Just Grow Something | Evidence-Based Home Gardening

Latest Episodes:

Spring-Planted Bulbs and Garden Perennials - Ep. 240 Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

Save 20% on your Magic Mind subscription! https://magicmind.com/GROWSOMETHING20 with code GROWSOMETHING20

One of my goals this year for the garden is to focus a little bit more on the aesthetics of the garden, rather than just the functionality of it. I really feel like I can get more enjoyment from the gardens if I enjoy how they look and enjoy spending time in them not for just planting and weeding and harvesting, but just for the sheer joy of it.

One of the ways I think I can do this is by adding flowers. I am pretty adept and growing annuals from seed but this year I’m adding bulbs to the list. Spring is also a really good time to be adding perennials to the edible areas of the garden, vegetables and fruits.

Today on Just Grow Something we’re talking about perennial fruit and vegetable plants best planted in spring and flowering bulbs planted in spring for summer blooms. We'll cover proper planting methods, timing, and first-year care to set you up for success. Let’s dig in!

References and Resources:

Seed to Sprout seed-starting course: https://www.justgrowsomething.com/indoor-seed-starting

Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com

Just Grow Something Merch andDownloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop

Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/508637300354140/

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

Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kitchen Garden Living with Bailey Van Tassel - Ep. 239 Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

At the beginning of the year, I asked you think about why you garden. Whether it’s a hobby, our family’s main source of food, or anything in between, I maintain that understanding why you garden is really important to planning the garden and defining a budget.

But, what about the garden being more than just a source of food, exercise, or a connection to nature. What if it were something more?

That’s the question that Bailey Van Tassel has asked and answered. Bailey is the founder of the Kitchen Garden Society and author of the recently released book, Kitchen Garden Living. She has taken an approach to gardening that is not just seasonal in nature but all-encompassing in its seasonality, growing not just food but friendships, gifts, and time with family.

Today on Just Grow Something, I sit down with Bailey and chat all things kitchen garden, flavor gaps, winter bulk, and moving a garden from one climate to another. We also get into her book and her unique way of determining exactly what gets prioritized in her garden beds using playing cards and the game of Poker. Let’s dig in.

References and Resources:

Kitchen Garden Living book: https://amzn.to/3Xosxme

Bailey Van Tassel: https://www.baileyvantassel.com/

Great Grow Along - FREE Virtual Garden Festival Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/great-grow-along-free-virtual-garden-festival-tickets-1249534915569

Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com

Just Grow Something Merch andDownloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop

Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/508637300354140/

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

Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When and How to Pot Up Transplants - Ep. 238 Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

Last chance for the special Magic Mind offer for themonth of February where you can save 40% off your subscription: https://magicmind.com/GROWSOMETHING40

Knowing when and how to pot up your seedlings can make all the difference in their health and success when they finally reach the garden. This is usually something we only have to worry about when starting our own seedlings ahead of the gardening season. But you may find if you buy warm-weather plants from the garden center too early, that they quickly outgrow their containers, and they’ll need to be potted up or risk being stunted when they finally do go into the garden.

Today on Just Grow Something we’ll cover why and when potting up is necessary, which plants typically don't need potting up, and the best technique for potting up transplants.

We’re also going to answer the question of the month: Whatdo you have the most difficulty with starting seeds indoors?

Let’s dig in!

References and Resources:

My new SEED TO SPROUT course is live! https://www.justgrowsomething.com/indoor-seed-starting

Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com

Just Grow Something Merch andDownloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop

Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/508637300354140/

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

Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Successful Indoor Seed Starting - Ep. 237 Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

Success with starting seeds indoors comes down to a handful of factors: your materials and technique, soil temperature, air temperature, light, and air flow. How we approach each of these will determine how successful our outcome is. Just like any new skill, starting seeds indoors and successfully getting them to the transplant stage takes practice. Last week we talked about the supplies we need to get started. This week, we’re covering how to use them.

Today on Just Grow Something, we’re going to run through what I would consider to be best practices in terms of each of these factors. We’ll talk about the optimal way to approach seed starting and talk about where we can go wrong. By the end you’ll be able to decide for yourself whether you should tackle indoor seed starting as a beginner or where you can improve if you’ve been there before. Let’s dig in!

References and Resources:

Free Seed Starting eBook: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/seedbook

Garden Planning Workbook: https://www.justgrowsomething.com/shop/p/just-grow-something-garden-planning-workbook

Seed Starting Supplies Options (aff):

https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething/list/2C6VB08JWCYZ9?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_PQ0YZ9H0SFS3SM5RXCH5

Just Grow Something: ⁠https://justgrowsomething.com⁠

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

Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/508637300354140/⁠

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

Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething⁠

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Essential Seed Starting Supplies (and one scam) - Ep. 236 Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

FIRST TEN ORDERS IN FEBRUARY: Save 40% on your Magic Mind subscription! https://magicmind.com/GROWSOMETHING40 with code GROWSOMETHING40

We talked last week about how to time our seed starting so we can get a jump on the gardening season without being too early or too late. This week we’re focusing on what we need in terms of supplies to get those seeds going.

There are tons and tons of options out there from the plain basics to the super fancy and everything in between. There is also a wide range in terms of how expensive those options are.

Today on Just Grow Something we’ll talk about the six things I think you need for basic seed starting and then the items that are either nice to have’s but not necessary or downright scams. If you’ve thought about starting your own seeds indoors but shied away because it seemed like you needed way too much equipment, we’re going to demystify that today. Let’s dig in!

References and Resources

Free Seed Starting eBook: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/seedbook

Garden Planning Workbook: https://www.justgrowsomething.com/shop/p/just-grow-something-garden-planning-workbook

Seed Starting Supplies Options (aff):

https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething/list/2C6VB08JWCYZ9?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_PQ0YZ9H0SFS3SM5RXCH5

Just Grow Something: ⁠https://justgrowsomething.com⁠

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

Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/508637300354140/⁠

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

Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething⁠

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How to Time Indoor Seed Starting - Ep. 235 Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

Once those seed orders are rolling in, your garden plan is shaping up, and the days slowly get a little bit longer, we start to get restless. We want to get our hands in the dirt! This leads to the temptation to get started on our indoor seed starting, but for most of us it really isn’t time to start very many of those seeds just yet. This will depend on your growing zone, of course, and when your last spring frost date is if you have one, but it will also depend on what you’re planning to grow.

Today on Just Grow Something we’re going to narrow down, step-by-step, how to time your seed starting whether you’re just dipping your toe in or have been doing it for a while. It does take practice to get the timing right and there is no foolproof plan because conditions change from year to year. But by the end you will know exactly what steps to take to get yourself as close to target as possible so you don’t have 18” tomato plants begging to be planted a full three weeks before it’s warm enough for them to go outside...speaking from experience. Let’s dig in!

References and Resources:

Garden Planning Workbook: https://www.justgrowsomething.com/shop/p/just-grow-something-garden-planning-workbook

Seed Starting Chart: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/start

Greencast Soil Temperature Maps

Let Soil Temperatures Guide You When Planting Vegetables

Weather History & Data Archive | Weather Underground Average Weather by Location

Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com

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

Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/508637300354140/

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

Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

7 Steps to Planning Your Entire Garden Year - Ep. 234 Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

Get 45% off the Magic Mind Mental and Sleep Performance bundle with my link:
https://www.magicmind.com/GROWSOMETHINGJAN

All this month we’ve been talking about garden planning because it’s that time. The slower month of January means taking the time to really figure out what we want to grow in the garden and last week we talked about how to fit it all in.

This week, we’re talking about my secret weapon to keeping on track – the humble calendar. This may not seem like a big deal but, let me tell you, my entire operation is run on a calendar that I put together in January and it is the key to how productive my gardens are. It does not matter how big or small your garden is, although the bigger the garden the more you really need a calendar to keep you on track. But even small gardens have certain tasks that need to be performed at certain times to optimize the harvest, whether that’s fertilizing, pruning, trellising, or succession planting.

Today on Just Grow Something we’re completing the planning puzzle by filling out our calendar. We’ll talk about the general information you should be putting on the calendar and then do a detailed look at how to decide what goes in the calendar and where. By the end, you’ll see why it’s so important to track these tasks early on so nothing gets missed. Let’s dig in.

References and Resources:

Plan Like a Pro course: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/pro

Find my Garden Planning Workbook in my shop: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop

Garden Planner from the Girly Homesteader: https://payhip.com/b/aiIN5/af667ebf3155ff8
code JUSTGROW for 10% off.

Sugar Paper Planners: https://amzn.to/4jogDm4

Just Grow Something: ⁠https://justgrowsomething.com⁠

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

Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/508637300354140/⁠

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

Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething⁠

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Getting More from the Garden: Succession Planting and Intercropping - Ep. 233 Jan 21, 2025

Show notes

Get 45% off the Magic Mind bundle with with my link:
https://www.magicmind.com/GROWSOMETHINGJAN

If you have struggled in the past with how to fit all the plants you want to grow into the space you have available for gardening, you are not alone. It’s probably the number one question I get from clients when I step into their yards: how do I lay out my plants so they all fit?

This not something that is intuitive or easy to figure out without a lot of trial and error, so don’t feel bad if you have tried it several times and don’t feel like you’ve gotten the hang of it yet. There is a step-by-step process you can use to get yourself off to a really good start and then modify based on your specific garden conditions.

Today, on Just Grow Something I will guide you through a step-by-step process for mapping out your garden to not only ensure a productive season but to find space for more plants through intercropping and succession planting. Whether you’re a beginner or have a few seasons under your belt, this method will help you plan efficiently and maximize your harvest. Let’s dig in.

References and Resources:

Plan Like a Pro course: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/pro

Days to Maturity Chart: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/maturity

Just Grow Something: ⁠https://justgrowsomething.com⁠

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

Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/508637300354140/⁠

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

Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething⁠

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How Many Plants Do You Need? - Ep. 232 Jan 14, 2025

Show notes

Last week we defined our “why” for gardening as a way to help determine our goals. Part of that goal requires us to think about the types of things we want to grow in our garden and the number of people we’re feeding in our family or whomever we are growing for. This also helps determine how much space we need for the garden to meet those goals and whether or not our existing space is big enough, or even too big.

It’s very easy to overdo it, especially in the first few years because you don’t know how many plants you need in order to get the volume you want your garden to produce. It’s also very easy to plant too much of one thing and not enough of another and leave yourself overloaded or coming up short. I was guilty of not planting enough leafy greens the first few years but way overplanting the cucumbers and I very quickly had to learn how to make pickles, something my family still does not eat in abundance.

Today on Just Grow Something we’ll talk about how to determine the number of seeds or plants that you for your garden in order to achieve the harvest you want so you can more accurately plan your garden space and leave nothing behind. Let’s dig in!

References and Resources:

Plan Like a Pro Course: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/pro

MU Extension Vegetable Planting Calendar: https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6201 (click to download .pdf to the right of the page)

Plan By Yield Chart: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/yield

Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com

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

Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/508637300354140/

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

Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Setting Goals and Budgets for the Garden - Ep. 231 Jan 07, 2025

Show notes

Okay, my gardening friend, tell me this: why are you gardening? Did you start gardening during the pandemic because everything was locked down and you were at home all the time and needed some sort of contact with another living thing and that living thing ended up being plants? Or is gardening something you grew up doing and just automatically continued as an adult? Do you garden to reduce the family food budget or maybe your goal is to grow all your family’s produce for the entire year? Maybe it’s just a way to get outside and get some fresh air and exercise and it just feels good to tend to something.

In order to know what we want out of our garden, we have to know why we’re gardening. That “why” is going to help us determine our goals. It’s also going to help dictate exactly how ambitious we get in terms of what we grow, how much space we use, how much we’re willing to invest, the types of tools and supplies that we buy, all the things.

Today on Just Grow Something we’re going to look at our “why” and how knowing that answer can help us set our goals for this gardening season and maybe even our budget. Let’s dig in!

References and Resources:

Plan Like a Pro course: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/pro

Garden Planner from the Girly Homesteader: https://payhip.com/b/aiIN5/af667ebf3155ff8 Use code JUSTGROW for 10% off.

Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com

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

Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/508637300354140/

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

Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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