The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

Have you ever wondered how to grow peas? Peas are one of those tastes that embodies spring: a little crisp, a little sweet. Knowing how to grow peas means we always have access to that wonderful flavor. But peas have an interesting history, too! Before agriculture was developed by humans, peas were a staple food that hunter-gatherer peoples would forage regularly.​ Interestingly, the Romans believed that fresh peas were poisonous, so they dried all peas before consumption. This was the common practice until a French gardener under the reign of King Louis XIV developed a pea hybrid called petits pois. These smaller, delicious fresh peas exploded in popularity with the king, and thus spread to worldwide appeal. While we think of peas as a vegetable nowadays, biologically the pod is considered a fruit, and the peas themselves are seeds. All peas are considered to be part of the legume family, along with beans and other podded produce. Without further ado, let’s dive into the world of growing Pisum sativum, the pea plant. We’ll go over how to grow peas, what environments are optimal, and even how to store them for eating later! Learn More: How To Grow Peas: Everything You Need To Know (2018 Update) Keep Growing, Kevin Podcast Sponsor: Garden Maker Naturals Natural and organic fertilizers with complete ingredient transparency, custom-mixed for your garden's unique needs. Check it out by clicking this link and tell them Kevin from Epic Gardening sent you! Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Simon and Garfunkel recorded the song “Scarborough Fair,” they sang about parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. The first thought that goes through my head when I hear this song on the radio is “but what about basil?” I love growing basil! Maybe it took fifth place in Simon and Garfunkel’s lyrical choice, but it’s definitely number one in my book. One of the oldest known herbs, basil has an entertaining background and multiple uses in cuisine and wellness. Not convinced that basil should be a part of your gardening life? Listen on to learn what it is, why you should grow it, and everything you need to know to grow basil successfully. Learn More: Growing Basil: Planting, Cultivating, Harvesting and Storing (2018 Update) Keep Growing, Kevin Podcast Sponsor: Garden Maker Naturals Natural and organic fertilizers with complete ingredient transparency, custom-mixed for your garden's unique needs. Check it out by clicking this link and tell them Kevin from Epic Gardening sent you! Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Asparagus is one of those perennial veggies that takes patience to grow, but once you’ve learned how to grow asparagus, it’s so satisfying! It’s absolutely delicious and is usually one of the first crops to come to harvest in the spring time. Learn More: How To Grow Asparagus: All You Need To Know (2018 Update) Keep Growing, Kevin Podcast Sponsor: Garden Maker Naturals Natural and organic fertilizers with complete ingredient transparency, custom-mixed for your garden's unique needs. Check it out by clicking this link and tell them Kevin from Epic Gardening sent you! Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carrots are one of my favorite plants to grow, but I've run into a ton of problems growing them in the past. Here are some of the biggest reasons you're struggling to grow carrots! Keep Growing, Kevin Podcast Sponsor: Garden Maker Naturals Natural and organic fertilizers with complete ingredient transparency, custom-mixed for your garden's unique needs. Check it out by clicking this link and tell them Kevin from Epic Gardening sent you! Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's been a lot of talk about mushrooms and mycelium in recent years, both for food and for building soil. What does it do for your soil and how do you incorporate it into the garden? Keep Growing, Kevin Podcast Sponsor: Garden Maker Naturals Natural and organic fertilizers with complete ingredient transparency, custom-mixed for your garden's unique needs. Check it out by clicking this link and tell them Kevin from Epic Gardening sent you! Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most troubling parts of growing microgreens is knowing how much to seed per tray for each type of plant. While there is hard and fast rule, here are some general guidelines. Learn More: All of my microgreens content on Epic Gardening Keep Growing, Kevin Podcast Sponsor: Garden Maker Naturals Natural and organic fertilizers with complete ingredient transparency, custom-mixed for your garden's unique needs. Check it out by clicking this link and tell them Kevin from Epic Gardening sent you! Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I get a lot of questions about hydroponics, because it's the type of gardening I'm the most experienced at. There are 5 questions that I get asked more than any other...so I decided to answer them all in one fell swoop! Learn More: All of my hydroponics content on Epic Gardening Keep Growing, Kevin Podcast Sponsor: Garden Maker Naturals Natural and organic fertilizers with complete ingredient transparency, custom-mixed for your garden's unique needs. Check it out by clicking this link and tell them Kevin from Epic Gardening sent you! Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people love watching wild garden birds in their natural habitat and have developed an interest in helping sustain the wildlife in their gardens. However, feeding garden birds the wrong foods may actually be doing them more harm than good. Here are five ways you can do a better job taking care of the birds in your garden. Learn More: 5 Ways You’re Feeding Your Garden Birds Wrong Keep Growing, Kevin Podcast Sponsor: Garden Maker Naturals Natural and organic fertilizers with complete ingredient transparency, custom-mixed for your garden's unique needs. Check it out by clicking this link and tell them Kevin from Epic Gardening sent you! Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Often the first thing to bloom in the spring, the pussy willow is a popular addition to ornamental gardens. Its flowers, or “catkins”, are fluffy little blooms which resemble tiny little cats. Used as a decoration as part of the lunar new year in China, it is believed to bring prosperity throughout the coming year. It’s also commonly utilized as an Easter decoration. But what exactly is the pussy willow? Is it a tree or a shrub? How does it grow, and how can you maintain it? Let’s delve deep into the history of this willow-tree relative and discover everything you need to know to grow your own pussywillow. Learn More: Pussy Willow: Growing and Caring For Salix-Species Plants Keep Growing, Kevin Podcast Sponsor: Garden Maker Naturals Natural and organic fertilizers with complete ingredient transparency, custom-mixed for your garden's unique needs. Check it out by clicking this link and tell them Kevin from Epic Gardening sent you! Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's question comes from Tom, who wonders if he can get a little more production out of his landscaping by adding some edible ornamentals. The answer? YES. Here are my 5 top picks. Keep Growing, Kevin Podcast Sponsor: Garden Maker Naturals Natural and organic fertilizers with complete ingredient transparency, custom-mixed for your garden's unique needs. Check it out by clicking this link and tell them Kevin from Epic Gardening sent you! Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices