Wanting to ensure their children were eating safe, healthy vegetables, Dale and Carrie Spoonemore began to garden back in 2015. Frustrated with having to pick through the internet’s web of information, Dale had an idea to create a one stop garden app… From Seed to Spoon. Fast forward to 2022 and Park Seed, a company that has been on the pulse of gardening since 1868, knew they could take this app to the next level. I speak to Dale, Carrie and Park Seed President and CEO Kelly Funk about the app, how it can help new and experienced gardeners.

From Seed to Spoon:

• Website: From Seed to Spoon
• Instagram: fromseedtospoon
• YouTube: From Seed to Spoon
• Facebook: From Seed to Spoon

Park Seed:

• Website: Park Seed
• Instagram: parkseedco

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

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• email Marlene at [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

A wide range of topics addressing questions submitted by listeners.  Including:

• Best time to add fish emulsion to outdoor plants
• Artichoke issues
• Soil preparation for tomato planting
• Using fall leaves and grass clippings as weed cover.  Should it be composted into the soil? 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

• Facebook
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• email Marlene at [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Houseplants can be very rewarding to grow. But like any plant, they require a range of different growing situations -- including light and soil. Tylor Rogers, owner of Arium Botanicals, was nice enough to join me on this latest episode to share his vast knowledge of houseplants. We go over his favorite go-to soil blends for Aroids, Hoyas and more. We discuss how he ensures plants have humidity, what to do with pests and his list of favorite and easiest plants to grow.

Check out Tylor and his amazing store of both plants & supplies below:

Website:  Arium Botanicals

Instagram:  ariumbotanicals

TikTok:  @arium_botanicals

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

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• email Marlene at [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

This episode is the garden To Do list for the month of February – actually quite a busy month.

• Fruit trees – spray liquid copper for peach leaf curl before they bloom. Also time to spray dormant oil if you have insects overwintering
• Prune fruit trees, roses (except one time blooming), grapes, blackberries – ensure you have a few days of dry weather following. Hold off on pruning frost sensitive plants
• Plant:
  • Broccoli, beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, collards, kale, mustard, peas
  • Can start potatoes & radishes towards end of the month
  • Bare root roses, fruit trees
  • Can start tomatoes & peppers inside
• Soil amendment: Get organic material in there for spring planting.  Compost, manure, beneficial nematodes
• Cleanup: Weed control (don’t let them go to flower)

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

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• email Marlene at [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Biochar. You may have heard of it or it may be a new term for some of you. I was doubtful of its claims until I had the pleasure of listening to USDA Senior Soil Scientist Dr. Deborah Page-Dumroese present a talk. She was kind enough to join me on this episode and discuss everything biochar. She discusses her years long research on the use of it for improving forest and farm soils. She then dives into its value and use in home gardens and how you can make your own biochar.

Debbie and her work can be found at:  https://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/people/ddumroese

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

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• email Marlene at [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

A wide range of topics addressing questions submitted by listeners.  Including:

• Broccoli clusters – why are mine loose as opposed to tightly packed
• Citrus – can they be pruned in winter
• Asparagus – how to trim
• Succulents – should they be brought inside during winter
• Broken limb on a tree – can a damaged tree be pruned during the winter, or is it best to wait until spring
• Fireplace ash – is there a use for this in the garden

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

• Facebook
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• email Marlene at [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Here in northern California, it has been a cold and thankfully wet winter.  As we are at the season midpoint, here is January’s to do list.

• Prune roses
• Spray fruit trees – liquid copper, dormant oil
• Clean up old fruit
• Plant bare-root fruit trees, grapes, blueberries, asparagus
• Hold off on pruning fruit trees
• Plant: Bok choy, broccoli rabe, loose leaf lettuce, radishes, mustards
• Order summer vegetable seeds
• Add beneficial nematodes
• Compost

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

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• email Marlene at [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Have you ever wondered why during the holidays we bring mistletoe inside?  What were some of the plants brought inside during Victorian times?  In this episode, I talk to horticulturist Matt Mattus about the history of holiday plants and how to care for them.  Matt has been gardening since the age of 9 on his family’s historic 1910 Worchester, MA home.  An expert in most aspects of gardening, he specializes in South African bulbs and alpine plants.  Matt has been featured in Martha Stewart Living and Better Homes & Gardens, and is currently a contributor to Fine Gardening.    

Mat can be found at:

• Instagram: @matt_mattus
• Facebook: Growing with Plants
• Blog: Growing with Plants

Check out Matt’s highly educational books – links to where they can be found are attached:

• Mastering the Art of Flower Gardening
• Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

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• email Marlene at [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

This is a listener Q&A episode.  Questions cover topics including:

• Cactus – how to remove new growth
• Fuyu persimmons --  this year’s crop has seeds in the fruit, and in years past has not.  Ideas why?
• Plumeria – should it stay outside or bring inside during the cold weather
• Poinsettias – they are not turning red, even though they are being kept in relative dark.  Is there anything that can help them turn red?
• Bereavement – how do I keep healthy?  There are many different plants on this one

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

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• email Marlene at [email protected]

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In this episode, I discuss December garden To-Do tasks.  Winter is in full swing, and lots to do.

• Pest mitigation – aphids, cabbage looper, nematodes
• Plant bulbs
• Plant vegetables -- asparagus, bok choy, kale, loose leaf lettuce, mustard, radishes
• Move succulents out of potential rain
• Smother weeds
• Plant bareroots

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

• Facebook
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• email Marlene at [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook