A listener in St. Louis wrote in to ask, “Is it OK to put the stems and leaves of what’s left of the summer vegetable garden in a compost pile?” Retired college horticulture professor Debbie Flower answers: it depends! We take a deep dive into composting basics today.

The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden’s Superintendent Emeritus, Warren Roberts, tells us about the Plant of the Week. For some, it’s an outdoor, winter blooming, bedding plant. For others, it’s a houseplant. For all, it puts a colorful show this time of year: the cyclamen, which just might be the best, last minute holiday garden gift to give or receive.

Podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory, it’s episode 157 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery. 

And we will do it all in just 30 minutes. Let’s go! 

November through January, the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast slows its production schedule. Look for new episodes each Friday. In February, we will return to twice a week podcasts, on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Pictured:
The Three-Bin Composter

Links:
Subscribe to the free,  Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery
The Rapid Composting Method
Make Your Own 3-Bin Composter
Compost Thermometers
Composting Tumblers
Compost Bins Indoor and Outdoor
Cyclamen Plants and Seeds

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Got a garden question? 

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• Call or text us the question: 916-292-8964. 

• E-mail: [email protected] 

All About Farmer Fred:
The  Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
Farmer Fred website: http://farmerfred.com
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The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog
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Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube

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