The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

Latest Episodes:

How to Get Hummingbirds In Your Garden Jun 03, 2018

Show notes

Hummingbirds are wonderful garden-dwellers. Not only are they adorably cute with their super-fast blur of wings and tiny bodies, but they can be great pollinators. Often, we want to encourage them to stay by buying the best hummingbird feeder we can find and providing extra food. But what really works to draw hummingbirds? Do you know where to place a hummingbird feeder for the best chance of drawing birds? How to clean a hummingbird feeder? What should you put in it to keep your birds healthy and safe? I’ll discuss what works and what doesn’t work, and whether glass hummingbird feeders are better than plastic ones. But more than that, I’ll help you learn how to care for your hummingbird feeder, how to maintain it and clean it, and how to encourage these cute little birds to visit. Learn More: Best Hummingbird Feeder: Enticing Hummingbirds To Stay In Your Garden Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere:

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Toads In The Garden! Jun 02, 2018

Show notes

Toads are some of the most powerful pest preventing creatures in a garden. Unless you're in an area where they're invasive, you should be thinking about how to attract them to your garden. And what better way than a little toad house! Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere:

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Attract More Birds With Heated Bird Baths Jun 01, 2018

Show notes

It’s never too early to think about upcoming needs, and for many of us, a heated bird bath is on that list. Some are stylish and have tons of visual appeal. Others are a bit more sedate and merely do exactly as advertised: they keep the water from freezing. Let’s explore all of the important details of bird bath heaters, and go over everything you could ever need to know before buying one. I’ll make suggestions for some of the best that are out there, and you can prepare in advance for the fall and winter months! Unlike other devices, there is not a best heated bird bath. It really depends on your personal needs and your available space and preferences. But there are a lot of high-quality options available, and I’ll talk a little about each. Learn More: Heated Bird Bath: Give Wildlife Access To Water All Winter Long Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere:

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Espalier Fruit Trees for Creative Harvests May 31, 2018

Show notes

Have you ever wanted to grow fruit, but didn’t want to give up space in the yard for one of those heirloom apple trees? Even a crab apple might be too large? Then you will want to know about espalier fruit trees and how they’re grown! This old technique has been used on grape vines, fruit and flowering trees, and even large shrubs. Pronounced “ess-PAUL-yay”, the term originates with the French word “aspau”, meaning “a prop”, referencing the trellis that supports branches. It may also have been partially derived from the Italian term “spalliera”, which means “something to lean the shoulder against”. Espalier has been used to create low walls, lattice-pattern foliage, and best of all, flat-growing fruit trees that can live along a fenceline. It can take many years of training a tree or shrub to create the effect that you’re aiming for, but it’s so rewarding once it takes shape. Learn More: Espalier Fruit Trees: Ideas To Pack Big Fruit Harvests Into Small Spaces Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere:

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Permaculture...Wine?! May 30, 2018

Show notes

Welcome back to reality my gardening friends! Hope you had an awesome weekend. Today's episode is a riff on permaculture wine and beer techniques from the head farmer at Jester King brewery in Austin, Texas. Learn More: Jester King Brewery Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere:

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80lb of Tomatoes On One Plant? May 29, 2018

Show notes

Most gardeners get around 10lb of tomatoes off of a single plant. And that's great! But what if you want MORE? Here are some tips to maximize yield on your tomatoes this season. Keep Growing, Kevin Epic Soil Starter I've partnered with Garden Maker Naturals to formulate a custom organic fertilizer designed to take standard raised bed soil to the next level. I use it in all of my beds and containers. Order your Epic Soil Starter now. Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere:

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Frugal Gardening Tips May 28, 2018

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Not all of us have boatloads of cash to throw into the garden. If you're like me, you want creative solutions to make the gardening experience a little easier that don't break the bank. Well, you're in luck - here are 5 you can use today. Keep Growing, Kevin Epic Soil Starter I've partnered with Garden Maker Naturals to formulate a custom organic fertilizer designed to take standard raised bed soil to the next level. I use it in all of my beds and containers. Order your Epic Soil Starter now. Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere:

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12 Great Patio Container Plants May 27, 2018

Show notes

Here's an episode for you patio gardeners out there! 12 ornamental plants that you can grow well in containers on patio. Now there are NO excuses to getting something green and colorful on your property :) Keep Growing, Kevin Epic Soil Starter I've partnered with Garden Maker Naturals to formulate a custom organic fertilizer designed to take standard raised bed soil to the next level. I use it in all of my beds and containers. Order your Epic Soil Starter now. Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere:

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Composting Old Tomatoes? May 26, 2018

Show notes

Quick one today for you all - common question of what to do with your tomato vines and other garden debris at the end of the season. Can you compost, should you compost? The answer lies within this episode. Keep Growing, Kevin Epic Soil Starter I've partnered with Garden Maker Naturals to formulate a custom organic fertilizer designed to take standard raised bed soil to the next level. I use it in all of my beds and containers. Order your Epic Soil Starter now. Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere:

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How to Use Epsom Salts In The Garden May 25, 2018

Show notes

If you're like me, you've probably heard of Epsom salts as a "gardening hack." But...why? Why does everyone seem to love using them in the garden? In today's episode we'll go over a few different ways to creatively use Epsom salts and boost the flavor and health of your plants. Keep Growing, Kevin Epic Soil Starter I've partnered with Garden Maker Naturals to formulate a custom organic fertilizer designed to take standard raised bed soil to the next level. I use it in all of my beds and containers. Order your Epic Soil Starter now. Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere:

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