Epic Gardening: Daily Growing Tips And Advice

Today's question comes from Christine, who is growing sprouts for her parrots! She wondered if presoaking seeds in warm water was a good idea.  Let's find out! Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you want to clear a section of your grass out for a garden or hydroponic setup, how do you do it? I answer this reader question today and riff on some outdoor hydroponics tips. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You know those fruit and veggie washes you see at Whole Foods and other fancy grocery stores? Are they even worth the money, and can you make the same thing at home? Find out in today's episode. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the more common questions I'm asked on the blog is about plastic use, specifically, "What plastics are safe for use in the garden?"  Since a lot of Epic Gardening readers are into hydroponics and aquaponics over soil gardening, there are a lot of people with a lot of plastic in their setup that are curious about their safety and place in the garden. Well, I was curious too, so I decided to go deep into the world of plastics and figure it all out for you all! Learn More: Which Plastics Are Safe For Gardening? Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I can't tell you how many times I hear from people who are killing succulents! They're one of the easiest plants to grow, so I figured I'd do a quick episode breaking down how to care for them. Learn More: Stunning Succulents: Fertilizing Your Drought-Tolerant Plants Products Mentioned: Top Choice: Espoma Organic Cactus Food (1-2-2) Slightly Stronger: Schultz Cactus Plus (2-7-7) Compost Tea Option: Malibu Compost’s version For Indoor Succulents: Miracle-Gro’s succulent formula Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is part 5 of the 5-part interview with Michael Bell. Michael is a teacher, Texan, competitive bodybuilder...and an urban farmer! In this episode he talks about the surprisingly easy parts of starting an urban farm as well as the things that gave him a much harder time than he expected. We also talk about his plans for the future. Reach out to Michael Bell mbell971@yahoo.com Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is part 4 of the 5-part interview with Michael Bell. Michael is a teacher, Texan, competitive bodybuilder...and an urban farmer! In this episode he talks about how he thinks about planning his urban farm, and what lessons he might give to home gardeners who want to get better at planning their own gardens. Reach out to Michael Bell mbell971@yahoo.com Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is part 3 of the 5-part interview with Michael Bell. Michael is a teacher, Texan, competitive bodybuilder...and an urban farmer! In this episode he talks about the business model of his farm. Hint: it's a BIT different than the traditional small farms out there. Reach out to Michael Bell mbell971@yahoo.com Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is part 2 of the 5-part interview with Michael Bell. Michael is a teacher, Texan, competitive bodybuilder...and an urban farmer! In this episode he talks about how he started his farm for nearly $0 with some creative bartering and hard work. Reach out to Michael Bell mbell971@yahoo.com Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's episode kicks off another 5-part interview series, this time with Michael Bell. Michael is a teacher, Texan, competitive bodybuilder...and an urban farmer! We get into how he started his urban farm in this first episode. Reach out to Michael Bell mbell971@yahoo.com Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We talked about hardneck vs. softneck garlic on yesterday's episode, but how do you grow garlic? What about planting it? Harvesting it? Storing it?! All of these questions (and more) are answered today. Keep growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we move into Fall, we're moving into garlic season...but what's the difference between 'hardneck' and 'softneck' garlic? Which should you grow in your garden? Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’re starting to find holes in the leaves of your kale, and for that matter, in your cabbage, brussels sprouts, or other brassica-family plants. The leaves of the neat rows of radishes you’ve planted are showing signs of chewing, too. Some leaves have little off-white or yellowish spots on their undersides. And you just saw a little green worm wandering over a leaf on your produce. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you probably have cabbage worms (Pieris rapae or Pieris brassicae). Learn More: Cabbage Worms: Everything You Need To Know About the Pieris Species Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s something crawling along the leaves of your arugula, and it looks like a little inchworm. It’s green, and it is snacking as it goes, leaving holes throughout your plants. There’s another on your cabbage, and another one on your radish leaves. What’s going on here? Learn More: Cabbage Loopers: All About Trichoplusia Ni And How To Eliminate Them Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the first 'brand review' I've ever done on the podcast, and it's about a popular LED light system on Amazon. Is it worth it? Learn More: Viparspectra Review: Are These LEDs Worth It? Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you approach fall gardening? When do you plan, what do you grow, and what fall crops should you plant? Learn More: Fall Garden Guide: How to Plan, Pick, and Grow The Best Fall Vegetables Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you have garden tools that have gotten all rusty and neglected? They're easily saved with a little vinegar, lubricant, and a scouring pad. Find out how in today's episode. YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUrcJUmfYiE Blog Post: How to Remove Rust From Tools The Easiest Way Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the biggest complaints I get from potential hydroponic growers is just how UGLY hydroponics systems can look. In this episode I riff on some ways to beautify your gardens. Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's question comes from Phil Koster, who wanted to know about the differences in animal manure and whether it's a balanced fertilizer. Well, I went a bit numbers-crazy in this episode but I hope you still enjoy! Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's question comes from Phil, who wonders why his iceberg lettuce didn't form a head. There's an easy answer... Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices