Just Grow Something | The "Why" Behind the "How" of Gardening

Save 20% on your Magic Mind subscription! https://magicmind.com/GROWSOMETHING20 with code GROWSOMETHING20 We all want things to be just a little bit easier in the garden, right? It’s part of why I try to plant things in the fall to overwinter that will start growing on their own in the spring. It means less effort on my part during a very busy time in the garden when it seems like everything has to go in all at once. The best low-effort thing I can think of in the garden is a perennial and the easiest of these is herbs! The idea of planting something once and doing nothing but harvesting it each season and occasionally splitting up clumps to make more plants sounds like the easiest thing in the garden to accomplish. Herbs can add so much flavor to the other garden goodness we’re bringing into the kitchen, and they can be expensive to buy in the grocery! Today on Just Grow Something we’ll cover the top five perennial herbs to grow by USDA Hardiness Zone. We’ll highlight each herb, the planting and growing requirements, and talk about any special conditions that make them more hardy for your area. Because it's very frustrating to be told something is perennial, only to find out it’s not perennial in your area. Let’s dig in! References and Resources: Just Grow Something 2024 Gardener's Gift Guide: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/gift24 Elm Dirt's Shield: https://www.elmdirt.com/?rfsn=6809035.8aa23a5 Get 10% and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 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! (buymeacoffee.com): https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething

As we head toward the end of fall and into winter it’s time to start using some of what we’ve stored from the garden. Bountiful fall harvests of things like onions, potatoes, carrots, and beets, whether we grew them ourselves or managed to snag some from the local farmers market or CSA, can absolutely be stored up for long-term use. In fact, many of us count on these harvests or market scores to feed our families throughout the winter. But it can be very disheartening to go into your pantry or basement to pull out sweet potatoes for a big family holiday meal, only to find they’ve gone soft or moldy. Today on Just Grow Something we’re going to cover proper winter storage of fall harvested vegetables and we’ll talk about some of the fruits, too. There are plenty of things we can store with no special equipment or storage facility, just a cool dark area may be all you need. But understanding the difference between what your potatoes want, versus what your sweet potatoes want, can make all the difference in the world when it comes to how long you can enjoy those goodies before planting again in the spring. Let’s dig in! References and Resources: 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

It is November, which means we are firmly seated in fall and many of us have seen the total demise of our gardens. In fact, some of us have had several weeks since we saw anything green out there and it’s kind of depressing! Have no fear, there is a way to get a fresh green pick-me-up in the kitchen even when the outside seems bleary – three ways, in fact! Today on Just Grow Something we’re going to cover three ways to grow nutritious greens indoors. This can absolutely be done year-round, but it’s especially poignant in the late fall and through the winter. Especially if you live somewhere like I do where it’s a bit bleak and dreary outside and your body is just craving something fresh. Let’s dig in! References and Resources: (some links are affiliates and I'll earn a small commission ... thank you!) Get 20% off a Magic Mind subscription with code GROWSOMETHING20 Simple LED grow lights: https://amzn.to/3UMqN5k Hydroponic net pots: https://amzn.to/3Cm8fSW Coconut coir plant starter pellets: https://amzn.to/3YK0xth Organic liquid plant food for hydroponics: https://amzn.to/3UO1fEO pH test strips: https://amzn.to/3Co6Efq Inexpensive air bubbler: https://amzn.to/3O3Gpxj Variety pack microgreens seed: https://amzn.to/3O4eddS Elm Dirt: https://www.elmdirt.com/?rfsn=6809035.8aa23a5 Microgreen Basics - Ep. 169 Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon Buy Me A Coffee!

If you’ve been watching my social media accounts you’ve seen me posting about my recent trip to Puerto Rico. I was hoping to see what backyard gardeners were growing in a tropical region and also get an idea of what crops are economically significant to the region and I was actually surprised by what I learned. Today on Just Grow Something we’re going to talk about what crops are prevalent in Puerto Rico and how we can duplicate some of that in our own homes even if we live somewhere that is decidedly NOT tropical. We’ll also reveal your answers to the October question of the month: what was your biggest failure in the garden this year? Let’s dig in! References and Resources: Insect Netting: https://amzn.to/3CeUkOs (aff) Bird Netting: https://amzn.to/3NV6oag (aff) Free Download: Onion Growing Fact Sheet Beginner's Guide to Growing Onions All About Puerto Rico Coffee - History and Best Brands | Puerto Rico & Caribbean Travel News Coffee Obsession: More Than 100 Tools and Techniques with Inspirational ... - DK - Google Books Most Common Papaya Plant Pests: Identification and Treatment Guide | Live to Plant Food Security and Debt: Rebooting Puerto Rican Agriculture as a Path Out of Crisis | Journal of Public and International Affairs Regrowing Puerto Rico's Agriculture - WWF - Environment & Disaster Management ‘A National Call for Food Production:’ Sustainable Farming Seeks Revolution in Puerto Rico | Pulitzer Center