Flower Power Garden Hour

Latest Episodes:

FPGH 200: September To Do, Listener Q&A Sep 18, 2024

Show notes

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:

Facebook
Instagram
email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 199: Mitigating HEAT issues Aug 04, 2024

Show notes

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:

· Facebook

· Instagram

· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Power Garden Hour 198: Top 10 Favorite Drought Tolerant Plants Jun 30, 2024

Show notes

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:

· Facebook

· Instagram

· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 197: The Chocolate Botanist, Derek Haynes Jun 15, 2024

Show notes

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.

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

Flower Power Garden Hour 196: Soil science, with Robert Pavlis of Garden Fundamentals Apr 03, 2024

Show notes

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:

· Facebook

· Instagram

· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 195: Montana gardening, with Theri Vasina L'Hirondelle Mar 09, 2024

Show notes

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:

· Facebook

· Instagram

· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 194: Aroids, with Bruce Ritter Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

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:

· Facebook

· Instagram

· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 193: February To Do List Feb 08, 2024

Show notes

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:

· Facebook

· Instagram

· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 192: December To Do, Listener Q&A Dec 24, 2023

Show notes

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:

· Facebook

· Instagram

· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 191: Kids gardening literature, with author Collin Pine Nov 19, 2023

Show notes

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:

· Facebook

· Instagram

· email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook