Shows
Beyond the Garden Basics PodcastBackyard Chickens - How to Choose Them, How to Protect ThemIn Ep. 381 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, Urban Chicken Consultant Cherie Sintes-Glover offered tips on how to protect your backyard chicken flock against the spread of the current version of avian influenza, the deadly H5N1, also known as the Bird Flu.The discussion on the Garden Basics podcast about protecting your flock from the bird flu took up about a half hour. At the top of this newsletter is our full conversation, which is over an hour in length, and touches on many aspects of being a backyard chicken flock owner....
2025-02-281h 03
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred360 Avocado Growing BasicsToday, we are talking avocado cultivation with Greg Alder, he’s an avocado grower in Southern California, a San Diego County Master Gardener, and he’s the director of the California Avocado Society. Who better to answer a question about the care and feeding of a Mexicola avocado, in Northern California. Greg shares practical tips on watering, and common pitfalls to avoid.We also delve into avocado pollination, highlighting the unique characteristics and taste of various varieties, including Gwen, Hass, and Fuerte. This is for aspiring backyard avocado tree growers, in many states, both outdoors and indoors. We’...
2024-10-041h 03
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred359 Tree Surrounds, Cardboard Mulch Pros-Cons. Winter TomatoesThey’re known as tree rings, or tree surrounds. Basically, it’s a demilitarized zone for your trees, where the trunk and roots are safe from weed whackers and lawn mowers as well as competing plants (especially lawns). It might be a short term solution for a newly planted tree. But leave it in place longer than that, and problems can ensue. Debbie Flower, America’s Favorite Retired College Horticulture Professor, tells us about those issues.Is using cardboard for mulch in a garden a good idea? We tackle that question today, as well.And finall...
2024-09-2732 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred358 Fall Garden Prep. The Catalina Cherry.Have you done the necessary work to have a thriving fall vegetable garden? What about the soil? What have you done to give those new plants a great start? We talk with Sacramento County Master Gardener Gail Pothour about how they prepare the vegetable gardens for fall planting at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center. And at the Fair Oaks Vegetable Center, they will be trying out some interesting new vegetables, as well. Also, we find out more about a cherry that is really best left for the birds. The Catalina cherry.We’re podcasting from Barking Dog Stu...
2024-09-2040 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred357 Plant Cool Season Vegetables Now. What is a Crisis Nursery?The change in the September weather is your best opportunity for a new round of planting vegetables in your garden, the cool season crops: broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, garlic, kale, onions, peas, potatoes, shallots, and all those versatile, healthy greens: lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, Chinese cabbages, and so much more. But which varieties should you plant? We have the strategies today for a successful cool season garden.Also, what is a crisis nursery? Is it the dumpster behind your favorite garden center? Is it an emergency hospital for houseplants? No, it’s much better than that. We’ll expla...
2024-09-1339 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred355 Rhubarb Growing Basics for Warm Climates “Can you grow rhubarb here?” For those who have moved from colder climates to the warmer USDA zones, that might be a popular question. Memories of rhubarb pie, jams, and more while growing up back East or in the Midwest might have you hankering for fresh rhubarb. The plant, however, dislikes climates where summers get over 90 degrees on a regular basis. And, it prefers a bit of chill in the winter, as well. And the short answer is, “yes, you can grow it here,” with a few reservations (you might have to grow it as an annual), as well as...
2024-08-3040 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred354 Lawn SubstitutesFred and Debbie Flower discuss the trend of lawn elimination and alternative landscape options to save water. They explore lawn alternatives that require less maintenance and water, such as no-mow lawns, fescue varieties, and groundcovers like dymondia, kurapia, and clover. They also discuss the need for proper irrigation and maintenance in all types of landscapes.Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and transcripts at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net. Audio, transcripts, and episode chapters also available at Buzzsprout.Pictured: Lawn Substitute/Groundcover Test of Mow-Free Fescues
2024-08-2334 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred353 It's All About the Soil (for a Successful Garden!)Today, we talk with Kevin Marini, a community education specialist with the University of California Cooperative Extension, about the topics of soil and successful gardening. We talk about the pros and cons of using native soil versus commercial soil, the importance of improving native soil, the use of bagged mixes in raised beds, and the role of organic matter and fertilizers in gardening. We also touch on the benefits of mulch and the importance of proper watering techniques. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding and improving your native soil for successful gardening.We’re podcasting fro...
2024-08-1651 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred351 Honey, I Shrunk the Fruit Trees!In this episode, Farmer Fred and Kevin Marini discuss the importance of thinning fruit trees and maintaining their height. Kevin Marini, a certified arborist and community education specialist with UC Cooperative Extension, also talks about the benefits of keeping fruit trees at a manageable height, the process of bringing down the height of a tree, and the different types of pruning cuts. We’re podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory. It’s the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots, Dave Wilson Nursery, and H...
2024-08-0256 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred344 Q&A - Tomato Seed Saving? Seeding Mulched Area?In this episode of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, Fred Hoffman and Master Gardener Gail Pothour discuss saving tomato seeds. They address the question of whether saved tomato seeds will produce the same tomato variety and provide tips for ensuring seed purity. The conversation covers topics such as flower structure, pollination, isolation techniques, and seed fermentation.Answering another question, Debbie Flower and Fred discuss the best method for sowing annual flower seeds on mulched soil.Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and transcripts at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer F...
2024-06-1815 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred342 Q&A Grow Carrots in Summer? Weed Cloth - Good or Bad?Master Gardener Fred Hoffman and his guests answers garden questions from listeners on the Tuesday edition of the Garden Basics podcast. The first question is about weed cloth and its impact on soil improvement and fertilization. Fred and Debbie Flower advise removing the weed cloth and using just mulch instead. The second question is about planting carrots in California's climate. Fred explains that carrots can be grown year-round in milder coastal climates, but in the Central Valley, they have a hard time germinating and growing in hot temperatures. Master Gardener Gail Pothour also shares tips for planting carrot...
2024-06-1118 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred341 Fred's Garden Tour with DebbieSomething a little different today. America’s Favorite Retired College Horticulture Professor, Debbie Flower and myself take a stroll through the Farmer Fred backyard garden, talking about the plants, and discussing the strategies to make them successful plants, with, of course, all sorts of garden tips thrown in. It’s the ultimate scenic bypass episode yet!It’s all in Episode 341 of today’s Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast: Fred’s Garden Tour, with Debbie Flower. Next Friday, we’ll be touring Debbie’s fabulous garden.By the way, what’s a garden tour without pictures...
2024-06-0747 min
Beyond the Garden Basics PodcastA Tour of Fred's Garden, with Debbie FlowerIf this newsletter podcast sounds familiar, it should. It is also the current (Ep. 341) Garden Basics podcast where myself and America’s Favorite Retired College Horticulture Professor, Debbie Flower, take a late May stroll through my garden, discussing the plants, as well as gardening techniques. But wouldn’t it be nice to see those plants and garden accoutrements? Well, here you go.But first, a recap of what you may have missed on this week’s two Garden Basics podcasts:Tuesday, June 4:Ep. 340 -Q&A Cross Pollination Concerns. What is the Best City or Sta...
2024-06-0739 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred339 How To Water Clay Soil (and more clay gardening tips!)In this episode of Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, the focus is on how to water clay soil and other tips for gardening in clay. Debbie Flower, America's Favorite retired college horticultural professor, shares valuable insights on the topic. The episode covers the characteristics of clay soil, the importance of organic matter, watering techniques, mulching, and the use of cover crops. The conversation also delves into the impact of soil structure on crop production and the benefits of no-till and cover cropping practices.Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and transcripts at the home site for Gar...
2024-05-3134 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred336 Q&A Kitchen Scraps in the Garden? When to Plant a Magnolia Tree?In this episode, Farmer Fred answers a listener's question about burying kitchen scraps in the garden. He discusses the potential problems with this method, including attracting scavengers and affecting the quality of the soil microbiology. He suggests composting the kitchen scraps first or using alternative methods like African keyhole gardens. Debbie Flower recommends the Green Cone composter. In the second part of the episode, Farmer Fred and Debbie Flower discuss the best time to plant a flowering tree, specifically the Magnolia 'Genie'. They talk about the benefits of planting in the fall and the challenges of planting in the s...
2024-05-2118 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred335 Roof Rat Controls, Asparagus-Lemon RecipesThe first chat today involves roof rats (and is an encore presentation while construction is ongoing here at Barking Dog). It will be particularly useful for those of you with large yards, or acreage, or even a small farm, in which you have a large orchard. And for those of you suburban dwellers who might have a few citrus trees, or, for that matter, any tree with fruit, well, you know the damage that rats can do to that fruit. But it’s not just the fruit. Roof rats, especially, can girdle your backyard fruit trees, dramatically shortening their li...
2024-05-1735 min
Garden Basics with Farmer FredGB 334 Q&A Rhubarb for Hot Climates? Lights for Seedlings?The first question on the Tuesday Q&A edition of the Garden Basics podcast is about growing rhubarb in hot weather. Fred and his guests, Master Gardeners Kathy Morrison and Ruth Ostroff, discuss their experiences with growing rhubarb in Sacramento. They also share a rhubarb recipe. The second question is about grow lights for starting tomato and pepper seeds indoors. Fred and Debbie Flower explain the importance of using wide-spectrum light systems and mixing different types of bulbs. Debbie also emphasizes the need for air circulation and movement for young plants. Fred and Debbie discuss different options available i...
2024-05-1421 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred331 Cucumber Starting and Training TipsMid to late spring is cucumber planting time in most of North America, and we have more cucumber growing tips for you today. We covered a lot of cucumber growing basics back in episode 266 last May, but today, cucumber cheerleader and America's favorite retired college horticultural professor, Debbie Flower, has more cucumber planting advice for you, whether you start cucumbers from seed or from nursery-purchased transplants.And by the way, choose carefully if you're shopping for cucumber plants. Debbie will tell us what to look for. Plus, properly training the growth of your cucumbers can help thwart...
2024-05-0337 min
Beyond the Garden Basics PodcastMeet the Garden Beneficials (and Bats, Too!)The podcast included with this newsletter features an interview with Rachael Long, University of California Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor Emeritus, and one of the nation’s best sources of information on the benefits of having bats, which are flying mammals (not rodents), in your neighborhood. Originally aired in Episode 180 of the Garden Basics podcast in March of 2022.Before we begin bug hunting, here’s what has happened this week on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast:Ep. 328 Q&A - Should you add fertilizer to a compost pile? Can planting late-ripening peaches thwart peach leaf...
2024-04-2612 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred329 How to WaterThis episode is entitled, How to Water Your Garden. “What!?!” you’re probably thinking. “Of course I know how to water my garden, lawn, and indoor plants, I’m a gardener!” As Farmer Fred Garden Rule #8 says: “If it works for you, fine. But keep an open mind.” Join us as America’s Favorite Retired College Horticulture Professor, Debbie Flower, has advice on how to properly and thoroughly irrigate all your plants from newly planted seeds to vegetables to flowers to lawns, shrubs and trees. I bet by the end of our chat, there will be at least one irrigation...
2024-04-2639 min
Beyond the Garden Basics PodcastHow to Stake a New TreeSimple instructions from the Placer County (CA) Master Gardeners on proper tree staking:Q: I just planted a new tree and want to know the best way to stake it.A: It’s important to know that not all newly planted trees need to be staked. In fact, improper staking can harm rather than help. The more freely a tree can move, the stronger its trunk will become and the more likely it will be to withstand storms.There are three situations in which staking is necessary: to protect against damage from equipment, ve...
2023-10-2718 min
Beyond the Garden Basics PodcastFall Worm Bin Care and FeedingOne of the best soil amendments to add for happy plants are worm castings, also known as worm poop. However, the price of a bag of worm castings approaches twenty dollars, so you may want to tack on a new “to-do” item for the soil in your garden: vermicomposting, which is raising worms, usually in a worm bin. Those worms will feast on many of your kitchen scraps, giving you back a soil amendment teeming with microbial activity, perfect for plant roots to enjoy. And you don’t have to worry about the worms if you go...
2023-09-1511 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred250 Garden Basics 2022 Greatest Hits, Pt. 3. A First Garden ChecklistWelcome to Part 3 of our four part series, the 2022 greatest hits of Garden Basics with Farmer Fred. The four parts include the top 10 most listened-to segments last year. Today it’s a Debbie Flower extravaganza. Our favorite retired college horticulture professor discusses how to reuse old potting soil, tips for reducing water use in the yard, and a checklist for starting your first garden. And if you’ve moved and are thinking of starting a new garden, a lot of these first garden tips may include ideas you haven’t considered before starting that new garden.We’re podca...
2023-01-271h 05
Beyond the Garden Basics PodcastRoasted TomatoesEven though it is mid-November, many gardeners in milder areas of the country may still be harvesting tomatoes. What to do with those remaining, healthy tomatoes? Can or freeze them! Roasted tomatoes add so much more tomato flavor to any recipe you prepare that calls for tomatoes (such as pasta sauce, whole tomatoes or diced tomatoes). And it's an easy way to preserve the harvest for use throughout the year, either canned or frozen.To preserve the most flavor, roast them at a low temperature for a long period of time. Convection ovens, which distribute...
2022-11-1807 min
Beyond the Garden Basics PodcastFresh Corn Soup RecipeFresh Corn Soup (plus the cob)Recipe by Andi MacDonald, Sacramento Co. Master Gardener and Professional ChefServes 4During the dog days of summer, this soup is so refreshing served chilled. The secret ingredient is the corn stock, made from the corn cobs that generally get tossed. If corn is out of season, frozen can substitute and vegetable stock can be used instead of the corn stock. Perhaps not as good, but still pretty good!2 tablespoons olive oil4 ears of fresh corn, 2 cups altogether1 cup...
2022-09-2303 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred225 Cool Season Vegetable TipsSeptember is here, and many of you are still enjoying your summer vegetable garden. But get ready…the days will be getting shorter and cooler this month and those plants may start to go into decline. Now is time to be planning and planting your second garden of 2022, the fall and winter vegetable garden, wherever you might live here in the Northern Hemisphere. Nursery Owner Don Shor has the cool season garden basics.We learn something new, every time, on Garden Basics with Farmer Fred. We’re podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jung...
2022-09-0228 min
Beyond the Garden Basics PodcastWhat to Do With All Those Berries?Back in Episode 212 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, we chatted with Sacramento County (CA) Master Gardener Pam Bone - an expert caneberry grower - about summertime problems with backyard blackberries, raspberries, boysenberries and other caneberries. The question arose: “So Pam, what do you do with all those berries?” She marched us into her kitchen to show us a freezer filled with jam, especially the jars and jars of her specialty, raspberry jam. She shared her favorite recipes and tips here, in the newsletter podcast. Below are the details of three of her favo...
2022-07-2202 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred196 Indoor Composting Machines. Garlic Harvest Tips.You’ve heard of the benefits of adding compost to your garden soil. You may even have a backyard compost pile. Or a compost tumbler. Or, a bin full of worms who are making compost out of your garden scraps. But what about the new indoor composting machines that are on the market? Today, America’s Favorite Retired College Horticulture Professor, Debbie Flower, and I answer one listener’s questions about these modern devices. Also, if you’re growing garlic, you may want information on the best time to harvest the garlic. When will that garlic be ready? We get the...
2022-05-2423 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred195 The Best Roses for Cut FlowersRoses are beginning to put on a show throughout most of rose-growing country, especially USDA Zones six through 10. What are the best roses to grow that not only look nice in the garden, but do especially well as cut flowers in the house? What are the roses that have outstanding shape and color, but also can last a long time in a vase, and aren’t a hassle when it comes to dealing with their prickles, in other words, ones that aren’t a thorny mess? We talk with Master Rosarian Debbie Arrington about 26 rose varieties that make great cut...
2022-05-2049 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred192 The Easiest Tomatoes To GrowMay is tomato planting month for most of the nation. Maybe you’ve had problems growing tomatoes in the past, or maybe you’re fairly new at planting, raising and harvesting America’s favorite backyard vegetable. Don Shor of Redwood Barn Nursery in Davis, California, a true tomato-head, has a list of the easiest tomatoes to grow, along with good advice to make sure that they prosper in your garden, even if you’re planning a long road trip or two this summer. Today, it the easiest tomatoes to grow, and how to make it easy on yourself, too.We’...
2022-05-1037 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred190 Bamboo Privacy Screen. Battling Rose Aphids.Who in their right mind would plant bamboo, close to a house, as a privacy screen? Bamboo, which after a few years, could become an impenetrable jungle, spreading in every direction! Well, America’s Favorite Retired College Horticulture Professor, Debbie Flower, planted bamboo as a privacy screen, six feet away from her house. How is she going to control this rambunctious runner of a plant? Ingeniously, of course. We pay a visit to Debbie’s garden to find out what to do, and what not to do when planting bamboo.Next up on our garden road trip, we d...
2022-05-0326 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred183 First Garden? A ChecklistWe pay a visit in today’s episode to the lush yards of a couple of notable gardeners. We chat with America’s favorite retired college horticulture professor, Debbie Flower, in her garden, about what you should think about before you start your first garden: a checklist, if you will. It’s like learning from the mistakes of others. Or, to put it more politely, we're sharing garden wisdom.And, Master Gardener Pam Bone talks about her favorite peach variety, as well as the benefits of getting out in the backyard orchard in early spring and thinning the fr...
2022-04-0828 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred182 Growing Raspberries, Boysenberries, BlackberriesGet your day off to a healthy start by adding fresh-picked berries - blackberries, raspberries, blueberries - to your breakfast. Here in California, harvest season for those are perhaps six weeks away. And wherever you live, you can probably grow some kind of berries. We covered growing blueberries back in Episode 67. Today, in Episode 182, we talk with Master Gardener and accomplished home blackberry, boysenberry and raspberry grower, Pam Bone, who has lots of good tips for growing these tasty, healthy treats. It’s all about berries!We’re podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beauti...
2022-04-0533 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred180 Bats (They're Good). When to "Set Out" Plants?It’s "bat day" here on the Garden Basics podcast. By the way, we’re talking about the flying mammal, not the Louisville Slugger. Bats! They are a good friend of every gardener and farmer. Why? Because they’re eating a lot of the flying pests that otherwise would be chowing down on your crops and flowers… or you. We talk with noted bat expert, the University of California’s Rachael Long. Did you ever see that instruction on a seed packet or garden calendar that tells you when to set out plants? What, exactly, is setting out...
2022-03-2928 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred171. Flowering Fruit Trees. Planting Fruit Trees in Pulp Pots.Deciduous fruit trees are starting to wake from their winter slumber in warmer areas of the United States, with the rest soon to follow. Why not bring some of that flower show indoors? Today, we get tips on how to get fruit tree branches and other spring flowering plants to bloom on your dining room table, as well as tips for spring flowering shrubs and trees that will look great in your landscape. Also stirring to life with the change in the weather are gardeners heading to nurseries, shopping for deciduous fruit trees to plant. Many of those trees n...
2022-02-2528 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred170. Buying a Greenhouse? Ask Yourself These Questions FirstI’ve been spending a lot of time in the greenhouse lately, starting tomato, pepper and onion seeds. You don’t have to be a gardener for very long to realize the advantages of having a backyard hobby greenhouse. It's an ideal place to start seeds, get cuttings to root. A greenhouse is also great for overwintering tender plants. We talk with Mark Seibert of Sturdi-Built greenhouses in Oregon about the questions you should ask yourself before purchasing a greenhouse. Originally aired in June of 2020, this primer on greenhouses includes: tips for installing water and electricity ; tips on insta...
2022-02-2229 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred169. More Vegetable Winners for Your 2022 GardenKeep your seed catalogs open! Today, we pick up where we left off on the last episode of Garden Basics (168) where we were talking with Master Gardener Gail Pothour at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center about the All-America Selections vegetable varieties that did well over the years here in Northern California. Many of those varieties received national recognition, too. Today, we have more award-winning vegetables for you to try in your 2022 spring and summer vegetable garden. This time we are talking with the Executive Director of the All-America Selections organization, Diane Blazek. She has recommendations for more award-winning, All...
2022-02-1825 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred168. Award Winning Vegetable Varieties to Try in 2022If this is the year that you start your vegetable garden from seeds, you have some choices to make before too long. Which tomato, pepper, squash, melon, eggplant and okra varieties should you plant? We talk with vegetable expert and Master Gardener Gail Pothour about the All America Vegetable selections that have been the top performers for her and other Master Gardeners. And we will have a review of the cool season All America Selections vegetable varieties that did well. Plus a preview of the enticing 2022 vegetable seed varieties that will be newly available this year, as well. Okra, d...
2022-02-1527 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred167. Is Gravel Gardening Right For You?We recently spoke with Andrew Bunting of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society about garden resolutions, and the Philadelphia Flower Show, which will be held this coming June. Go back to Episode 159 of the Garden Basics podcast to find out more about those topics. We also talked about the interest in gravel gardening back east and in the midwest. If you are a subscriber to the Garden Basics “Beyond Basics” newsletter, you heard about gravel gardening back in the Dec. 31st, 2021 online newsletter. But for the thousands of you who may not have listened to that discussion in the newsle...
2022-02-1127 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred166 Roses vs Weeds. Transplanting Tips.Winter rose care season is here for many of us. Besides pruning, weed killing may be on your list of things to do in the rose bed. But before you reach for that spray bottle of weed killer, listen to what Master Rosarian Charlotte Owendyk has to say. Plus, she has alternatives for thwarting weeds among your rose bushes. It’s also the time of year for transplanting many perennials and shrubs. Debbie Flower, our favorite retired college horticulture professor, goes through the how’s and the why’s to transplant successfully. And perhaps to your surprise, she is a fan...
2022-02-0826 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred165 Garden Tool Care & SelectionYes, it is a little late for a New Year’s Resolution, but here’s one that is better employed late than never: take better care of your garden tools. And, It’s not just keeping them clean. On today’s episode of Garden Basics, Debbie Flower gets into the how’s and why’s of properly maintaining your garden tools…including storage and sharpening advice…and yes, the proper cleaning of your tools. Plus, we have tips for choosing quality garden tools to begin with.We’re podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jungle in...
2022-02-0427 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred163 Speedy, Successful Seed Germinating Tips'Tis the season for expectant backyard gardeners. You’ve begun to sow seeds of warm season annuals and vegetables indoors, especially pepper and tomato seeds. But when will those little seeds begin to show their heads above the soil? As always, it depends. On today’s Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, our favorite retired college horticultural professor, Debbie Flower, has tips for speeding up seed germination rates, especially for those pokey pepper seeds, which normally could take up to three weeks to sprout! But, it takes a combination of tactics to be a successful speedy plant parent. It invo...
2022-01-2839 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred162 'Prune'-ciples: Rose Pruning Tips for Maximum Roses!In USDA Zones 8, 9 and 10, it’s Rose Pruning Season! And soon enough after frost season passes, everyone else across the country will be faced with the challenge of tackling an overgrown, aging, rose bush. How best to prune that rose bush to regain maximum rose production? We talk with a Master Rosarian who knows. We’ve got rose pruning tips, as well as advice for the best pruning tools to use and clothes to wear while pruning those prickly roses.We’re podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory, it’s the Ga...
2022-01-2139 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred161 Succulent Tips. Starting a School Garden.You can grow them indoors and outdoors; they’re easy to care for; and, are very unique and colorful! But which ones are the easiest to care for? We’re talking about succulents today with renowned expert Robin Stockwell. Starting a school garden, or even a home school garden? Which plants and concepts should you consider before turning that first shovelful of soil? We’re going back to school, with Debbie Flower, who knows a thing or two about school gardens.We’re podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory, it’s the...
2022-01-1427 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred160 Garden Basics Greatest Hits, 2021 - All About Tomatoes!Welcome to the new year, and our latest Greatest Hits episode, featuring those segments that you spent the most time enjoying, in record numbers in 2021. Among the top listened to segments last year included a lot about tomatoes. In fact, the top 5 listened-to segments on the garden basics podcast had to do with tomatoes. That makes this 2021 Greatest Hits episode of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast one that just might answer most of your tomato questions, from seed planting all the way to harvest. If you know anyone just starting out in gardening, who might be growing t...
2022-01-071h 18
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred159 Garden Resolutions. Heavenly Bamboo.Eat less sugar. Eat more fiber. Eat out of the garden more! Have you set your New Year’s resolutions yet? We’ll talk with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Andrew Bunting about some good gardening habits to start in 2022.The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden’s Superintendent Emeritus, Warren Roberts, ushers in the New Year with a plant that just might be putting on a show right now with its colorful berries or reddish leaves. It’s the Heavenly Bamboo, also known as Nandina domestica, and it’s our Plant of the Week.We’re podcasting...
2021-12-3140 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred158 Life is Too Short To Put Up with a Problem Plant. The HollyLife, as I am fond of saying, is too short to put up with a problem plant. Today, the very alive Debbie Flower, who is no problem at all, talks about when to pull the plug on the dying plants in your garden, including some organ harvesting tips when it comes to tomato plants who have overstayed their welcome at your garden party. Plus, we have tips for choosing and storing those cool season fruit favorites, persimmons, apples and citrus. Merry Christmas!The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden’s Superintendent Emeritus, Warren Roberts, is in the ho...
2021-12-2440 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred157 Composting Tips. The CyclamenA listener in St. Louis wrote in to ask, “Is it OK to put the stems and leaves of what’s left of the summer vegetable garden in a compost pile?” Retired college horticulture professor Debbie Flower answers: it depends! We take a deep dive into composting basics today.The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden’s Superintendent Emeritus, Warren Roberts, tells us about the Plant of the Week. For some, it’s an outdoor, winter blooming, bedding plant. For others, it’s a houseplant. For all, it puts a colorful show this time of year: the cyclamen, wh...
2021-12-1731 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred156 Heavy Rain vs. Garden Irrigation. Air Pruning. The CotoneasterDid you ever pull a sick, root-bound plant out of a too-small plastic or ceramic container and look at the root ball? All those thick roots, going round and round, along the sides and throughout the bottom? All those thick roots are impeding the flow of water and fertilizer throughout the plant’s root zone, which may be why that plant was sick! We talk with Smart Pots president Kurt Reiger about how their fabric plant containers don’t let that happen to your plants! It’s called air pruning. We’ll explain.Retired college horticulture professor Debbie Fl...
2021-12-1031 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred155 Battling Bermudagrass. The Persimmon Tree.Farmer Fred Garden Rule #1: Bermudagrass is forever. You think I’m kidding? Ask any gardener who is battling this triple threat weed, which can reproduce and spread via seed, stems and rootstocks.Retired college horticulture professor Debbie Flower gives us some ideas for control and suppression tactics when battling bermudagrass (please note, I did NOT say, eradicate). The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden’s Superintendent Emeritus, Warren Roberts, tells us about a tree that has it all: great fall color, an interesting form, and tasty fruit this time of year. It’s our Pla...
2021-12-0334 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred154 Why Lawns? Puncturevine Control. Liquidambar TreeOne gardening trend that is beginning to take hold throughout the country is reducing the size of your lawn. What is our attraction to lawns in the first place? We talk with author Thomas Mickey. He wrote the book, "America’s Romance with the English Garden". Retired college horticulture professor Debbie Flower discusses a nasty weed, especially disliked by barefoot children and mountain bikers, puncture vine.And, the UC Davis Arboretum Superintendent Emeritus, Warren Roberts, tells us about an outstanding, widely planted tree for fall color, the Sweet Gum, also known as the Liquidambar tree. But i...
2021-11-2633 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred153 Controlling Oxalis Weeds. The Ginkgo Tree.Just as all gardening is local, all weeds are local, too. And we are hearing from many of you about your yard’s nightmare weeds, especially ones that can be mistaken for clover, and you let it go…until it starts taking over. It’s oxalis, and its close relatives, creeping wood sorrel, and bermuda buttercup, and another weed that crashes the oxalis family parties, bur clover. Debbie Flower and I feel your pain on this one.And UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden’s Superintendent Emeritus, Warren Roberts, tells us about one of the best trees for its...
2021-11-1926 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred152 Green Tomato Ripening Tips. Mulch vs Roots. MumsSome of you, especially in USDA Zone 9 where freezing temperatures haven’t occurred yet, you may still have green and partially red tomatoes, clinging to life, in your backyard garden. Will they ripen? And as always, the answer is: it depends.One listener from Virginia wants to know if that pile of mulch near her maple tree can be moved. Her concern: the roots of the tree have invaded that mulch pile…and, there’s a bunch of suspicious stringy white stuff inside that mulch pile, as well. We start digging into the answer for that one with o...
2021-11-1232 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred150 Field Bindweed Control. Generator Safety TipsGardeners everywhere have a certain weed that drives them up the wall. Today, we talk about one that can literally climb a wall: field bindweed. Although it's in the morning glory family, don’t be fooled by its pretty, white flowers. Field bindweed needs to be controlled as soon as you see it. We have tips for tackling field bindweed.Power outages hit both the west and east coasts recently, due to massive storms. Many of you may have invested in your first generator to help keep your harvested frozen food properly cold. Or you discovered a nee...
2021-10-2926 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred149 Tomato Seedling Tips. The Marigold.Today we tackle a question from a listener who asks, why were my tomato seedlings last spring so skinny? Debbie Flower and I run through all the possibilities, and it turned out to be a very good tomato seed planting primer, something to keep in mind when you’re starting tomato seeds indoors next January, February or March.The Plant of the Week is a colorful, warm season annual that will be widely used in celebrations next week. No, it’s not the Halloween pumpkin. It’s a plant with even more cultural significance, a couple of days after...
2021-10-2629 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred148 Lawn Reseeding Tips. Persimmons.Late October may be your last, best opportunity for overseeding a poorly performing lawn here in USDA Zone 9. Your next opportunity across the U.S. will be next spring. In either case, we tackle a listener’s questions about the best way to go about the process of rehabbing your lawn. College Horticulture Professor (retired) Debbie Flower has some great tips on that topic. Also, we discuss a great piece of fruit that is ripening right now: Japanese persimmons. Phil Pursel of Dave Wilson Nursery has advice for growing and choosing those varieties that won’t make your mouth puck...
2021-10-2228 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred147 Salt Heliotrope weed. "Autumn Joy" Sedum. Water Trough GardeningToday we tackle a widespread beautiful weed whose cousin is a rather desirable plant. The weed? Salt Heliotrope, a close relative of the widely cultivated common heliotrope. And you don’t want the salt heliotrope growing around your desirable plants. One of the showiest plants right now is 'Autumn Joy' Sedum. We’ll tell you all about this, the Plant of the Week. And a primer on using livestock watering troughs for permanent plants, as well as annuals.It’s on episode 147 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots a...
2021-10-1923 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred146 Houseplant Fertilizers. No Beans?!?Master Gardener and Professional Houseplant Expert Lori Ann Asmus of Emerald City Interior Landscape Services talks about the pros and cons of fertilizing your houseplants, as well as problems you might face using some tap waters on your houseplants. College Horticulture Professor (retired) Debbie Flower sheds light on one listener’s dilemma: great looking pole bean plants, but no beans this year! Debbie lists several possibilities that could be the culprit.Podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory, it’s episode 146 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, broug...
2021-10-1523 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred145 Harvesting Popcorn. Autumn SageMajor League Baseball playoffs have started, and you know what that means? It’s time to harvest your popcorn! However, it’s still not ready for eating. How do you know when it’s ready to be popped? We have the popcorn harvesting tips for you today. The Plant of the Week is widely adaptable throughout the West, the South, and up through the Carolinas and Virginia. Salvia, the sage plant. In particular, we are talking about the autumn sage, Salvia greggii, a real hummingbird magnet.Starting a new lawn in USDA Zone 9 now? Are watering restrictions thwarti...
2021-10-1223 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred144 Using Wood Ash in Your Garden. Easy Healthy Soil Tips.Is wood ash good for the garden soil? Our favorite college horticulture professor, Debbie Flower, answers decisively with, “it depends”. She has tips to help you decide if your soil will benefit from the addition of wood ash. She also tackles the topic of ash from nearby wildfires falling on your garden. Good or bad?And we talk with Organic Gardening expert Steve Zien about how you can achieve better soil starting this time of year, with a lot less work. His tips might even allow you to skip the tedious chore of crop rotation each year!
2021-10-0822 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred143 Wind vs. Your Garden. The Goldenrod.If you have a lot of leaning trees and shrubs on your property, chances are there’s an ill wind blowing around your home. Our favorite retired college horticulture professor, Debbie Flower, has some ideas on helping your plants survive, even thrive, is areas with persistent winds. UC Davis Arboretum Superintendent Emeritus, Warren Roberts, tells us about a popular, fall-blooming Plant of the Week, the Goldenrod, also known as Solidago. And as you will find out, it’s nothing to sneeze at. It’s on episode 143 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today b...
2021-10-0522 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred142 Cut Flower Display Tips. How to Water a HouseplantAbout a year ago, on Episode 52, retired college horticulture professor Debbie Flower gave us a beginning class on having a cut flower garden. Today, we graduate to more tips on successful cut flower care, including how to cut an outdoor plant to bring indoors so that it will last a long time. Plus, Debbie has a homemade recipe for a floral preservative that will help that display last even longer.And since we’re indoors, Master Gardener and professional houseplant expert Lori Ann Asmus tells us the best ways to make sure your houseplants are watered correctly....
2021-10-0129 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred140 Avocados for Marginal Climates. How to Be a Better Observational Gardener.One Garden Basic we need to stress more on this podcast is this: to head off major plant problems, observe your garden, carefully. Retired college horticulture professor Debbie Flower talks about some mental exercises she taught her students to become better observational gardeners. Plus, we discuss growing avocado trees in marginal climates. And, tips for moving giant pumpkins that might be taking over your backyard.It’s all on episode 140 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots. And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go...
