The Beginner's Garden with Jill McSheehy

Latest Episodes:

39: Blueberries in the Ground and Containers -- Interview with Lee Reich Feb 20, 2018

Show notes

If you want to plant blueberries for the first time, or if you've had struggles with growing blueberry bushes in the past, horticulturist Lee Reich answers the most common questions people have when it comes to growing blueberries.

We talk about:

4 requirements for growing blueberries
How to amend your soil if it isn't ideal for blueberry growth
How to grow blueberries in containers
The ideal growing medium for container-grown blueberries
How you can still grow blueberries in the ground if your soil is extremely alkaline

Grab the show notes and free Blueberry Planting Notebook at http://journeywithjill.net/2018/02/growing-blueberries-interview-with-lee-reich/

38: 7 Common Raised Bed Gardening Mistakes Feb 13, 2018

Show notes

Those of us who have been raised bed gardening for years testify to how much we enjoy it! Better harvests, less weeding, sharp aesthetics -- what's not to love?

But as in any venture, there are mistakes to be made. The problem with mistakes with raised bed gardening is many times they aren't easily corrected. I know this from experience!

From my own experience and from the experiences of others, I've compiled a list of 7 common mistakes in raised bed gardening. If you're planning a garden for the first time or adding to your existing beds, this will help you avoid many of the mistakes I and others have made. And if you're already gardening in raised beds but are seeing lackluster results, you may find some reasons why here.

Show notes at http://journeywithjill.net/2018/02/7-common-mistakes-in-raised-bed-gardening/

Beginner's Garden Shortcut Facebook Group: http://facebook.com/groups/beginnersgarden

Beginner's Garden Shortcut Online Course: http://journeywithjill.net/gardenshortcut

37: 10 Adjustments I'm Making in My Garden this Season Feb 06, 2018

Show notes

You'd think after five gardening seasons, I'd have it all figured, right? Well, that's the beauty about gardening. Each year we get to adjust. We scrap what didn't work; we try new things. The dreaming and the planning -- those are some of the most exciting parts of gardening!

This year as I've begun my garden planning, I decided to make ten specific adjustments in my gardening. Whether I am making these adjustments due to learning more or by past failure, my hope is that some of these will help you make your garden more successful this season!

Show notes at http://journeywithjill.net/2018/02/10-adjustments-im-making-in-my-garden/

Beginner's Garden Shortcut Facebook Group: http://facebook.com/groups/beginnersgarden

Beginner's Garden Shortcut Online Course:

http://journeywithjill.net/gardenshortcut

36: Expert Advice on Tomatoes -- Interview with Mike at White Harvest Seed Co. Pt. 2 Jan 30, 2018

Show notes

In growing tomatoes, it's always good to have an expert's advice on-hand. That's why when I talked with Mike at the White Harvest Seed Company, I picked his brain on everything tomatoes -- from which varieties to choose to how to deal with mid-season pests and diseases.

In this episode of the Beginner's Garden Podcast, Mike and I talk about:

favorite tomato varieties
top 3 recommendations for growing successful tomatoes
most common pests & diseases and how to deal with them

Grab all the show notes at http://journeywithjill.net/2018/01/expert-advice-growing-tomatoes/

Enrollment is open for the Beginner's Garden Shortcut. Details at http://journeywithjill.net/gardenshortcut.

35: Choosing and Growing Seeds - Interview with Mike at White Harvest Seed Company Jan 23, 2018

Show notes

Who better to ask about growing seeds than the owner of a reputable seed company? I met Mike a few years ago and even from our first conversation I could tell he knew his stuff. In this episode he and I talk all about seeds:

>How to choose the right seed varieties when there are so many choices

>How to start seeds indoors

>Which seeds to start indoors vs. which ones to wait and plant in the garden

>The answer to his most asked garden question

>The biggest key to seed germination

...and so much more!

Grab this week's free download -- Seed Starting Quick Reference Guide -- along with the show notes at http://journeywithjill.net/seedstarting

34: Grow these 5 Dirty Dozen Crops to Avoid Consuming Pesticides Jan 16, 2018

Show notes

Growing healthy, uncontaminated produce may be one of your top reasons for gardening. In today's episode, we'll talk about five crops listed on the Environmental Working Group's 2017 Dirty Dozen list and how you can grow them at home.

Blog Post: http://journeywithjill.net/dirtydozen.

33: 4 Crops You Can Grow that Will Cut Your Grocery Bill Jan 09, 2018

Show notes

Saving money on groceries was the #1 reason I started growing my own garden. Soon I realized it wasn't as simple as it seemed. But as I've found out over the years, there were 4 crops I grow that consistently save me money when I don't have to buy them from the grocery store.

blog post: http://journeywithjill.net/frugalgarden

32: How to Plant Garlic – 3 Most Frequently Asked Questions Oct 09, 2017

Show notes

When should I plant my garlic? Where can I buy garlic to plant? (Can I use garlic at the grocery store? NO! And I explain why) What type should I buy, hardneck or softneck? I also go over the basics of planting garlic, and I'll help you decide whether to plant in raised beds, containers, or in the land.

FREE GARLIC PLANTING CHEAT SHEET: http://journeywithjill.net/garliccheatsheet

FULL EPISODE SHOW NOTES: http://journeywithjill.net/2017/10/how-to-plant-garlic-3-most-frequently-asked-questions-beginners-garden-podcast/

31: End of season garden clean-up that will help get next year's garden started out right Sep 12, 2017

Show notes

Your current year's spent crops hold valuable potential to get next season's crops started out with a fertile soil full of nutrients.

In this episode of the Beginner's Garden Podcast, you'll learn:

which plants definitely need to be thrown out (and not composted)
what your main objective in garden clean-up should be why bare soil is the worst thing you can do to your dormant garden
4 ways to replenish nutrients in raised beds and garden plots what to do with spent container soil
and more!

Get the full show notes at: http://journeywithjill.net/2017/09/end-season-garden-clean-will-help-get-next-years-garden-started-right-beginners-garden-podcast/

30: Free Produce! Seed Saving for the Hobby Gardener Aug 29, 2017

Show notes

Even a hobby gardener can benefit from seed saving. In this episode, you'll learn: