Illinois Extension — Power Outages: https://extension.illinois.edu/food-safety/power-outages Li, L., Pegg, R. B., Eitenmiller, R. R., Chun, J. Y., & Kerrihard, A. (2017). Selected nutrient analyses of fresh, fresh-stored, and frozen fruits and vegetables. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2017.02.002 Drying and Freeze-Drying National Center for Home Food Preservation — Food Dehydrators: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry/drying-general/food-dehydrators/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Sun Drying: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry/drying-general/sun-drying/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Packaging and Storing Dried Foods: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry/drying-general/packaging-and-storing-dried-foods/ Penn State Extension — Let's Preserve: Drying Fruits and Vegetables (Dehydration): https://extension.psu.edu/lets-preserve-drying-fruits-and-vegetables-dehydration Colorado State University Extension — Drying Vegetables, Fact Sheet 9.308: https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/drying-vegetables/ University of Minnesota Extension — Preserving Herbs by Freezing or Drying: https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/preserving-herbs-freezing-or-drying South Dakota State University Extension — Preserving Herbs: https://extension.sdstate.edu/preserving-herbs Utah State University Extension — Buying a Home Freeze-Dryer: What to Know Before You Go: https://extension.usu.edu/preserve-the-harvest/research/buying-a-home-freeze-dryer-what-to-know-before-you-go Utah State University Extension — Can I Freeze-Dry That? A Practical Guide to Safe and Effective Freeze-Drying: https://extension.usu.edu/foodsafety/research/can-i-freeze-dry-that-a-practical-guide-to-safe-and-effective-freeze-drying Fermenting and Refrigerator Pickles North Dakota State University Extension — Sauerkraut: From Garden to Table: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/sauerkraut-garden-table Penn State Extension — Tips for Making Sauerkraut: https://extension.psu.edu/tips-for-making-sauerkraut UConn Extension — Fermentation: Preservation with Benefits: https://extension.uconn.edu/?p=3394 University of Florida IFAS Extension — Fermented Foods: Sauerkraut, FS474: https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FS474 NC State Extension Food Safety — How to Make Quick Refrigerator Pickles: https://foodsafety.ces.ncsu.edu/news/how-to-make-quick-refrigerator-pickles/ Cold Storage University of Missouri Extension — Home Storage of Fruits and Vegetables in Root Cellars, MP562: https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/mp562 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — Storing Winter Storage Vegetables: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/storing-winter-storage-vegetables Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — Growing Carrots and Parsnips: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/growing-carrots-and-parsnips Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Home Canning Myths Debunked - Ep. 320	29 Sep 2026	00:34:31
A jar that seals is a jar that seals, and that's about all it tells you. In this episode, we're taking on four home canning myths that keep circulating in gardening groups, on food blogs, and in family recipe boxes: oven canning, open-kettle canning (and its cousin, flipping jars upside down), packing tomatoes and garlic in oil, and the idea that a salsa recipe can be tweaked however you like as long as it tastes right. For each one, we'll look at what the research from the National Center for Home Food Preservation and university extension services shows, why these methods fail, and what to do instead so your harvest stays on the pantry shelf and out of the danger zone. We'll also look at a study that checked 56 salsa canning recipes from food blogs, and what it found might make you rethink where your recipes come from. Let's dig in! Support the show and get your free gift at https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow References and Resources: National Center for Home Food Preservation — Ensuring Safe Canned Foods: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/ensuring-safe-canned-foods/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Equipment and Methods Not Recommended: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/equipment-and-methods-not-recommended/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — General Information (includes the 1943 history on oven and open-kettle canning): https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Identifying and Handling Spoiled Canned Food: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/identifying-and-handling-spoiled-canned-food/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Tomato Acidification Directions: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/how-do-i-can-tomatoes/tomato-acidification-directions/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Garlic-in-Oil: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-garlic-in-oil/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Burning Issue: Can I Can My Own Salsa Recipe? (PDF): https://boone.mgcafe.uky.edu/files/nchfp_burning_issue_can_i_can_my_own_salsa_recipe.pdf D'Sa et al. (2007), Survey of Home Canning Practices and Safety Issues in the U.S.: https://nchfp.uga.edu/papers/2007/canning_survey.html Nummer et al. (2004), Studies on Safe Acidification of Salsa for Home Boiling Water Canning: https://nchfp.uga.edu/papers/2004/04ift-tomatosalsaPoster_combined.html Nummer et al. (2011), Current Food Safety Issues of Home-Prepared Vegetables and Herbs Stored in Oil, Food Protection Trends (PDF): https://www.foodprotection.org/files/food-protection-trends/Jun-11-Nummer.pdf Savoie & Perry (2019), Adherence of Food Blog Salsa Recipes to Home Canning Guidelines, Food Protection Trends: https://www.foodprotection.org/publications/food-protection-trends/archive/2019-09-adherence-of-food-blog-salsa-recipes-to-home-canning-guidelines/ University of Maine Cooperative Extension — The Missing Ingredient: Food Blog Salsa Recipes: https://extension.umaine.edu/food-health/2023/07/20/the-missing-ingredient-adherence-of-food-blog-salsa-recipes-to-home-canning-guidelines/ Penn State Extension — Say No to Oven Canning: https://extension.psu.edu/say-no-to-oven-canning Penn State Extension — Avoid Open Kettle Canning: Always Process Canned Goods: https://extension.psu.edu/avoid-open-kettle-canning-always-process-canned-goods Penn State Extension — Caution: Canning with Fats and Oils: https://extension.psu.edu/caution-canning-with-fats-and-oils Oregon State University Extension Service — Herbs and Vegetables in Oil, SP 50-701: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/sp-50-701-herbs-vegetables-oil Oregon State University Extension Service — Preserving Garlic: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/food/preservation/preserving-garlic UC Agriculture and Natural Resources — Garlic: Safe Methods to Store, Preserve, and Enjoy, Pub. 8568 (PDF): https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2020-09/335681.pdf Colorado State University Extension — Botulism, Fact Sheet 9.305: https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/botulism/ Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	End-of-Season Tomato Rescue: Ripening, Freezing, and Preserving - Ep. 319	22 Sep 2026	00:30:40
Frost is on the way, and the vines are still loaded with green tomatoes. In this episode, we sort out which green tomatoes will finish ripening on your counter (the mature greens and the blushers) and which ones belong in the skillet, the freezer, or a tested relish recipe. You'll learn what cold does to a tomato, why a stretch of chilly weather can cost you ripening ability before frost ever shows up, and four ways to ripen fruit indoors, including how to stage a harvest for a steady supply into November. Then we dig into the canning rule that catches a lot of gardeners off guard. National home-canning guidance says not to can tomatoes from dead or frost-killed vines, and we look at why, what the research does and doesn't show, and what to do with those tomatoes instead. Grab a notebook and let’s dig in! Resources and References: Grab your bag of Larry's Coffee, support the show, and get a free gift! https://larryscoffee.com/justgrow Colorado State University Extension — Ripening Tomatoes Indoors: https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/ripening-tomatoes-indoors/ University of California, Davis, Postharvest Research and Extension Center (Suslow and Cantwell) — Tomato: Recommendations for Maintaining Postharvest Quality: https://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/produce-facts-sheets/tomato Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — Can I ripen green tomatoes indoors before frost?: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/can-i-ripen-green-tomatoes-indoors-frost National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia) — Canning Tomatoes: Introduction: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/how-do-i-can-tomatoes/canning-tomatoes-introduction/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Resources for Home Preserving Tomatoes: https://nchfp.uga.edu/resources/entry/resources-for-home-preserving-tomatoes USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning, Guide 3 (electronic version by Utah State University Extension, 1995) — Selecting, Preparing, and Canning Tomatoes and Tomato Products: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1600&context=extension_histall National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Tomatoes: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-tomatoes/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Green Tomatoes: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-green-tomatoes/ Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Cover Crops in the Home Garden - Ep. 318	15 Sep 2026	00:36:22
Every empty bed in your garden is either growing something for you or growing weeds and losing topsoil. Cover crops are how you make sure it's the first one. In this episode, we get into why cover crops work in both in-ground beds and raised planters, which ones perform best when you sow them in fall, and which ones are worth a spot in your rotation come spring. We'll look at nitrogen-fixing legumes like crimson clover and hairy vetch, soil-building grasses like winter rye and oats, and fast-growing summer options like buckwheat that can turn a bare bed around in a matter of weeks. Then we'll cover how to actually terminate a cover crop, whether that's mowing, crimping, tarping, or letting winter do the work for you, so it feeds your soil instead of becoming a weed problem of its own. Let's dig in! References and Resources: Get your sustainably grown coffee and support the show at LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow! University of Maryland Extension — Cover Crops For Gardens: umd.edu/resource/cover-crops-gardens University of Maryland Extension — Offing Cover Crops for Weed Suppression: Featuring the Roller Crimper and Other Mechanical Contraptions: umd.edu/resource/offing-cover-crops-weed-suppression University of New Hampshire Extension — Cover Cropping for the Home Garden [fact sheet]: unh.edu/resource/cover-cropping-home-garden-fact-sheet University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management, Missouri Environment & Garden — Cover Crops Improve Garden Soil: missouri.edu/meg/2014/9/Cover-Crops-Improve-Garden-Soil Oregon State University Extension — Buckwheat Makes a Good Summer Cover Crop for Gardens: oregonstate.edu/news/buckwheat-makes-good-summer-cover-crop-gardens Cornell Cooperative Extension Vegetable Program, Cover Crop Guide for NY Growers — Buckwheat as a Summer Cover Crop for Weed Suppression: org/blog/buckwheat-as-a-summer-cover-crop-for-weed-suppression UF/IFAS Extension Duval County — Cover Crop Termination: What Do I Do When It's Over?: ifas.ufl.edu/duvalco/2025/09/15/cover-crop-termination-what-do-i-do-when-its-over Purdue University Center for New Crops and Plants Products — Hairy Vetch: purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/vetch.html USDA Agricultural Research Service — Crimson Clover Cover Crop Fact Sheet (PDF): usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/60100500/FactSheets/FS04e.pdf Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Fall-Planted vs. Spring-Planted Onions: Choosing the Right System for Your Garden - Ep. 317	08 Sep 2026	00:34:24
Onions are having a moment in the seed catalogs right now, and a lot of that buzz is about overwintering them, tucking small transplants into the bed in September, letting them sit through the cold, and pulling bigger, earlier bulbs the following June. It sounds like a clear win. But the biology underneath it is more particular than the marketing lets on, and the trade-offs are real. In this episode, I'm breaking down the day-length science that controls when an onion decides to bulb, the separate cold-exposure trigger that can send it to flower instead, and why those two mechanisms together explain both the promise and the risk of overwintering. I'll walk through the specific varieties that university research has found reliable for this system versus the ones that bolted their way out of a harvest, and I'll lay out the honest cost side of the ledger: a bed occupied for the better part of a year, a real chance of premature flowering if timing or variety selection is off, and whether any of that beats simply direct-seeding or transplanting in spring. Whether you've got seed garlic already planned for a bed and you're eyeing the space next to it for onions, or you're just trying to figure out which system fits your garden, this episode will give you the research to make that call yourself. Let’s dig in. References and Resources: Short Day Onions • Latitude: ~25°–35° N • Daylength trigger: 10–12 hours • Climate: Mild winters (USDA Zone 7+), These are generally planted in fall, mature in late spring. Intermediate Day Onions • Latitude: ~32°–42° N • Daylength trigger: 12–14 hours • Climate: Central U.S. conditions; planted in spring (or early spring in cooler areas) Long Day Onions • Latitude: ~37°–47° N • Daylength trigger: 14–16 hours • Climate: Northern latitudes; often sweet, specialty, or long storage types. Planted in fall or spring depending on climate Get your free fair-trade gift and support the show at https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow Episode 296 — Successions: Never an Empty Bed: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/succession-planting-101-how-to-keep-your-garden-producing-from-spring-through-frost-ep-296 Oregon State University Extension — Winter Vegetable Production on Small Farms and Gardens West of the Cascades (PNW 548): oregonstate.edu/catalog/pnw-548-winter-vegetable-production-small-farms-gardens-west-cascades University of New Hampshire Extension / NH Agricultural Experiment Station — Research Report: Overwintering Onions, 2014–15 (Becky Sideman et al.): unh.edu/resources/files/Resource005477_Rep7652.pdf Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — What Is a Long-Day Type Onion Variety?: extension.iastate.edu/faq/what-long-day-type-onion-variety University of Minnesota Extension — Growing Onions in Home Gardens: umn.edu/vegetables/growing-onions NC State Extension Publications — Bulb Onions: ces.ncsu.edu/bulb-onions University of Missouri Extension — Planting, Growing and Harvesting Onions: missouri.edu/news/planting-growing-and-harvesting-onions Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center — Onion, Leek, Shallot & Garlic: clemson.edu/factsheet/onion-leek-shallot-garlic Oregon State University Extension — Plant Onions Early for Bigger Summer Bulbs: oregonstate.edu/news/plant-onions-early-bigger-summer-bulbs Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Newsletter link: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/757286/109572786559649154/share Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Choosing a Garlic Variety Based on the Science - Ep. 316	01 Sep 2026	00:38:10
It's the middle of summer, and I want you thinking about garlic. Not because it's time to plant, but because if you wait until it's time to plant, the good seed garlic may already be gone! In this episode, I'm breaking down the real difference between hardneck and softneck garlic: the cold-exposure requirement called vernalization that decides which type will bulb properly in your garden, how clove structure and storage life differ between the two, and how to match your choice to your specific climate. I'll also cover why garlic bought at the grocery store is a gamble, what certified disease-free seed garlic protects you from, how much seed to order for the bed you're planting, and exactly what to do in your garden bed this month to set yourself up for a strong harvest next summer. Whether you've grown garlic for years or you're planting your first clove this fall, this episode will get your ordering and your bed prep sorted before the window closes. Let’s dig in! Episode References: Episode 302 — Mulch Matchmaking (winter mulch materials and application for newly planted garlic beds): https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/mulch-matchmaking-choosing-the-right-mulch-for-your-vegetable-garden-ep-302 All the garlic episodes: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/search/garlic Resources: University of Georgia Cooperative Extension — Garlic Production for the Gardener (Circular 854): caes.uga.edu/publications/C854/garlic-production-for-the-gardener University of Minnesota Extension — Growing Garlic in Home Gardens: umn.edu/vegetables/growing-garlic University of Missouri Extension — Fall Is a Good Time to Plant Garlic: missouri.edu/news/fall-is-a-good-time-to-plant-garlic Lincoln University of Missouri Cooperative Extension — Garlic Production in Missouri: edu/publications/garlic-production-in-missouri.html Utah State University Extension — How to Grow Garlic in Your Garden: usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/garlic-in-the-garden Oregon State University Extension — Get Your Garlic On: A Primer on Planting, Growing and Harvesting: oregonstate.edu/news/get-your-garlic-primer-planting-growing-harvesting Cornell Cooperative Extension, Warren County — Garlic: cce.cornell.edu/gardening-landscape/warren-county-master-gardener-articles/garlic Penn State Extension — Garlic Production: psu.edu/garlic-production University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (Contra Costa Master Gardeners) — Garlic, Love It or Leave It: edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/garlic-love-it-or-leave-it Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	How to Know When Winter Squash is Ready to Harvest (and How to Store Them) - Ep. 315	25 Aug 2026	00:26:26
Winter squash gives you almost no obvious warning before it's ready, and pulling it too early is one of the most common mistakes gardeners make. And that mistake costs you flavor, sugar content, and months of storage life. In this episode, we're breaking down exactly how to read maturity on butternut, acorn, spaghetti, delicata, and storage pumpkins: the rind test, the ground spot, and the specific cues for each type. Then we'll cover what to do with a squash patch when frost is bearing down on you, why curing helps some squash and actively ruins others, and how to set up a storage space that gets you squash on your table well into the new year instead of watching half your harvest go soft by Thanksgiving. Get your fair-trade, organic, sustainably harvested coffees and support the show at https://larryscoffee.com/justgrow Got my newsletter: JustGrowSomething.com References: University of Missouri IPM — Pumpkin Picking Time: ipm.missouri.edu/meg/2022/10/pumpkins-DT/ South Dakota State University Extension — Time to Harvest Those Winter Squash: extension.sdstate.edu/time-harvest-those-winter-squash South Dakota State University Extension — Harvesting and Storing Pumpkins and Winter Squash: extension.sdstate.edu/harvesting-and-storing-pumpkins-and-winter-squash South Dakota State University Extension — Fall Frost Tolerance of Common Vegetables: extension.sdstate.edu/fall-frost-tolerance-common-vegetables Iowa State University Extension — Yard and Garden: Winter Squash: extension.iastate.edu/news/yard-and-garden-winter-squash Purdue University Vegetable Crops Hotline — Harvest and Postharvest Storage of Pumpkins and Winter Squash: vegcropshotline.org/article/harvest-and-postharvest-storage-of-pumpkins-and-winter-squash-2/ Purdue Extension FoodLink — Winter Squash: extension.purdue.edu/foodlink/includes/pubs/Print4perpaper/4VegetablesPrint/4WINTER_SQUASH2print.pdf Oregon State University Extension Service — Preserving Pumpkins and Winter Squash: extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/sp-50-767-preserving-pumpkins-winter-squash Michigan State University Extension — Pumpkins, Squash, Gourds: canr.msu.edu/resources/pumpkins_squash_gourds_commercial_vegetable_recommendations_e1953 University of Illinois Extension — Winter Squash (Home Vegetable Gardening): extension.illinois.edu/gardening/winter-squash University of Minnesota Extension — Harvesting and Storing Melons, Squash and Pumpkins: extension.umn.edu/agriculture/specialty-crops/commercial-fruit-production/harvesting-and-storing-melons-squash-and-pumpkins Cornell Cooperative Extension Regional Vegetable Program — Winter Squash and Pumpkin Maturity, Harvesting and Storage Tips: rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/uploads/doc_1144.pdf UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa (UC ANR) — Harvesting and Storing Winter Squash and Pumpkins: ucanr.edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/harvesting-and-storing-winter-squash Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association — Harvesting Winter Squash for Peak Flavor and Optimal Storage Life: mofga.org/resources/crops/harvesting-winter-squash-for-flavor-and-storage/ Resources: Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Who's Eating My Garden? Identifying and Deterring Common Backyard Wildlife - Ep. 314	18 Aug 2026	00:30:14
Something has been eating your tomatoes, mowing your green beans down to nubs overnight, or turning your flower bed into a construction site, and you want to know who's responsible and what will make them stop. In this episode, we're working through the full lineup of backyard garden critters, starting with the animals most home gardeners deal with every season: squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, deer, and raccoons. Then we're digging into two animals that caused real trouble this year: groundhogs, which mowed down entire rows in my own garden, and armadillos, a first-time visitor here on the farm. For each one, we'll cover how to identify their particular style of damage, what university research shows works to deter them, and where fencing, repellents, and scare tactics fall short. Whether you're dealing with a woodchuck built like a small, determined bulldozer, or an armadillo rototilling your flower bed at two in the morning, you'll walk away with a real plan instead of another myth to try. Let's dig in! Get your organic, fair-trade coffee with free gift at LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow. No code needed! Save 10% and get free shipping on my favorite raised planters at PlanterBoxDirect.com with code JUSTGROW. References and Resources Squirrels University of Missouri Extension — Tree Squirrels: Managing Habitat and Controlling Damage (G9455): extension.missouri.edu/publications/g9455 Chipmunks Penn State Extension — Chipmunks: extension.psu.edu/chipmunks University of Georgia Extension — Chipmunks Publication: extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?pk_id=7652 Rabbits University of Missouri Extension — Preventing and Controlling Damage Caused by Cottontail Rabbits (G9441): extension.missouri.edu/publications/g9441 Iowa State University Extension, Yard and Garden — How to Protect Gardens From Rabbits: yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/how-protect-gardens-rabbits Deer University of Missouri Extension — Controlling Deer Damage in Missouri (MP685): extension.missouri.edu/publications/mp685 Colorado State University Extension — Preventing Deer Damage: extension.colostate.edu/resource/preventing-deer-damage University of Minnesota Extension — Winterizing Plants: Animal Damage: extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/winterizing-plants-animal-damage Raccoons University of Missouri Extension — Managing Raccoon Problems in Missouri (G9453): extension.missouri.edu/publications/g9453 Kansas State University Extension — Protecting Sweet Corn From Raccoons: extension.k-state.edu/news-and-publications/news/stories/2025/07/horticulture-raccoons-sweet-corn.html Iowa State University Extension, Yard and Garden — How Can I Keep Raccoons Out of My Sweet Corn?: yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-can-i-keep-raccoons-out-my-sweet-corn Iowa State University Extension, Natural Resources — Raccoons: Damage Management: naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/raccoons-damage-management Groundhogs University of Missouri Extension — Managing Woodchuck Problems in Missouri (G9452): extension.missouri.edu/media/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/Pub/pdf/agguides/wildlife/g09452.pdf UNH Extension — Dealing with Woodchuck Damage (fact sheet, includes capsaicin repellent trial results): extension.unh.edu/sites/default/files/migrated_unmanaged_files/resource000562_rep584.pdf Missouri Department of Conservation — Groundhog Control: mdc.mo.gov/wildlife/nuisance-problem-species/groundhog-control Armadillos University of Missouri Extension — Armadillos in Missouri: Techniques to Prevent and Control Damage (G9456): extension.missouri.edu/publications/g9456 Oklahoma State University Extension — Managing Nuisance Armadillo Damage: extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/managing-nuisance-armadillo-damage Oklahoma State University Extension — Tips for Managing Nuisance Armadillo: extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/tips-for-managing-nuisance-armadillo General / Multiple Species University of Missouri Extension — Garden Critters: 'Frenemies' in Grow Places: extension.missouri.edu/news/garden-critters-frenemies-in-grow-places University of Missouri Extension — Solving Wildlife Damage Problems in Missouri (G9425): extension.missouri.edu/publications/g9425 Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Organic, Conventional, or Homegrown: What the Research Really Shows About Nutrition - Ep. 313	11 Aug 2026	00:31:18
You've probably heard both sides of this argument: that organic and conventional produce are nutritionally identical, and that homegrown vegetables blow store-bought out of the water. Which one is true? In this episode, I dig through the peer-reviewed research on three separate questions: whether organic farming produces more nutritious food, whether soil health itself changes the nutrient content of what we eat, and what happens to those nutrients in the days between harvest and the moment food lands on your plate. I'm treating this as a real meta-analysis, pulling together findings from major systematic reviews, long-term field trials, and postharvest storage studies, and following the data wherever it leads. The answer is more interesting, and more useful for your own garden, than either side of the argument usually admits. By the end, you'll know exactly which parts of the nutrient-density conversation hold up under scrutiny and which parts are oversimplified, plus what it means for the food coming out of your own backyard. Let's dig in! Get your bag of Larry's Coffee and a free gift from their fair-trade partners at https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow Peer-Reviewed Sources Smith-Spangler et al. (2012), Annals of Internal Medicine — Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier Than Conventional Alternatives?: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/0003-4819-157-5-201209040-00007 Baranski et al. (2014), British Journal of Nutrition — Higher Antioxidant and Lower Cadmium Concentrations in Organically Grown Crops (343-study meta-analysis): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4141693/ Worthington (2001), Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine — Nutritional Quality of Organic Versus Conventional Fruits, Vegetables, and Grains: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11327522/ Hunter et al. (2011), Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition — Evaluation of the Micronutrient Composition of Plant Foods Produced by Organic and Conventional Methods: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21929333/ Montgomery & Biklé (2021), Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems — Soil Health and Nutrient Density: Beyond Organic vs. Conventional Farming: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2021.699147/full Lehmann et al. (2014), Soil Biology and Biochemistry — Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Influence on Zinc Nutrition in Crop Plants: A Meta-Analysis: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0038071713004045 Reganold et al. (2010), PLOS ONE — Fruit and Soil Quality of Organic and Conventional Strawberry Agroecosystems: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0012346 Helfenstein et al. (2016), PLOS ONE — Organic Wheat Farming Improves Grain Zinc Concentration: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0160729 Hepperly, Omondi & Seidel (2018), MOJ Food Processing & Technology — Soil Regeneration Increases Crop Nutrients, Antioxidants and Adaptive Responses (Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial): https://medcraveonline.com/MOJFPT/soil-regeneration-increases-crop-nutrients-antioxidants-and-adaptive-responses.html Davis, Epp & Riordan (2004), Journal of the American College of Nutrition — Changes in USDA Food Composition Data for 43 Garden Crops, 1950 to 1999: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15637215/ Marles (2017), Journal of Food Composition and Analysis — Mineral Nutrient Composition of Vegetables, Fruits and Grains: The Context of Reports of Apparent Historical Declines: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889157516302113 Favell (1998), Food Chemistry — A Comparison of the Vitamin C Content of Fresh and Frozen Vegetables: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814697001659 Rickman, Barrett & Bruhn (2007), Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture — Nutritional Comparison of Fresh, Frozen and Canned Fruits and Vegetables, Part 1: https://scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jsfa.2825 Li, Pegg, Eitenmiller, Chun & Kerrihard (2017), Journal of Food Composition and Analysis — Selected Nutrient Analyses of Fresh, Fresh-Stored, and Frozen Fruits and Vegetables: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889157517300418 Galani et al. (2017), Antioxidants — Storage of Fruits and Vegetables in Refrigerator Increases Their Phenolic Acids but Decreases the Total Phenolics, Anthocyanins and Vitamin C: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5618087/ Jo, Shin & Lee (2003), Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry — The Effect of Post-Harvest and Packaging Treatments on Glucoraphanin Concentration in Broccoli: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jf0203592 Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Why I Trust University Extension - Ep. 312	04 Aug 2026	00:35:34
If you've listened to this show for any length of time, you've heard me point to University Extension again and again as my go-to source. But I've never actually explained why. In this episode, we're pulling back the curtain on the Cooperative Extension System: where it came from, starting with farmers comparing notes in the early 1800s, through the Morrill Act's creation of land-grant universities in 1862, the Hatch Act's 1887 research mandate, and the 1914 Smith-Lever Act that built the nationwide Extension system we know today. We'll also trace the Master Gardener program from its 1972 origins in Washington State and we'll get honest about reliability: how peer review works (and where it doesn't), how to evaluate a publication for yourself, and why regional, research-based information matters more than ever in an age of viral gardening myths. This one's less about your garden bed and more about why you can trust what I tell you to put in it. Let’s dig in! Episode References https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow – Free Gift with order from this link only! Battling Blossom End Rot the Right Way - Ep. 309 Raised Bed Gardening with Gardener Scott - Ep. 268 Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Resources Rutgers Cooperative Extension — The 1914 Smith-Lever Act: https://extension.rutgers.edu/history/smith-lever OSU Extension — A Brief History of Extension: https://extension.osu.edu/about/mission-vision-values/osu-extension-brief-history USDA NIFA — History: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/who-we-are/history USDA NIFA — Cooperative Extension History: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/what-we-do/extension/cooperative-extension-history USDA NIFA — What We Do: Extension: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/what-we-do/extension gov CRS — The Agricultural Cooperative Extension System: An Overview: https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48071 gov CRS — The U.S. Land-Grant University System: https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R45897 APLU — Land-Grant University FAQ: https://www.aplu.org/about-us/history-of-aplu/what-is-a-land-grant-university/ Land-Grant Impacts — Extension (current office count): https://landgrantimpacts.org/extension/ Garden Professors — Not All Extension Publications Are Created Equal: https://gardenprofessors.com/not-all-extension-publications-are-created-equal/ OSU Extension — Peer Review Guidelines: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/peer-review-guidelines University of Illinois Extension — Peer Reviewed Publications: https://extension.illinois.edu/global/peer-reviewed-publications Clemson News — Land-Grant Press Publications: https://news.clemson.edu/land-grant-press-publications-provide-vital-knowledge-from-clemson-cooperative-extension-program-areas/ Washington State University — History of the Master Gardener Program: https://mastergardener.wsu.edu/who-we-are/history/history-of-the-master-gardener-program/ WSU CAHNRS News — Seeds of a Movement: 50 Years Ago: https://news.cahnrs.wsu.edu/article/seeds-of-a-movement-50-years-ago-master-gardeners-began-with-wsu-trained-volunteers/ University of Missouri Extension — History of Extension: https://extension.missouri.edu/about-us/history-of-extension Master Gardeners of Greene County — History (Missouri program): https://mggreene.org/history/ University of Missouri Extension — Extension Master Gardener Program: https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/extension-master-gardener OSU Extension — Experts Debunk 10 Common Gardening Myths: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/osu-extension-experts-debunk-10-common-gardening-myths University of Arkansas ScholarWorks — Social Media Misinformation Among Extension Educators (dissertation): https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/5861/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	The Science We Got Wrong: How Plant Research Rewrote the Rules for Gardening - Ep. 311	28 Jul 2026	00:41:18
For most of the last century, gardeners were taught to cultivate their soil after every rain to conserve moisture, to think of plant roots as lone competitors, and to treat "plant communication" as science fiction. All of that was built on the best evidence available at the time, and all of it has been revised, in some cases more than once, as better tools let researchers see what earlier generations simply could not. In this episode, we walk through four real case studies of plant science changing its mind. Along the way, we talk about how the scientific method works, why one of my favorite phrases, "we don't know what we don't know," is not a discouraging idea but an exciting one, and what all of this means for the choices you make in your own garden each season, now and into the future. Let’s dig in! References and Resources: Chalker-Scott, L., and C.H. Daniels. (2016). "Scientific Literacy for the Citizen Scientist." WSU Extension Manual EM100E. https://wpcdn.web.wsu.edu/extension/uploads/sites/30/2024/07/Scientific-Literacy-for-the-Citizen-Scientist.pdf Chalker-Scott, L. (2021, revised). "Dust Mulch Efficacy in Gardens and Landscapes." WSU Extension Fact Sheet FS167E. https://wpcdn.web.wsu.edu/wp-ecommerce/uploads/sites/2/product-3540-sku-FS167E.pdf Chalker-Scott, L. (2017). "A Gardener's Primer to Mycorrhizae: Understanding How They Work and Learning How to Protect Them." WSU Extension Fact Sheet FS269E. https://wpcdn.web.wsu.edu/wp-ecommerce/uploads/sites/2/product-3286-sku-FS269E.pdf Chalker-Scott, L. (2023). "Gardening with Companion Plants." WSU Extension Publication EM128E. https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/product/gardening-with-companion-plants-home-garden-series/ Oklahoma State University Extension. "Mycorrhizal Fungi." Fact Sheet. https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/mycorrhizal-fungi Pacific Horticulture Society. "Mycorrhizal Fungi, Nature's Key to Plant Survival and Success." https://pacifichorticulture.org/articles/mycorrhizal-fungi-natures-key-to-plant-survival-and-success/ Cao, D., Chabikwa, T., Barbier, F., Dun, E.A., Fichtner, F., Dong, L., Kerr, S.C., & Beveridge, C.A. (2023). "Auxin-independent effects of apical dominance induce changes in phytohormones correlated with bud outgrowth." Plant Physiology, 192(2), 1420–1434. https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiad034 Mason, M.G., Ross, J.J., Babst, B.A., Wienclaw, B.N., & Beveridge, C.A. (2014). "Sugar demand, not auxin, is the initial regulator of apical dominance." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(16), 6092–6097. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1322045111 Barbier, F.F., Dun, E.A., & Beveridge, C.A. (2017). "A Growing Stem Inhibits Bud Outgrowth — The Overlooked Theory of Apical Dominance." Frontiers in Plant Science, 8:1874. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5671643/ "Lessons from a century of apical dominance research." (2023). Journal of Experimental Botany. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10400159/ Simard, S.W., Perry, D.A., Jones, M.D., Myrold, D.D., Durall, D.M., & Molina, R. (1997). "Net transfer of carbon between ectomycorrhizal tree species in the field." Nature, 388, 579–582. https://www.nature.com/articles/41557 "Belowground carbon transfer across mycorrhizal networks among trees: Facts, not fantasy." (2023). Review discussing the scope and limits of current evidence for mycorrhizal carbon transfer. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10751480/ Baldwin, I.T., & Schultz, J.C. (1983). "Rapid Changes in Tree Leaf Chemistry Induced by Damage: Evidence for Communication Between Plants." Science, 221(4607), 277–279. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.221.4607.277 Heil, M. (2014). "Herbivore-induced plant volatiles: targets, perception and unanswered questions." New Phytologist, 204(2), 297–306. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.12977 Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Save on your Aquatru water system at Aquatru.com using code GROW. https://aquatru.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	The Mid-Season Soil Check - Ep. 310	21 Jul 2026	00:39:40
Your garden is at its busiest in July, and so is the wear and tear on your soil. In this episode we get past the fertilizer conversation and into whether your soil is still functioning at all — how traffic, pounding rain, heat, and heavy-feeding crops degrade soil mid-season, the physical, chemical, and biological warning signs to look for right now, and tests you can run this week to sort the problems. Plus, how to use a mid-season open bed as a soil-building opportunity. Let's dig in! REFERENCES & RESOURCES University of Delaware Cooperative Extension — "Combating Soil Compaction" — https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/cooperative-extension/fact-sheets/combating-soil-compaction/ University of Minnesota Extension — "Backyard science: Is your soil healthy?" (slake test, infiltration test, earthworm counts) — https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/backyard-science-your-soil-healthy Cornell Soil Health Laboratory — Individual soil analyses, including wet aggregate stability — https://soilhealthlab.cals.cornell.edu/testing-services/individual-soil-analyses/ Purdue University Vegetable Crops Hotline — "Nitrogen Loss from Wet Soils" — https://vegcropshotline.org/article/nitrogen-loss-from-wet-soils/ UF/IFAS Extension — CIR 1092/SS117, "Soil and Container Media Electrical Conductivity Interpretations" — https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/SS117 Texas A&M AgriLife, Aggie Horticulture — "Salt Injury" (Cucurbit Problem Solver) — https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/problem-solvers/cucurbit-problem-solver/leaf-disorders/salt-injury/ Purdue University Vegetable Crops Hotline — "Summer Cover Crops for Improved Soil Health and Weed Management" — https://vegcropshotline.org/article/summer-cover-crops-for-improved-soil-health-and-weed-management/ Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Battling Blossom End Rot the Right Way - Ep. 309	14 Jul 2026	00:24:35
If you've grown tomatoes or peppers for more than one season, you more than likely know the feeling been waiting that first tomato to ripen, finally see it’s blushing red, and you flip it over to find a sunken, leathery patch covering half the bottom of the fruit. And if you went looking for answers, you probably found three of them repeated everywhere you turned: sprinkle in some crushed eggshells, spray on some calcium, add a scoop of Epsom salt. All three of those are extremely common advice. Two of them do close to nothing. And one of them can genuinely make the problem worse. That problem? Blossom end rot. Today on Just Grow Something we're covering what blossom end rot really is at the cellular level, the conditions that trigger it in your garden, why the most popular home remedies for it are built on a total misunderstanding of the problem, and what the research consistently recommends instead. Let's dig in. University Extension and Research-Based Resources Utah State University Extension — Blossom End Rot (IPM Fact Sheet) https://extension.usu.edu/planthealth/ipm/notes_ag/veg-blossom-end-rot Purdue Extension — Blossom End Rot of Tomato Fruit (BP-13-W) https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/bp/bp-13-w.html University of Maryland Extension — Blossom End Rot on Vegetables https://extension.umd.edu/resource/blossom-end-rot-vegetables Alabama Cooperative Extension System — Blossom-End Rot in Tomatoes: Causes and Prevention (ANR-1059) https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/lawn-garden/blossom-end-rot-in-tomatoes-causes-and-prevention/ University of Massachusetts Amherst, Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment — Solanaceous: Blossom End Rot https://ag.umass.edu/vegetable/fact-sheets/solanaceous-blossom-end-rot Oregon State University Extension — Blossom-End Rot of Tomatoes (FS-139) https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/fs-139-blossom-end-rot-tomatoes University of Wisconsin Horticulture Extension — Blossom End Rot https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/blossom-end-rot/ University of California Cooperative Extension, UC ANR "The Real Dirt" — Fighting Blossom End Rot https://ucanr.edu/blog/real-dirt/article/fighting-blossom-end-rot University of Connecticut Extension — Put an End to Blossom-End Rot: Water and Nutrient Management is Key https://homegarden.cahnr.uconn.edu/2025/06/15/blossom-end-rot/ Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC — Gardening Myths: Fix Blossom End Rot with Calcium Sprays https://hgic.clemson.edu/gardening-myths-fix-blossom-end-rot-with-calcium-sprays/ North Dakota State University Extension — The Epsom Salt Myth https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/extension-topics/gardening-and-horticulture/vegetables/epsom-salt-myth University of Minnesota Extension — Do Common Soil Health "Home Remedies" Work? (Coffee Grounds, Eggshells, Epsom Salts) https://extension.umn.edu/manage-soil-nutrients/coffee-grounds-eggshells-epsom-salts Peer-Reviewed Research Topcu, Y., Nambeesan, S. U., & van der Knaap, E. (2022). Blossom-end rot: a century-old problem in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and other vegetables. Molecular Horticulture, 2, 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43897-021-00022-9 Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Heat Stress vs Drought Stress in the Vegetable Garden - Ep. 308	07 Jul 2026	00:31:04
It's two o'clock on a July afternoon. You walk out to check the garden, and your squash leaves are drooping so low they're nearly touching the mulch. Your tomato plants look like they've given up on the whole season. If your first thought, every single time, is “I need to water right now,” hold on a second before you grab that hose. Because that dramatic afternoon collapse you're looking at likely has absolutely nothing to do with how much water is in your soil. So today on Just Grow Something we're covering three things: what's actually happening inside a plant's cells when the temperature spikes, the specific ways to tell heat stress wilting apart from drought stress wilting, and what heat stress does beyond the leaves, because your tomatoes and peppers and squash can look perfectly fine and still be failing to set fruit, and that's a heat problem too. Let's dig in. Join the Fall Garden Challenge: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/fall References and Resources: Graci, S., & Barone, A. (2024). Tomato plant response to heat stress: a focus on candidate genes for yield-related traits. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, 1245661. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1245661 Sellami, D., & Kooli, S. (2025). Physiological and growth responses of tomato plants to heat stress. Discover Plants. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44372-025-00462-3 University of Maryland Extension — Drought and Excessive Heat Stress https://extension.umd.edu/resource/drought-and-excessive-heat-stress University of Maryland Extension — Pollination of Vegetable Crops in a Changing Climate https://extension.umd.edu/resource/pollination-vegetable-crops-changing-climate NC State Cooperative Extension, Beaufort County — What "Wilting" Really Means: Heat Stress vs. Water Needs https://beaufort.ces.ncsu.edu/news/what-wilting-really-means-heat-stress-vs-water-needs/ Oregon State University Extension — Heat Wave in the Garden: How to Identify and Prevent Heat Stress in Plants https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/em-9556-heat-wave-garden-how-identify-prevent-heat-stress-plants Oregon State University Extension — Why Vegetables Drop Blossoms https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/why-vegetables-drop-blossoms Oregon State University Extension — Mother Nature May Need Help to Pollinate Squash and Cucumbers https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/mother-nature-may-need-help-pollinate-squash-cucumbers Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	How to Time Your Fall Brassicas - Ep. 307	30 Jun 2026	00:25:53
Fall gardening doesn't start in September. For the crops that take a long time to produce, your broccoli, your cauliflower, your cabbage, your Brussels sprouts, it starts right now in late June and early July. And if you've never had a productive fall brassica bed, it's almost certainly because you started too late and it took me a lot of years to master this. This episode is about fall gardening planning, and specifically about the crops that require you to be thinking ahead right now, in late June and into July, when literally nothing about summer conditions suggest that fall is coming. We’re talking about the timing, why it matters, how to calculate it for your specific first frost date, and exactly what to do if you're sitting here thinking you may have already missed the window — because you might not have, but we need to move quickly. Let’s dig in. Join my FREE fall garden email challenge! https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/fall Resources: How to Calculate Your Fall Brassica Dates Step 1: Find your average first frost date (garden.org/apps/frost-dates or your local extension service) Step 2: Take days to maturity for your chosen variety Step 3: Add 10–14 days for the short-day factor Step 4: Count backward from first frost — that is your transplant-out deadline Step 5: Count back another 4–6 weeks — that is your seed-starting deadline MU Extension — Vegetable Planting Calendar (G6201): Variety-specific fall planting dates for Missouri's three planting regions. https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6201 UMN Extension — Growing Broccoli: Seed-starting timing (early to late July for fall crop), variety selection, and fall head quality. https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-broccoli UMN Extension — Growing Broccoli: Seed-starting timing (early to late July for fall crop), variety selection, and fall head quality. https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-broccoli UMN Extension — Growing Brussels Sprouts: Start seeds in June indoors or direct, water deeply once weekly, harvest through fall frosts. https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-brussels-sprouts UMN Extension — Growing Cauliflower: Start seeds in July for fall crop; cool temperatures essential for quality curd formation. https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-cauliflower UMN Extension — Growing Cabbage: For fall crop, plant seed directly in garden in early July; cabbage takes 60–100 days. https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-cabbage UMD Extension — Planting Dates for Vegetable Crops (Transplant Timing): Short-day factor methodology for fall transplant timing. https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/2021-03/PlantingDatesforVegetableCropsinMaryland.pdf Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Mid-Season Fertilizing: How to Know What Your Vegetables Actually Need - Ep. 306	23 Jun 2026	00:41:35
It’s June, your tomatoes are climbing, your corn is waist-high, and the internet is full of fertilizing advice—most of it missing the most important variable: timing. In this episode, we dig into what your vegetables need right now at mid-season, why nitrogen timing is the thing most gardeners get wrong, how fruiting crops and leafy crops have completely different needs, and when fertilizing can actually hurt instead of help. We’ll cover how to read your plants for deficiency signs, how to side-dress correctly, and why the most common mid-season mistake isn’t under-fertilizing—it’s fertilizing at the wrong time with the wrong form. Grounded in university extension research and my own experience farming through Missouri summers, this one will give you a clear, crop-by-crop picture of what to do right now. Let’s dig in. Crop-by-Crop Quick Reference: Mid-Season Nitrogen Timing LEAFY CROPS (lettuce, kale, chard, spinach, collards, arugula, basil) When to side-dress: 3–4 weeks after transplanting or when 2–3 inches tall; repeat every 4–6 weeks for heavy-harvesting crops Goal: steady nitrogen supply throughout season Note: don’t exceed recommended rates—excess nitrogen increases pest/disease vulnerability COLE CROPS (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower) When to side-dress: approximately 30 days after transplanting, during active vegetative growth Hold off once head formation begins TOMATOES When to side-dress: when first fruits are approximately one-third grown (golf ball size) DO NOT apply nitrogen at transplant or during early fruit set—drives vegetative growth at expense of fruit Second application: 2 weeks after first ripe fruit; third: 4 weeks later Rate: 0.5 lb actual nitrogen per 100 feet of row per application PEPPERS When to side-dress: early vegetative growth before fruit set Pull back after fruit is setting SWEET CORN When to side-dress: when plants are approximately one-third grown (knee-high) Apply alongside rows, not into the whorl of leaves May benefit from a second application before tasseling CUCUMBERS / SQUASH / MELONS When to side-dress: after vines are well-established and fruit is setting regularly Not during early flowering window For squash with blossom drop only: do not add nitrogen—address pollination instead BEANS / PEAS (inoculated) Mid-season nitrogen side-dressing generally not needed if seeds were inoculated Extra nitrogen causes excessive leaf growth and reduced pod set If not inoculated: apply light nitrogen early in vegetative growth only Side-Dressing How-To Move mulch aside before applying; replace afterward Keep granular fertilizer 4–6 inches from plant stems to prevent burn Work granular into top 1–2 inches of soil Water in after application—nitrogen moves into the root zone with moisture Organic options: blood meal or alfalfa pellets (work in lightly; slower to show results); fish emulsion (liquid, faster uptake, more frequent application needed) Signs of Nutrient Deficiency Nitrogen: yellowing starting on oldest, lowest leaves; stunted or stalled growth Phosphorus: stunted growth; reddish-purple tint in leaf tissue (often triggered by cold soil, not low soil P) Potassium: browning at leaf edges, starting with older leaves Note: many of these symptoms overlap with stress from crowding, insufficient sun, compaction, waterlogged roots, or nematode damage—rule those out first Common Myths Addressed Myth: More fertilizer = more production. The research is clear: overapplied nitrogen causes excess vegetative growth at the expense of fruit, increases pest and disease vulnerability, and leaches into groundwater without benefiting plants. Myth: If plants look off, they need fertilizer. Nutrient deficiency symptoms look almost identical to symptoms of watering problems, compaction, pH issues, root damage, and pest pressure. Identify the actual cause before applying anything. Myth: Tomatoes need nitrogen all season long. Timing matters. Nitrogen during the early fruit-set window drives vegetative growth and reduces yields. Wait until fruit is sizing up before side-dressing. Myth: Beans and peas are heavy feeders like corn. Inoculated legumes fix their own nitrogen from the air. Additional nitrogen pushes leaf growth at the expense of pods. Resources Get on my newsletter list: https://justgrowsomething.com (scroll to the bottom) Soil test kit: https://amzn.to/4wLe8j9 University Extension Publications University of Minnesota Extension – Quick Guide to Fertilizing Plants Oregon State University Extension – Feed Your Vegetable Garden Midseason to Boost Growth and Yields Oregon State University Extension – Vegetable Gardening in Oregon (EC 871) University of Maryland Extension – Fertilizing Vegetable Gardens University of Missouri Extension – Growing Home Garden Tomatoes (G6461) University of Missouri Extension – Vegetable Gardening (MG 5) – Table 1: Recommended Nitrogen Side-Dressings University of Missouri Extension IPM – Side-Dressing: Mid-Season Boost for Hungry Plants Virginia Tech Extension – Fertilizing the Vegetable Garden (426-323) Mississippi State University Extension – Fertilizing Vegetable Gardens University of Nevada, Reno Extension – Fertilizing Your Vegetable Garden Connect Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Early Blight Versus Late Blight in Tomatoes: Don't Get This One Wrong! - Ep. 305	16 Jun 2026	00:41:02
Every June, one of the most common questions that floods gardening groups, emails, and extension offices is some version of: “My tomato leaves are turning brown — do I have blight?” The confusion is completely understandable, because there are two diseases that get lumped under that word — and they are caused by completely different organisms, show up in different ways, and require completely different responses. Treating late blight like early blight — or vice versa — can mean the difference between saving your plants and losing your entire harvest. In this episode, horticulturist and market farmer Karin Velez breaks both diseases down in plain language: what they look like, where they show up on the plant, what conditions favor them, how fast they move, what happens if you ignore them, and exactly what to do when you find either one. Whether you’re seeing spots on your lowest leaves or a whole section of your garden that looks like it got hit by frost overnight, this episode will help you figure out what you’re looking at — and what to do next. Let’s dig in. References and Resources Captain Jack’s Copper Fungicide - https://amzn.to/43DKqAn Penn State Extension — Tomato Diseases and Disorders in the Home Garden: https://extension.psu.edu/tomato-diseases-and-disorders-in-the-home-garden Penn State Extension — Scouting and Identifying Tomato Diseases: https://extension.psu.edu/scouting-and-identifying-tomato-diseases Penn State Extension — Tomato-Potato Late Blight in the Home Garden: https://extension.psu.edu/tomato-potato-late-blight-in-the-home-garden University of Georgia Extension — Common Tomato Diseases in Georgia (Bulletin B1285): https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1285&title=common-tomato-diseases-in-georgia UGA Extension, Madison County — Tomato Troubles: https://site.extension.uga.edu/madison/2021/08/tomato-troubles/ University of Minnesota Extension — Late Blight of Tomato and Potato: https://extension.umn.edu/disease-management/late-blight Michigan State University Extension — Organic Management of Early Blight on Tomato (Hausbeck Lab): https://www.canr.msu.edu/hausbeck/Uploads/PDF/FS_Organic-Management-of-Early-Blight-on-Tomato.pdf UC ANR / UC IPM — Late Blight of Tomato (Phytophthora infestans): https://ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/tomato/late-blight/ Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks — Tomato Late Blight: https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/tomato-solanum-lycopersicum-late-blight Cornell University — Disease-Resistant Vegetable Varieties (late blight resistance): https://www.vegetables.cornell.edu/pest-management/disease-factsheets/disease-resistant-vegetable-varieties/ Midwest Vegetable Production Guide — current fungicide recommendations for late blight (referenced by Penn State and UMN Extension): https://mwveguide.org/ USAblight.org — national real-time late blight tracking and outbreak alerts (when it’s working?): http://usablight.org/ Quick-Reference: Early Blight vs. Late Blight at a Glance Pathogen type \| Early Blight: true fungus (Alternaria solani) \| Late Blight: water mold / oomycete (Phytophthora infestans) Ideal temperature \| Early Blight: 68–77°F (warm) \| Late Blight: 60–78°F (cool to mild) Where it starts \| Early Blight: oldest/lowest leaves first \| Late Blight: anywhere on the plant, no pattern Lesion appearance \| Early Blight: dark bullseye with concentric rings, yellow halo \| Late Blight: large irregular dark oily blotch, gray-green edge, no rings Underside of leaf \| Early Blight: dark spores in lesion center \| Late Blight: white downy/powdery growth at lesion margins in humidity Speed \| Early Blight: slow and progressive, weeks to months \| Late Blight: explosive, can kill plant in ~14 days Fruit symptoms \| Early Blight: sunken dark spot at stem attachment \| Late Blight: firm dark brown spot starting at fruit shoulders Overwinters as \| Early Blight: debris/soil/seeds in warm climates \| Late Blight: infected potato tubers, volunteer plants Fungicide type \| Early Blight: copper, sulfur, standard fungicides \| Late Blight: oomycete-specific only — NOT standard fungicides Response urgency \| Early Blight: act promptly, manageable with cultural controls \| Late Blight: emergency response, remove immediately, notify extension and neighbors Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	How to Manage Squash Vine Borer - Ep. 304	09 Jun 2026	00:45:00
Every year, gardeners across the country watch their squash plants collapse overnight and have absolutely no idea why until it’s too late. The culprit is the squash vine borer, and it is one of the most misunderstood pests in the home garden. In this episode, Karin Velez breaks down the full life cycle of the squash vine borer, including regional timing differences that explain why gardeners in Florida, Missouri, and New Hampshire are fighting very different battles. She covers the remedies that likely don’t work (no matter how many gardening blogs swear by them), the strategies that actually do, and how to build a prevention plan before you ever see a moth. Whether you’ve been battling these for years or just lost your first plant to a mystery wilt, this one’s for you. Let’s dig in. Quick-Reference: Squash Vine Borer Management at a Glance Most susceptible crops: zucchini, yellow summer squash, acorn squash, Hubbard squash, pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo) Less susceptible crops: butternut squash, cucumbers, melons, watermelon Diagnostic sign: frass (greenish-yellow sawdust) at the base of the stem near a small hole South: first flight May, 2 generations possible, adult activity May–October Mid-country (MO, KY, OH, IN, VA): first flight mid-June, peak June–July North (MN, WI, NH, PA, SD): first flight ~June 20, peak July 10–15, mostly finished by August 1 West Coast: rarely affected What works: pheromone traps for monitoring, floating row covers (on clean ground), planting date manipulation, variety selection, timed stem sprays (spinosad, Bt, pyrethroids before larvae enter), fall tillage, post-harvest sanitation, surgical larva removal if caught early What does not work once larvae are inside: all foliar insecticide applications Episode References Insect Netting: https://amzn.to/4vuYp7s University Extension Resources University of Kentucky Entomology — Squash Vine Borer (EF-314), Ric Bessin: https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef314 Ohio State University Extension — Squash Vine Borer Damage and Management: What to Look for and When to Act (ENT-0106): https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/ent-0106 Illinois Extension — Squash Vine Borer: https://extension.illinois.edu/insects/squash-vine-borer Illinois Extension — Managing Squash Vine Borer in the Garden (Good Growing blog): https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2022-07-15-managing-squash-vine-borer-garden Illinois Extension — Squash Vine Borer Has Arrived: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/over-garden-fence/2024-08-20-squash-vine-borer-has-arrived UMass Amherst Extension — Squash Vine Borer (CAFE Vegetable Fact Sheet): https://ag.umass.edu/vegetable/fact-sheets/squash-vine-borer Penn State Extension — Squash Vine Borer: https://extension.psu.edu/squash-vine-borer University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension — Managing Squash Vine Borer Problems in New Hampshire (Dr. Alan T. Eaton & George Hamilton): https://extension.unh.edu/resource/managing-squash-vine-borer-problems-new-hampshire-fact-sheet South Dakota State University Extension — Biology and Management of Squash Vine Borer in the Garden: https://extension.sdstate.edu/biology-and-management-squash-vine-borer-garden University of Minnesota Extension — Squash Vine Borers: https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/squash-vine-borers University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension — Squash Vine Borer: https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/squash-vine-borer-melittia-curcurbitae/ eOrganic (USDA) — Biology and Management of Squash Vine Borer in Organic Farming Systems: https://eorganic.org/node/5300 ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture — Squash Bug and Squash Vine Borer: Organic Controls: https://attra.ncat.org/publication/Squash-Bug-and-Squash-Vine-Borer-Organic-Controls/ Peer-Reviewed Research Middleton, E. (2018). Biology and Management of Squash Vine Borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae). Journal of Integrated Pest Management, 9(1), 22. https://academic.oup.com/jipm/article/9/1/22/5061838 Canhilal, R., & Carner, G.R. (2007). Bacillus thuringiensis as a pest management tool for control of the squash vine borer. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 114, 26–29. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF03356200 Canhilal, R., Carner, G.R., Griffin, R.P., Jackson, D.M., & Alvarez, D.R. (2006). Life history of the squash vine borer, Melittia cucurbitae, in South Carolina. The Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology, 23, 1–7. http://scentsoc.org/Volumes/JAUE/v23/1.pdf Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	How to Identify and Manage Perennial Weeds (Without the Viral Sprays) - Ep. 303	02 Jun 2026	00:52:42
Perennial weeds are in a different category than annuals. They don’t just re-seed, they regrow from the ground up, season after season, from root systems that can run three feet deep or spread fifteen feet sideways underground. In this episode, we’re tackling them systematically. First, a regional tour of the most aggressive perennial weeds in the U.S. - what they look like, how they spread, and why they’re so hard to beat. Then, we work on management using Integrated Pest Management principles, starting with prevention and exclusion, moving through cultural and mechanical controls, and knowing when chemical options are appropriate. Finally, we close with a hard look at the homemade internet sprays that are all over social media - and why some of them could do more damage to your soil than the weeds ever would. Let's dig in. References: Montana State University Extension – Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) MontGuide MT201903AG https://apps.msuextension.org/montguide/guide.html?sku=MT201903AG University of Nevada, Reno Extension – Managing Field Bindweed (Publication 4834) https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=4834 University of Minnesota Extension – Perennial Weeds Identification Guide https://extension.umn.edu/weed-identification/perennial-weeds University of Minnesota Extension – Canada Thistle Identification https://extension.umn.edu/identify-invasive-species/canada-thistle University of Maryland Extension – Canada Thistle https://extension.umd.edu/resource/canada-thistle Colorado State University Extension – Canada Thistle https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/canada-thistle/ SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) – Canada Thistle: Manage Weeds on Your Farm https://www.sare.org/publications/manage-weeds-on-your-farm/canada-thistle/ NC State Extension Plant Toolbox – Sorghum halepense (Johnsongrass) https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/sorghum-halepense/ University of Georgia Extension – Johnsongrass Control in Pastures, Roadsides, and Noncropland Areas https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/?p=62642 Schantz, M.C. (2025). Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense): a review of its invasion, management, and spread in the changing climate of the Southern Great Plains. Weed Science, 73(e31), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2025.7 University of Maryland Extension – Poison Hemlock Identification and Management https://extension.umd.edu/resource/poison-hemlock-identification-and-management Montana State University Extension – Poison Hemlock MontGuide MT200013AG https://apps.msuextension.org/montguide/guide.html?sku=MT200013AG Purdue Extension – Poison Hemlock: Invasive Plant Series (FNR-437-W) https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/fnr/fnr-437-w.pdf Mississippi State University Extension – Kudzu https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/kudzu Mississippi State University Extension – Torpedograss (Panicum repens) https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/torpedograss UC IPM – Nutsedge (Yellow and Purple) https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/WEEDS/nutsedge.html West Virginia University Extension – Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) https://extension.wvu.edu/lawn-gardening-pests/weeds/yellow-nutsedge Penn State Extension – Japanese and Giant Knotweed https://extension.psu.edu/japanese-and-giant-knotweed University of Wisconsin Extension – Perennial Knotweed Identification (Mark Renz, Extension Weed Scientist) https://renzweedscience.cals.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/177/2025/05/Perennial-knotweed-identification.pdf Oregon State University Extension – Solve Pest Problems: Grasses & Grass-Like Pacific Northwest Weeds https://solvepestproblems.oregonstate.edu/weeds/grass-like Washington State University – Perennial Weed Control in the Pacific Northwest (PNW Pest Management Handbooks) https://pnwhandbooks.org/weed/agronomic/corn/field-silage-seed/perennial-weed-control-quackgrass-field-bindweed-canada-thistle-johnsongrass-etc-0 Colorado State University Extension – Weed Management (IPM) https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/weed-management/ NC State Extension – Extension Gardener Handbook, Chapter 8: Integrated Pest Management https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/8-integrated-pest-management-ipm Washington State University – Weed Management (Pesticide Resources and Education Program) https://pep.wsu.edu/weedmanagement/ UC IPM – Soil Solarization for Gardens and Landscapes https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/soil-solarization-for-gardens-landscapes/ University of Vermont Extension – Tarping, Solarization and Occultation https://www.uvm.edu/extension/news/tarping-solarization-and-occultation UConn Extension – Homemade Pesticide Issues: Understanding the Science (EXT014, Updated 2024) https://extension.uconn.edu/publication/homemade-pesticides/ Ask Extension (Cooperative Extension National Q&A Service) – Vinegar, Salt, and Dawn Weed Killer https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=888177 University of Florida IFAS Extension – Chapter 4: Integrated Pest Management (Weed Management Categories) https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/CV298 Resources: Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Mulch Matchmaking: Choosing the Right Mulch for Your Vegetable Garden - Ep. 302	26 May 2026	00:50:33
Mulch is one of the highest-return investments you can make in your vegetable garden and yet most gardeners are using whatever happens to be available rather than whatever would actually work best for their situation. In this episode, we dig into the full lineup of organic mulches—straw, shredded leaves, wood chips, pine needles, grass clippings, and compost—as well as a shorter look at inorganic options like landscape fabric and black plastic. For each type, you’ll learn how well it suppresses annual, perennial, and invasive weeds, how it handles moisture retention and heavy rainfall, how to apply it correctly, and what drawbacks to watch for in terms of pests, availability, and cost. The bottom line: any mulch is better than bare soil. But the right mulch for your garden depends on your weed pressure, your climate, your crops, and your situation—and by the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly how to make that call. Let’s dig in! Mulch Quick Reference Best for annual weed suppression: Straw, wood chips, black plastic Best for moisture retention: Wood chips, straw, compost Best for slopes and heavy rain areas: Pine needles, wood chips Best for soil building: Compost, shredded leaves Best free options: Shredded leaves, grass clippings (herbicide-free), arborist chips Best for soil warming: Black plastic Avoid in vegetable gardens long-term: Landscape fabric References: Warnall School of Forestry and Natural Resources - Black Walnut Allelopathy: Tree Chemical Warfare: openscholar.uga.edu/record/22964/files/Walnut Allelopathy 11-10.pdf Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville - Evaluation of Allelopathic Potential of Wood Chips for Weed Suppression in Horticultural Production Systems: ashs.org/hort/hort/published/rest/pdf-watermark/v1/journals/hortsci/40/3/article-p711.pdf/watermark-pdf/ University of Minnesota Extension — Mulching in the Home Garden: extension.umn.edu Penn State Extension — Mulches for the Home Landscape: extension.psu.edu NC State Extension Gardener Handbook — Mulching chapter: content.ces.ncsu.edu University of Illinois Extension — Wood Chip Mulch: Landscape Boon or Bane: extension.illinois.edu Cornell Cooperative Extension — Grass Clippings as Mulch: gardening.cornell.edu University of Tennessee Extension — Using Leaves as Mulch and Compost: extension.tennessee.edu Iowa State University Extension — Plastic Mulch in the Vegetable Garden: yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu Michigan State University Extension — Landscape Fabric: Is It Really Worth It: canr.msu.edu ChipDrop (free arborist chips): getchipdrop.com Resources: Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Spring-Planted Bulbs and Summer Blooms: A Guide to Growing and Storing Dahlias, Gladiolus, and More - Ep. 301	19 May 2026	00:51:56
A listener asked for a deep dive on dahlias and I’m delivering, from the ground up (pun intended). But we’re not stopping there. In this episode, I’m covering the full world of spring-planted bulbs: dahlias, gladiolus, cannas, calla lilies, and tuberous begonias. You’ll learn when and how to plant them, how to grow them for maximum blooms, how to cut them for the vase (because that’s half the fun), and, critically, how to handle end-of-season care based on where you live. If you’re in a warmer zone, some of these can stay in the ground. If you’re in a colder zone like me, we’re digging them up, curing them, storing them, and doing it all again in the spring. Let’s dig in! Quick-Reference: Zone-Based Overwintering Guide Zone 9-10+: Leave everything in the ground. Mulch lightly after frost. Let plants rest and re-emerge in spring. Zone 8: Cannas and callas can stay with heavy mulch. Dahlias and glads: consider digging, especially in colder parts of the zone. Zone 7: Mulching is a gamble. Reliable: dig dahlias and glads. Cannas may survive with very heavy mulch in milder Zone 7. Zone 6 and colder: Dig everything. Cure properly. Store in cool, dry, dark, frost-free conditions. Replant after soil warms to 60°F in spring. Bloom Timing and Vase Life at a Glance Dahlias — Bloom: midsummer to first hard frost \| Vase life: 5–8 days \| Zone to leave in ground: 9+ Gladiolus — Bloom: ~70–90 days after planting \| Vase life: 7–10 days \| Zone to leave in ground: 8+ (with mulch) Cannas — Bloom: midsummer to frost \| Vase life: 4–7 days \| Zone to leave in ground: 8+ (with mulch) Calla Lilies — Bloom: summer \| Vase life: 10–14 days \| Zone to leave in ground: 8–9+ depending on type Tuberous Begonias — Bloom: summer all season \| Vase life: 3–5 days \| Zone to leave in ground: 9+ References University of Minnesota Extension — Dahlias: From Garden to Vase. extension.umn.edu University of Missouri Extension — Growing Dahlias (G6600). extension.missouri.edu NC State Extension Gardener Toolbox — Dahlia pinnata. plants.ces.ncsu.edu Colorado State University Extension — Dahlias, Fact Sheet 7.418. extension.colostate.edu Iowa State University Extension — Gladiolus for the Home Garden (PM 874). extension.iastate.edu University of Florida IFAS Extension — Gladiolus Production. edis.ifas.ufl.edu University of Illinois Extension — Canna Lily in the Garden. web.extension.illinois.edu Michigan State University Extension — Digging and Storing Tender Bulbs. canr.msu.edu University of Vermont Extension — Storing Tender Bulbs Over Winter. uvm.edu USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023). planthardiness.ars.usda.gov Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Episode 300: The Questions You Keep Asking (and What the Research Actually Says)	12 May 2026	01:06:35
We made it to 300 episodes! And to celebrate, I’m doing something a little different. I went looking for the questions home gardeners are asking most, the ones showing up in Reddit threads, Facebook groups, university extension Q&A lines, master gardener helplines, and my own DMs and emails, over and over and over again. Then I went to the research: university extensions, peer-reviewed horticulture studies, and land-grant university publications, to find the best science-backed answers available. The result is this episode, ten of the most common gardening questions, answered with evidence, nuance, and a little bit of real-world gardener perspective from someone who’s been doing it for over 20 years and with a degree in horticulture. Whether you’ve been listening since episode 1 or you just found me today, this one is for you. Let’s dig in. References Watering University of Maine Cooperative Extension — How Often Should I Water My Vegetable Garden?: https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/2020/07/14/watering-a-vegetable-garden/ Utah State University Extension — Water Recommendations for Vegetables: https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/water-recommendations-for-vegetables.pdf Tomato Leaf Problems Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Common Tomato Plant Problems and How to Fix Them (May 2026) https://hpj.com/2026/05/06/common-tomato-plant-problems-and-how-to-fix-them/ Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Why Are My Tomato Leaves Curling? https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2022/05/05/why-are-my-tomato-leaves-curling/ University of Maryland Extension — Key to Common Problems of Tomatoes https://extension.umd.edu/resource/key-common-problems-tomatoes Blossom End Rot University of Maryland Extension — Blossom End Rot on Vegetables https://extension.umd.edu/resource/blossom-end-rot-vegetables/ NC State Extension (Pender County) — Why Are My Squash Rotting? (2024) https://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/news/why-are-my-squash-rotting/ Soil Improvement Oregon State University Extension — Improving Garden Soils With Organic Matter (EC 1561) https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ec-1561-improving-garden-soils-organic-matter Oregon State University Extension — How to Use Compost in Gardens and Landscapes (EM 9308) https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/em-9308-how-use-compost-gardens-landscapes University of Maryland Extension — Soil to Fill Raised Beds https://extension.umd.edu/resource/soil-fill-raised-beds/ Fertilizing Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension — Fertilizing the Vegetable Garden (revised March 2026) https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-323/426-323.html Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Fertilizing a Garden https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/gardening/fertilizing/ Pest Management Utah State University Extension — Creating Sustainable Home Gardens: Organic Pest Management https://extension.usu.edu/utah4h/research/organic-pest-management South Dakota State University Extension — Organic Pest Control Methods (2025) https://extension.sdstate.edu/organic-pest-control-methods Crop Rotation Illinois Extension — Sow, Grow, Rotate: How Crop Rotation Promotes Gardening Success (Jan 2024) https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2024-01-05-sow-grow-rotate-how-crop-rotation-promotes-gardening-success Harvest Timing Illinois Extension Good Growing — Harvesting Vegetables: When and How to Pick Your Vegetables for Best Quality (June 2024) https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2024-06-28-harvesting-vegetables-when-and-how-pick-your-vegetables-best-quality Iowa State University Extension — Vegetable Harvest Guide https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/vegetable-planting-and-harvesting-times Resources Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Topping Peppers: What does the science say, yay or nay? - Ep. 299	05 May 2026	00:28:07
The subject of whether you should top your pepper plants can bring on a pretty strong debate among gardeners. That’s because this is one of those topics where the answer genuinely is: it depends. And I mean that in a very specific, evidence-based way that comes down to two things: your climate and your pepper type. I’ll be straight with you, I do not top my peppers. We are in a zone 6b in west central Missouri and our season is just short enough that for our large sweet peppers, by the time a topped plant recovered and loaded up with new fruit, I’d be in a race with the first frost, so I don’t love my odds of winning. And for our smaller peppers, both hot and sweet, they branch naturally. They’ve never needed my help getting bushy and they generally end up so loaded with fruit there’s no need for me to create new growing points. But that does NOT mean topping is wrong. In fact, if your growing season is long enough and you are growing the right type of pepper, there is a solid, research-grounded argument for it and I want to make that argument fairly today. Let's dig in! References: Illinois Extension (University of Illinois) — Frillman, N. (2021). “Pruning tomatoes and peppers for healthier plants and a stronger harvest.” Flowers, Fruits, and Frass Blog. https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/flowers-fruits-and-frass/2021-05-17-pruning-tomatoes-and-peppers-healthier-plants-and Nebraska Extension — “Garden Peppers.” University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension Publications. https://extensionpubs.unl.edu/publication/967/html/view University of Minnesota Extension — Ask Extension response on topping pepper plants (2021). https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=740168 University of Minnesota Extension — Weisenhorn, J. Ask Extension response on topping for yield (2016). https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=333053 University of Maryland Extension — Home and Garden Information Center. Ask Extension response on topping chile plants (2024). https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=869966 University of Minnesota Extension — “Growing Peppers in Home Gardens.” https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-peppers-home-gardens Peer-Reviewed Research: Humadi, F. (1980). “Effects of plant growth retardants and mechanical topping on growth and yield of pimiento pepper (Capsicum annuum L.).” Dissertation, University of Tennessee. Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/7869/ Buczkowska, H., & Najda, A. (2001). “Impact of plant topping on chemical composition of sweet pepper fruit.” Zeszyty Naukowe Akademii Techniczno-Rolniczej w Bydgoszczy. Rolnictwo, 46, 33–37. Cao, D., Chabikwa, T., Barbier, F., Dun, E. A., Fichtner, F., Dong, L., Kerr, S. C., & Beveridge, C. A. (2023). “Auxin-independent effects of apical dominance induce changes in phytohormones correlated with bud outgrowth.” Plant Physiology, 192(2), 1420–1434. https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiad034 Avent, A. R., & Armitage, A. M. (2015). “Effects of Paclobutrazol and Pinching on Ornamental Pepper.” HortScience / Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. ResearchGate: DOI 10.21273/HORTSCI. Hu, Q., Wei, Y., Gan, X., Zhang, O., Huangpu, J., Hu, B., & Wu, L. (2016). “Effects of pruning methods and harvest time on yield and benefit of pepper in greenhouse.” Jiangsu Agricultural Sciences, 44, 182–185. Resources: Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Growing Tomatoes, Peppers, and Lettuce in Pots - Ep. 298	28 Apr 2026	00:26:24
Last week on the show we talked about the basic considerations for growing in containers, and that included how to evaluate whether a crop is a good candidate for growing in a pot. This week we’re digging into the three crops I get asked about the most often when it comes to growing in containers: tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce. And while, technically, you can grow most anything in the right sized pot, these three are the ones folks tend to try first, so we’re going to get specific on them. And yes, each one of them can be very productive in a container. Welcome back to Just Grow Something, I’m Karin Velez, a horticulturist and market farmer who has grown in containers in some way, shape, or form for probably 18 of the 20-plus years I’ve been gardening. I have grown in 6-inch pots all the way up to 100-gallon grow bags – yes, I said 100-gallon and, in all fairness, that’s more like a raised planter bed than a pot – but I’ve been really successful in most instances with just a few failures along the way and I want to teach you how to avoid those mistakes with these popular crops. Let’s dig in. University Extension References Penn State Extension — Container Vegetable Gardening: Four Keys to Success: https://extension.psu.edu/container-vegetable-gardening-four-keys-to-success Penn State Extension — Growing Vegetables and Flowers in Containers: https://extension.psu.edu/growing-vegetables-and-flowers-in-containers Oregon State University Extension — Grow Your Own Peppers (EC 1227): https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ec-1227-grow-your-own-peppers University of Missouri Extension — Container Gardens to Supply Your Salads: https://extension.missouri.edu/news/container-gardens-to-supply-your-salads North Carolina A&T State University Cooperative Extension — Growing Fruiting Vegetables in Containers: Tomato, Pepper and Eggplant: https://www.ncat.edu/caes/cooperative-extension/covid-19/fruiting-vegetables.php Resources: Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Container Gardening 101 - Ep. 297	21 Apr 2026	00:40:55
No yard? No tiller? No problem. If you've got a patio, a porch, a balcony, or even a sunny driveway, you can grow a real, productive vegetable garden in containers. Today on Just Grow Something, we walk through the essentials of container gardening from the ground up: how to evaluate whether a crop is a good candidate for a pot, how to pick the right container size based on root system and mature plant size, what kind of soil to use (and what NOT to use), how to feed your plants organically, and the special considerations that make container growing a little different than growing in the ground — things like light, drainage, airflow, watering, and trellising. Whether you're a total beginner or someone adding containers to an existing garden, you'll walk away knowing how to get your best start. Let’s dig in! SHOW NOTES & RESOURCES Resources • Just Grow Something Garden Planning Workbook — https://justgrowsomething.com/shop • Plan Like a Pro Course — https://justgrowsomething.thinkific.com • Days to Maturity reference chart — https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/maturity • The Cantry, Belton MO: https://thecantrypantry.com/?page_id=357 • Fabric Grow Bags: https://amzn.to/4vHDHSO • Fish Emulsion: https://amzn.to/4sM7nvg • Kelp Concentrate: https://amzn.to/4u0dcq7 Quick-Reference: Container Size by Crop Small containers (2 gallons, 4–6 in. deep): • Lettuce, spinach, arugula, salad greens, radishes, scallions, basil, cilantro, thyme, mint Medium containers (3–5 gallons, 10–12 in. deep): • Bush beans, Swiss chard, beets, short carrots, dwarf tomatoes, dwarf peppers, compact eggplant, kale, cabbage, larger herbs Large containers (8–15+ gallons, 12–16+ in. deep): • Standard tomatoes (determinate), peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, summer squash, broccoli, large herbs like rosemary Extra-large containers (15–25+ gallons, 18–24 in. deep): • Indeterminate tomatoes, winter squash, large sweet peppers, long-season superhot peppers, bush melons Quick-Reference: Light Requirements • Fruiting vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, squash): 6–8+ hours direct sun • Root vegetables (carrots, beets, radishes): at least 6 hours • Leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, chard, kale) and most herbs: at least 4 hours Simple Organic Feeding Schedule • At planting: Mix a balanced granular organic fertilizer (e.g., 4-6-4) into potting mix per label rate. • Every 2 weeks during the growing season: Water with diluted fish emulsion or fish-and-kelp blend (follow label; skip the first 2–3 weeks after transplanting). • When fruiting plants start to flower: Switch to a lower-nitrogen, higher-phosphorous and potassium feed (e.g., 3-4-6 tomato & vegetable formula). University Extension References https://extension.umd.edu/resource/types-containers-growing-vegetables University of Maryland Extension — Types of Containers for Growing Vegetables https://extension.umd.edu/resource/maintaining-container-grown-vegetables University of Maryland Extension — Maintaining Container Grown Vegetables https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/growing-vegetables-containers/ University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension — Growing Vegetables in Containers (XHT1278) https://extension.psu.edu/container-vegetable-gardening-four-keys-to-success Penn State Extension — Container Vegetable Gardening: Four Keys to Success https://extension.psu.edu/growing-vegetables-and-flowers-in-containers Penn State Extension — Growing Vegetables and Flowers in Containers https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/container-gardening-grow-vegetables-even-without-yard-space Oregon State University Extension — Container Gardening: Grow Vegetables Even Without Yard Space Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Succession Planting 101: How to Keep Your Garden Producing from Spring Through Frost - Ep. 296	14 Apr 2026	00:36:45
Empty beds mean missed harvests. But with the right plan, they're completely avoidable. Today on Just Grow Something I'm walking you through succession planting and relay planting, the strategies that keep your garden productive not just across space, but across time. Whether you're dealing with a four-month growing season or gardening in year-round heat, there's a succession approach that works for your climate. I break down the three types of succession crops, explain how to build a planting calendar that eliminates gaps, and get into relay planting, where you plant your next crop into your current one before it's even finished so there's never a moment of wasted ground. I've also included a full dos and don'ts list, because a few key mistakes can turn a great succession plan into a depleted bed and a missed season. In this episode: The four types of succession planting and when to use each one Rapid, mid-range, and long-season crops and how to succession plant each category Why cucumbers, zucchini, and squash practically require succession planting (and exactly how I do it) Relay planting: how it works, why it's different from interplanting, and some of my favorite pairs Succession strategies by climate: short season, mid-range, and long hot season A full dos and don'ts list, including the disease rotation mistake most gardeners don't see coming This episode pairs with last week's episode on interplanting — together, they give you a complete system for filling every bed, every season. Episode References Episode 43: Succession Planting, Relay Planting, and Interplanting Episode 204: Top Crops to Plant in Succession Throughout the Summer Episode 295 (previous): Interplanting Done Right — High, Low, Fast, Slow Resources Days to Maturity reference chart — justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/maturity Just Grow Something Garden Planning Workbook — justgrowsomething.com/shop Plan Like a Pro Course — justgrowsomething.thinkific.com Succession Crop Quick Reference Rapid Succession (plant every 2–3 weeks): Lettuce, spinach, arugula, radishes, cilantro, green onions, baby bok choy Mid-Range Succession (plant every 3–4 weeks): Bush beans, cucumbers, summer squash/zucchini, determinate tomatoes, sweet corn Split Succession (spring + fall, something else in between): Carrots, beets, broccoli, snap beans (in hot climates), cucumbers & squash (in hot climates) Great Relay Planting Pairs: Spring lettuce → tomatoes → fall lettuce Garlic/onions → peppers Bok choy → summer squash Carrots → sweet corn → carrots Peas → beans or cucumbers Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Interplanting Done Right: The High, Low, Fast, Slow Method for Bigger Harvests - Ep. 295	07 Apr 2026	00:41:55
