In Episode 124 of the Encyclopedia Botanica Podcast, Hilary discusses how to cultivate strawberries with guest Kate Fessler, a researcher from the University of Minnesota. The podcast covers the differences between cultivated strawberries (Fria X ananassa) and woodland strawberries (Fria vesca), growing conditions, and techniques for planting and maintaining strawberry patches. Kate explains the benefits of June bearing, day-neutral, and everbearing strawberries, and offers detailed advice on fertilizing, spacing, and long-term maintenance. She also touches on the importance of consulting local extension services for advice tailored to specific regions.
Join Hilary as she dive's back into the 2017 episode on growing potatoes! Discover everything from sourcing seed potatoes, planting techniques, and caring for your crops, to harvesting and troubleshooting. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or trying your hand at potatoes for the first time, this episode is packed with insights, including the best potato varieties and the mysterious relationship between brassicas and potatoes. Tune in to elevate your gardening game this potato planting season!
Episode 124 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast features a conversation with Professor Emeritus Michael Raupp from the University of Maryland. The discussion centers around stink bugs, identified as a major pest in gardens. Professor Raupp explains the characteristics, life cycle, and origins of stink bugs, noting their spread from Asia to most of the United States and parts of Canada. The interview also covers the damage stink bugs cause to various crops, their feeding habits, and potential control methods including trap crops, mechanical control, and organic pesticides. Raupp emphasizes the importance of understanding the pest’s life cycle for effective management and encourages fostering biodiversity in gardens to support natural predators. The episode concludes with advice on identifying stink bugs and useful resources for gardeners.
Professor Raupp's blog: Bug of the Week
Seattle Urban Farm Co. show notes: seattleurbanfarmco.com
In this episode of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, guest expert Rod Lamborn discusses the legacy of his father, Dr. Calvin Lamborn, the father of the sugar snap pea. Rod shares anecdotes about his father's pioneering work in pea breeding, specifically the creation and development process of the sugar snap pea. The conversation also covers the challenges faced in maintaining the purity of the sugar snap pea seed stock, the degradation over time, and efforts to restore it with the collaboration of Johnny's Selected Seed. Additionally, they discuss the differences between the original sugar snap and the super sugar snap varieties and the future of pea varieties including new developments and innovations at Magic Seeds.
In episode 123 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, host Hilary Dahl and her husband and business partner, Colin McCrate discuss the practice of string trellising in gardening. Colin, an experienced gardener, explains the benefits and methods of vertical and horizontal string trellising, including the use of hemp and jute twine. They describe how this technique supports various crops such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and peas, enhancing ease of pruning, harvesting, and plant health. Practical tips and recommendations are provided for managing crops and optimizing garden space using string trellising.
SECRET SALE: this February ONLY, we'll be offering EB podcast listener $45 off each Freyr trellis purchased. Use code EBTRELLIS25 at checkout. Discount also applies to Freyr trellis bundles. Limit one code use per customer, but can be used on multiple trellises or bundles in one order.
In episode 122 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, Hilary discusses the cultivation of Camellia sinensis, the tea plant with Gavin McFarlane of Minto Tea Company . They delve into its specific needs such as soil type, irrigation, and ideal growing conditions. Gavin shares the history of Minto Tea Company, details his experience, and explains the process of developing tea varieties and growing tea. The episode outlines the distinctions between tea types—green, black, and white—based on processing methods. Practical advice on pruning, propagation, and harvesting the plant is provided, along with the cultural conditions necessary for its optimal growth. Further, he explains in detail the processes of making green, white, and black tea, highlighting the importance of oxidation and drying.
For those interested in learning more about tea cultivation and processing, check out Minto Tea Company
In episode 121 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast Mary Colombo of Wild Roots Farm in Oregon joins Hilary to discuss growing radicchio. They delve into the complexities and benefits of growing this Italian vegetable. Mary shares her experiences and strategies for growing radicchio, its history, the best planting and harvesting practices, and the different varieties available. They also talk about the ideal conditions for radicchio and address common challenges, such as dealing with pests and diseases. The episode includes practical tips for home gardeners and emphasizes the crop's value for year-round farming.
In this episode of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, Hilary and co-host Kellie Phelan discusses practical tips for smart seed ordering to optimize your home garden. Highlights include key considerations for determining the quantity of seeds needed, differences in starting crops from seeds versus buying transplants, and factors affecting seed longevity. This episode is designed to empower both novice and experienced gardeners to make informed decisions about their seed purchases to ensure a fruitful and manageable gardening experience.
Smart Seed Ordering pt. 2: Show Notes
Hilary and guest Kelly Phelan discuss the importance of seed ordering in gardening, touching on topics such as the benefits of growing from seed, how to choose seed suppliers, and understanding seed definitions like organic vs. non-organic, open-pollinated vs. hybrid, and heirloom seeds. They also delve into the differences between hybrid seeds and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The episode aims to provide listeners with foundational knowledge that can help make informed decisions about their seed orders.
Smart Seed Ordering pt.1: Show Notes
In episode 120 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, host Hilary Dahl is joined by Meg Cowden, author of 'Plant Grow, Harvest, Repeat: Growing a Bounty of Vegetables, Fruits, and Flowers by Mastering the Art of Succession Planting.' They discuss Meg's background in forestry and natural resource management, her journey into gardening, and the evolution of her extensive garden. The conversation delves into the nuances of succession planting, crop layering, and interplanting techniques, with Meg offering insights into her methods and how they can be applied in various garden sizes and climates. They also touch on the importance of understanding plant lifespans, direct seeding crops, and planning for fall gardens by considering the Persephone period.
In episode 119 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, host Hilary Dahl is joined by her husband and business partner, Colin McCrate, to dig into the cultivation of broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. They discuss the importance of scientific nomenclature, focusing on Brassica oleraceae, and emphasize aspects of growing these crops, such as spacing, nitrogen requirements, and transplanting. The episode offers practical advice for dealing with pests, managing nitrogen levels, and ensuring proper growth conditions. It also touches on the challenges of growing cauliflower and the importance of timely harvesting. The discussion aims to help home gardeners improve the success of their brassica crops.
In this episode of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, Kyle from Urban Farmstead discusses his experiences growing subtropical plants like oak leaf papaya and various guava varieties in his Sacramento backyard. Kyle shares insights into his zone 9B climate, how he adapts soil for his tropical plants, and specific techniques for growing and maintaining these crops. He also talks about the cold tolerance of different plant varieties, including lemon guava and white sapote, and mentions other noteworthy plants like Babaco papaya and ice cream bean. Check out Kyle's YouTube channel for a full garden tour and more detailed information on his diverse plant collection.
In Episode 117 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, host Hillary Dahl discusses rainwater harvesting with Kevin Espiritu of Epic Gardening. Kevin details the extensive rainwater harvesting system he installed on his suburban San Diego property. They talk about the importance of capturing rainwater in a low-rainfall climate like San Diego’s and the logistics of such systems. Kevin provides insights into the economic and practical aspects of rainwater harvesting, while Hilary shares her experiences and thoughts on integrating these systems into home gardens. They also discuss the environmental benefits, costs, and challenges of rainwater harvesting, while offering practical advice for those considering similar projects.
In episode 116 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, host Hilary Dahl interviews Stefani Bittner, owner of Homestead Design Collective and author, about her latest book, 'The Fragrant Flower Garden.' They discuss the often-overlooked importance of fragrance in gardens, the role of fragrant plants in attracting pollinators, and tips for integrating these plants into existing gardens. Bittner also shares insights on designing a garden with a variety of fragrant plants, the art of creating flower arrangements, and practical advice for small-space gardening using multifunctional, fragrant edibles. The episode concludes with a conversation about ongoing projects, including Bittner's design work in Italy and upcoming workshops.
Order "The Fragrant Flower Garden" from Bookshop.org
Stefani's business, Homestead Design Collective
Morning Sun Herb Farm (source for flowering basil)
In episode 115 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, host Hilary Dahl interviews Christian Douglas of Christian Douglas Design and the Backyard Farm Co. about his new book, The Food Forward Garden. They discuss Christian's principles of good food forward design. They also discuss integrating vegetable gardens into existing landscapes. Christian shares insights from his diverse background in horticulture, design, and permaculture, emphasizing the value of growing food for personal and environmental benefits.
Buy Christian's book from Bookshop.org: "The Food Forward Garden: A Complete Guide to Designing and Growing Edible Landscapes"
Shop the Freyr trellis and accessories: seattleurbanfarmco.com
In this episode we discuss the benefits and practicalities of installing and using drip irrigation systems in vegetable gardens. We delve into the specifics of drip irrigation, explaining how it delivers water efficiently to the soil, reduces weed pressure, and minimizes water waste. We also cover the basics of setting up a drip system and the maintenance required, as well as adapting watering schedules to various climates and soil types.
Adding organic matter to your garden is crucial for vegetable growing success, and for many gardeners, compost is the most readily available source of organic matter. In this episode we discuss how to use compost as a fall garden amendment to improve and protect your soil over the wet winter months.
Hilary Dahl, host of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, announces a new season featuring guest gardening experts and enthusiasts. While Hilary continues to work on new episodes she'll be re-releasing a few timely fall favorites from the EB Podcast archives. This episode, "Cover Crops In The Home Garden", delves into the use of cover crops, explaining their benefits for soil health, nitrogen fixation, and carbon addition, alongside practical tips on planting and management. It also highlights the challenges smaller home gardens face with cover cropping, such as timing and space limitations, and stresses the importance of careful planning.
The quality of produce you grow is dependent on the quality of your soil. We are big advocates of doing everything possible to make garden soil the best it can be right from the start, and then working year after year to maintain and improve its quality. In this episode we're joined by award winning author Jeff Lowenfels to discuss the soil food web and garden soil ecosystems.
Jeff Lowenfels is the author of an award-winning trilogy of books on soil, Teaming With Microbes: The Organic Gardener’s Guide To The Soil Food Web, Teaming With Nutrients: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to Optimizing Plant Nutrition and Teaming With Fungi: The Organic Grower’s Guide to Mycorrhizae.
In this episode Hilary and Colin answer a listener's questions about wood-framed raised bed construction best practices. Their business, Seattle Urban Farm Company has designed and built hundreds of custom raised bed gardens in the Seattle area, so check out this episode for an inside scoop on all of the pro tips!
Pre-order their newest book Grow More Food here!
