Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

412-B Goodbye, Garden Basics Podcast.

(FredNote: AI had a hand in creating this written summary. I took out the stilted parts and made it sound better to the eye…if that makes sense.) In this final episode,

412 Plant Frost Protection Tips

Debbie Flower, America's Favorite Retired College Horticulture Professor, drops by to discuss essential strategies for protecting potted and in-ground plants when a

411 Soil Building Tips

Today, we delve into the Garden Basics archive for three segments about the importance of building your soil in the fall. We talk with America’s Favorite Retired College

410 Fall Gardening Tips. How to Water.

We share essential fall gardening tips for both the garden and the orchard. Also, Debbie Flower offers a primer on correct watering techniques.  Previous episodes, show

409 Bird-Friendly Gardening

Farmer Fred interviews garden writer Jen McGuinness, author of "Bird-Friendly Gardening," who highlights the urgent need for creating habitats for declining bird populati

408 Landrace Gardening

Today, we talk with Joseph Lofthouse about landrace gardening, which emphasizes the cultivation of locally adapted crops. Lofthouse shares his methods of developing diver

407 Low Water Vegetables

Gardeners who want to save water with wise irrigating techniques might consider an unusual approach: plant crops that don't require much water in the first place. To

Mid-Summer Tomato Report

In this episode, we talk with Don Shor from Redwood Barn Nursery about summer gardening -  specifically tomatoes - in the context of this year's mild weather. We sha

405 Q&A: Who's Eating My Melons? Growing Fava Beans.

Q&A: How to Grow Fava Beans as a cover crop or an edible. Controlling Roof Rats in the Garden (good luck!) Farmer Fred's Ride for the Kids! Previous episodes, sho

404 Harvest Day Garden Tips

One of the best places to get your garden questions answered is at the annual gathering of local Master Gardeners, gardening professionals, and horticultural consultants

403 Battling Fusarium Wilt

Why are some of my plants turning yellow and dying? One possibility: fusarium wilt.  We address the challenges posed by fusarium wilt, a destructive, soil-borne fungal d

402 Edible Succulents

In this episode of the Garden Basics podcast, I speak with succulent expert Debra Lee Baldwin about the world of edible succulents. We delve into what defines succulents,

401 Home Landscaping Tips for Fire Safety

We examine the growing wildfire risks for homeowners, particularly in fire-prone areas across the United States. We get insights from Kevin Marini, a UC Defensible Space

400 Top 4 Garden Topics of All Time

To celebrate Episode 400 of the Garden Basics podcast, we present the four most listened-to garden topics in the history of the podcast.  Topics include: starting a vict

399 Understanding Seed Packets

Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and transcripts at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net. Transcripts and episode

398 Aromatic Plants, plus Roses!

In this podcast, you’ll hear from these U.C. Sacramento County Master Gardeners and their favorite aromatic plants: Collete Armao - Scented Geraniums Dan Vierria - the

397 Garden Lessons Learned (the hard way)

Master gardeners share lessons from their mistakes, covering topics like thinning fruit, plant spacing, and pest management, highlighting gardening as a continuous learni

396 Cucumber Success Tips

Today, we dive into the world of cucumbers, the second most popular crop among backyard gardeners. Debbie Flower shares her expertise on cucumber varieties, growing techn

395 "Survival Garden" Basics

We explore the concept of a survival garden, focusing on growing nutritious crops that enhance healthy living. We redefine "survival garden" as a means to reduce reliance

394 Home Weather Station Basics

Episode 394 features climate scientist Daniel Swain of Weather West and UCANR discussing the link between gardening and weather patterns. He provides tips on monitoring c