Homegrown: Your Backyard Garden Podcast

How to Extend Your Gardening Season

Want to keep your vegetable garden growing a little longer this fall? In this episode we'll talk about simple ways to extend the gardening season with frost blankets

How Gardening Can Change Your Life

What starts in the garden doesn’t always stay there. You might begin with one tomato plant or a packet of lettuce seeds, but growing your own food has a way of changing

The Easiest Carrots I've Ever Grown

If you've ever struggled to get carrot seeds to germinate, you're not alone. Carrots have frustrated me for years - until a simple garden experiment completely

Blossom End Rot: What Causes It and How to Stop It

You spot a dark, sunken patch on the bottom of a beautiful tomato - and immediately wonder what went wrong. Blossom end rot is frustrating, but the good news is that it i

30 Years of Growing Tomatoes: Lessons From My Garden

After 30 years of growing tomatoes, I've made just about every mistake there is to make. I've experimented with varieties, trellises, pruning methods, container

When to Harvest Vegetables from Your Garden

The seed packet says your carrots should be ready in 70 days - but what if they're still tiny? Or your broccoli starts flowering before you harvest it? In this epis

Tomato Hornworms: How to Spot Them and Save Your Plants

Tomato hornworms are one of the most destructive pests in the vegetable garden. These giant green caterpillars can strip a tomato plant of leaves before you even realize

Beyond Vegetables: Growing Fruit in Your Backyard

Let's talk about simple ways to grow fruit right alongside your vegetables - no fruit trees required! From strawberries in containers, to melons, berries, kiwi and s

How to Attract Pollinators to Your Garden, and Why It's Important

Want more tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and melons from your backyard garden? Pollinators may be the missing piece: they help your vegetables produce bigger, better harves

How to Get Rid of Cabbage Worms Naturally

Cabbage worms can turn healthy plants into a mess almost overnight, but you don’t have to let them take over your garden.  In this episode, I’ll walk you through what th

Not All Plants Get Along: Companion Planting for Beginners

Not all plants get along in the garden, while others actually help each other grow better. Let's walk through the basics of companion planting - you’ll learn what it

4 Beginner Gardening Mistakes: How to Avoid Them

Starting a vegetable garden is exciting, but many new gardeners unknowingly make a few simple mistakes that can affect how well their plants grow. In this episode, I’m s

Why You Can’t Grow Big Onions (And How to Fix It)

Can’t seem to grow big onions? In this episode, I walk you through the most common mistakes like choosing the wrong onion type, planting too late and more - and how to fi

Listener Question: Saving Seeds From Hybrid Tomatoes (Sun Gold)

A listener recently asked a great question about saving seeds from hybrid tomatoes - specifically from the SunGold variety - and what happens when you save and replant th

Gardening on a Budget: How to Save Money While Growing Your Own Healthy Food

Gardening doesn't have to be expensive. In this episode we share easy, frugal gardening ideas for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike. From saving money on seeds

6 Simple Steps for Fall Garden Cleanup

Let's walk through the essential fall garden cleanup chores, from clearing spent plants and mulching to caring for perennials and tools, so your garden is ready for

Overwintering Tomato Plants

If you've ever wanted to skip the seed-starting chaos or hold onto a variety you love, this episode is for you. I’ve been overwintering tomato plants for over a deca

How to Keep Produce Fresh Longer, with Amy Cross of The Cross Legacy

Are you tired of tossing out wilted lettuce and moldy berries? In this episode I’m joined by Amy Cross of The Cross Legacy, the go-to expert on keeping produce fresh long

How to Save Seeds from Your Vegetable Garden

Learn how to save seeds from your vegetable garden with this beginner-friendly guide. Discover the benefits of saving heirloom and open-pollinated seeds, how to avoid cro

When to Plant Your Fall Garden

Timing is everything when it comes to fall gardening; your plants need enough time to mature before the first frost of autumn. In this episode we'll figure out your