2021-09-2425 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred139 Fall Organic Lawn Care Tips. The GaillardiaIf you live in a mild winter climate, mid-September through mid-October is the best time to care for or renovate your lawn. We get organic lawn care tips from organic landscaper, Steve Zien. And, the Plant of the Week: it’s a dependable, blooming perennial from late spring through mid-fall in warm climates. Warren Roberts tells us about the Gaillardia. It’s Episode 139 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery. And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!Pictured:
2021-09-2129 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred135 Easy Houseplants. Mulch Worries. The Gardenia.We all know someone who complains that they have killed every houseplant they have ever owned. Today, we talk with a houseplant professional who has a list of five nearly impossible to kill houseplants! We’ve talked about the benefits of using chipped and shredded tree limbs as mulch. Are there any tree varieties that you should avoid? College horticulture professor Debbie Flower has the tips. And, UC Davis Arboretum Superintendent Emeritus Warren Roberts has a sweet-smelling Plant of the Week - the gardenia.It’s on episode 135 of the Garden Basics...
2021-09-0728 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred133 Japanese Beetle Control Tips. The Oxblood Lily.Rachel in Indiana contacted us via Speakpipe with a question that many gardeners might have: How do you control Japanese beetles? This voracious pest feeds of hundreds of plants, especially your roses. We talk with a Master Rosarian who has control tips. The Plant of the Week has the rather gruesome name, the Oxblood Lily. Yet, it is a beautiful and widely adaptable bulb that’s starting to put on its annual show. It’s on episode 133 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery. And we will...
2021-08-3127 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred131 Grape Growing Tips. Carrot Varieties. The Autumn Daffodil, SternbergiaIt’s grape harvest season across the country. Disappointed with your results? This week, College Horticulture Professor (retired) Debbie Flower, who taught classes in growing grapes, has lots of good tips to increase your grape production. Carrots now come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. We talk with Renee Shepherd of Renee’s Garden seed company about growing backyard carrots. And Warren Roberts of the UC Davis Arboretum talks about an easy to grow bulb, the Sternbergia, also known as the Autumn Daffodil.It’s all on episode 131 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcas...
2021-08-2429 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred129 Cool Season Quick Maturing Vegetables. The Oleander. Pot Size Matters!There are a lot of great cool season vegetables that you can start right now. For those of you who worry about a mid-Fall frost or freeze grinding your garden to a halt, or for those of you who just want to grow vegetables in a hurry, today’s show features a selection of healthy edibles that will give you a harvestable crop in under 60 days. Growing vegetables in containers? The size of that pot is of utmost importance. We have tips. Also, the plant of the week, the oleander shrub. Yes, it’s poisonous, but it is one...
2021-08-1728 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred127 Summer Tomato Troubleshooting. The Naked Lady.How’s your tomato garden doing? Now that it’s summer, most of the early season tomato issues are waning: fewer aphids and whiteflies (we hope) and less blossom end rot. In its place are a wide variety of other tomato troubles that eminate from our longer, hotter days. We do some summertime tomato troubleshooting today. Also, we answer a listener’s concern about crop rotation in a mixed planting of flowers and vegetables. Can the two peacefully coexist? Perhaps. And the Plant of the Week: naked ladies! That’s the unfortunate common name for the summer flowering bulb, the Amar...
2021-08-1026 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred126 Jumping Worms! Human Food vs. PlantsOne day, you might be doing a little digging in your garden, and up comes a worm. But it’s not just any worm. This one is easily identified by its violent thrashing about, slithering, and actual jumping in the air. Say hello to the Jumping Worm, also known as the Crazy Worm. And it’s not a garden good guy. The jumping worm is a pest with a voracious appetite for all the things that helps your soil thrive. And it is slithering it way across the country. We have tips for dealing with the jumping worm. Also: if yo...
2021-08-0629 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred125 Lavender. Crape Myrtle Tree. Harvesting and Storing Fruits and VegetablesGrowing lavender? Our favorite retired college horticulture professor, Debbie Flower, has tips on how to rejuvenate aging lavender plants. UC Davis Arboretum Superintendent Emeritus Warren Roberts tells us all about that prolific summer bloomer, the crape myrtle tree. How can you tell when is best for harvesting backyard fruits and vegetables? And, when you bring them inside, where’s the best place to store them to last the longest? On the counter, in the refrigerator, or some combination of both? We supply the answers to those questions for some of the most popular backyard crops.It’s all...
2021-08-0324 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred124 Mulching the Easy Way. Tomatillo pollination. Breaking Up Clay Soil and Hardpan.Mulching your garden beds provides many benefits: it moderates moisture loss and soil temperature fluctuations; it inhibits weed production; and fertilization chores are reduced because mulch feeds the soil as it breaks down. The hard part, of course, has been spreading that mulch throughout your garden on a regular basis. Today we talk with a noted international garden expert on easing your mulching chores greatly, using his cut and drop method. Today’s garden questions tackle tomatillo production issues, and how to improve clay soil while breaking up the hard pan layers below.It’s all o...
2021-07-3027 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred123 Droopy Cucumbers. Dahlias. Butterfly Bush.Summer heat can cause many plants’ leaves to droop on a hot afternoon. Does this pose a particular problem for cucumbers? Will that stress effect the cucumber flavor? Our favorite retired college horticulture professor, Debbie Flower, has the answers to your cucumber questions. UC Davis Arboretum Superintendent Emeritus Warren Roberts tells us all about how to grow dahlias. And if you want a great plant to attract pollinators and beneficial insects, it’s hard to beat the butterfly bush. And the newest varieties are much more well mannered and easier to care for. We will tell you about...
2021-07-2727 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred122 Summer Veggie Redo. Watering tips. Cover Crop Prep.Maybe you’ve had some bad luck with your summer vegetable garden, and you want to start over. Is late July too late for warm season veggies? Yes, and no. We have tips for what to plant in the middle of the summer. One reason a garden might be failing now, and it’s the top reason: improper irrigation. We have advice for watering smartly to keep your garden thriving. Thinking ahead, what are you going to do with your vegetable and flower beds later this year? Now’s the time to start planning for cover crops.It’s a...
2021-07-2328 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred114 Benefits of Crop Rotation. Working with Clay Soil.Crop rotation isn’t just for farmers. Backyard gardeners can improve their food and flower production while improving their soil at the same time, simply by moving plant families from bed to bed each season. College horticulture professor Debbie Flower has the lowdown on the advantages of crop rotation. If your clay soil has you worried that it’s not very good for a garden, worry no more. Soils specialist Steve Zien says there are a lot of benefits to gardening with clay soil, and he has tips for improving it, as well.It’s on episode 114 of the...
2021-06-2528 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred112 Does Mulch Rob Soil Nitrogen?Making the rounds in gardening pages on social media: mulch will rob your soil of nitrogen. College horticulture professor Debbie Flower (retired) and I do a deep dive into the mulch pile to explore that rampant rumor. Also, summertime is soil solarization time, to rid your garden soil of pests or a quick way to kill off a portion of your unused lawn area, in preparation for a new garden bed. We talk sheet mulching, as well. It’s all about the soil!It’s on episode 112 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you...
2021-06-1824 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred110 Tomato Troubleshooter Part 2. Harvesting GarlicLast time, here on the Garden Basics podcast, we were talking about Tomato Troubleshooting with Don Shor, owner of Redwood Barn Nursery in Davis, California. We talked about dealing with blossom end rot, sunburn issues and problematic watering, which can cause your tomatoes to suffer. Today, it’s Tomato Troubleshooter 2021, Part 2, with Don. We’ll delve into the scary world of tomato hornworms and fruit worms, beautiful but deadly diseases such as late blight, wilts. And, more troublesome tomato critters, such as the leaf-footed stink bug.On a happier note, it’s coming up to garlic harvest time...
2021-06-1128 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred109 Tomato Troubleshooter, 2021 Pt1. Feather Grass.Gardeners around the northern hemisphere have their tomato plants in the ground. They’re growing, but some of them are developing problems, already! Why are there cracks appearing in the tomatoes? Why is the skin yellowing? And what is that big ugly brown spot on the bottom of the tomato? What’s a gardener to do? Today, it’s Tomato Troubleshooter 2021, Part 1.It’s all on episode 109 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery. And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!
2021-06-0829 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred107 Worm Castings. Poppies. Supermarket vs Homegrown NutritionYou’ve seen it with the bagged soils goods at the nursery: worm castings. What role should they play in your garden? The Plant of the Week is a big family of different plants: the poppy. There’s probably one, or two, that are right for you.Just because a homegrown fruit is smaller than what you might see at a grocery store doesn’t mean it’s inferior. On the contrary, that smaller, homegrown fruit may be healthier for you. We’ll explain.It’s all on episode 107 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, bro...
2021-06-0129 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred106 Should You Remove the First Tomato? White Knockout Apricot.Another dubious garden idea is making the rounds on social media: if you prune out the first tomato you see on your plant, you’ll get more tomatoes as a result. Fact or Myth? We explore that with retired college horticuture professor Debbie Flower.Ed Laivo from TomorrowsHarvest.com is back on Fabulous Fruit Friday, with a white apricot variety. A white apricot? Yes. And it’s delicious, too. Plus, Ed talks about where you can find more information, including videos, about the benefits of summer pruning of your peach, nectarine, plum, apricot, apple and other deciduous fruit...
2021-05-2825 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred104 Fabulous Fruit Friday - The Shiranui Mandarin. Cicadas vs. Your GardenWhat’s all that buzzing going on in many parts of the country right now? It’s the emerging of what is being called Brood X, an unusually large occurrence of cicadas. Are they a threat to your garden? College horticulture teacher Debbie Flower has some thoughts on that.Who doesn’t love a tasty mandarin? One of the most popular right now among grocery store mandarins is a large, lumpy, but incredibly sweet, seedless mandarin. A close relative of that one is the Sharanui mandarin, and many mandarin aficionados claim it’s the best tasting mandarin ever tha...
2021-05-2129 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred103 Is Fish Fertilizer Safe? The Buckeye Tree.Liquid fish fertilizer (fish emulsion), is a popular way to feed your plants. But is it safe to foliar feed your edible greens with it…and then eat those greens? Soil professional Steve Zien advocates for the fishy stuff, along with a dollop of sea weed. And, it's always a good idea to thoroughly rinse and wash all your garden produce before serving it. The Plant of the Week is the buckeye tree, one very eccentric plant. It’s all on episode 103 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you by Smart Pots and Dave...
2021-05-1828 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred102 Red Baron Peach. Tomatoes in the Shade?Looking for a fruit tree with outstanding flowers in the spring? Look no further than the Red Baron peach. It’s Fabulous Fruit Friday, and Ed Laivo is here from TomorrowsHarvest.com to talk about this tasty beauty, with double red flowers in the spring and juicy, juicy peaches in the summer.Should your tomato plants really be in full sun? As we are fond of saying this show, it depends. More and more areas of the country are having unusually hot summers, which means more tomato troubles. Can a bit of shade solve those issues. College ho...
2021-05-1427 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred101 Growing Sweet Potatoes. The Peruvian Lily.It’s not a baking potato, it’s not a yam, it’s a sweet potato. And it isn’t just for Thanksgiving anymore. You can grow sweet potatoes in your garden for year round eating. Master Gardener Gail Pothour will tell you how. The Plant of the Week is putting on a show right now here in California, and soon across much of the rest of the country, and it’s an excellent cut flower, too: the Peruvian Lily, also known as alstroemeria. Warren Roberts of the UC Davis Arboretum waxes rhapsodic about this plant, although he says it should...
2021-05-1128 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred098 Scarlet Halo Peach. How Long to Water with Drip. Quick Salad Greens.Are you familiar with the donut peach? If not, we will tell you all about it, on today’s edition of Fabulous Fruit Fridays. And we will shine the spotlight on one particularly delectable variety, the Scarlet Halo donut peach. Fruit tree expert Ed Laivo of tomorrowsharvest.com tells us all about it. One of the more frequently asked questions we get here is, how long should I run a drip irrigation system. Our resident retired college horticulture professor, Debbie Flower answers that while contemplating the question of dying loropetalum shrubs.You want to grow salad fixins in...
2021-04-3028 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred096 O'Henry Peach. Downsizing Fruit Trees. Why Thin Fruit.The O’Henry Peach has been popular since its introduction in 1968. It’s a sweet, juicy, long lasting, easy peach tree to grow. A perfect candidate for today’s Fabulous Fruit Friday. Fruit tree expert Ed Laivo of Tomorrow's Harvest tells us all about it. Plus, Ed has step by step instructions for reducing the height of an overgrown fruit tree, taking it down to a more manageable six or seven feet tall.A frequent question new gardeners have: which way should I position my fruit trees or raised beds? North to South or East to West? Good q...
2021-04-2329 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred094 Blushing Pearl Columnar Peach. Damping Off Disease. Lumpy Lawns?Do you want a peach tree that produces sweet juicy white peaches? And, as an added bonus, is narrow growing, only 8 feet wide, something that can be a real benefit for those with limited space to plant a peach tree? Fruit tree expert Ed Laivo of TomorrowsHarvest.com has the answer to your wishes. He tells us about the Blushing Pearl Columnar peach. Plus, tips for planting several peach tree varieties that ripen at different times, giving you fresh, home grown peaches from June through October.If you plant from seed, you may have had first hand...
2021-04-1629 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred090 The Sweetheart Cherry. Painting fruit trees. How to stop fruit tree suckers. It's Fabulous Fruit Friday!Looking for a later ripening cherry that tastes great and is hardy in some of our colder climates? Fruit tree expert Ed Laivo of TomorrowsHarvest.com returns with one beautiful, deep red cherry variety for Fabulous Fruit Friday that can be grown throughout most of the United States… the Sweetheart Cherry. Plus, we answer your garden questions about painting fruit tree trunks to prevent sun scald, and how to keep tree suckers from popping up all over your yard.It’s all on episode 90 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you by Smart Pots and...
2021-04-0228 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred089 Drip Emitters vs Micro Sprayers - Which is Better? Rototillers vs Chipper/Shredders. Plant of the Week: the Redbud TreeThinking of adding a drip irrigation system to your garden? Good idea. Drip systems conserve water and more effectively irrigate the root systems of your plants. But, you have choices. Should the water be delivered via drippers…or microsprayers? Each has its advantages and drawbacks. Our favorite retired college horticulture professor, Debbie Flower, weighs the pros and cons involved with a drip irrigation system. Thinking of buying a rototiller for your garden? Our resident soils expert, Steve Zien, has a better way to improve your soil with that thousand dollars you might spend. And yes, it, too, is...
2021-03-3029 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred079 Seed Starting Tips. Can You Reuse Potting Soil? Winter Jasmine.Welcome to the Garden Basics Seed Starting episode. Growing your summer vegetables and flowers from seed is a fun experience. Plus, there are so many more varieties available as seed. If you have a sunny window or a seed starting kit with a heat pad and lighting system, your ready to plant. And, Brad Gates of Wild Boar Farms tells us how he starts his tomato seeds. Also: can you reuse old soil that you might have in containers? As Debbie Flower tells us, it depends. But she has tips for getting that old soil back into to...
2021-02-2329 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred078 Plant Partners Fight Pests. Fruit Tree Planting Depth.Want to help Mother Nature battle your garden pest problems? Give a listen and find out how. Jessica Walliser, author of Plant Partners, talks about scientific proven strategies for incorporating different plants into your vegetable garden to fend off the bad guys by attracting the garden good guys. Also, how deep should you plant that new fruit tree? It’s all on Episode 78 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast. And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!Picture: Lady Bugs congregating in their native habitat in the...
2021-02-1926 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred076 Avoiding Overhead Watering. Raspberry and Grape Varieties. Shovel, Pruner Choices.It may be February, but it’s not too late for a New Year’s Garden Resolution: Don’t let your overhead sprinklers hit your vegetable and flower gardens. Our favorite retired college horticulture professor, Debbie Flower, tells us why. We have tips for planting and caring for raspberries and grapes. Confused about all the shovel and pruner choices that are out there? We’ll unearth the best shovel choices for your outdoor tasks and we’ll prune out those shears that you don’t want to use in your garden. Finally, we narrow the gap about dealin...
2021-02-1229 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred074 Tomato Variety Preview, Part 1. Tomato Terminology Explained. Trees vs. Storms.If you plant tomatoes in late April or early May, February is the month for you to be planning your tomato strategy and then start planting tomato seeds indoors. We talk strategy as well as good tomato varieties worth trying in 2021. Are you still attempting to decipher all that tomato terminology in the seed catalogs? We’ve got the help you need! Heavy winds and wild weather has buffeted most of the country the past few weeks. We talk with an arborist who has tips to help you to determine how well your trees will withstand the next...
2021-02-0529 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred073 How to Plant a Rose Bush. Why Cut Back Bare Root Trees? Plant of the Week: Holly.Today, we have tips from a Master Rosarian on selecting and planting roses. Listen to this before you go out to buy your roses, because what you’ll hear just might change your mind about where to shop for rose plants now. Are you planting a single variety bare root fruit tree? Did you remember to cut it back by half after planting? We’ll tell you why that is necessary in a backyard garden (P.S. don't do this to multi-budded fruit trees!). And the Plant of the Week is one that’s popular throughout the country: it’s ho...
2021-02-0229 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred072 Avoiding Gardeners' "Sophomore Slump"This time of year, hope springs eternal in the minds of gardeners with dreams of a bountiful spring, summer and fall garden, filled with beautiful flowers, delicious fruits, and wonderful vegetables. But for many second year gardeners, as well as many more experienced gardeners, there could be a "sophomore slump". So why does a so-so garden year sometimes follow a wildly successful garden year? Debbie Flower, our favorite retired college horticulture Professor, holds our collective hands and offers tips for thwarting the gardeners' sophomore slump. Also, Phil Pursel of Dave Wilson Nursery has advice on how you...
2021-01-2928 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred071 Germinate Pepper Seeds Faster! Blackberries.It can take quite awhile to grow a pepper plant from seed to outdoor transplanting stage. 12 to 16 weeks, which can include up to three weeks for the seeds to germinate. But we can help you speed up that process considerably with pepper seed germination tips from our favorite retired horticulture professor, Debbie Flower. We start a new segment on this show today: the Plant of the Week. And for that we will turn to one of the most knowledgeable horticulturists in the world, Warren Roberts of the UC Davis Arboretum. And, we talk blackberries: how to grow the...
2021-01-2129 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred070 Are Those Old Seeds Still Good? Here's How to Tell. Grow tasty Pluots.If you’re venturing into flower and vegetable seed starting in 2021, good for you! It’s fun, and with seeds, there are plenty more varieties to choose from. You may have some leftover seeds hanging around. But will those old seeds germinate? Our favorite retired college horticulture professor, Debbie Flower, has a surefire way to tell.Are you familiar with the pluot? It’s a fruit, it’s a cross between a plum and an apricot. And it truly is one of the sweetest treats that you can grow in your yard. If you’ve got a sweet toot...
2021-01-1529 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred069 Protecting Succulents from the Cold (One Answer May Surprise You!)For those of us in USDA Zone 9, protecting citrus trees from a frost or freeze is a primary concern. But what about all the gardeners in USDA Zones 9, 8 and 7 that have a yard full of succulents? What is the best way to protect them from cold damage? We talk with the Plant Lady, Marlene Simon, from the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory, who has tips for keeping your succulents alive through the winter. And one of her tips involving water might be the direct opposite of what you are doing!It’s Episode 69 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fr...
2021-01-0829 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred068 Rose Basics. The Future of GardeningHappy New Year, and welcome to the beginning of Season 2 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast. For many gardeners, planning the 2021 garden is underway this month. Perusing seed catalogs, making choices for the warm season vegetable and flower garden, and perhaps checking out all the dormant plants that are arriving, or will be arriving soon, at area nurseries and garden centers this winter. One of those popular bare root plants that brings out the customers are all the rose varieties that are available. Don’t know much about roses? Not a problem! We cover rose basics on...
2021-01-0129 min
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred067 How to Plant a Fruit Tree. Best Blueberry Varieties. Frost Protection Tips.If you live in the West or the South, Perhaps Santa left you some new bare root fruit trees. Back East or up North, maybe it will be the Easter Bunny making those deliveries. Wherever you live, we have tips for planting bare root fruit trees, those six foot tall bare sticks with pretty pictures attached, arriving this winter at nurseries and garden centers (just in case Santa and the Easter Bunny don’t come through for you). Also, which blueberry plants are right for you? Phil Pursel of wholesale grower Dave Wilson Nursery has some id...
2020-12-2529 min