It's officially tomato planting time! But what else can you plant? And what, in our opinion, should you hold off a bit longer planting. We go over your April garden tasks to do as well as answer your questions.

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Bruce and I each break down our top 10 tips and tricks for growing a successful vegetable garden — no peeking, no comparing notes beforehand. Just two opinionated gardeners with a lot to say about what actually works. Who has a no-marigold policy on their list? Why heirlooms-only may lead to disappointment, and much more. Spoiler: we don't always agree (aka Bruce is wrong). There's plenty of lively back-and-forth, a few "I can't believe you said that" moments, and yes — we each snuck in a bonus tip at the end because ten just wasn't enough.

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To smell and see a Titan Arum in bloom is pretty spectacular, but what really fascinates me is the evolution and incredible diversity within the entire Amorphophallus genus. In this episode, I'm joined by Amorphophallus expert and plant explorer Derek Carwood, who shares his deep knowledge and stories from the field. We dive into the strange beauty, unique adaptations, and surprising variety of these remarkable plants -- perfect for anyone who loves the truly unusual side of the plant world.

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Not sure if it's time to plant tomatoes or if you can squeeze in another round of broccoli? Bruce and I will break down what garden tasks could and should be done in March. Plus we answer your questions. What exactly are those bumps on trees?! Hmmmm.

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Looking to add a fragrant touch to your bedroom window or entry way? Bruce and Marlene each give their top 10 favorite fragrant plants. Will yours be on the list? And we also reveal our most obnoxious smelling plants.

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There are many benefits for starting plants from seeds. But what are the best techniques for success. Bruce and Marlene go into detail on the basics and discuss more advanced seed starting requirements.

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Believe it or not, spring is around the corner. It has been very dry in NorCal so far – sometimes we get Spring rain, so still TBD. LOTS of prep to do for the upcoming season.

It is time to plant:

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Collards, swiss chard
• Kale
• Leeks
• Loose leaf lettuce
• Peas
• Potatoes….late in the month

Chores include:

• Sow tomatoes inside
• Start flowers (sunflowers, strawflower, zinnias, etc)
• Direct sow sweet peas
• Plant bare-root (roses, fruit trees, asparagus, strawberries, rhubarb, berries)
• Spray fruit trees
• Fertilize
• Compost
• Clean up, cut back
• Prune roses, fruit trees

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Kill every houseplant you try to grow? Not anymore. Bruce and I share our top 10 easiest houseplants that are guaranteed to thrive in your home… even if you are convinced you have a brown thumb.

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Welwitschia mirabilis is one of the most unique plant species and on this episode we dive into everything about it. Succulent extraordinaire, Gianluca Bacci of rareplantcatalog.com, joins me in discussing its care, morphology, propagation and more.

Gianluca can be found at:

• Retail website: rareplantcatalog.com
• Retail Nursery: Boojums, 1505 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles
• Instagram: @rareplantcatalog, @boojumstudygroup

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It is the January To Do List – lots of fog in the California Central Valley recently, so a good amount of moisture even without significant rain. Temperatures have been on the lower side, but no major freezes. Even though it's the heart of winter, there are things that need to be done during the dry periods.

It is time to plant:

• Asparagus plants
• Bareroot trees, roses, shrubs
• Radishes
• Lettuce
• Kohlrabi
• Peas
• Onions
• Bok choy
• Fava beans

Chores include:

• Protect from frost. Watch weather report for potential frost days
• Don't work wet soils --- very important
• Spray for peach leaf curl and other fungal diseases
• Can prune fruit trees – but listen to the caveats in the episode

Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

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• email Marlene at [email protected]

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