The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

Today's question comes from Eric, who wants to know the most cost-effective and efficient system for growing hydroponic strawberries. Keep Growing, Kevin 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 Isaac, who wanted to know the difference between heirloom, open-pollinated, and hybrid or F1 seeds. It's a common question and a confusing topic - so let's dive in! Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tagetes erecta, Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii, Canna generalis, Zinnia elegans. These are just some of the words you’ll find on the plant labels at your local home and garden store. Are your eyes glazing over yet? If so, I totally understand! But trust me, these words have meaning. They are all scientific names for common plants that can be found in your garden. As you continue reading the plant label you’ll find other gardening jargon that may not make sense to you at first. It’s easy to get confused by the terminology and instructions on plant labels. Learn More: Plant Labels: What’s On Them And How To Read Them Properly Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coleus is a gorgeous type of ornamental plant with a very complicated naming history! In 1763, coleus was part of the Ocimum genus. Later, it was recognized as its own genus of plants. Part of the Lamiaceae family, the genus name Coleus was eventually retired and these plants were incorporated as part of the Plectranthus genus. They’ve also been classified as Solenostemon genus, which complicates things even more. But what is coleus? Sometimes called painted nettle, they are multi-hued, stunning plants grown for their leaves rather than flowers. Excellent for either container gardening or for adoring garden beds, they offer amazing color in partial shaded areas. Learn More: Coleus: How To Grow And Care For Plectranthus Scutellarioides Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most stationary and tumbler-style composters handle plant materials, paper and cardboard, some manures, and the occasional eggshell. Vermicomposters can handle all of those as well as occasional rice or pasta that can gum up a tumbler composter or draw pests if added too frequently. But only one method of composting can handle all of the above as well as dairy products and meats, and that is bokashi composting! Learn More: Bokashi From Scratch: How To Build And Use Bokashi Composters Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leeks are an often overlooked veggie in the garden, which is a shame because they're low-maintenance, easy to grow, and damn delicious! Learn More: Leeks: Everything You Need To Know To Grow And Harvest Them Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kale is a wonderful, cold-hardy green that is a "cut and come again" crop. That means you can make successive harvests of kale for a LONG time. But when do you harvest, and how much should you harvest to avoid harming the plant? We answer that in today's episode. Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drip irrigation is supposed to save time, but it can be a hassle if you don't know how long you should leave it running for. I recently installed drip in my front yard raised beds, so I had to figure this problem out for myself. Listen in and learn! Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Epic Gardening listener Isaac wrote in and asked for a basic overview of worm composting, so here we go! It's pretty simple and VERY effective, so you should definitely be worm composting at home. Learn More: Best Worm Composters: Indoor, Tray, and Flow-Through Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a week of dropping juicy gardening knowledge on all of us, Jared shares his story: how did he end up making a fertilizer with spent beer grains, human waste, and algae? And what does it mean for your garden? More About Upcycle Native Soil Fertilizer: Upcycle & Company Buy Native Soil Fertilizer Keep Growing, Kevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices