Just Grow Something | Evidence-Based Home Gardening

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Seed Saving: Harvesting, Drying and Storing for Next Season - Ep. 322 Oct 13, 2026

Show notes

Every fall somebody asks me if they can save the seeds from that amazing tomato or melon they just ate, and the answer is "maybe." Whether a saved seed grows into the plant you loved gets decided twice. The first time is months earlier, when the flower was pollinated, and the second is after harvest, when the seed either stays in the right conditions or doesn't.

In this episode we're covering both. We'll talk about hybrids versus open-pollinated and heirloom varieties, which crops are easiest for beginners, why your zucchini and your pumpkin can cross but your cucumber and your cantaloupe can't, and why peppers cross more often than most people think.

Then we'll get into harvesting and cleaning seeds, including what tomato seed fermentation does and doesn't do for seedborne disease, how to dry seeds without cooking them, the simple temperature-plus-humidity rule for storage, and why seed longevity charts don't agree with each other.

Let’s dig in.

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Six Steps for Saving Seeds From Your Garden: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/blog/six-steps-for-saving-seeds-from-your-garden

References and Resources

Choosing Crops, Pollination, and Isolation

University of Minnesota Extension — Saving Vegetable Seeds (open-pollinated vs. hybrid, cross-pollination, harvesting, storage, bacterial canker and seed treatments): https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/saving-vegetable-seeds
University of Illinois Extension — How to Save Seeds (terms, isolation methods, isolation distance table, wet and dry harvesting): https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/how_to_save_seeds_062021.pdf
University of Maryland Extension — Seed Saving 101: Vegetables (three levels of seed saving, tomato and potato-leaf isolation, pepper species crossing, squash after-ripening, storage rule of thumb): https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/2021-02/Seed%20Saving%20Veggies%20Resources.pdf
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, Orange County 4-H — Saving Seed from the Three Sisters and Tomatoes (population sizes for home gardens): https://oc4h.ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2016-09/248080.pdf
NC State Extension, Onslow County — Saving Your Own Seed (hot and sweet pepper crossing): https://onslow.ces.ncsu.edu/2023/01/saving-your-own-seed/
Barchenger, D.W., et al. (2025). Producing High Quality Pepper Seed. World Vegetable Center, Publication No. 25-1099 (pepper outcrossing rates, bee visitation, seed moisture): https://worldveg.tind.io/record/76153/files/25-1099_Producing%20high%20quality%20pepper%20seed.pdf

Harvesting, Cleaning, and Seedborne Disease

Oregon State University Extension — Collecting and Storing Seeds From Your Garden (crop-by-crop harvesting, hand-pollinating squash, bean weevils, longevity groups, germination testing): https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/techniques/collecting-storing-seeds-your-garden
Pradhanang, P.M., & Collier, G. (2009). How effective is hydrochloric acid treatment to control Clavibacter michiganensis michiganensis contamination in tomato seed? Acta Horticulturae 808: 81–86 (overnight fermentation vs. washing): https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.808.10

Drying, Storage, and Longevity

Colorado State University Extension — Storing Vegetable and Flower Seeds, Fact Sheet 7.221 (drying temperatures, seed moisture, humidity, hard seed, federal minimum germination and longevity table): https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/storing-vegetable-and-flower-seeds/
University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, Weekly Crop Update — Storing Vegetable Seed (temperature-plus-humidity rule, storage life halving rules, freezing seed): https://sites.udel.edu/weeklycropupdate/?p=2967

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Preserving Without Canning - Ep. 321 Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

Canning gets most of the attention, but for a lot of what comes out of the garden, it isn't the best way to put food up. In this episode, we're opening up the rest of the preserving toolbox: freezing, drying, fermenting, refrigerator pickles, and good old-fashioned cold storage.

We'll talk about why skipping the blanch (or cutting it short) costs you flavor and color in the freezer, which vegetables you can freeze raw, and why a full freezer rides out a power outage twice as long as a half-empty one. Then we'll get into drying in a humid climate, why vegetables need a blanch before the dehydrator, and what the research does and doesn't say about home freeze dryers.

We'll make a simple, safe batch of sauerkraut, cover the one rule for fridge pickles, and wrap up with the temperature and humidity each storage crop wants, from potatoes and onions to carrots, sweet potatoes, and apples. There's a crop-by-crop quick-reference chart to download, and a fantastic fermenting book to check out.

Let’s dig in!

References and Resources:

Larry's Coffee (affiliate): https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow

Download the preserving guide: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/preserve

Fermented Vegetables by Kristen and Christopher Shockey: https://amzn.to/4zjI2g4

Freezing

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Blanching Vegetables: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/freeze-general-information/blanching-vegetables/
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Tomatoes: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-tomatoes/
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Onions: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-onions/
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Bell or Sweet Peppers: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-bell-or-sweet-peppers/
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Hot Peppers: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-hot-peppers/
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Foods That Do Not Freeze Well: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/freeze-general-information/foods-that-do-not-freeze-well/
North Dakota State University Extension — Freezing Vegetables (blanching times, freezer loading, storage time): https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/freezing-vegetables
University of Minnesota Extension — How to Freeze Fruit Safely: https://extension.umn.edu/food/preparing/cooking-at-home/food-preservation/freezing/freezing-fruit
NC State Extension, Guilford County — Put a Freeze on Foodborne Illness: https://guilford.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/10/put-a-freeze-on-foodborne-illness
University of Illinois Extension — Power Outages: https://extension.illinois.edu/food-safety/power-outages
Li, L., Pegg, R. B., Eitenmiller, R. R., Chun, J. Y., & Kerrihard, A. (2017). Selected nutrient analyses of fresh, fresh-stored, and frozen fruits and vegetables. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2017.02.002

Drying and Freeze-Drying

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Food Dehydrators: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry/drying-general/food-dehydrators/
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Sun Drying: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry/drying-general/sun-drying/
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Packaging and Storing Dried Foods: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry/drying-general/packaging-and-storing-dried-foods/
Penn State Extension — Let's Preserve: Drying Fruits and Vegetables (Dehydration): https://extension.psu.edu/lets-preserve-drying-fruits-and-vegetables-dehydration
Colorado State University Extension — Drying Vegetables, Fact Sheet 9.308: https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/drying-vegetables/
University of Minnesota Extension — Preserving Herbs by Freezing or Drying: https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/preserving-herbs-freezing-or-drying
South Dakota State University Extension — Preserving Herbs: https://extension.sdstate.edu/preserving-herbs
Utah State University Extension — Buying a Home Freeze-Dryer: What to Know Before You Go: https://extension.usu.edu/preserve-the-harvest/research/buying-a-home-freeze-dryer-what-to-know-before-you-go
Utah State University Extension — Can I Freeze-Dry That? A Practical Guide to Safe and Effective Freeze-Drying: https://extension.usu.edu/foodsafety/research/can-i-freeze-dry-that-a-practical-guide-to-safe-and-effective-freeze-drying

Fermenting and Refrigerator Pickles

North Dakota State University Extension — Sauerkraut: From Garden to Table: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/sauerkraut-garden-table
Penn State Extension — Tips for Making Sauerkraut: https://extension.psu.edu/tips-for-making-sauerkraut
UConn Extension — Fermentation: Preservation with Benefits: https://extension.uconn.edu/?p=3394
University of Florida IFAS Extension — Fermented Foods: Sauerkraut, FS474: https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FS474
NC State Extension Food Safety — How to Make Quick Refrigerator Pickles: https://foodsafety.ces.ncsu.edu/news/how-to-make-quick-refrigerator-pickles/

Cold Storage

University of Missouri Extension — Home Storage of Fruits and Vegetables in Root Cellars, MP562: https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/mp562
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — Storing Winter Storage Vegetables: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/storing-winter-storage-vegetables
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — Growing Carrots and Parsnips: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/growing-carrots-and-parsnips

Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething

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Home Canning Myths Debunked - Ep. 320 Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

A jar that seals is a jar that seals, and that's about all it tells you. In this episode, we're taking on four home canning myths that keep circulating in gardening groups, on food blogs, and in family recipe boxes: oven canning, open-kettle canning (and its cousin, flipping jars upside down), packing tomatoes and garlic in oil, and the idea that a salsa recipe can be tweaked however you like as long as it tastes right.

For each one, we'll look at what the research from the National Center for Home Food Preservation and university extension services shows, why these methods fail, and what to do instead so your harvest stays on the pantry shelf and out of the danger zone.

We'll also look at a study that checked 56 salsa canning recipes from food blogs, and what it found might make you rethink where your recipes come from. Let's dig in!

Support the show and get your free gift at https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow

References and Resources:

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Ensuring Safe Canned Foods: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/ensuring-safe-canned-foods/
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Equipment and Methods Not Recommended: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/equipment-and-methods-not-recommended/
National Center for Home Food Preservation — General Information (includes the 1943 history on oven and open-kettle canning): https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Identifying and Handling Spoiled Canned Food: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/identifying-and-handling-spoiled-canned-food/
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Tomato Acidification Directions: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/how-do-i-can-tomatoes/tomato-acidification-directions/
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Garlic-in-Oil: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-garlic-in-oil/
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Burning Issue: Can I Can My Own Salsa Recipe? (PDF): https://boone.mgcafe.uky.edu/files/nchfp_burning_issue_can_i_can_my_own_salsa_recipe.pdf
D'Sa et al. (2007), Survey of Home Canning Practices and Safety Issues in the U.S.: https://nchfp.uga.edu/papers/2007/canning_survey.html
Nummer et al. (2004), Studies on Safe Acidification of Salsa for Home Boiling Water Canning: https://nchfp.uga.edu/papers/2004/04ift-tomatosalsaPoster_combined.html
Nummer et al. (2011), Current Food Safety Issues of Home-Prepared Vegetables and Herbs Stored in Oil, Food Protection Trends (PDF): https://www.foodprotection.org/files/food-protection-trends/Jun-11-Nummer.pdf
Savoie & Perry (2019), Adherence of Food Blog Salsa Recipes to Home Canning Guidelines, Food Protection Trends: https://www.foodprotection.org/publications/food-protection-trends/archive/2019-09-adherence-of-food-blog-salsa-recipes-to-home-canning-guidelines/
University of Maine Cooperative Extension — The Missing Ingredient: Food Blog Salsa Recipes: https://extension.umaine.edu/food-health/2023/07/20/the-missing-ingredient-adherence-of-food-blog-salsa-recipes-to-home-canning-guidelines/
Penn State Extension — Say No to Oven Canning: https://extension.psu.edu/say-no-to-oven-canning
Penn State Extension — Avoid Open Kettle Canning: Always Process Canned Goods: https://extension.psu.edu/avoid-open-kettle-canning-always-process-canned-goods
Penn State Extension — Caution: Canning with Fats and Oils: https://extension.psu.edu/caution-canning-with-fats-and-oils
Oregon State University Extension Service — Herbs and Vegetables in Oil, SP 50-701: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/sp-50-701-herbs-vegetables-oil
Oregon State University Extension Service — Preserving Garlic: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/food/preservation/preserving-garlic
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources — Garlic: Safe Methods to Store, Preserve, and Enjoy, Pub. 8568 (PDF): https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2020-09/335681.pdf
Colorado State University Extension — Botulism, Fact Sheet 9.305: https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/botulism/

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End-of-Season Tomato Rescue: Ripening, Freezing, and Preserving - Ep. 319 Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Frost is on the way, and the vines are still loaded with green tomatoes. In this episode, we sort out which green tomatoes will finish ripening on your counter (the mature greens and the blushers) and which ones belong in the skillet, the freezer, or a tested relish recipe.

You'll learn what cold does to a tomato, why a stretch of chilly weather can cost you ripening ability before frost ever shows up, and four ways to ripen fruit indoors, including how to stage a harvest for a steady supply into November.

Then we dig into the canning rule that catches a lot of gardeners off guard. National home-canning guidance says not to can tomatoes from dead or frost-killed vines, and we look at why, what the research does and doesn't show, and what to do with those tomatoes instead.

Grab a notebook and let’s dig in!

Resources and References:

Grab your bag of Larry's Coffee, support the show, and get a free gift! https://larryscoffee.com/justgrow

Colorado State University Extension — Ripening Tomatoes Indoors: https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/ripening-tomatoes-indoors/
University of California, Davis, Postharvest Research and Extension Center (Suslow and Cantwell) — Tomato: Recommendations for Maintaining Postharvest Quality: https://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/produce-facts-sheets/tomato
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — Can I ripen green tomatoes indoors before frost?: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/can-i-ripen-green-tomatoes-indoors-frost
National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia) — Canning Tomatoes: Introduction: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/how-do-i-can-tomatoes/canning-tomatoes-introduction/
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Resources for Home Preserving Tomatoes: https://nchfp.uga.edu/resources/entry/resources-for-home-preserving-tomatoes
USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning, Guide 3 (electronic version by Utah State University Extension, 1995) — Selecting, Preparing, and Canning Tomatoes and Tomato Products: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1600&context=extension_histall
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Tomatoes: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-tomatoes/
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Green Tomatoes: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-green-tomatoes/

Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething

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Cover Crops in the Home Garden - Ep. 318 Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

Every empty bed in your garden is either growing something for you or growing weeds and losing topsoil. Cover crops are how you make sure it's the first one.

In this episode, we get into why cover crops work in both in-ground beds and raised planters, which ones perform best when you sow them in fall, and which ones are worth a spot in your rotation come spring. We'll look at nitrogen-fixing legumes like crimson clover and hairy vetch, soil-building grasses like winter rye and oats, and fast-growing summer options like buckwheat that can turn a bare bed around in a matter of weeks. Then we'll cover how to actually terminate a cover crop, whether that's mowing, crimping, tarping, or letting winter do the work for you, so it feeds your soil instead of becoming a weed problem of its own.

Let's dig in!

References and Resources:

Get your sustainably grown coffee and support the show at LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow!

University of Maryland Extension — Cover Crops For Gardens: umd.edu/resource/cover-crops-gardens
University of Maryland Extension — Offing Cover Crops for Weed Suppression: Featuring the Roller Crimper and Other Mechanical Contraptions: umd.edu/resource/offing-cover-crops-weed-suppression
University of New Hampshire Extension — Cover Cropping for the Home Garden [fact sheet]: unh.edu/resource/cover-cropping-home-garden-fact-sheet
University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management, Missouri Environment & Garden — Cover Crops Improve Garden Soil: missouri.edu/meg/2014/9/Cover-Crops-Improve-Garden-Soil
Oregon State University Extension — Buckwheat Makes a Good Summer Cover Crop for Gardens: oregonstate.edu/news/buckwheat-makes-good-summer-cover-crop-gardens
Cornell Cooperative Extension Vegetable Program, Cover Crop Guide for NY Growers — Buckwheat as a Summer Cover Crop for Weed Suppression: org/blog/buckwheat-as-a-summer-cover-crop-for-weed-suppression
UF/IFAS Extension Duval County — Cover Crop Termination: What Do I Do When It's Over?: ifas.ufl.edu/duvalco/2025/09/15/cover-crop-termination-what-do-i-do-when-its-over
Purdue University Center for New Crops and Plants Products — Hairy Vetch: purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/vetch.html
USDA Agricultural Research Service — Crimson Clover Cover Crop Fact Sheet (PDF): usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/60100500/FactSheets/FS04e.pdf

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Fall-Planted vs. Spring-Planted Onions: Choosing the Right System for Your Garden - Ep. 317 Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Onions are having a moment in the seed catalogs right now, and a lot of that buzz is about overwintering them, tucking small transplants into the bed in September, letting them sit through the cold, and pulling bigger, earlier bulbs the following June. It sounds like a clear win. But the biology underneath it is more particular than the marketing lets on, and the trade-offs are real.

In this episode, I'm breaking down the day-length science that controls when an onion decides to bulb, the separate cold-exposure trigger that can send it to flower instead, and why those two mechanisms together explain both the promise and the risk of overwintering. I'll walk through the specific varieties that university research has found reliable for this system versus the ones that bolted their way out of a harvest, and I'll lay out the honest cost side of the ledger: a bed occupied for the better part of a year, a real chance of premature flowering if timing or variety selection is off, and whether any of that beats simply direct-seeding or transplanting in spring.

Whether you've got seed garlic already planned for a bed and you're eyeing the space next to it for onions, or you're just trying to figure out which system fits your garden, this episode will give you the research to make that call yourself. Let’s dig in.

References and Resources:

Short Day Onions
• Latitude: ~25°–35° N
• Daylength trigger: 10–12 hours
• Climate: Mild winters (USDA Zone 7+), These are generally planted in fall, mature in late spring.
Intermediate Day Onions
• Latitude: ~32°–42° N
• Daylength trigger: 12–14 hours
• Climate: Central U.S. conditions; planted in spring (or early spring in cooler areas)
Long Day Onions
• Latitude: ~37°–47° N
• Daylength trigger: 14–16 hours
• Climate: Northern latitudes; often sweet, specialty, or long storage types. Planted in fall or spring depending on climate

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Episode 296 — Successions: Never an Empty Bed: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/succession-planting-101-how-to-keep-your-garden-producing-from-spring-through-frost-ep-296

Oregon State University Extension — Winter Vegetable Production on Small Farms and Gardens West of the Cascades (PNW 548): oregonstate.edu/catalog/pnw-548-winter-vegetable-production-small-farms-gardens-west-cascades
University of New Hampshire Extension / NH Agricultural Experiment Station — Research Report: Overwintering Onions, 2014–15 (Becky Sideman et al.): unh.edu/resources/files/Resource005477_Rep7652.pdf
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — What Is a Long-Day Type Onion Variety?: extension.iastate.edu/faq/what-long-day-type-onion-variety
University of Minnesota Extension — Growing Onions in Home Gardens: umn.edu/vegetables/growing-onions
NC State Extension Publications — Bulb Onions: ces.ncsu.edu/bulb-onions
University of Missouri Extension — Planting, Growing and Harvesting Onions: missouri.edu/news/planting-growing-and-harvesting-onions
Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center — Onion, Leek, Shallot & Garlic: clemson.edu/factsheet/onion-leek-shallot-garlic
Oregon State University Extension — Plant Onions Early for Bigger Summer Bulbs: oregonstate.edu/news/plant-onions-early-bigger-summer-bulbs

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Choosing a Garlic Variety Based on the Science - Ep. 316 Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

It's the middle of summer, and I want you thinking about garlic. Not because it's time to plant, but because if you wait until it's time to plant, the good seed garlic may already be gone!

In this episode, I'm breaking down the real difference between hardneck and softneck garlic: the cold-exposure requirement called vernalization that decides which type will bulb properly in your garden, how clove structure and storage life differ between the two, and how to match your choice to your specific climate.

I'll also cover why garlic bought at the grocery store is a gamble, what certified disease-free seed garlic protects you from, how much seed to order for the bed you're planting, and exactly what to do in your garden bed this month to set yourself up for a strong harvest next summer. Whether you've grown garlic for years or you're planting your first clove this fall, this episode will get your ordering and your bed prep sorted before the window closes.

Let’s dig in!

Episode References:

Episode 302 — Mulch Matchmaking (winter mulch materials and application for newly planted garlic beds): https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/mulch-matchmaking-choosing-the-right-mulch-for-your-vegetable-garden-ep-302
All the garlic episodes: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/search/garlic

Resources:

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension — Garlic Production for the Gardener (Circular 854): caes.uga.edu/publications/C854/garlic-production-for-the-gardener
University of Minnesota Extension — Growing Garlic in Home Gardens: umn.edu/vegetables/growing-garlic
University of Missouri Extension — Fall Is a Good Time to Plant Garlic: missouri.edu/news/fall-is-a-good-time-to-plant-garlic
Lincoln University of Missouri Cooperative Extension — Garlic Production in Missouri: edu/publications/garlic-production-in-missouri.html
Utah State University Extension — How to Grow Garlic in Your Garden: usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/garlic-in-the-garden
Oregon State University Extension — Get Your Garlic On: A Primer on Planting, Growing and Harvesting: oregonstate.edu/news/get-your-garlic-primer-planting-growing-harvesting
Cornell Cooperative Extension, Warren County — Garlic: cce.cornell.edu/gardening-landscape/warren-county-master-gardener-articles/garlic
Penn State Extension — Garlic Production: psu.edu/garlic-production
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (Contra Costa Master Gardeners) — Garlic, Love It or Leave It: edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/garlic-love-it-or-leave-it

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How to Know When Winter Squash is Ready to Harvest (and How to Store Them) - Ep. 315 Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Winter squash gives you almost no obvious warning before it's ready, and pulling it too early is one of the most common mistakes gardeners make. And that mistake costs you flavor, sugar content, and months of storage life. In this episode, we're breaking down exactly how to read maturity on butternut, acorn, spaghetti, delicata, and storage pumpkins: the rind test, the ground spot, and the specific cues for each type. Then we'll cover what to do with a squash patch when frost is bearing down on you, why curing helps some squash and actively ruins others, and how to set up a storage space that gets you squash on your table well into the new year instead of watching half your harvest go soft by Thanksgiving.

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References:

University of Missouri IPM — Pumpkin Picking Time: ipm.missouri.edu/meg/2022/10/pumpkins-DT/

South Dakota State University Extension — Time to Harvest Those Winter Squash: extension.sdstate.edu/time-harvest-those-winter-squash

South Dakota State University Extension — Harvesting and Storing Pumpkins and Winter Squash: extension.sdstate.edu/harvesting-and-storing-pumpkins-and-winter-squash

South Dakota State University Extension — Fall Frost Tolerance of Common Vegetables: extension.sdstate.edu/fall-frost-tolerance-common-vegetables

Iowa State University Extension — Yard and Garden: Winter Squash: extension.iastate.edu/news/yard-and-garden-winter-squash

Purdue University Vegetable Crops Hotline — Harvest and Postharvest Storage of Pumpkins and Winter Squash: vegcropshotline.org/article/harvest-and-postharvest-storage-of-pumpkins-and-winter-squash-2/

Purdue Extension FoodLink — Winter Squash: extension.purdue.edu/foodlink/includes/pubs/Print4perpaper/4VegetablesPrint/4WINTER_SQUASH2print.pdf

Oregon State University Extension Service — Preserving Pumpkins and Winter Squash: extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/sp-50-767-preserving-pumpkins-winter-squash

Michigan State University Extension — Pumpkins, Squash, Gourds: canr.msu.edu/resources/pumpkins_squash_gourds_commercial_vegetable_recommendations_e1953

University of Illinois Extension — Winter Squash (Home Vegetable Gardening): extension.illinois.edu/gardening/winter-squash

University of Minnesota Extension — Harvesting and Storing Melons, Squash and Pumpkins: extension.umn.edu/agriculture/specialty-crops/commercial-fruit-production/harvesting-and-storing-melons-squash-and-pumpkins

Cornell Cooperative Extension Regional Vegetable Program — Winter Squash and Pumpkin Maturity, Harvesting and Storage Tips: rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/uploads/doc_1144.pdf

UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa (UC ANR) — Harvesting and Storing Winter Squash and Pumpkins: ucanr.edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/harvesting-and-storing-winter-squash

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association — Harvesting Winter Squash for Peak Flavor and Optimal Storage Life: mofga.org/resources/crops/harvesting-winter-squash-for-flavor-and-storage/

Resources:

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Who's Eating My Garden? Identifying and Deterring Common Backyard Wildlife - Ep. 314 Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Something has been eating your tomatoes, mowing your green beans down to nubs overnight, or turning your flower bed into a construction site, and you want to know who's responsible and what will make them stop. In this episode, we're working through the full lineup of backyard garden critters, starting with the animals most home gardeners deal with every season: squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, deer, and raccoons. Then we're digging into two animals that caused real trouble this year: groundhogs, which mowed down entire rows in my own garden, and armadillos, a first-time visitor here on the farm.

For each one, we'll cover how to identify their particular style of damage, what university research shows works to deter them, and where fencing, repellents, and scare tactics fall short. Whether you're dealing with a woodchuck built like a small, determined bulldozer, or an armadillo rototilling your flower bed at two in the morning, you'll walk away with a real plan instead of another myth to try. Let's dig in!

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References and Resources

Squirrels

University of Missouri Extension — Tree Squirrels: Managing Habitat and Controlling Damage (G9455): extension.missouri.edu/publications/g9455

Chipmunks

Penn State Extension — Chipmunks: extension.psu.edu/chipmunks
University of Georgia Extension — Chipmunks Publication: extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?pk_id=7652

Rabbits

University of Missouri Extension — Preventing and Controlling Damage Caused by Cottontail Rabbits (G9441): extension.missouri.edu/publications/g9441
Iowa State University Extension, Yard and Garden — How to Protect Gardens From Rabbits: yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/how-protect-gardens-rabbits

Deer

University of Missouri Extension — Controlling Deer Damage in Missouri (MP685): extension.missouri.edu/publications/mp685
Colorado State University Extension — Preventing Deer Damage: extension.colostate.edu/resource/preventing-deer-damage
University of Minnesota Extension — Winterizing Plants: Animal Damage: extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/winterizing-plants-animal-damage

Raccoons

University of Missouri Extension — Managing Raccoon Problems in Missouri (G9453): extension.missouri.edu/publications/g9453
Kansas State University Extension — Protecting Sweet Corn From Raccoons: extension.k-state.edu/news-and-publications/news/stories/2025/07/horticulture-raccoons-sweet-corn.html
Iowa State University Extension, Yard and Garden — How Can I Keep Raccoons Out of My Sweet Corn?: yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-can-i-keep-raccoons-out-my-sweet-corn
Iowa State University Extension, Natural Resources — Raccoons: Damage Management: naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/raccoons-damage-management

Groundhogs

University of Missouri Extension — Managing Woodchuck Problems in Missouri (G9452): extension.missouri.edu/media/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/Pub/pdf/agguides/wildlife/g09452.pdf
UNH Extension — Dealing with Woodchuck Damage (fact sheet, includes capsaicin repellent trial results): extension.unh.edu/sites/default/files/migrated_unmanaged_files/resource000562_rep584.pdf
Missouri Department of Conservation — Groundhog Control: mdc.mo.gov/wildlife/nuisance-problem-species/groundhog-control

Armadillos

University of Missouri Extension — Armadillos in Missouri: Techniques to Prevent and Control Damage (G9456): extension.missouri.edu/publications/g9456
Oklahoma State University Extension — Managing Nuisance Armadillo Damage: extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/managing-nuisance-armadillo-damage
Oklahoma State University Extension — Tips for Managing Nuisance Armadillo: extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/tips-for-managing-nuisance-armadillo

General / Multiple Species

University of Missouri Extension — Garden Critters: 'Frenemies' in Grow Places: extension.missouri.edu/news/garden-critters-frenemies-in-grow-places
University of Missouri Extension — Solving Wildlife Damage Problems in Missouri (G9425): extension.missouri.edu/publications/g9425

Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com

Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses

Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop

Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/

Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething

Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething

Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething

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Organic, Conventional, or Homegrown: What the Research Really Shows About Nutrition - Ep. 313 Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

You've probably heard both sides of this argument: that organic and conventional produce are nutritionally identical, and that homegrown vegetables blow store-bought out of the water. Which one is true?

In this episode, I dig through the peer-reviewed research on three separate questions: whether organic farming produces more nutritious food, whether soil health itself changes the nutrient content of what we eat, and what happens to those nutrients in the days between harvest and the moment food lands on your plate. I'm treating this as a real meta-analysis, pulling together findings from major systematic reviews, long-term field trials, and postharvest storage studies, and following the data wherever it leads.

The answer is more interesting, and more useful for your own garden, than either side of the argument usually admits. By the end, you'll know exactly which parts of the nutrient-density conversation hold up under scrutiny and which parts are oversimplified, plus what it means for the food coming out of your own backyard.

Let's dig in!

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Peer-Reviewed Sources

Smith-Spangler et al. (2012), Annals of Internal Medicine — Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier Than Conventional Alternatives?: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/0003-4819-157-5-201209040-00007
Baranski et al. (2014), British Journal of Nutrition — Higher Antioxidant and Lower Cadmium Concentrations in Organically Grown Crops (343-study meta-analysis): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4141693/
Worthington (2001), Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine — Nutritional Quality of Organic Versus Conventional Fruits, Vegetables, and Grains: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11327522/
Hunter et al. (2011), Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition — Evaluation of the Micronutrient Composition of Plant Foods Produced by Organic and Conventional Methods: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21929333/
Montgomery & Biklé (2021), Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems — Soil Health and Nutrient Density: Beyond Organic vs. Conventional Farming: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2021.699147/full
Lehmann et al. (2014), Soil Biology and Biochemistry — Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Influence on Zinc Nutrition in Crop Plants: A Meta-Analysis: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0038071713004045
Reganold et al. (2010), PLOS ONE — Fruit and Soil Quality of Organic and Conventional Strawberry Agroecosystems: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0012346
Helfenstein et al. (2016), PLOS ONE — Organic Wheat Farming Improves Grain Zinc Concentration: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0160729
Hepperly, Omondi & Seidel (2018), MOJ Food Processing & Technology — Soil Regeneration Increases Crop Nutrients, Antioxidants and Adaptive Responses (Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial): https://medcraveonline.com/MOJFPT/soil-regeneration-increases-crop-nutrients-antioxidants-and-adaptive-responses.html
Davis, Epp & Riordan (2004), Journal of the American College of Nutrition — Changes in USDA Food Composition Data for 43 Garden Crops, 1950 to 1999: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15637215/
Marles (2017), Journal of Food Composition and Analysis — Mineral Nutrient Composition of Vegetables, Fruits and Grains: The Context of Reports of Apparent Historical Declines: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889157516302113
Favell (1998), Food Chemistry — A Comparison of the Vitamin C Content of Fresh and Frozen Vegetables: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814697001659
Rickman, Barrett & Bruhn (2007), Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture — Nutritional Comparison of Fresh, Frozen and Canned Fruits and Vegetables, Part 1: https://scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jsfa.2825
Li, Pegg, Eitenmiller, Chun & Kerrihard (2017), Journal of Food Composition and Analysis — Selected Nutrient Analyses of Fresh, Fresh-Stored, and Frozen Fruits and Vegetables: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889157517300418
Galani et al. (2017), Antioxidants — Storage of Fruits and Vegetables in Refrigerator Increases Their Phenolic Acids but Decreases the Total Phenolics, Anthocyanins and Vitamin C: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5618087/
Jo, Shin & Lee (2003), Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry — The Effect of Post-Harvest and Packaging Treatments on Glucoraphanin Concentration in Broccoli: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jf0203592