Flower Power Garden Hour

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: Facebook Instagram email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com Find Marlene over on YouTube,

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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagr

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: Facebook Instagram 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: Facebook Instagram email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook