Flower Power Garden Hour: Recent Episodes
Marlene Simon
Musings with people in the world of gardening, botany, horticulture and nature. Marlene takes her years of gardening experience, success and failures and turns it into an unpretentious, humorous listen. From organic vegetable gardening, houseplants, bee keeping, flowers, and everything in between -- this podcast covers it.
Anthony Dal Ben is one of the winners of the Be Water Smart #summerstrong competition. Winners of this competition transformed their once water loving lawns/gardens into yards that are water efficient but at that same time beautiful. For Anthony it was a family affair. Hear how not only did he transform his front lawn into a water wise landscape, he used this as an educational experience for his kids.
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Elaine Fitzgerald is one of the winners of the Be Water Smart #summerstrong competition. Winners of the competition transformed their once water loving lawns/gardens into yards that are water efficient as well as beautiful. Listen in to hear how Elaine went from grass to a pollinator heaven.
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Janelle Auyeung is one of the winners of the Be Water Smart #summerstrong competition. Winners of this competition transformed their once water loving lawns/gardens into yards that are water efficient, but at that same time beautiful. Hear the steps Janelle took to make her backyard a magnificent oasis of fruit trees, vegetables and flowers.
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
It is the September To Do List – believe it or not, we are in full Fall prep time. Lots of cool weather vegetables to start planting, and tons of clean up and pruning. It was quite a hot summer and time may have been sparse in the garden, but it’s time to get the gloves on and get to work. Episode includes Listener Q&A.
It is time to plant:
- Beets (seeds or plants)
- Bok choy (seeds or plants)
- Broccoli (plants)
- Brussel sprouts
- Cabbage (seeds or plants)
- Carrots (seeds)
- Cauliflower (plants)
- Celery
- Collards/Swiss chard (seeds or plants)
- Kale (seeds or plants)
- Kohlrabi (seeds or plants)
- Garlic
- Leek
- Lettuce (seeds or plants)
- Onion sets
- Peas (seeds or plants)
- Radish/radicchio/daikon/turnips
- Spinach
- Natives, Perennials, citrus – towards the end of September when it cools down
Chores include:
- Transplant/divide irises, grasses, tuberous plants
- Buy bulbs
- Collect seeds
- Clean up – pull out vegetables which are done, fallen fruit
- Prune lavender, hydrangeas
- Pests – whiteflies may be setting in…..keep an eye on
Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
- Aloe – odd white material on the soil underneath?
- Morning glory – how to get rid of invasive overgrowth?
- Century plant – now that it is blooming, how to care for?
- Fiddle leaf fig – how to prune?
- Tomato – can cuttings be taken for next year?
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
This episode is sponsored by bewatersmart.info.
The heat getting to you? There’s a good chance it’s also impacting your plants. I discuss various heat related plant issues and ways to mitigate them.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
This episode is sponsored by bewatersmart.info.
In this episode, I discuss 10 of my favorite drought tolerant plants. Even if you think you don’t have a green thumb, these plants will thrive in your garden with minimal water requirements. Plus, I include pollinator information.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
In this episode, I have a great conversation with the Chocolate Botanist, Derek Haynes. Hear about his journey becoming a plant biologist as well about his mission to debunk misinformation on the internet. We discuss his “favorite” myths and how he handles the backlash he receives on social media.
Derek is a plethora of educational and entertaining information -- links below can be found to his variety of media.
- Instagram: @thechocolatebotanist
- Website: thecrazybotanist.com
- Facebook: @thecrazybotanist
- YouTube: @TheChocolateBotanist
- Twitter: @crazybotanist
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Soil science can be a bit confusing. How long does it take for materials to be broken down, is it good practice to add microbes and what exactly are microbes? Robert Pavlis addresses these questions and more. Check out his new podcast Garden Fundamentals plus his impressive list of books including Soil Science for Gardeners and Compost Science for Gardeners. Check out more at his links below.
Links below can be found to Robert’s vast expanse of media.
· Podcast: Garden Fundamentals (available on Apple & Spotify)
· Website: gardenmyths.com
· Facebook: @GardenFundamentals
· YouTube: @Gardenfundamentals1
· Books:
o Soil Science for Gardeners
o Plant Science for Gardeners
o Compost Science for Gardeners
o Microbe Science for Gardeners Book
o Garden Myths – Book 1 and Book 2
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
If I was picked up and dropped into a gardening zone relatively different than mine, it would be a huge steep learning curve. I love talking to gardeners from zones different than my zone 9b and it doesn’t get much different than zone 3. I have a fun and educational chat with Theri Vasina LHirondelle who grows amazing flowers and veggies in Montana.
Theri can be found on Instagram at @backyard.impressions
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Dieffenbachia, ‘pothos’, Monstera… a great majority of houseplants are in the Araceae family which most people shorten to just say Aroids. I discuss this broad family with UC Davis Botanical Conservatory volunteer extraordinaire Bruce Ritter. He has revamped our collection and he shares all his tips and tricks with us.
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Believe it or not, spring is around the corner. Here in NorCal, it is still wet with periods of cold, so one does have to be careful with working soil and protecting from potentially freezes. LOTS of prep to do for the upcoming season.
It is time to plant:
· Broccoli
· Cabbage
· Carrots
· Cauliflower
· Collards, swiss chard
· Kale
· Leeks
· Loose leaf lettuce
· Peas
· Potatoes….late in the month
Chores include:
· Sow tomatoes inside
· Start flowers (sunflowers, strawflower, zinnias, etc)
· Direct sow sweet peas
· Plant bare-root (roses, fruit trees, asparagus, strawberries, rhubarb, berries)
· Spray fruit trees
· Fertilize
· Compost
· Clean up, cut back
· Prune roses, fruit trees
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
It’s here – the last To Do list of the year. So far it has been a mild winter, with regards to both temperature and moisture. It is the time to plant another round of winter vegetables, work on pest management, and start planning for your spring garden. We are at the apex of short days, so time to work is limited. Episode includes Listener Q&A, with topics listed below.
It is time to plant:
· Asparagus
· Bok choy
· Kale
· Onion sets
· Radish
Chores include:
· Cut back garden, clean up
· Watch for cabbage aphids, loopers
· Spray for peach leaf curl, dormant sprays
· Order seeds for spring
Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
· Waterless amaryllis – can it be planted in a pot?
· Banana plant – do they need to be brought inside for winter? If not, should be wrapped for protection from cold weather? At what age will they duplicate and produce fruit?
· Can fallen leaves in the garden be used to cover garden beds containing flowers?
· Butterfly bush – should the significant new growth be cut back in order to optimize growth in spring?
· Pineapple plant – have had for 2.5 years….when should a pineapple be expected?
· Bromeliads – how to care for them after the flower blooms and subsequently dies?
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
How do we ensure the next generations become stewards of the land? Of course exposing them to nature and getting them outdoors but also having conversations and reading with them. I talk with author, Collin Pine, about his children’s book ‘The Garden Next Door’ and how its message is more important than ever.
Collin’s latest book is called “The Garden Next Door’”
Collin can be found at:
· Instagram: @collin.pine
· River Horse Books
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Gardening can be murder... that is what a lot of people who claim to have a brown thumb think. But in this case, I’m discussing murder mystery books and their links to gardening. Author, Marta McDowell, joins me to discuss her new book “Gardening Can Be Murder: How poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers’. We discuss historical detectives who a passion for plants, methods of murder as well as my favorite topic… poisonous plants!
Marta’s latest book extensively covers the topic discussed today. It is called “Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers”
Marta can be found at:
· Website: martamcdowell.com
· Facebook: @marta.mcdowell.5
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Trees -- we all know how important they are. But what are the best trees for zone 9? How exactly do you properly plant, stake and water a new tree? Pamela Sanchez -- Certified Arborist and Education Programs Manager for the Sacramento Tree Foundation -- joins me to discuss these topics and more.
Pamela and the Sacramento Tree can be found at:
· Website: sactree.org
· Instagram: @sactree
· Facebook: @Sacramento Tree Foundation
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
It is the October To Do List, and that means it is a very busy time in the garden. Clean up from summer vegetables and prepping for fall and winter. The days are cooler, but shorter – which means you have to work efficiently and hard. Episode includes Listener Q&A, with topics listed below.
It is time to plant:
· Fava beans
· Beets
· Bok choy
· Carrots
· Celery
· Swiss chard
· Collards
· Garlic
· Kale
· Kohlrabi
· Leeks
· Lettuce
· Onions
· Peas
· Radish
· Spinach
· Turnips
· All perennials, bulbs
Chores include:
· Clean up vegetable beds (prevent diseases), mess from fruit trees
· Collect seeds
· Divide plants such as grasses, iris
· Compost
Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
· What to do about aphid infestation on large trees
· Lemon tree – producing fruit, but leaves are very pale
· Succulents – fertilizer?
· Best time of year to prune cherry tree
· Tomato plants – to compost or not?
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Seeds. As gardeners we sow them, order them, harvest them, and sometime try to prevent them. Author and gardener Jennifer Jewell delves even deeper into the science and importance of seeds in her new book ‘What We Sow’. We discuss her inspiration for the book and talk about why seeds are so important in our ecosystem, cultures and overall survival as humans.
Jennifer Jewell, Cultivating Place and her new book ‘What We Sow’ can be found at:
· Book: What We Sow
· Website: Cultivating Place
· Instagram: @cultivating_place
· Facebook: @cultivatingplace
· Pinterest: @cultivate_place
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
As a plant person with minimal design skills, I’m in awe of people with both skill sets. In this episode I talk to Soleil Tranquilli about how she combines her artistic design ability with her wealth of plant knowledge to create firesafe, water wise and tranquil gardens. She is the owner of Tranquill Gardens as well as being a Certified watershed Wise Landscape Pro and the president of the Sacramento Association of Professional Landscape Designers.
Soleil and Tranquill Gardens can be found at:
· Website: Tranquill Gardens
· Website: Association of Professional Landscape Designers
· Facebook: Tranquill Gardens
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
It is the September To Do List – believe it or not, we are in full Fall prep time. Lots of cool weather vegetables to start planting, and tons of clean up and pruning. Summer may have been easy in the garden, but it’s time to get the gloves on and get to work. Episode includes Listener Q&A and a discussion around current published articles in the horticulture world.
It is time to plant:
- Beets
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Brussel sprouts
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Celery
- Swiss chard
- Collards
- Garlic
- Leek
- Lettuce
- Peas
- Radish
- Spinach
- Perennials – towards the end of September when it cools down
Chores include:
- Clean up – pull out vegetables which are done, fallen fruit
- Prune lavender, hydrangeas
- Pests – whiteflies may be setting in…..keep an eye on
Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
- What are the galls attached to oaks? Are they harmful to the tree?
- When replanting a Venus Fly Trap, does it require a specific soil?
- Gardenias – no buds or flowers…..is this a location issue?
- Lantana issues
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
You can say that my guest, Justin Hancock, is passionate about passion vines! But he is also passionate about anything that grows. As a horticulturalist for one of the top nurseries, Costa Farms, he gets to surround himself with all types of plants. We discuss, of course, passion vines as well as houseplant care.
Justin and Costa Farms can be found at:
· Instagram: justinwhancock
· Website: costafarms.com
· Instagram: costafarms
· Facebook: Costa Farms
· Twitter: @CostaFarms
· YouTube: @CostaFarms
· TikTok: costa.farms
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
It is the August To Do List, and we are having a gorgeous summer that is offering up IDEAL garden conditions. Vegetable and fruit harvests are bountiful, but there is prep work for fall piling up.
It is time to: Plant seeds in ground, including: beets, cabbage, carrots, turnips, potatoes
Prep garden beds for Fall planting in September: Weed, compost
Chores include:
- Dead-head flowers
- Pick up fallen fruit
- Cut off suckers
- Prevent weeds from going to seed
- Collect seeds
- Harvest melons
- Order fall bulbs (daffodils, tulips, etc)
- Deep water trees
We finish up with a Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
- Are pill bugs good for the soil?
- Do I need to keep “braiding” my plant?
- Habanero not blooming – why?
- Fig tree only produce dry, inedible figs. Why?
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Want to replace your lawn with a cacti/succulent garden? Here’s how. My coworker and succulent grower extraordinaire, Gianluca Bacci, joins me to discuss succulent growing tips. We talk about major do’s and don’ts of succulent care plus why the saguaro cacti of Arizona are dying.
Gianluca can be found at:
· Instagram: marinsect_gianluca
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Many of us walk around with ideas/inventions in our head but don’t follow through with them for numerous reasons. In this episode, I talk with inventor/founder of PlantTraps, Deborah Holtschlag, about how she came up with an idea and ran with it. We discuss her products that turn balconies into amazing gardens as well as her journey from idea to market.
Links below can be found to Deborah and PlantTraps.
· Website: planttraps.com
· Instagram: planttraps
· Facebook: planttraps
· YouTube: @planttraps
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
It is the July To Do List, and we are in the HEAT of summer. Garden work is relegated to morning and (maybe) late afternoon given the blistering temperatures. Luckily, it is not the busiest time of the year garden wise – hopefully most of your time is spent harvesting vegetables. Plenty to do still from a maintenance perspective, and believe it or not….some early prep for Fall/Winter.
It is time to:
· Sow seeds indoors for brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli
Chores include:
· Deep water trees
· Deep water in-ground plants
· Mulch
· Weed
· HARVEST
· Snip off flowers of basil, other herbs
· Keep an eye out for insects – spray, squish
· Dead-head flowers
We finish up with a Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
· What is a good way to get rid of ants indoors?
· What are the best cut flower options?
· Pumpkins turning yellow and rotting before they turn orange – why?
· Fastest growing shrubs that do well in full sun with minimal water?
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
It is the June To Do List, and here in Zone 9 it seems that summer has arrived. Hot weather is becoming the daily norm, and everything is quickly drying up from a very wet winter. At this point in the garden a lot of the hard prep work has been done and we now begin summer maintenance mode.
It is time to plant:
- · Perennials, roses, herbs, veggies… beans, corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon, melons, okra, chard, eggplant, peppers, pumpkins, squash, watermelon, cucamelons
Chores include:
- · Mulch
- · Deadhead roses
- · Rootstock suckers
- · Look for pests
- · Plant flowers
We finish up with a Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
- · Fertilizer for dragon fruit?
- · Anything that can be done to help tomato flowers set fruit?
- · Preparation for removing lawn for a water wise landscape.
- · Large, very old female mulberry tree(s) are being removed by the city of Stockton. What will the impact be on the remaining male mulberry tree? Will it produce more pollen? Will it still produce berries?
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- · email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
For centuries people have been harvesting and obtaining oils from plants. From lavender to Frankincense, researchers know that oils are important compounds in plants for many reasons. In this episode I talk to aromatherapy expert, Amy Anthony of NYC Aromatica, all about essential oils and how you can utilize them in your life. We touch upon distilling flowers, which ones you can grow in your garden and her favorites. And find out which flower I tried to distill but failed at miserably!!
Links below can be found to NYC Aromatica to learn more.
· Website: nycaromatica.com
· Podcast: Essential Aromatica
· Instagram: nycaromatica
· YouTube: @nycaromatica
· Facebook: @NYC Aromatica
· LinkedIn: Amy Anthony
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
It is the May To Do List, and the here in Zone 9 the winter weather seems to have finally broken. Warm days have been persistent, but there is still some cool and wet weather. Lots to do in the garden as we catch up from a long winter and prepare for spring/summer.
It is time to plant:
· Vegetables: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, swiss chard, corn, cucumbers, okra, melons, squash, watermelon
Chores include:
- Mulch
- Plant everything
- Check irrigation/flush lines
- Thin stonefruit
- Peach leaf curl
- Fertilize pots
- Transplant succulents
- Monitor for pests/prep
We finish up with a Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
- Hummingbird moths – what plants attract them?
- Camelia tree bush – blooms pink every spring, but quickly drops them. Suggestions?
- Bird of Paradise – how to separate and transplant into smaller pots
- Wine barrels – got saturated because there were no holes and water did not drain. Once it does drain, can the soil be reused or should it be replaced?
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
April is Kid’s Gardening Month! Joining me to talk about resources to help teachers and parents with activities, grants and lesson plants is Em Shipman, Executive Director of KidsGardening.org . And FYI- a lot of these lessons are great for grownups!
If folks want to contribute to our work, donations are 100% tax deductible. We are able to reach 8 more kids with every dollar donated! Here is the donation link.
Additional useful information discussed in the episode – and links to KidsGardening media – can be found below.
· Website: KidsGardening; Kids Garden Community
· Instagram: kidsgardening
· Twitter: @Kids_Gardening
· Pintrest: @kidsgardening
· Facebook: KidsGardening.org
· YouTube: @KidsGardening.org
· Activities:
o Container Gardening
o Seed Viewer
o Kitchen Scrap Gardening
o Learn about Landfills Lesson Plan
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
It is the April To Do List, and the persistent wet and cold weather is still here in the west. Nevertheless, we are getting warmer, longer days and spring will soon be in full effect.
We also spend some time reviewing asparagus growing tips, as it is a popular question amongst listeners.
It is time to plant:
- Vegetables: Eggplant, squash, corn, cucumbers, swiss chard, jicama, okra, melons, peppers, sweet potatoes, watermelons
- Flowers: Perennials, dahlias, sunflower seeds
Chores include:
- Weed
- Prune once flowering shrubs
- Mulch
- Watch for insects
We finish up with a Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
- Rhubarb – growing tips
- What kind of trees will grow well in full sun in the Central Valley/Foothills
- Red clover – recommendations for using as nitrogen fixer
- Cherry tomatoes – advice on early season transplanting to larger containers, and where/how to move outside (especially if cold still)
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Begonias are like potato chips, you can’t stop at one. In this episode I’m talking with Glenn Dickerson, Begonia collections curator at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, about all his tips and tricks to keep their massive collection healthy and thriving. We discuss soil, fertilizer, types of Begonias, problematic Rex varieties and more.
Glenn and some fantastic begonia resources can be found below:
- American Begonia Society Website: begonias.com
- Fort Worth Botanic Garden Website: fwbg.org
- Fort Worth Botanic Garden Instagram: fortworthbotanicgarden
- Glenn Dickerson Instagram: begoniaking
- Facebook: Fort Worth Botanic Garden
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Peach leaf curl, fire blight, citrus issues, and more. Don Shor, owner of Redwood Barn Nursery and horticulturist extraordinaire, joins me to discuss issues that may arise on your fruit trees this spring and summer.
Don and Redwood Barn Nursery can be found at:
- Website: redwoodbarn.com
- Instagram: redwoodbarnnursery & don.shor
- Facebook: Redwood Barn Nursery
- Podcasts: Davis Garden Show on Apple Podcasts; Jazz After Dark on Apple Podcasts
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
It is the March To Do List, and we are still in the heart of winter with lots of cold and wet days. Not just cold and wet – we have had very low elevation snow throughout California…crazy. Spring looms though, and preparation is paramount.
It is time to plant:
· Vegetables: Broccoli, beets, cabbage, cauliflower, chive, collards, swiss chard, kale, lettuce, potatoes, radish
· Start tomato, eggplant, and (maybe) peppers inside
· Annual flowers
· Dahlias & summer bulbs (like gladiolas)
Chores include:
· Prune roses
· Check irrigation
· Transplant actively growing plants
· Cut back dying foliage of bulbs
We finish up with a Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
· Can roses be trimmed in Dec/Jan before the budding starts?
· Tomato questions:
o When is the best time to start planting?
o Is it better to start them in the ground or a container?
o When I plant tomatoes, are there other vegetables (certain peppers?) that can be planted at the same time?
· Is it too late to plant bulbs? Are there any particular varieties that can be planted in late Feb/March?
· African violets that have not bloomed in a very long time – any recommendations about how to get them to bloom?
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
It is the February To Do List, and we are still in the heart of winter with plenty of cold days. Spring is around the corner though, and preparation has to get started.
It is time to plant:
- · Vegetables: Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, swiss chard, collards, kale, lettuce, peas, radish
- · Plant bare-root roses, fruit trees
Chores include:
- · Prune roses, fruit trees
- · Start cleaning up garden
- · Start seeds: Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants inside
- · Divide plants
- · Buy dahlia bulbs, sweet pea seeds
We finish up with a Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
· Persistent white fly and aphid infestation. Does all soil in planter boxes need to be replaced to solve this problem?
· Questions about using chicken manure & alfalfa pellets in the garden: When & how do they get applied? Should wood chips be moved before application? Should organic pellets/manure be used?
· What is the best way to move a Bird of Paradise?
· What are the little holes in an apricot tree? And are they lethal?
· The best fertilizer for an orange tree?
· Dragonfruit plant is covered in circular, red spots & appears to be yellowing? What can be done?
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- · email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
It is the January To Do List, and we are in the rainiest season out wet in a very long time. Temperatures have moderated a bit, however. Tough to get out in the garden with this much rain, but there are things that need to be done during the dry periods.
It is time to plant:
- Bareroot trees, roses, shrubs
- Radishes
- Lettuce
- Onions
- Bok choy
- Fava beans
Chores include:
- Protect from frost. Watch weather report for potential frost days
- Don’t work wet soils --- very important
- Spray for peach leaf curl and other fungal diseases
- Can prune fruit trees – but listen to the caveats in the episode
We finish up with a Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
- How much of a dry period is needed to spray liquid copper on fruit trees?
- Can a rose stem from a bouquet be rooted? What is the process?
- When to transplant a Little Ollie olive tree from a plastic pot to the ground?
- When to prune hydrangeas?
- What is the process for propagating fig tree cuttings?
- Can a Boston Fern survive in an outdoor enclosed room?
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
We are all familiar with the iconic southern magnolia and possibly even the show stopping saucer magnolia…but there are many more beauties in this genus. I had the pleasure of talking with Andrew Bunting -- the Vice President of Horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and author of “The Plant Lover’s Guide to Magnolias”. We discuss everything from range of habitat, to care and unique species that can be incorporated into your garden.
Andrew can be found at:
- Website: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
- Facebook: @PHSgardening
- Twitter: @PHSgardening
- Instagram: @phsgardening
- YouTube: @PHSgardening
- LinkedIn: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Magnolia sources:
- Gossler Farms Nursey
- Rare Find Nursery
- Broken Arrow Nursery
- Cistus Nursey
- Camelia Forest Nursery
- Far Reaches Farm
Societies:
- Magnolia Society International
- Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
- Pacific Horticulture
Botanic Gardens and Arboreta:
- Huntington Botanical Garden
- San Francisco Botanical Garden
- Sonoma Botanical Garden
- Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
- Heronswood
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
It is the December To Do List, and we are in the middle of winter garden season. Weather is COLD, and so far it has been relatively wet.
It is time to plant:
- Asparagus
- Fava beans
- Bok choy
- Broccoli rabe
- Garlic
- Kale
- Loose leaf lettuce
- Mustard
- Onion sets
- Radish
Do not plant yet:
- Bareroot trees
- Roses
- Berries
Chores include:
- Protect succulents from water
- Frost protection
- Clean up – but leave some debris remaining
- Spray dormant trees (peach leaf curl)
- Plant bulbs
We finish up with a Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
- What are your thoughts on using a moisture meter to determine if plants need water?
- How often should a yard be watered during the winter?
- Banana tree – should it be inside or outside during the winter?
- Putting asparagus plants down for the winter
- Christmas cactus best practices
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
What is it like to work in the oldest greenhouse conservatory in the US? I talk to the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers Kristen Natoli (Collections Manager) and Sarah Sawtelle (Engagement Manager) about the ins and outs of this historic collection and building. With such an amazing collection of plants – where do they source them from? How do they decide what is kept and what to get rid of? And of course, we talk about the Giant water lilies, corpse plant and bat flower.
The SF Conservatory of Flowers can be found at:
- Website: org
- Instagram: @conservatoryofflowers
- Twitter: @SFConservatory
- Facebook: @ConservatoryofFlowers
- YouTube: @SanFranciscoConservatoryofFlowers
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Compost…this is music to most gardener’s ears. FREE compost is even better. Many people think that expensive compost makers, tons of space, and ample time is required – this is NOT the case. In this episode I welcome back master composter Kevin Marini to discuss everything compost. Do you know the difference between hot and cold compost, the optimal size and temperature of a pile, and what unusual items can be placed in your compost? Trust me…..Kevin has heard it all through his composting Rot Line!
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Every gardener – no matter how long you have been gardening – gets excited for the first shoots of spring emerging bulbs. Bulbs are incredibly easy to grow, and for many they naturalize and multiply year after year, creating a no-fuss flower show. I talk to bulb expert Peggy Anne Montgomery about growing bulbs and how to incorporate them into your lawn…..yes, your lawn. She has tips on how to dig holes, what to incorporate when planting, how to implement the lasagna method, and which bulbs rodents will avoid.
Peggy Anne and additional information about bulbs can be found at:
- Website: flowerbulbs.com
- Instagram: @flowerbulbsdotcom
- Facebook: @Flowerbulbs.com
- Pinterest: @Flowerbulbs.com
- Twitter: @FlowerbulbsCom
- YouTube: @Flowerbulbs
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
It is the November To Do List, and we are in the throes of winter garden prep. Weather is starting to cool rapidly, and (hopefully) out west we start seeing moisture soon.
It is time to plant:
- Fava beans
- Bok choy
- Celery
- Swiss chard
- Garlic
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Lettuce
- Mustard
- Onions
- Peas
- Radish
- Shallots
- Spinach
- Perennials (except frost sensitive)
- Spring blooming bulbs
- Cover crops: Fava beans, Crimson clover
- Spring blooming annual seeds: Natives, sweet peas
Chores include:
- Clean up summer garden
- Dig up/divide perennials such as: Cannas, agapanthus, grasses
- Avoid transplanting succulents
- Order seeds for next year
- Weed control
We finish up with a Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
- Is it too late to plant sweet pea seeds?
- Iris bulbs – okay to plant now, or store for next year?
- How to divide and plant Elephant Ear, Bird of Paradise, and Banana Tree?
- Brussel sprouts and Romanesco being predated – what is doing it, and how to prevent?
- Dieffenbachia – how to transplant?
- Purple Pony Plum infested with caterpillars – how to get rid of?
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Watching birds go about their lives in your garden is one of the many benefits of gardening. Besides the joy of watching them, they are also busy eating pests and helping to keep a balanced ecosystem. I talk to bird expert Tammy Poppie about ways to create a healthy, safe and inviting environment for birds.
Tammy and additional information about birding and their interaction with plants can be found at:
- onthefeeder.com
- allaboutbirds.org
- audubon.org/native-plants
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Fall is THE time to prep for a wonderful spring/summer garden. I talk to Andrew Bunting -- Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Vice President of Horticulture -- all about planting bulbs, soil prep, what to plant, what to watch out for and how to create habitats for beneficial insects, bees and birds.
Andrew and resources from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society can be found at:
- Website: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
- Facebook: @PHSgardening
- Twitter: @PHSgardening
- Instagram: @phsgardening
- YouTube: @PHSgardening
- LinkedIn: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
As California and the west continue to suffer the effects of drought, it is more important than ever to be water-wise in the garden. I talk to Greg Bundesen – Sacramento Water Conservation Supervisor – about what you can do as a homeowner and gardener to use less water but still maintain a green space. We discuss grey water, mulch, converting sprinklers to drip, and where you find ample water saving information.
Further information can be found at:
- Sacramento Suburban Water District
- Be Water Smart
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Joe Lamp’l – from “Joe Gardener” fame – is America’s gardener. Given that his public television show Growing a Greener World is shown in 38 countries, Joe is more appropriately the WORLD’s gardener. He has an illustrious, long career spanning television, print, podcasting, and video content. Above all, Joe is an educator – his gardening passion is infectious, and his communication ability to make challenging concepts simple is a strength. He has taken this to the masses in his Online Gardening Academy, offering a growing (pun intended) curriculum of classes available to the public at affordable prices.
In this episode, we cover a range of topics, but our focus is on raised beds – from the “why” to the “how”.
Joe’s content can be found at:
- Podcast: joegardener.com/podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
- Videos: joegardener.com/videos, YouTube
- Blog: joegardener.com/blog
- Growing a Greener World PBS show: growingagreenerworld.com
- Lastest Book: The Vegetable Gardening Book
Joe’s Online Gardening Academy (online classes) can be found at:
- organicgardeningacademy.com
Joe’s social media can be found at:
- Facebook: @joegardener
- Twitter: @joegardener
- Instagram: @joegardener
- Pinterest: @joegardener
To ask questions for future FPGH shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Water-wise gardening is more important than ever in the west, and part of this includes irrigating properly. Don Smith, Water Management Coordinator for the City of Folsom, joins me to discuss everything irrigation. He covers which sprinklers are best if you do have a lawn, how to lay out your drip irrigation for optimal coverage, and are “smart” controllers worth it? Plus, he reviews how to convert a PVC system to a drip system, and how to know how long to run your irrigation.
More water conservation information can be found at:
- Website: ca.us/government/environmental-water-resources/water/water-conservation
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Brad Gates, owner of Wild Boar Farms, joins me again to discuss problems gardeners may be encountering with their tomatoes. We also discuss the process that goes into him finding the next new variety… some are by chance, others are by purposeful breeding. Plus, he let’s us in on the new varieties to be released in the near future.
Brad and Wild Boar Farms can be found at:
- Instagram: @wildboarfarms
- Facebook: @wild boar farms
- YouTube: @brad gates
- Website: wildboarfarms.com
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Sadly fire is becoming a way of life in California and the greater west. It’s important to maintain a healthy landscape for wildlife habitat, but there are key tasks homeowners can do to mitigate fire danger. I talk to Master Gardener education specialist, Kevin Marini, all about fire-wise landscaping. Learn about the different zones around your house and how to plant and maintain them. Learn what planting in islands means and the “safest” mulch for your plants.
Further fire-wise landscape information can be found at:
- Website: ucanr.org
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Over 80% of plants need pollinators to reproduce -- this includes a majority of crops humans eat. To say that pollinators are important is an understatement. The founder and CEO of the non-profit Pollinator Posse, Tora Rocha, joins me to discuss what we can do on our part. She gives tips on how to create a pollinator friendly garden, plants that are both food and host plants, and how to create a Monarch habitat. We learn how many native California bee species there are…. it’s a lot.
Tora can be found at:
- Instagram: @pollinatorposse & @toranado12
- Facebook: @Pollinator Posse
- Website: pollinatorposse.org
- Website: xerces.org
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
5 foot tall pepper plants? Yes, your peppers can get this large. Chad Iman, owner of Sky High Scoville Pepper Farm breaks down step by step how to grow the best most productive peppers possible. He shares his secret recipe for seed starting mix, transplant techniques and how to overwinter your plants. Plus we talk about the beautiful hot peppers he grows.
Chad and Sky High Scoville Pepper Farm can be found at:
- Instagram: @skyhighscovillepepperfarm
- Facebook: @ Sky High Scoville Peppers
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Producing your own honey and having your own bees can be a fun and rewarding backyard hobby. But how do you go about starting -- do you need to buy bees or can you catch your own swarm? I talk to professional beekeeper, Blake Dacy and backyard hobbyist/host of Good Day Sacramento Tina Macuha all about bees. We discuss how bees go about building a hive, what they require, how to treat for mites and everything in between. Plus -- Blake and Tina share their fun swarm collecting stories.
Blake can be found at:
- Instagram: @sacramentobeekeeper
- Facebook: @ BlakeSacramentoBeekeeperDacy
- Website: sacramentobeekeeper.com
Tina can be found at:
- Instagram: @tinamachua
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Lots of tasks during the hot summer season, including:
- Plant cabbage, carrots, beets, celery, kale, onion seeds, potatoes, mustards, chard, collards, leeks
- Deadhead flowers
- Hose off whiteflies, sticky traps
- Clean up old fruit on trees, ground
- Still time to summer prune fruit trees
- Order fall bulbs
- Support melons on the ground or on vines
- Continue to deep water young, newly planted trees
- Deadhead, cut back mophead hydrangeas
A wide variety of listener questions are addressed, including:
- How to control Leaf Miners on cucumber
- What type of milkweed for Monarch butterflies
- Lawn clippings for mulch?
- How to get rid of green hornworms
- Yellowing leaves on mandarins & limes
- Bubbles from the soil while when watering potted plants
- Pepper plant with black at the base of stems
- Do sunflowers stunt the growth of surrounding plants
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Who doesn’t love flowers, and they are even better when you can pick and make a bouquet out of them. I talk with the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden’s horticulturalist, Wyatt Emig, about his process of growing flowers. He shares his must have seed trays, soil conditioning tips and favorite flowers to grow.
Wyatt can found at:
Website: gardenbythesea.org
Instagram: @wyatt.emig
Instagram: @mendocinocoastbotanicalgardens
Facebook: @MendocinoCoastBotanicalGardens
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Every great garden starts with healthy soil. But what exactly is “healthy” soil, how do you achieve this and what is soil really. Robert Pavlis, author of “Soil Science for Gardeners” and of “Garden Myths” fame joins me once again to talk everything soil. We discuss micronutrients versus macronutrients, can you add sand to clay soils, how to test your soil for texture and a lot more.
Robert can found at:
Websites:
- Gardenfundamentals.com
- Gardenmyths.com
Facebook: @gardenfundamentals
YouTube: Gardenfundamentals1
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
We all know the importance of trees… oxygen, shade, habitat, food, beauty and more. And we all know they can live centuries beyond us. But they can also have difficulties growing in urban settings. I talk to consulting arborist, John Lichter, on what you can do to ensure that your trees are healthy and vibrant in your lifetime as well as for future generations. We discuss how to properly water both young and established trees, what to look out for in diseased trees and where you can find the best tree selection for your yard.
John can be found at:
Website: treeassociates.net
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
July gardening is actually one of the less busy months in terms of number and volume of tasks. There is a lot of maintenance, but no major, backbreaking work.
We combine the July list on this episode with a deep dive into listener Q&A – with a focus on tomatoes. If you have questions or need advice on tomato growing, this is a must listen.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Melinda Price waited years to fulfill her dream of being a farmer. And once she bought her historic farm in Northern California -- the work was only just beginning. Thinking outside the box, she and her partner Simon decided they would try their hand in saffron... the most expense herb on the market. Fast forward 5 years and Peace and Plenty Farm is a thriving organic oasis and so much more than just saffron.
Check out Peace and Plenty Farm at the sites below. Also, the farm has a GoFundMe page to help with the goal of restoring a historic barn which lies on the site. They would love to be able to restore it to a safe condition via an old fashioned barn raising. Check out the link below if you would like to help.
Barn Restoration GoFundMe: gofund.me/dabba524
Instagram: @peaceandplentyfarmer
Facebook: peaceplentyfarm
Website: http://peaceplentyfarm.com
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
This episode is the garden To Do list for the month of June. Summer suddenly feels like it is in full swing, with a rapid to transition to HOT weather. Time to get your garden tasks done early in the morning.
Vegetables to plant:
- Tomatoes
- Eggplant
- Peppers
- Squash
- Watermelon
- Zucchini
- Corn
- Beans
- Cucumbers
- Melons
- Okra
- Pumpkins
- Watermelon
- Swiss Chard
Garden tasks:
- Shade peppers
- Pinch off basil flowers, dead head flowers
- Compost
- Mulch
- Deep water trees
- Remove stakes from trees and re-stake
- Paint fruit trees
- Thin fruit trees
- Monitor for pests, use kaolin clay diatomaceous earth
- Cage tomatoes, peppers
- Control weeds so they don’t go to seed
- Be patient with fruit set….or hand pollinate
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
California is a big state with many different climates, so it can be a bit daunting when you hear “plant California natives”. Yes, it’s a great idea to plant natives for native pollinators, birds, insects etc… but how do you know you are doing it correct? Luckily, Patricia Carpenter and Pat Dressendorfer have all the answers. These two lifelong gardeners have just finished a 5 season-- yes, 5 season -- write up for Pacific Horticulture on all things California natives. They talk with me about which are their favorite sun and shade natives, how to water and other tips and tricks.
Check out Patricia and Pat’s work:
- Pacific Horticulture
- California Native Plant Society
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Every gardener can tell when earthworms have “worked” their soil. The soil is more pliable and everything grows so much better. Why is this the case? Earthworm castings are full of nutrients and microbes which are beneficial for a healthy soil and garden. I talk with Luke Arthur -- founder and CEO of Simple Grow, an organic producer of earthworm castings -- about how beneficial earthworm castings are, what exactly is in them, why it is a safer way of fertilizing and how even your houseplants will benefit.
Luke and Simple Grow can be found at:
Website: simplegrow.com
Instagram: @simplegrowsoil
Facebook: @simplegrow
Youtube: Simple Grow – Worm Castings
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
This episode is the garden To Do list for the month of May. It has been unseasonably cool, but nights are not getting TOO cold. Lot’s of planting and garden prep this month.
Vegetables to plant:
- Tomatoes
- Eggplant
- Peppers
- Zucchini
- Corn
- Beans
- Cucumbers
- Melons
- Okra
- Pumpkins
- Watermelon
- Swiss Chard
Flowers to plant:
- Zinnias
- Cosmos
- Sunflowers
- Dahlias
Garden tasks:
- Mulch
- Stake tomatoes
- Cut flowers off rhubarb
- Divide/transplant cymbidiums
- Thin stone fruit
- Paint fruit tree trunks
- Prune once flowering plants
- Remove suckers from roses
- Hose blast aphids
- Diatomaceous earth
- Fertilize citrus
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Don Shor, owner of Redwood Barn Nursery and overall plant expert, is back again! This time we go through your favorite summer veggies and he gives his tips and tricks. When you should plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants… his favorite go-to varieties… how you should work your soil and do you really need to prune your tomatoes?
Don can be found at:
- Website: com
- Instagram: redwoodbarnnursery & shor
- Facebook: Redwood Barn Nursery
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
This episode is the garden To Do list for the month of April. The time change has come and gone, so there is plenty of light to work later into the evening. Days are definitely getting warmer, although there are some sporadic cold nights.
- Planting:
- Tomatoes – April 15th at the earliest
- Direct sow corn
- At the end of April -- Squash, cucumbers, eggplant, beets, radish, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes
- All perennials
- Direct sow zinnias, sunflowers
- Summer bulbs, dahlias, gladiolus
- Fertilize citrus
- Compost
- Check irrigation
- Paint fruit tree trunks
- Prune camellias, quince, forsythia, etc
- Smother weeds
- Monitor for pests
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
A wide range of topics addressing questions submitted by listeners. Including:
- How to care for a Dracontium polyphyllum
- Lantana – pruning advice
- Tomato seeds – recommendations about growing in small containers
- Safe edging options for vegetable gardens – metal, bender board, pressure treated, composite
- Jade – how to help a drooping plant
- Lime tree – how and what to transplant into
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
As a lifelong gardener and active person, Madeline de Vries Hooper was surprised when she started to experience aches and pains while gardening. Jeff Hughes, a fitness trainer, was recommended to help. Not only did his training and technique alleviate her aches, but they taught her better gardening habits. Inspired by Jeff’s methods – and her success – the duo
decided to take the show on the road to teach and inspire gardeners and farmers across the U.S. to get GardenFit. I talk to Madeline and Jeff about the gardens they visited and how they are on a mission to help farmers and gardeners alike.
GardenFit premieres March 21, 2022 on American Public Television across the U.S., and will also be streaming on PBS.
- Website: gardenfit.fit
- Instagram: @getgardenfit
- Facebook: GardenFit
- Pinterest: @gardenfit
- YouTube: GardenFit
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
This episode is the garden To Do list for the month of March – still some cold (and hopefully wet) weather left. Days are getting longer and warmer.
- Summer vegetables – start them inside or greenhouse or direct sow. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant
- Direct sow sunflowers & other summer annuals (such as zinnias)
- Plant:
- Beets, broccoli, carrots, celery, swiss chard, kale, loose leaf lettuce, radish, potatoes, turnips
- Perennials
- Summer blooming bulbs (gladiolus, amaryllis, lilies)
- Dahlias
- Preemptively spray for whiteflies – release encarsia
- Nematodes for soil
- Prune – citrus, once blooming plants (forsythia, quince, camellias)
- Check irrigation
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Wanting to ensure their children were eating safe, healthy vegetables, Dale and Carrie Spoonemore began to garden back in 2015. Frustrated with having to pick through the internet’s web of information, Dale had an idea to create a one stop garden app… From Seed to Spoon. Fast forward to 2022 and Park Seed, a company that has been on the pulse of gardening since 1868, knew they could take this app to the next level. I speak to Dale, Carrie and Park Seed President and CEO Kelly Funk about the app, how it can help new and experienced gardeners.
From Seed to Spoon:
- Website: From Seed to Spoon
- Instagram: fromseedtospoon
- YouTube: From Seed to Spoon
- Facebook: From Seed to Spoon
Park Seed:
- Website: Park Seed
- Instagram: parkseedco
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
A wide range of topics addressing questions submitted by listeners. Including:
- Best time to add fish emulsion to outdoor plants
- Artichoke issues
- Soil preparation for tomato planting
- Using fall leaves and grass clippings as weed cover. Should it be composted into the soil?
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Houseplants can be very rewarding to grow. But like any plant, they require a range of different growing situations -- including light and soil. Tylor Rogers, owner of Arium Botanicals, was nice enough to join me on this latest episode to share his vast knowledge of houseplants. We go over his favorite go-to soil blends for Aroids, Hoyas and more. We discuss how he ensures plants have humidity, what to do with pests and his list of favorite and easiest plants to grow.
Check out Tylor and his amazing store of both plants & supplies below:
Website: Arium Botanicals
Instagram: ariumbotanicals
TikTok: @arium_botanicals
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
This episode is the garden To Do list for the month of February – actually quite a busy month.
- Fruit trees – spray liquid copper for peach leaf curl before they bloom. Also time to spray dormant oil if you have insects overwintering
- Prune fruit trees, roses (except one time blooming), grapes, blackberries – ensure you have a few days of dry weather following. Hold off on pruning frost sensitive plants
- Plant:
- Broccoli, beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, collards, kale, mustard, peas
- Can start potatoes & radishes towards end of the month
- Bare root roses, fruit trees
- Can start tomatoes & peppers inside
- Soil amendment: Get organic material in there for spring planting. Compost, manure, beneficial nematodes
- Cleanup: Weed control (don’t let them go to flower)
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Biochar. You may have heard of it or it may be a new term for some of you. I was doubtful of its claims until I had the pleasure of listening to USDA Senior Soil Scientist Dr. Deborah Page-Dumroese present a talk. She was kind enough to join me on this episode and discuss everything biochar. She discusses her years long research on the use of it for improving forest and farm soils. She then dives into its value and use in home gardens and how you can make your own biochar.
Debbie and her work can be found at: https://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/people/ddumroese
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
A wide range of topics addressing questions submitted by listeners. Including:
- Broccoli clusters – why are mine loose as opposed to tightly packed
- Citrus – can they be pruned in winter
- Asparagus – how to trim
- Succulents – should they be brought inside during winter
- Broken limb on a tree – can a damaged tree be pruned during the winter, or is it best to wait until spring
- Fireplace ash – is there a use for this in the garden
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Here in northern California, it has been a cold and thankfully wet winter. As we are at the season midpoint, here is January’s to do list.
- Prune roses
- Spray fruit trees – liquid copper, dormant oil
- Clean up old fruit
- Plant bare-root fruit trees, grapes, blueberries, asparagus
- Hold off on pruning fruit trees
- Plant: Bok choy, broccoli rabe, loose leaf lettuce, radishes, mustards
- Order summer vegetable seeds
- Add beneficial nematodes
- Compost
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Have you ever wondered why during the holidays we bring mistletoe inside? What were some of the plants brought inside during Victorian times? In this episode, I talk to horticulturist Matt Mattus about the history of holiday plants and how to care for them. Matt has been gardening since the age of 9 on his family’s historic 1910 Worchester, MA home. An expert in most aspects of gardening, he specializes in South African bulbs and alpine plants. Matt has been featured in Martha Stewart Living and Better Homes & Gardens, and is currently a contributor to Fine Gardening.
Mat can be found at:
- Instagram: @matt_mattus
- Facebook: Growing with Plants
- Blog: Growing with Plants
Check out Matt’s highly educational books – links to where they can be found are attached:
- Mastering the Art of Flower Gardening
- Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
This is a listener Q&A episode. Questions cover topics including:
- Cactus – how to remove new growth
- Fuyu persimmons -- this year’s crop has seeds in the fruit, and in years past has not. Ideas why?
- Plumeria – should it stay outside or bring inside during the cold weather
- Poinsettias – they are not turning red, even though they are being kept in relative dark. Is there anything that can help them turn red?
- Bereavement – how do I keep healthy? There are many different plants on this one
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
In this episode, I discuss December garden To-Do tasks. Winter is in full swing, and lots to do.
- Pest mitigation – aphids, cabbage looper, nematodes
- Plant bulbs
- Plant vegetables -- asparagus, bok choy, kale, loose leaf lettuce, mustard, radishes
- Move succulents out of potential rain
- Smother weeds
- Plant bareroots
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Orchid grower Shawn Shumaker breaks down all the do’s and dont’s to successfully grow orchids inside your home… including the number one tip to get yours to rebloom. Plus -- is the ice cube watering method good or bad, what planting media should you use and what should be done to control pests. If you are looking to expand your collection, Shawn discusses other species that can be grown inside just as easily as Phalaenopsis.
You can follow Shawn at:
- Instagram: @Shawn_shumaker
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Listener Q&A episode. Topics include:
- New growth on cactus – should it be removed, and if so…how?
- Hydrangeas – when to cut and how
- Lemons – why are they cracking?
- Musa basjoo – recommendations for transitioning into fall/winter
- Maple tree – recommendations to improve growing conditions
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
In this episode, I discuss November garden To-Do tasks. There is actually quite a lot as we transition fully into the colder and wetter months of the year.
- Continue clean up – pull out dead plants; remove lead, vegetable and fruit debris
- Plant bulbs – chill tulips or buy Darwin varieties
- Divide grasses, agapanthus, etc
- Plant vegetables: Fava beans, bok choy, broccoli, celery, swiss chard, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce, mustard, onions, radish, shallot, spinach
- Plant cover crops: Fava beans, red clover
- Move succulents out of potential rain
- Bring plumerias inside
- Plants non-frost sensitive perennials
- Plant sweet peas (plants or seeds)
- Plant CA native seeds
- Turn off irrigation
- Controls winter weeds (like oxalis)
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Want to grow your succulents to perfection? Want to venture into growing more difficult ones? Or how about just not wanting to kill them? Then this episode is for you. Gianluca Bacci -- expert succulent grower -- joins me to discuss soils, watering, Lithops, Welwitschia and more.
Gianluca can be followed at:
Instagram: @marinsect_gianluca
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Want to grow your succulents to perfection? Want to venture into growing more difficult ones? Or how about just not wanting to kill them? Then this episode is for you. Gianluca Bacci -- expert succulent grower -- joins me to discuss soils, watering, Lithops, Welwitschia and more.
Gianluca can be followed at:
Instagram: @marinsect_gianluca
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Dr. Cassandra Quave is a botanist extraordinaire. I was fortunate to chat about her early life, career path, and her new book “The Plant Hunter: A Scientist’s Quest for Nature’s Next Medicines.”
Book Description:
In The Plant Hunter, Dr. Quave weaves together science, botany, and memoir to tell us the extraordinary story of her own journey. Traveling by canoe, ATV, mule, airboat, and on foot, she has conducted field research in the flooded forests of the remote Amazon, the murky swamps of southern Florida, the rolling hills of central Italy, isolated mountaintops in Albania and Kosovo, and volcanic isles arising out of the Mediterranean — all in search of natural compounds, long-known to traditional healers, that could help save us all from the looming crisis of untreatable superbugs. And as a person born with multiple congenital defects of her skeletal system, she's done it all with just one leg. Filled with grit, tragedy, triumph, awe, and scientific discovery, her story illuminates how the path forward for medical discovery may be found in nature's oldest remedies.
“The Plant Hunter: A Scientist’s Quest for Nature’s Next Medicines” can be found at penguinrandomhouse.com
Cassandra can be followed at:
Instagram: @quavesthnobot
Twitter: @QuaveEthnobot
Podcast: foodiepharmacology.podbean.com
Website: cassandraquave.com
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
In this episode, I discuss October garden To-Do tasks. There is a big variety with a lot on the list, including:
- Continue clean up – pull out dead plants; remove lead, vegetable and fruit debris
- Use soil sulfur to drop pH
- Prune non-frost sensitive plants
- Cover succulents if chance of rain
- Add beneficial nematodes
- Plant perennials
- Buy bulbs…chill tulips 8-12 weeks
- Plant vegetables – fava beans, beets, bok choy, celery, swiss chard, collards, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustards, peas, radishes, shallots, turnips
- Cover crops, including fava beans, clover
- Consider planting wildflower seeds – CA natives… clarkia, poppies
- Collect seeds off prior year plants
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
The backbone of any organic garden are hard working beneficial/parasitic insects. I talk with founder of ARBICO-Organics, Sheri Herrera de Frey, about which ones are a must for gardeners to incorporate. We discuss controls for whiteflies, Japanese and cucumber beetles, gnats, borers and so many more. Plus -- learn why releasing beneficial nematodes should be on your garden to do list.
ARBICO-Organics can be found on-line below:
Website: arbico-organics.com
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Listener Q&A episode. Topics include:
- Propagating a String of Pearls
- Basil infested with caterpillars
- Mandarin bush – will it produce late in the season
- Azalea – how to care for
- Overwintering eggplants & peppers – when to prepare
- Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow – best time of year & method to transplant
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Avocados, blueberries and Hydrangeas - 3 plants I get a lot of questions about. In some parts of the world they grow like weeds, but in many locations they can be tricky. I talk to Bruce Ritter -- co-founder of the Sacramento Botanical Garden -- about growing these, as well as how the plan to build a world class garden in Sacramento is going.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
In this episode, I discuss September garden To-Do tasks. There is a big variety with a lot on the list, including:
- Clean up – remove certain vegetables. There are certain ones to leave (peppers, eggplants, etc) as cool temperatures can help them.
- Plant Fall/Winter vegetables, including brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, cabbage, kales, swiss chard
- Harvest gourds such as pumpkins and squash
- Plan and purchase bulbs that will be planted in Fall, bloom in Spring
- Add beneficial nematodes
- Cut back certain plants, such as pruning hydrangeas
- Near the end of September -- start dividing irises, planting perennials and natives
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
What does it take to grow healthy CBD with organic regenerative practices? I talk to founder of Sunset Lake CBD, Sam Bellavance and farmer/grower Caitlin Silber to hear about how they produce the most beautiful plants in Vermont. We discuss how they feed the soil, prevent most pest and disease problems and what they use to treat powdery mildew. Plus -- we talk about all their wonderful products and uses.
Sunset Lake CBD can be found at:
- Website: com
- Instagram: sunsetlakecbd
- Facebook: Sunset Lake CBD
- LinkedIn: Sunset Lake CBD
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
A plant out of place… this is a universal definition of a weed. Weeds are many gardeners' biggest nemesis. If left unchecked they can cause numerous issues in a garden. I breakdown how weeds get to your garden, how to control them and the single most important task to prevent an inundation.
Grab bag listener Q&A episode – fruit tree pruning, orchids, hibiscus…..topics include:
- Old wood chippings – what can I use for?
- Orchids – how to treat ant infestation
- Hibiscus – part is green, part is brown….diagnosis?
- Spotted spurge – how to mitigate this weed
- Peach tree – how to prune to prevent branch breakage
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
The dog days of summer are upon us, and heat and smoke from wildfires is everyday life. In this episode, I discuss this as well as all August to-do tasks, which compared to other months are not as daunting. These include your fall vegetable planning/prep, summer fruit tree pruning, and some beginning thoughts on water issues.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Doing a bit of summer fruit tree care can go a long way for a plentiful, healthy crop the following year. I talk to Don Shor, owner of Redwood Barn nursery, about the benefits of summer pruning, what you should be fertilizing with, summer pests, how to tell if you watering enough and many more helpful tips. Don and Redwood Barn can be found at:
Website: redwoodbarn.com
Instagram: redwoodbarnnursery & don.shor
Facebook: Redwood Barn Nursery
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Grab bag listener Q&A episode – tree issues and recommendations, vegetables, pests….
- Jade – why is it turning red
- Thrips – how to mitigate
- Cucumbers – why very pale in color
- Limbs dropping on a tree that seems healthy
- Maple tree – roots are starting to show at the base….should they be covered with soil
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Sonya Harris is a lifetime educator. Working with kids with special needs she became aware of the importance of alternative learning and began her journey creating a school garden. Sonya’s energy and dedication quickly morphed into a bigger mission -- eventually leading to the nonprofit Bullock Garden Project. The mission of the organization is stated below:
We are dedicated to empowering individuals, groups, and organizations, focusing on people within marginalized communities, in creating sustainable agriculture and incorporating garden education through building community sustainability awareness; partnering with community and green industry organizations; strengthening social/emotional development and well-being and nurturing independence through experiential learning and garden-based education; and inspiring future leaders to support green initiatives.
Sonya and the Bullock Garden Project can be found at the following:
- Website: Bullockgardenproject.org
- Facebook: BullockGardenProject
- Instagram: bullockgarden
- YouTube: BullockGardenProject
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Summer is in full swing, and oppressive heat is dominating the western US. Even with that, believe it or not this is the time of year I start thinking about my plan for winter vegetables. In this episode, I discuss this as well as all other July garden to-do tasks including…vegetables to plant, summer fruit tree pruning, pruning hydrangeas, and lavender and blueberry care.
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Grab bag listener Q&A episode – vegetables, flowers, trees, pests….
- Butternut squash identification
- Japanese Maple – what are the white spots on leaves?
- Hydrangea -- flowers dying prematurely
- Lavender – why are leaves turning yellow?
- Tomatoes – what are the small, red insects and webbing?
- Magnolia tree – limbs have been dying for a few years. Anything that can be done?
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Soils are key to a healthy garden, but it can be a bit confusing when knowing what to buy or add. Jim McKinley of EB Stone Organics joins me to discuss ways to improve your soil health. Is compost always a good thing? What is a soilless media? What is better… chicken or steer manure and many more questions/topics are discussed.
- Website: org
- Facebook: EBStoneOrganics
- Instagram: ebstone_organics
- YouTube: EB Stone Organics
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
The summer heat is here – or it’s at least starting. With that, vegetables are in full swing – as are an assortment of pests. I discuss these as well as all other June garden to-do tasks
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
What started out as a passing interest for Natasha McCrary’s son has turned into a full fledged farm with the primary mission of promoting and saving baby doll sheep. As the years progressed, the farm has now become a source of cut flowers, essential oil products, farm events and more. I talk to Natasha about how she goes about growing cut flowers in her home state of Alabama. For anyone wanting to venture into the business of cut flowers or if you want to grow your own, she is a wealth of knowledge… from must have varieties, when to plant, when to harvest and more. And of course we learn what baby doll sheep are!
You can find 1818 Farms at the locations below:
- YouTube
- Website
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Gardening is a continuous journey of learning, experimenting and cultivating. It doesn’t matter how long you have been gardening or how big your garden is, we can all learn from anyone who has put a trowel in the ground. In this episode I talk to photographer David Art about his journey into gardening. As a youth he watched his grandma garden and grow grapes in a small plot in New Jersey. Today he has taken what he soaked in by watching her as well as the experience of his southern heritage to create his own urban garden.
Instagram: A Quarter Acre & No Mule
Facebook: A Quarter Acre & No Mule
Website: Realdavidart
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
While growing in raised garden beds is not necessary, it can make gardening easier and be a solution to certain issues (can you say gophers!) Joe and I go over how we built my new ones and ones I’ve used in the past. We cover:
- What materials work the best
- Type of soil to fill them with
- What sizes work best
- How to barricade against gophers and more
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Many of us have memories of shucking corn on a warm summer evening, but it's even better if that corn is grown in your own garden. I talk to Farmer Fred Hoffman of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast -- he discusses everything you need to know to grow your own sweet corn and popcorn. As a former popcorn farmer, Fred dives into the primary pests and diseases, how to tell when corn is ripe and the best varieties.
Find Farmer Fred at the locations below:
- Podcast: Garden Basics with Farmer Fred
- Podcast: Green Acres Garden Podcast with Farmer Fred
- Website: farmerfred.com
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Spring is a time of growth in the garden ... but that can also mean proliferation of pests and diseases. In this mini-episode, I address a few of the most common problems and how to counteract them... peach leaf curl, powdery mildew, aphids and more.
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Spring is in full swing. In Zone 9 all summer veggies can be planted, perennials should go in the ground before the heat comes and summer bulbs should be planted. I discuss these as well as all other May garden to-do tasks
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
May 5th is World Carnivorous Plant Day! I’m joined by carnivorous plant experts Kenny Coogan and Carson Drexler to discuss the online events people can take part in, including talks led by carnivorous plant experts from around the world. And of course -- Carson and Kenny discuss all the tips for growing carnivorous plants. Check out the links below, including ones to Carson’s online Sarracenia nursery and Kenny’s upcoming book.
Carson Trexler:
- Instagram: Americanpitcherplant
- Facebook: American Pitcher Plant
- Website: Americanpitcherplant.com
Kenny Coogan:
- Facebook: Critter Companions
- Website: Kennycoogan.com
World Carnivorous Plant Day:
- Website: International Carnivorous Plant Society
- Merchandise: World Carnivorous Plant Day merch
- Facebook: International Carnivorous Plant Society
- Instagram: International Carnivorous Plant Society
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Permaculture. It is a word that most gardeners have heard but what is it really? I talk to Greg Peterson, host of the very popular Urban Farm Podcast, who has been practicing permaculture for over 30 years. Whether you are growing vegetables or ornamentals, permaculture is a philosophy of gardening that encompasses the entire system of nature around you. Greg details the steps to implement permaculture best practices in your garden to create a much more balanced and healthier garden (ie less work for you!). Greg can be found at:
- Website: urbanfarm.org
- Instagram: urbanfarmu
- Facebook: TheUrbanFarm
- Twitter: TheUrbanFarm
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Spring is in full swing and there is a lot to do in the garden. I’ll address which veggies you can plant now and which ones you should hold off on for a bit longer. I’ll also discuss peach leaf curl, weeds, perennial planting and discuss my annoyance with finding a perfect weed eater.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Located along the bluffs of Mendocino is a botanical gem…the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. I speak to horticulturalists Jim and Jaime about a few of the stand-out plants the garden is known for -- Rhododendrons and Camellias. Jaime discusses the history of the gardens and the overall growing techniques of the plants. Former Rhododendron nursery owner Jim shares his years of growing expertise propagating and growing Rhododendrons.
The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens can be found on social media at:
Instagram: @mendocinocoastbotanicalgardens
Facebook: Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
Website: gardenbythesea.org
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Award winning landscape designer Jan Johnsen has been creating magical landscapes for years. She has taken her vast knowledge/eye for design and has written an educational book entitled ‘Floratopia’. I talk to Jan about which flowers are fail-proof in containers, how to use texture/color and her years of designing all around the world. Check out her new book as well as others she has written -- ‘Floratopia’, ‘Gardentopia’, ‘The Spirit of Stone’, and ‘Heaven is a Garden’. She can be found on social media at the following places:
Website: Johnsenlandscapes.com
Instagram: @johnsendesign
Facebook: serenityinthegardenblog
Facebook: heavenisagarden
Jan’s newest book, ‘Floratopia’, can be found here.
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Spring has sprung…well at least in zone 9 of California. Here is my garden list of tasks to be done or continued in March -- including planting potatoes, summer blooming bulbs and sunflower seeds (along with other annuals). I discus which veggies can be planted and which ones to hold off for a bit. Additionally some pruning tips are provided…which plants must be pruned this time of year and a discussion if it’s ok to still prune your blooming stone fruits.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Houseplants are very “in” right now and Logee’s knows houseplants. They have been around since the first houseplant craze of the Victorian Era! But in addition to houseplants, they have a marvelous diverse selection of all sorts of plants…edibles, ornamentals and unique varieties of all kinds. I talk to third generation owner Byron Martin about the history of Logee’s and of course all the plants they propagate and sell.
Byron and Logee’s can be found at:
Instagram: @logeesplants
Website: logees.com
Facebook: logeestropicalplants
Twitter: @logees
YouTube: logeesplants
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
For over 125 years, Placer County in California has been producing delicious mandarins that are shipped all over the country. Nine years ago, Kelly Krause got a crash course in growing these tasty fruits when her family bought an established orchard. I sit down and talk with Kelly all about growing Mandarins including when and how to prune, pests and diseases and how they have to harvest to prevent bruising.
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
This continues my series of what garden tasks should be on your to-do list for each month. Here I cover the cold and wet February. Tasks include:
- Pruning roses
- Pruning fruit trees
- Spraying fruit trees/roses
- Clean up
- Plant more winter veggies
- Start veggie seeds inside
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
There are numerous reasons to plant bare-root fruit trees… greater selection, price and ease of planting. I discuss with Fred Hoffman, host of Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, on all you need to know about selecting, planting and steps to get your tree on its way to producing bumper crops. What are chill hours vs chill units? Why do you paint the tree trunks? How do you keep your fruit tree to a manageable size? And my favorite… the story on how fruit tree trunks began being painted.
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Grab bag listener Q&A episode – some very detailed questions this time, so take notes and put your thinking hat on.
- Azaleas – not doing so well, how to make grow better?
- Blueberry bushes – having difficult time growing, need to move them, water issues
- Seeds – require air circulation for storage?
- Miracle berry – leaves turning brown
- Redwoods – foliage turning brown/orange
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Focus on your soil and your garden will thank you. I talk to ‘Stay Grounded: Soil Building for Sustainable Gardens’ author Melinda Cordell about the steps to a healthy soil. How exactly do earthworms help your soil? Can you really compost drywall and levi jeans? These are just some of the topics we touch upon.
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
This continues my series of what garden tasks should be on your to-do list for each month. Here I cover the chilly and (sometimes) wet month of January.
- Pruning – fruit trees (except citrus), ornamentals, roses
- Plant bareroot
- Spray liquid copper
- Vegetables – radishes, loose leaf lettuce, fava beans
- Weed control
- Buy seeds for spring
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Listener Q&A episode -- Marlene answers listener submitted questions this week. Topics include:
- Roses: Propagate from cut flowers?
- Egg shells in soil?
- Christmas cactus: Care and transplanting
- Boston fern: How best to thin out foliage
- Crickets/Frogs: How to promote them staying in your garden
- Staghorn fern: Able to thrive in Northern California?
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Dahlias can be one of the most stunning and rewarding flowers to grow… AND they are not as mysterious and difficult as a lot of gardeners believe they are. I talk to author and expert Dahlia grower Kristine Albrecht of Santa Cruz Dahlias, and we dive into how to grow Dahlias successfully in your garden. We touch on propagation and her passion for breeding them, which she discusses in her new book ‘Dahlia Breeding’.
Instagram: @santacruzdahlias
YouTube: kristinealbrecht
Websites:
- SantaCruzdahlias.com
- Dahliaaddict.com
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
This continues my series of what garden tasks should be on your to-do list for each month. Here I cover the cold and blustery month of December.
- Spray peaches/nectarines with liquid copper
- Apply horticultural oil for overwintering pests
- Plant frost resistance perennials
- Chard. Kale, fava beans, radishes – all can still be planted
- Clean up plant debris, especially under diseased or pest infected plants
- Be prepared for frost with cotton sheets or frost blankets
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- YouTube
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Epsom salts, hydrogen peroxide, calcium sprays… these are just some of the topics I cover with Robert Pavlis, author of the popular book series Garden Myths 1 and 2. Robert has made it his mission to bust these myths and help gardeners decipher the science behind each one. We talk about the most common myths and the ones that drive him the craziest. Listen in, and check out his amazing gardenmyths.com blog along with gardenfundamentals.com. All of his books (his newest being Soil Science for Gardeners: Working with Nature to Build Soil Health) can be found on Amazon (links below) or other book outlets.
Books:
-
Soil Science for Gardeners
-
Garden Myths: Book 1
-
Garden Myths: Book 2
Facebook: Garden Fundamentals
YouTube: Garden Fundamentals
Blogs:
-
gardenfundamentals.com
-
gardenmyths.com
Listener Q&A episode -- Marlene answers listener submitted questions this week. Topics include:
- Holly bush: How can I propagate it?
- Succulents: Need to move indoors for the winter?
- Tuberose: When to stop watering and move inside?
- Nectarine: Liquid copper for peach leaf curl – what to ask for at the nursery?
- Rust: Has had rust problem for 5 years – annually attacks dahlias & peonies. How to combat?
- Papaya: Advice of how to take care of? Currently in a pot
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Eight foot tall peppers? Yep -- this is how Jeremy from Farouche Peppers grows his amazingly beautiful peppers. Not only does he breed gorgeous, tasty peppers -- but he knows how to grow for production. Learn how his sustainable, organic approach arose from his need to feed the soil on a budget. I talk to Jeremy about what it takes to breed peppers, what his ultimate pepper goal is and what his tips are for growing for a large bounty. Definitely follow Jeremy’s Instagram for incredible peppers images – out of this world! And you can buy these unequaled, unique peppers on his Etsy page. With names like these, you can't go wrong: Castrophany, Peach Scorpion, 7 Pot Panther, Pockmark Peach, Ghost hybrids, Sugar Rush, Dark Olive Nagabrain, Pink Tiger, Pink Submarine, Carolina Reaper, Ghor-Pion habanero, Chihuacle Negro, 7 Pot Ghost, Peach Gum Tiger, Yellow Submarine, BubbleGum Nagabrain, Purple Tiger....
Instagram: farouchepeppers
Etsy: Farouche
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Every month has certain things that need to be done to keep your garden vibrant and prepare it for future seasons. I love lists – on this episode I cover my list for what to do in November, including:
- Plant vegetables -- fava beans, bok choy, swiss chard, garlic, lettuce, onion sets, radish, spinach
- Cover crops -- fava beans, vetch, clover
- Clean up plant debris
- Mulch
- Spray Liquid Copper for Peach Leaf Curl
- Plant bulbs
- Prep bulbs for forcing paperwhites… dark cool room two weeks or until roots
- Overwintering peppers
- Sow wildflower seeds
- Divide plants such as Iris, grasses, daylilies
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Something that is always confusing is the massive number of soil amendment options found at nurseries. They have a multitude of similar names, and it is very hard to know which is appropriate for what you are doing. This episode is a deep dive on how to take the confusion out of the marketing language behind these products, and guide you what to look for. I categorize the amendments in these buckets:
- Top Soil
- 50/50 Mix
- Compost and Humus
- Planting Mix, Soil Conditioner, Garden Soil, Garden Booster
- Chicken/Steer Manure
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Ever wonder how the heck a 2,000 pound pumpkin is grown? Even if you don’t want to grow a 2,000 pounder -- but one slightly smaller -- Brian Myers from California Pumpkin Growers goes through the steps to get you the Jack O’ Lantern of your dreams. Our conversation starts with the history of pumpkin weigh offs and the heaviest pumpkin ever recorded. We then go into growing techniques focusing in first on choosing the correct seed and seed genetics followed by very important growing techniques. Listen in to be prepared for next year’s Halloween season.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
A single scent of a blossom may evoke past experiences, as plants have been present in pivotal moments in many people’s lives. I sit down with illustrator and writer Katie Vaz and talk about her book My Life in Plants: Flowers I’ve Loved, Herbs I’ve Grown and Houseplants I’ve Killed on The Way to Finding Myself . This funny, poignant, feel good book details all the plants that have been there in Katie’s life from the death of her father, to breakups, to feel good moments. This is a book we can all relate to. Our discussion covers a multitude of topics, as we talk about plants safe for cats and why it may not be best to buy plants over cut flowers for funerals.
Katie and her book can be found below at:
Amazon: My Life in Plants
Etsy: katievaz
Instagram: katiemarievaz
website: katievaz.com
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Listener Q&A episode, with a big focus on winter vegetable gardens. If you are planning your winter planting, this is a great primer episode for you. Vegetables discussed range from broccoli, kale, lettuce, beans, carrots, radishes, onions, peas, beets and more. Topics include:
- What winter vegetables can I plant now?
- Is there anything different I can do to the soil for winter planting?
- Why are my Japanese Maple leaves crispy?
- Do I leave the foliage on my Irises or should I cut them off?
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Fascinated by Fungus? Then you will love Dr. Gordon Walker… the “Fun-Guy” behind the popular Instagram feed “Fascinated by Fungi”. Gordon and I talk about the amazing world of fungi including stinkhorns, dog vomit fungus and the complexity of fungi in general. He also gives helpful tips on how to eradicate fungi in your yard and reasons why you just might not want to do so.
Gordon can be found on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and TikTok by searching @FascinatedbyFungi
Website: Fascinatedbyfungi.com
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Listener Q&A episode -- Marlene answers listener submitted questions this week. Topics include:
- Peppers: Have erratic lines on the leaves….what are they, how to treat
- Nutsedge and crab grass: How to fight these weeds
- Venus Fly Trap: Not growing well – recommendations?
- Peach tree: Limbs are breaking due to fruit overload
- PVC shade structure for garden
- Mexican Heather: When should it be pruned
- Hydrangea: Not opening all the way – why?
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Tara Beaver-Coronado grew up on a farm -- but never thought she would become a farmer. After years of living away, the pull of the soil soon took over and she began Beaver Vineyards. I sit down with Tara to discuss her journey on starting her farm, trials and tribulations, the stresses and the anticipation of her very first harvest. Little did I know when we were talking that she was scheduled for heart surgery the following week. This just demonstrates the true grit of the American farmer.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Listener Q&A episode -- Marlene answers listener submitted questions this week. Topics include:
- Dahlia -- mite infestation
- Corn – multiple shoots coming off each stalk….bad?
- Artichoke – weed whacker mishap
- Blueberry – decreasing crop over last season, and seem to be dying
- Apricot – not producing mature fruit
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
I sit down with THE Brad Gates of Wild Boar Farms and talk all things tomatoes. We cover common issues like Blossom End Rot, delayed fruit set and ripening….plus other strange anomalies like cat facing and zippering. I ask Brad how Covid-19 has affected his business and what beautiful, tasty new varieties he has on the horizon. If you want a primer on Brad’s history, the story of Wild Boar Farms, and his process of creating stunning, novel tomato varieties, then check out episode 34 -- my first interview with Brad.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Here is the list of varieties I mention in the show that I have planted this season.
Tomatoes (I purchase these varieties from Wild Boar Farms):
- Cosmic Eclipse
- Indigo Apple
- Black Beauty
- Pineapple Pig
- Brad’s Atomic Grape
- Green Zebra Cherry
- Candy Sweet Icicle
- Barry’s Crazy Cherry
- Pink Berkley Tie Dye
- Porkchop
- Big Sungold Select
Peppers:
- Ajvarski
- Shishito
- Lesya
- Sugar Rush Cream
- Aji Charapita
- Mini Bell pepper
Beans:
- Landreth stringless
- Chinese Red Noodle
- Blauhilde
- Winged bean
Cucumbers:
- Beit Alpha
- Sikkim
Melons:
- Orangeglo
- Banana
- Royal Golden watermelon
- Strawberry
- Charentais
Corn:
- Striped Japonica
Tomatillos:
- Green
- Purple
Eggplant:
- Black Beauty
- Japanese Long
- Rosa Bianca
Zucchini:
- Dark green
Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
https://www.goldcountryrose.org/ Judy Frederick
http://sierrafoothillsrosesociety.org/ Charlotte Owendyk
https://www.rose.org/ American Rose Society
Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order.
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
To ask questions for future shows, email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order.
To ask questions for future shows,
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
I sit down with Mike Allarea (VP Cultivation) of Fireworx Farms to discuss their methodology for growing Cannabis. Having been in the industry for years, Mike has a formula that works to provide top quality product to their dispensaries. Amongst other things, we discuss beneficial insects, grow lights and what container method he has experienced most success with.
- Lights: Gavita HID
- Rooting Hormone: Clonex
- Rockwool cubes: Grodan Hugo Blocks ( 1” and 6”)
- Environmental/Water Sensors: Grodan GroSens Multisensor
- Fertilizer/Beneficial Insects: Shalepeakhorticulture.com
Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week. Topics this week include:
- Dwarf Lime tree – growing indoors, but not fruiting
- Birds of Paradise – best way to prune/control growth
- Hibiscus – method to prune to ensure fuller growth next season
- Amaryllis – how to treat after blooms disappear
- Peach Leaf curl – timing of liquid copper spray application
- Dragon fruit – what are the long white things growing off it
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
- email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
What do you do when you inherit several decades-old bonsai? For my guest it was easy… become a bonsai grower yourself. Now over 10 years in, those inherited bonsai (some as old as 50) are thriving…in addition to many more Jimmy Jet Black has added. In this episode I talk to Jimmy about the fundamentals of bonsai and what his tips and tricks are including:
- What are the easiest plants to start with
- What is the best soil to use
- How exactly do you grow bonsai with its roots exposed
Jimmy Jet can be found at:
- YouTube
- Snail Trail4x4 podcast
- snailtrail4x4.com
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week. It’s a grab bag of topics this time, including:
- Hydrangea – did not flower…why?
- Lemon tree – plant producing fruit, but appears sick…is it?
- Tomatoes – late season, still producing, but not ripening
- Irises – time of year to transfer?
- Christmas Cactus – care during winter months
- Oranges – splitting and molding….why?
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Hoyas produce some of the most beautiful flowers, and the fact they can do so as a houseplant is a win-win. I sit down with the owner of Flori-Culture nursery, Jonathan Robbins, and we discuss the care and cultivation of Hoyas and other not-as-common houseplants. Included in this are the epiphytic cacti Rhipsalis, Dischidias and even the much sought after Selenicereus wittii. Learn Jonathan’s propagation tips, soil recommendations and watering techniques.
Jonathan can be found at:
Wesbite: Flori-Culture.com
Instagram: flori.culture.orchid.supplies
Facebook: Click here
Email: sales@flori-culture.com
If you live in or are visiting Northern California, be sure to visit Flori-Culture nursery at:
7621 Fair Oaks Blvd
Carmichael, CA 95608
Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week -- grab bag of questions.
- Persimmon tree. Best time of year to buy/plant? Seed or bare root?
- African Daisies – starting to die….advice?
- Purple potatoes – can you let them grow over the winter?
- Lemon tree. How to propagate….seed or cutting?
- Jade plant. Severe damage due to freezing…can it be saved?
- Gnats &/or chewing insects – how to get rid of
- Timing of liquid copper spray
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Poisons, spines and secondary metabolites….plants have numerous ways of ensuring they are protected and dispersed. I sit down with botanist Jonathon Holguin and we discuss some of our favorite ways plants protect/disperse themselves. Why does Stevia taste sweet, what are the compounds in stinging nettle and what happens when you get Euphorbia sap in your eye? Some of these defenses we encounter often while hiking, and others we hope to never experience -- such as Giant cow parsnip or Monkshood poisoning. Others are essential in our everyday life… such as coffee and chocolate.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
This is a review show of what worked and didn’t work in my vegetable garden this summer. I go over both the varieties of plant and techniques I used with a critical perspective.
- Tomatoes. Florida weave versus cages. My pruning process in the future. Straw as weed block. Success of varieties including Sungold, Black Beauty, Berkley Tie Dye
- Peppers. MANY successes, including ghost peppers, shishito, poblano, bell peppers, Rhenza Macedonia. Why the success?
- Melons. Mixed bag on planting technique – too crowded. Review on varieties (hit and miss on success), and future plans
- Also review: eggplants, beans, Solanum quitoense, zucca gourd, Sakurajima giant radish, corn and more
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week -- grab bag of questions.
- Fall planting – what can still be planted for Fall in the San Joaquin Valley
- Rose bushes – yellow spots on leaves….what to do to prevent
- Ficus – losing leaves on only a certain portion of the plant
- Comfrey – can it be planted in raised beds for winter?
- How to break through hard pan in order to plant
- Superblue Lavendar – for indoor growing in the Northeast US, should a ceramic or plastic pot be used
- Bromeliad – help with growing a very dry, no natural light office
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Terrariums are a great way to grow a landscape on a miniature scale. I sit down with expert terrarium builders Kyle Shankle and Eric Cendejas to discuss building a terrarium from container up. Learn what soil is best, water-proofing techniques, drainage, how to build features, which lighting system to choose and of course all the plants that will reward you with your own mini-jungle.
Eric can be found @aroiddaddy on Instagram
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week. The focus is on flowers this week, with a smattering of vegetables thrown in.
- Black tulip magnolia – not blooming, unhealthy looking
- Mums – growing tall, but not flowering
- Bougainvillea – growing out of control, how to train
- Christmas cactus – half growing well, half not
- Butterfly bushes – how to prep for winter
- Japanese maples – browning as summer gets hot
- “Rusty” leaves – what is causing, how to mitigate
- Tomatoes – second harvest is green and hard
- Avocados – tree not producing
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Marlene sits down with Nathan Gonzales, instructional assistant of biology at American River College and talks about his favorite plants to use medicinally and while on the trail. Learn what California native can be used as an antimicrobial band-aid in a pinch, what plants make the best fire starting material and what uncommon plant can be snacked on to get you a bit giddy! This ethnobotany centric episode covers many of the plants people see every day when hiking and dwells into the many uses Native Americans have for them.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Mighty, majestic… these are words often used to describe Oaks. For Emily Griswold, Oaks are so much more.. they are her passion. She has turned this passion into collecting and disseminating different Oak species to various collections across the world, as well as curating the 300-species-strong Shields Oak Grove on the UC Davis campus. I sit down with Emily and tap into her knowledge on all things Oaks… how to grow, diseases, species suitable for backyards, the smallest and the oldest (which will blow your mind).
Click here for article on the oldest know oak talked about during episode.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week. It’s a grab bag of topics this time, including:
- Hibiscus leaves dropping – causation?
- Orchids – root location
- Watermelons with a black spot on bottom – fungus or?
- Passion Fruit viability – Central Valley CA
- Dwarf lemon not producing
- Watermelons – white inside….why?
- Roses – tiny holes in flowers
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
How did two engineers become chocolate makers? As we discuss the process of making chocolate with Karla McNeil and Eddie Houston, owners of Cru Chocolate, it becomes clear that chocolate making is not only an art but part chemistry and engineering. This episode covers the history of cacao, its importance in many South American cultures and the steps to make beans to bar. Additionally, we dive into the challenges of being a company with a culture focused on sustainability and ensuring the success of their South American partners.
Cru Chocolate can be found at:
www.cruchocolate.com. Locations to purchase and partners can be found here.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Growing a cover crop is a great way to incorporate nitrogen into the soil, but what exactly does this mean? What are the best plants for it and what are the steps to getting the most out of the cover crop. I sit down with Dr. Matt Amicucci, owner of Calyxo Biosystems, and discuss nitrogen fixation. We then veer into his involvement in the research and discovery of a native Oaxacan corn that makes enough nitrogen that the local farmers have never fertilized their soil! We then go into more detail into Matt’s PhD work…. how not all carbs are created equal. Matt’s research took over 1,000 fruit and vegetables and broke down every carb and sugar to map out what exactly we eat and how it affects our health. A fascinating discussion about our preconceived notions regarding certain foods, gut biome and potential applications of the research.
Matt can be found at @farmforageferment on Instagram
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Bees, butterflies, beetles, oh my. These are just some of the important pollinators needed to achieve great fruit and vegetable set in your garden. Find out which plants are best at attracting pollinators, as well as tips and tricks on hand pollinating when pollinators go MIA. Learn why your strawberries and squash are malformed, as well as how to plant corn to achieve high quality. This episode covers all things pollination!
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
An episode dedicated to answering questions submitted by listeners. Topics this week include:
- Peppers – poor growth and production
- Tomatoes and squash – what are the best fertilizers/amendments
- Leaf curling on tomatoes
- Epsom salt – good for plants (specifically tomatoes)?
- Technique for disinfecting gardening shears
- Marigolds as companion plants
- Is peat moss effective to retain moisture in soil
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Marlene sits down with “Farmer Fred” Hoffman, renown long time Garden Show radio host, writer and lifetime Master Gardener. Having decades of both practical experience and countless hours with farmers/garden professionals, Fred is an incredible fountain of knowledge, tips, troubleshooting – and a amazing storyteller in the best sense.
Subjects discussed:
Farmer Fred history; Growing up in North Hollywood; From radio to gardening; From Captain Fred to Farmer Fred; Truckers come to the rescue to find Farmer Fred’s stolen car; Diazinon experience piques Fred’s interest in gardening; Organic heirloom popcorn farming; When to plant tomatoes; Tomato Blossom End Rot and how to treat (or not); Beneficial insects and how to attract; Farmer Fred’s favorite tomatoes to grow; Heirloom tomatoes and limited fruit set; Marlene’s favorite peppers (Padrone and Shishido); Raised bed construction and irrigation; Companion planting; Malabar spinach – trellis climbing, summer greens; Tomato cages and the Florida Weave; Concrete reinforcement wire in raised beds; Compost, woodchips, straw for pathways and weed control; Strawberries…why Marlene and Fred don’t grow; Growing blueberries in metal water troughs; Farmer Fred’s best Christmas gift ever; Marlene’s greenhouse construction project; Country living; Fred and Marlene’s cycling stories
Farmer Fred can found EVERYWHERE:
FarmerFred.com, his website with TONS of articles, how-to guides, tips, and links
KFBK Garden Show every Sunday from 8:00 – 10:00am PST, and available as KFBK Garden Show Podcast
KSTE Get Growing Show every Sunday from 10:00 – 12:00pm PST, and available as KSTE Get Growing Podcast
KSTE Farm Hour every Sunday from 12:00 – 1:00pm PST, and available as KSTE Farm Hour Podcast
Farmer Fred Facebook
Farmer Fred Twitter
Farmer Fred Instagram
Farmer Fred Pinterest
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
In this episode Marlene delves into making softwood cuttings in order to propagate clones of parent plants. Taking cuttings is a fast and reliable method of obtaining numerous plants from a small amount of source material.
Marlene covers:
- Auxin -- primary hormone for root production
- Step by step process of how to successfully take a cutting
- Common issues people run into with cuttings
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week. It’s a grab bag of topics this time, including:
- How to treat a sparse looking Daphne
- How to stop insects from eating sweet basil and tomatoes
- Browning Camellias
- Yellowing leaves on a tomato plant
- Is putting ice cubes on soil an effective method of watering
- Pruning of Weeping Cherry tree
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Tina Reikes was not always a farmer. 9/11 caused Tina to reevaluate her life, leading her to deviate from her corporate real estate career to seek something more fulfilling. Never having farmed, but armed with a desire to find a rural based lifestyle, Tina searched for the perfect location. A few years later, Bear Flag Farm was born. 26 acres tucked amongst almond & walnut orchards in the ag town of Winters CA, Tina began her career as a boutique farmer of lavender, olive oil, wine – and to boot, being a world renown wedding venue. Here we discuss Tina’s trials & errors of lavender farming, including her favorite varieties, how/when to prune, & the other aspects of her life as a farmer.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
A listener questions episode this week focusing on vegetables:
- Does cornmeal work as a pre-emergent herbicide
- Why does broccoli bolt? What is bolting?
- Do eggshells and/or diatomaceous earth effectively kill snails and slugs?
- Use of heat mats to start seeds
- My go-to soil amendments for vegetable garden soil preparation – and when to use
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
Kate Waldo owns Worm Fancy, a business focused on diverting food waste going into our landfills. She began by working with schools, and implementing local programs which yielded some astounding results – in some cases a 3x reduction in daily trash volume. The scale and applicability of raising composting worms varies widely – from single family home use, to schools & business, to large scale ag operations. Here Kate walks through steps to start and guidance about how to be successful with raising your own composting worms.
- Types of containers to use (stackable tray systems; Rubbermaid containers)
- How to set up containers -- bedding, feeding, moisture
- Ideal type of worm for composting (Eisenia fetida, aka Red Wigglers)
- Temperature range
- How to sort worms for harvesting – YouTube video on Light Sorting worms
Pre-configured bins or stackable trays for raising worms can be purchased at Worm Fancy, as well as worms to start your population and bulk castings.
Worm Fancy can be found on Instagram @wormfancy
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
A highly anticipated episode, featuring world renown tomato expert, Brad Gates. Based in Napa Valley, Brad owns Wild Boar Farms where he fastidiously spends years creating new varieties of exotic tomatoes, optimized to be “stunning looking tomato varieties with extreme flavor.” To bring a new variety to market, it takes Brad on average 6-7 years of breeding for the desired traits and selecting the strongest plants each season to begin the following generation. Using fully organic and sustainable farming techniques, Wild Boar is 100% not GMO. Landscape/construction by trade, plant geneticist by proxy – Brad is known for his spectacular tomatoes such as Brad’s Atomic Grape, Black Beauty, Dark Galaxy and Blue Gold.
Over 60 varieties of Brad’s tomato seeds can be purchased at Wild Boar Farms, and plants can be purchased seasonally at select Northern CA nurseries (see website for detail)
Brad can be found on Instagram @wildboarfarms and Facebook
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com