What if you could get more food from the exact same garden space, without expanding a single bed? That's the promise of interplanting, and today on Just Grow Something I break down exactly how to do it right. Building on the "high, low, fast, slow" mantra I use in my own garden and teach in my Plan Like a Pro course, I walk you through the framework that makes interplanting work and the common mistakes that turn it into overcrowding. I cover what to consider before you ever put two plants together (mature size, water needs, nutrient timing, and allelopathy), then get practical with six beginner-friendly pairings that are low-risk and high-reward, plus advanced combinations and experiments for experienced gardeners ready to push further. I've also put together a clear list of dos and don'ts to keep on hand when you're planning your beds. In this episode: What interplanting, intercropping, and companion planting actually mean The "high, low, fast, slow" framework and how to apply it to any bed What to know about your plants before pairing them (and what can go wrong if you don't) Six beginner pairings: tomatoes + basil, lettuce + tomatoes, radishes + carrots, peas + spinach, garlic + peppers, cucumbers + lettuce Advanced ideas: trap cropping, stacked seasonal beds, the Three Sisters and beyond A full dos and don'ts list for interplanting success Let's dig in! Episode References Episode 180: Interplanting to Maximize Your Harvest: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/interplanting-to-maximize-your-harvest-ep-180 Episode 247: Smarter Planting for Bigger Harvests – Interplanting Strategies: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/smarter-planting-for-bigger-harvests-interplanting-strategies-ep-247 254 – Spring Interplanting Strategies: What Worked, What Flopped, and Why: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/spring-interplanting-strategies-what-worked-what-flopped-and-why-ep-254 Resources "Gardening with the Moon Around the World" by Vergers du Monde: https://amzn.to/4cuSmcj Companion Planting Chart download: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/companion Days to Maturity reference chart: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/maturity Just Grow Something Garden Planning Workbook: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop/p/just-grow-something-garden-planning-workbook Plan Like a Pro Course: https://justgrowsomething.thinkific.com Quick-Reference: Beginner Pairings Tomatoes + Basil — HIGH/SLOW + LOW/MED Lettuce + Tomatoes — LOW/FAST + HIGH/SLOW Radishes + Carrots — FAST + SLOW Peas + Spinach — HIGH/FAST + LOW/SLOW Garlic/Onions + Peppers — timing/space efficiency Cucumbers on trellis + Lettuce beneath — HIGH/SLOW + LOW/FAST Next week: succession planting — the strategy that keeps your beds productive across time, not just space. Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Your Greenhouse Operating Manual - Ep. 294	31 Mar 2026	00:40:53
Get my greenhouse selection guide to help you choose which protected growing structure is right for you: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/greenhouse A protected growing structure isn’t “set it and forget it” but a microclimate you manage. In this final episode of our greenhouse mini-series, you’ll get a practical operating manual for cold frames, low tunnels, caterpillar tunnels, high tunnels, and home greenhouses. We’ll cover ventilation, heating and cooling strategies, watering and irrigation basics, container vs raised-bed vs in-ground considerations, pollination management, and an evidence-based approach to pest and disease control. We’ll also tackle a topic many gardeners miss until something goes wrong: soil health under cover, including salt buildup, nutrient imbalances, and why protected soils often need a different fertility strategy than open-field beds. Let’s dig in! Resources: The thermometer/hygrometer I use to monitor my greenhouse and other garden structures: https://amzn.to/4th56Ja NRCS (USDA) — Controlling the High Tunnel Environment: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/Controlling-High-Tunnel-Environment.pdf Oklahoma State University Extension — The Hobby Greenhouse: https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/the-hobby-greenhouse-2 Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Greenhouse Tradeoffs: Heat, Humidity, Pests, and Practicality - Ep. 293	24 Mar 2026	00:27:25
Get my free guide to choosing which protected gardening structure you should choose - https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/greenhouse Protected growing structures like greenhouses can be game-changers - earlier harvests, fewer rain-splashed diseases, better crop quality, and more reliable timing. But they also create a new microclimate with new rules: overheating, humidity spikes, irrigation demands, shifting pest pressure, and sometimes pollination problems. Today on Just Grow Something, we break down what problems protected culture solves, what it tends to make harder, and how to predict those tradeoffs before you invest. You’ll learn the core principals of tunnels and greenhouses, like temperature, humidity, airflow, and water, plus what changes when you grow in containers, raised beds, or in-ground under cover. Let’s dig in! Resources: High Tunnels and Other Season Extension Techniques - SARE: https://www.sare.org/resources/high-tunnels-and-other-season-extension-techniques/ NRCS (USDA) — Controlling the High Tunnel Environment: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/Controlling-High-Tunnel-Environment.pdf Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	How to Pick the Right Greenhouse, Tunnel, or Cold Frame - Ep. 292	17 Mar 2026	00:42:47
Download my Protected Growing Quick Guide to help you make the decision on what type of structure would work best in your garden: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/greenhouse Thinking about a greenhouse but not sure if you really need one? There are some beautiful and expensive options out there, but greenhouses aren’t the only option for extending the season your garden. Today on Just Grow Something, we map out the full spectrum of protected growing structures for home gardeners: from cold frames and covered shelving to low tunnels, caterpillar tunnels, hoop houses/high tunnels, and home greenhouses. You’ll learn what each option is best for, how to match a structure to your goals, space, budget, and maintenance tolerance, and which “hidden factors” make or break success, like site selection, orientation, wind exposure, and snow load. By the end, you’ll have a clear decision framework so you can choose a protected structure that fits your garden and your life, not just your Pinterest board. Resources: Cornell High Tunnels: Structures - https://blogs.cornell.edu/hightunnels/structures/ Penn State Extension: Season Extenders - https://extension.psu.edu/season-extenders-and-growing-fall-vegetables Oklahoma State University Extension: The Hobby Greenhouse: https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/the-hobby-greenhouse-2.html Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Hardening Off Homegrown AND Storebought Seedlings - Ep. 291	10 Mar 2026	00:29:49
Hardening off is the difference between sturdy transplants that take off fast and seedlings that stall, scorch, or collapse after planting. Today on Just Grow Something, you’ll learn what to do indoors before hardening off, a simple step-by-step hardening-off schedule (including temperature guidelines, shade vs. sun, wind protection, and watering adjustments), and what to watch for when you transplant. We’ll also cover the “mystery variable” of purchased seedlings and how to treat garden-center starts if you’re not sure they’ve been acclimated. Then, in the second half, we’ll talk about how the process changes when you’re using a greenhouse, cold frame, or high tunnel and why protected structures can help without eliminating the need to transition plants carefully. Let’s dig in! Resources: University of Maryland Extension — Hardening Off Vegetable Seedlings for the Home Garden: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/hardening-vegetable-seedlings-home-garden/ NC State Extension Gardener Handbook — Season Extenders and Greenhouses: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/appendix-e-season-extenders-and-greenhouses Iowa State University Extension — All about Cold Frames: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/yard-and-garden-all-about-cold-frames Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	How to Time Seed Starting for Your Garden: Start Dates That Make Sense - Ep. 290	03 Mar 2026	00:28:56
Timing your seed starting shouldn't be hard. There are plenty of calendars to follow, right? Until following a calendar means you start too early, run out of space, and end up babysitting leggy, root-bound seedlings for weeks. Or you start too late and miss the planting window you planned for. So, today on Just Grow Something, we're connecting the dots between frost dates, planting calendars, and harvest windows to build a seed-starting schedule that fits your garden and your climate. You’ll learn which crops are best started indoors vs direct sown, which plant families need a long “grow-on” period, how to avoid common timing traps, and a step-by-step way to pick seed-starting dates based on your planned transplant date or your desired harvest window. Let's dig in! If you need some additional help with starting your seeds indoors, it’s not too late in the season to take my Seed to Sprout course. In about 90 minutes you’ll know everything you need to know about getting your seeds started in the proper containers, with the right balance of lighting, water, and air flow, and how to get them transitioned to the garden with very little shock or damage. https://www.justgrowsomething.com/indoor-seed-starting University of Missouri Extension — Starting Plants Indoors From Seeds: https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6570 Illinois Extension (Good Growing) — When should I start my seeds?: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2023-02-10-when-should-i-start-my-seeds Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Spring Garden Bed Preparation - Ep. 289	24 Feb 2026	00:19:47
If you want an easier garden season, February is the time to set the foundation. Two steps do most of the heavy lifting: getting a soil test and prepping beds without damaging soil structure. Done well, these tasks reduce fertilizer guesswork and improve root growth. You can do a lot right now that sets you up for success without rushing into two classic mistakes: 1. throwing amendments at the garden without knowing what the soil actually needs, and 2. working soil while it’s still too wet, which can damage structure for the long haul. So, today on Just Grow Something, I’m walking you through what a soil test can (and can’t) tell you, exactly how to collect a sample that’s representative of your whole garden, the key parts of a soil report that matter most for vegetables, and bed prep steps you can do now that improve soil instead of compacting it. Let’s dig in! Resources: My Seed to Sprout course is waiting for you here: https://justgrowsomething.com/indoor-seed-starting My free Seed Starting eBook is here: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/seedbook Soil amendment episodes and articles: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/search/amendments How to calculate how much fertilizer to add to the garden: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/blog/how-much-fertilizer-to-add-to-your-garden References: How temperature affects the rate of nitrification: https://livetoplant.com/how-temperature-influences-the-rate-of-nitrification/ Guide to Collecting Soil Samples - Oregon State University: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ec-628-guide-collecting-soil-samples-farms-gardens Soil Compaction from Wet Soils - Purdue University Extension: https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/yardandgarden/resist-the-urge-to-work-wet-soil/ Add Organic Matter to Improve Most Garden Soils - Oregon State University: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/add-organic-matter-improve-most-garden-soils Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Indoor Seedling Troubleshooting - Ep. 288	17 Feb 2026	00:21:57
Today is a clinic episode, a Seedling Troubleshooting Clinic to be exact, because if you’re starting seeds indoors, something is eventually going to look weird. A tray that was perfect yesterday is suddenly leaning. Something looks fuzzy on the soil surface. Or a seedling that seemed fine just flops over. The good news is most seedling problems come from a small handful of causes, causes that we can actually control - light, temperature, water, airflow, or sanitation. And once you know what you’re looking at, you can usually fix it quickly or at least stop it from spreading to the rest of your tray. So, I’m going to give you a simple diagnostic checklist and then we’ll walk through the most common seedling symptoms and what to do about each one. Let's dig in! Get my FREE seed starting ebook: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/seedbook Take my comprehensive course for indoor seed starting, Seed to Sprout: https://justgrowsomething.com/indoor-seed-starting Just Grow Something episodes, videos and blog posts on seed starting: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/search/seed%20starting References and resources: University of Illinois Extension: Troubleshooting seed starting problems: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2022-02-25-whats-wrong-my-seedlings-troubleshooting-seed-starting-problems University of Minnesota Extension: How to prevent seedling damping off: https://extension.umn.edu/solve-problem/how-prevent-seedling-damping Utah State University Extension: Seedling culture, airflow, temps: https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/starting-vegetable-seeds-indoors-seeding-culture-and-transplanting.pdf Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Onions vs Shallots in the Kitchen and the Garden - Ep. 287	10 Feb 2026	00:24:17
Onions and shallots are closely related, they can be used in similar ways, and they look similar at the store, but they behave differently in both the kitchen and the garden. So, today on Just Grow Something we’re doing a side-by-side comparison of these alliums. We’ll cover how they differ in taste and cooking uses, how they differ in growth habit, how to grow each one, and finally, how to adapt for hot climates and short-season climates, because those two extremes can make or break your allium crop. Let’s dig in. References and Resources: Plan Like a Pro Gardening Planning Course: https://justgrowsomething.thinkific.com/courses/plan-like-a-pro Growing Onions - Ep. 233: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/ep-133-growing-onions How to Harvest, Cure, and Store Garlic and Onions - Ep. 256: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/how-to-harvest-cure-and-store-garlic-and-onions-ep-256 University of Minnesota Extension — Growing onions in home gardens: https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-onions UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions — Onions and shallots: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/onions-and-shallots/ Oregon State University Extension — Plant onions early for bigger summer bulbs: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/plant-onions-early-bigger-summer-bulbs Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Five Spring Crops to Plant Earlier Than You Think - Ep. 286	03 Feb 2026	00:37:03
If you’ve ever planted a big patch of arugula at the same time you planted the rest of the spring garden, only to watch it shoot up a flower stalk a few weeks later, you’ve already met this week’s topic: heat-sensitive crops. Heat-sensitive doesn’t always mean a plant can’t survive warm weather. It usually means warm temperatures and lengthening days change the plant’s priorities. Instead of producing the leaves, heads, or tubers we want to harvest, the plant pivots toward flowering and seed production or it keeps growing, but quality drops. So, today on Just Grow Something we’re talking about the five crops you should plant earlier than you think to avoid this change. And I’m also including an herb that can bolt as fast as you blink. Let’s dig in. References and Resources: Ep. 133 - Growing Onions: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/ep-133-growing-onions Soil Temperature Maps: https://www.greencastonline.com/tools/soil-temperature Plan Like a Pro Garden Planning Course: https://justgrowsomething.thinkific.com/courses/plan-like-a-pro Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Creating Your Garden Calendar - Ep. 285	27 Jan 2026	00:26:27
My Plan Like A Pro Course is Open for Registration: ⁠⁠https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/pro⁠⁠ If you’ve ever gone into a Facebook gardening group and asked, “When am I supposed to plant this?” and then gotten ten different answers, you are not alone. And if you’ve ever started seeds too early, ended up with giant leggy plants taking over your house, and then still got hit with a late cold snap? Also not alone. Today on Just Grow Something we’re going to make garden timing feel simple, flexible, and predictable. I’m going to show you how to build a planting calendar using frost dates as your starting point, then layering in: • cool-season versus warm-season timing, • how many weeks to start seeds indoors, • a buffer for weather variability, • and how to plan your fall garden by counting backward from your first frost. This is one of those “once you understand it, you can reuse it forever” skills. Let's dig in. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	The Low Maintenance Garden Plan - Ep. 284	20 Jan 2026	00:25:14
If you’ve ever planned a garden that looked amazing on paper and then halfway through summer you thought, “I do not have the time for this,” this episode is for you. Because a garden can be beautiful, productive, and fun and still be too much if the plan doesn’t match your real life. Today on Just Grow Something we’re building a low-maintenance garden plan. Not by choosing “easy plants,” but by designing your garden around the things that actually determine how much work it takes: location, layout, watering, weed control, and disease pressure and how that fits into the rest of your actual life. Low-maintenance does not mean low-yield. It means fewer chores that pile up, fewer “emergency problems,” and a garden that still functions when your life gets busy. As we go, I’ll give you simple action steps you can do in January to set this up. Because the easiest gardening season is the one you design on purpose. Let's dig in. References and Resources: My Plan Like A Pro Course is Open for Registration: ⁠https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/pro⁠ University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension. “Beginning Vegetable Garden Basics: Site Selection and Soil Preparation.” https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/beginning-vegetable-garden-basics-site-selection-and-soil-preparation Colorado State University Extension. “Drip Irrigation for Home Gardens.” https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/drip-irrigation-for-home-gardens/ University of Minnesota Extension. “Mulching 101: the secret to a healthy and happy garden.” https://extension.umn.edu/news/mulching-101-secret-healthy-and-happy-garden Oregon State University Extension Service. “Sheet mulching and lasagna composting with cardboard.” https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/em-9559-sheet-mulching-lasagna-composting-cardboard Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	How to Keep the Garden Producing All Season - Ep. 283	13 Jan 2026	00:32:16
If you’ve ever had that one magical week where the garden is giving you exactly what you want - some lettuce, a few carrots, a handful of beans, a couple tomatoes - and then two weeks later you’re drowning in zucchini while everything else is kind of between harvests ... Today we’re fixing that. Because the goal for a lot of home gardeners isn’t “the biggest harvest possible on one weekend.” The goal is steady, usable harvests week after week so you’re actually eating from the garden regularly, without a sudden produce avalanche. So today on Just Grow Something, I’m going to teach you a planning method that revolves around harvest windows. Instead of only asking, “When do I plant this?” we’re going to ask: “When do I want to be harvesting this, and do I want it over and over again?” I’ll walk you through a simple framework and give you a few practical “rules of thumb” for how often certain crops can be re-planted or staggered to keep the harvest going. Let's dig in! References and Resources: My Plan Like A Pro Course is Open for Registration: ⁠https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/pro⁠ University of Missouri Extension — “Harvest all season long with succession sowing” : https://extension.missouri.edu/news/harvest-all-season-long-with-succession-sowing University of Minnesota Extension — “Climate resilience resources for vegetable growers in Minnesota” (includes a “when to plant for continuous harvest” interval table): https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/climate-resilience-resources-vegetable-growers-minnesota#strategy-3%3A-reduce-risks-from-warmer-and-drier-conditions-3571512 NC State Extension — Extension Gardener Handbook, Chapter 16 “Vegetable Gardening” (Succession planting: varieties with different maturity, repeat plantings, and filling in after harvest): https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/16-vegetable-gardening Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Building Your 2026 Garden Plan - Ep. 282	06 Jan 2026	00:33:30
If you’ve ever stared at a seed catalog in January and thought, “I want all of it,” and then somehow ended up with a garden that felt chaotic by mid-summer, today’s episode is for you. Because most “garden planning” advice starts with the fun part—varieties, colors, wish lists—and then we wonder why the plan falls apart when real life shows up. So today on Just Grow Something, we’re going to flip the order. I’m going to give you four questions that can lead you to an actual usable plan. These questions help you decide what to grow, where it goes, when it happens, and how to keep the plan realistic for the space and time you actually have. And the best part is you can use these four questions whether you garden in a single planter, a few raised beds, or a bigger in-ground plot. Let's dig in! References and Resources: My Plan Like A Pro Course is Open for Registration: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/pro How to Plan Your Raised Bed Garden, Ep. 269: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/how-to-plan-a-raised-bed-garden-ep-269 Seven Steps to Planning Your Entire Garden Year - Ep. 234: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/7-steps-to-planning-your-entire-garden-year-ep-234 Virginia Cooperative Extension (2025). “Planning the Vegetable Garden.” VCE Publications: https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-312/426-312.html Washington State University Extension (2015). “Crop Rotation in Home Gardens” (PDF): https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2070/2015/08/Crop-Rotation-in-Home-Gardens.pdf Penn State Extension (2023). “Keeping a Garden Journal.”: https://extension.psu.edu/keeping-a-garden-journal/ Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Garden Goal Setting for the New Year – Ep. 281	23 Dec 2025	00:27:06
We’ve reached the end of another gardening year. Maybe your garden was spectacular. Maybe it was just so-so. Maybe it was an absolute disaster in certain beds and you’re still a little salty about the squash vine borers. However it went, this is a powerful moment in the gardening calendar. Today we’re going to slow down and talk about taking time to reflect on the past season, reset your expectations, and reimagine what you want from your garden next year. Extension programs and planning guides consistently recommend end-of-season evaluation, note-taking, and mapping as key pieces of long-term garden success. Research on goal-setting shows that specific, challenging, and meaningful goals help people follow through and actually change their behavior. So, in this final episode of the year, we’re going to weave those two ideas together: 1. Why the end of the year is the best time to reflect on your garden 2. What goal-setting research can teach us about making better garden goals 3. Turning reflection into 3–5 clear, realistic goals for next year 4. A healthier mindset for handling “failures” and unexpected seasons By the end, you’ll have a framework to close the book on this year’s garden and open a new one with intention. Let’s dig in. References and Resources: Iowa State University Extension – Yard and Garden. “Garden Journaling.”: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/garden-journaling Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. “Building a Practically Useful Theory of Goal Setting and Task Motivation.” American Psychologist, 2002: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12237980/ Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Just Grow Something Merch andDownloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Seed Catalog Season - Ep. 280	16 Dec 2025	00:30:03
Seed catalog season is fun, but it can also be overwhelming. If you’ve ever ordered way more seed than you can possibly plant, chosen a variety that just did not perform in your climate, or gotten confused by all the codes, abbreviations, and marketing language this episode is for you. Today on Just Grow Something we’re going to talk about how to read a seed catalog. We’ll cover: 1. Why seed catalogs are tools, not just wish books 2. The key pieces of information in a catalog listing (and what they actually mean) 3. Days to maturity, and why that number is not as simple as it looks ... and more By the end, you’ll be able to flip through a catalog and quickly decide, “Yes, this variety makes sense for my garden” or “Nope, that’s just clever marketing” and make a wish list that can actually be fulfilled. Let’s dig in. Resources: 1. Washington State University Extension. Tips to Making Strategic Vegetable Seed Selections (EM057E), 2025: https://wpcdn.web.wsu.edu/wp-extension/uploads/sites/2073/2025/01/Vegetable-Seed-Selection.pdf 2. Oregon State University Extension. “How to Read Seed Packets Before You Buy.”: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/how-read-seed-packets-you-buy Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Winter Sowing 101 - Ep. 279	09 Dec 2025	00:33:09
Winter sowing is a seed-starting method that sounds a little bit wild the first time you hear it but makes sense if you think about it from a horticultural standpoint. Basically you are sowing seeds in recycled containers like milk jugs and placing them outside in the winter as a very hands-off way of starting your spring garden. If you’ve ever: • Run out of space under grow lights • Been frustrated by leggy indoor seedlings • Or just felt like you don’t have the time or money or inclination for a full seed-starting setup …winter sowing might be your new favorite technique. Let's dig in! References and Resources: University of Missouri Extension. Winter Sowing Seeds (YM105), 2021. https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/ym105 Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension. “Winter Seed Sowing Handout.” 2023. https://ocean.njaes.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Winter-Seed-Sowing-Handout-Final.pdf Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Indoor Greens and Herbs for the Winter - Ep. 278	02 Dec 2025	00:33:32
When the garden beds are frozen, the days are short, and you’re staring at bags of store-bought salad mix, it can feel like fresh homegrown food is a long way off. But it doesn’t have to be. Today on Just Grow Something we’re talking about growing herbs and leafy greens indoors in winter—on a windowsill, under a simple grow light, or with one of those countertop indoor garden systems If you’ve ever thought: • “I’d love fresh basil in January.” • “My house is too dark to grow anything.” • Or, “Are those indoor garden gadgets actually worth it?” This episode is for you. Let's dig in. References and Resources: How Do We Measure Light: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/houseplants/light-for-houseplants/ University of Minnesota Extension. “Growing Herbs Inside is Easy and Healthy.” 2022. https://extension.umn.edu/news/growing-herbs-inside-easy-and-healthy Penn State Extension. “A Step-By-Step Guide for Growing Microgreens at Home.” 2023. https://extension.psu.edu/a-step-by-step-guide-for-growing-microgreens-at-home Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	How to Prepare for Seed Season: Reflection, Inventory, and Smarter Ordering - Ep. 277	25 Nov 2025	00:32:24
Prepare for seed season with practical tips on reviewing your garden's performance, taking seed inventory, and ordering smarter for a more successful growing year. Today on Just Grow Something we walk through the essential steps to get ready for seed season: how to reflect on what worked (and didn't) in your garden, take a proper seed inventory, and create a more intentional seed order when the flood of catalogs leads to plant-filled daydreams. Whether you're planning next year's layout or just trying to avoid overbuying, this episode gives you the tools to start strong. Let's dig in! References and Resources: Downloadable chart for what each plant yields on average: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/yield Ordering seeds from garden catalogs \| Over the Garden Fence \| Illinois Extension \| UIUC: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/over-garden-fence/2021-01-04-ordering-seeds-garden-catalogs Seed Storage Protocols : USDA ARS: https://www.ars.usda.gov/plains-area/fort-collins-co/center-for-agricultural-resources-research/paagrpru/docs/seed-program/seed-storage-protocols/ Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
	Essential Fall Garden Clean Up - Ep. 276	18 Nov 2025	00:29:44
Today we’re talking about one of my least favorite but probably most important fall garden rituals: the great garden clean-up. This is the part of the year where we get to close one chapter of the garden season and start quietly writing the next chapter. Now that most of the chaos of the garden is done, it's time to be putting things in order, protecting the soil, and setting yourself up for success next spring. So, today on Just Grow Something we’re talking about: • What to remove and what to leave in your garden beds • How to handle diseased or pest-infested plant material • Best practices for soil testing, amending, and protecting your beds over winter • And a few tips for the gardeners who have really just had it for now and don’t want to completely clear everything out in this moment. Because I feel you. Let’s dig in! Resources: How to Amend the Soil in Fall for a Better Garden in Spring - Ep. 222: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/how-to-amend-the-soil-in-fall-for-a-better-garden-in-spring-ep-222 Getting Started with Cover Crops - Ep. 166: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/getting-started-with-cover-crops-ep-166 Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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