Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

One gardening trend that is beginning to take hold throughout the country is reducing the size of your lawn. What is our attraction to lawns in the first place? We talk with author Thomas Mickey. He wrote the book,  "America’s Romance with the English Garden". 

Retired college horticulture professor Debbie Flower discusses a nasty weed, especially disliked by barefoot children and mountain bikers, puncture vine.

And, the UC Davis Arboretum  Superintendent Emeritus, Warren Roberts, tells us about an outstanding, widely planted tree for fall color, the Sweet Gum, also known as the Liquidambar tree. But it certainly has its drawbacks. It’s our Plant of the Week!

Podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory, it’s episode 154 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 a little over 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:
A (Too) Big Lawn

Links:
The New Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery
Book: America’s Romance with the English Garden, by Thomas Mickey
AmericanGardening.net (Thomas Mickey website)
UCANR Soil Solarization Tips (reducing a lawn, for example)
FF Rant: Lawn, Begone!
UCANR Puncturevine Control Information
Rincon-Vitova Insectaries (for weevils to control puncturevine)
Farmer Fred Rant: How to Stop Those Nasty Liquidambar Balls

More episodes and info (including transcripts) available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Got a garden question?
• Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics
• 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
The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog
Facebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"
Instagram: farmerfredhoffman
Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.

And thank you for listening.

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics  Newsletter.

Just as all gardening is local, all weeds are local, too. And we are hearing from many of you about your yard’s nightmare weeds, especially ones that can be mistaken for clover, and you let it go…until it starts taking over. It’s oxalis, and its close relatives, creeping wood sorrel, and bermuda buttercup, and another weed that crashes the oxalis family parties, bur clover. Debbie Flower and I feel your pain on this one.

And UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden’s Superintendent Emeritus, Warren Roberts, tells us about one of the best trees for its brilliant yellow leaves this time of year, the Ginkgo. It’s our Plant of the Week!

Podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory, it’s episode 153 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 under 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:
Creeping Wood Sorrel, an oxalis weed

Links:
The New Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery

UCANR Guide to Woodsorrel and Bermuda Buttercup Weed Control
Burclover Control Tips
Ginkgo leaf landscape art
Subscribe to the free, Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Garden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. Live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the Buzzsprout home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred. 

Got a garden question? 

• Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

• 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

Daily Garden tips and snark on Twitter

The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog

Facebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"

Instagram: farmerfredhoffman

Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.

And thank you for listening.

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics  Newsletter.

Some of you, especially in USDA Zone 9 where freezing temperatures haven’t occurred yet, you may still have green and partially red tomatoes, clinging to life, in your backyard garden. Will they ripen? And as always, the answer is: it depends.

One listener from Virginia wants to know if that pile of mulch near her maple tree can be moved. Her concern: the roots of the tree have invaded that mulch pile…and, there’s a bunch of suspicious stringy white stuff inside that mulch pile, as well. We start digging into the answer for that one with our favorite retired college horticulture professor, Debbie Flower.

And UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden’s Superintendent Emeritus, Warren Roberts, tells us all about a perennial that’s putting on quite the show right now for many of you: the chrysanthemum. And he explains why you do not want to present a bouquet of mums to your sweetheart. It’s our Plant of the Week!

Podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory, it’s episode 152 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 a little over 30 minutes. Don’t hate me for that.

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:
Unripe "Viva Italia" Roma Tomatoes

Links:
The New Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery
Chrysanthemums Wikipedia page
Tomato Ripening Chart
BOOK - Tomato Recipes: Stewed, Fried, Green, Cherry, Baked and Lots of Great Recipes for Tomatoes

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Got a garden question?
• Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics
• 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
Daily Garden tips and snark on Twitter
The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog
Facebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"
Instagram: farmerfredhoffman
Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.
And thank you for listening.

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics  Newsletter.

Today we feature two garden crops that may still be lingering at your place, outdoors or indoors. It’s popcorn and pumpkins.

The Plant of the Week is that Halloween decoration that’s collecting mold on your front porch: pumpkins. But it’s more than something to be used as an October 31st ornament. UC Davis Arboretum Superintendent Emeritus Warren Roberts discusses the history of the pumpkin and the vital uses it has served humans for more than a thousand years. 
We are still getting questions from gardeners about their outdoor popcorn crop here in USDA Zone 9. We have tips for harvesting and enjoying this versatile crop.

It’s episode 151 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery. 

Don't forget: November through January, look for new Garden Basics episodes each Friday. In February, we're back to twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Pictured:
Mini Pumpkins : Wee-B-Little,  Spark,  Jill Be Little 

Links:
The New Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery
How to Grow Giant Pumpkins
Seed Catalogs with Fall Sales
The Little  Stripper Popcorn Sheller
More Popcorn Shellers
Presto Microwave popcorn Popper
Air Poppers
Moisture Meters/testers for popcorn
Heirloom Popcorn varieties
Unusual Pumpkin Varieties

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred and The  Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter

Got a garden question?
• Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics
• Call or text us the question: 916-292-8964. 
• E-mail: [email protected] 

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.
And thanks for listening!

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics  Newsletter.

Gardeners everywhere have a certain weed that drives them up the wall. Today, we talk about one that can literally climb a wall: field bindweed.  Although it's in the morning glory family, don’t be fooled by its pretty, white flowers. Field bindweed needs to be controlled as soon as you see it. We have tips for tackling field bindweed.

Power outages hit both the west and east coasts recently, due to massive storms. Many of you may have invested in your first generator to help keep your harvested frozen food properly cold. Or you discovered a need to plug in your electric chainsaw to clean up a downed tree in your yard. We talk with a generator expert, he has advice for keeping that generator running when you need it.

Podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory, it’s episode 150 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots. 

And we will do it all in under 30 minutes.

Don't forget: 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:
Field Bindweed

Links:
The New Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
Smart Pots
More Info About Field Bindweed
More Generator Safety Tips
Generators
Outdoor, Heavy Duty Extension Cords
Electric Chain Saws

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the Buzzsprout home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred. 

Got a garden question? 

• Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

• 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

Daily Garden tips and snark on Twitter

The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog

Facebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"

Instagram: farmerfredhoffman

Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube

Subscribe to the free, Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.

And thank you for listening.

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics  Newsletter.

Today we tackle a question from a listener who asks, why were my tomato seedlings last spring so skinny? Debbie Flower and I run through all the possibilities, and it turned out to be a very good tomato seed planting primer, something to keep in mind when you’re starting tomato seeds indoors next January, February or March.
The Plant of the Week is a colorful, warm season annual that will be widely used in celebrations next week. No, it’s not the Halloween pumpkin. It’s a plant with even more cultural significance, a couple of days after Halloween. The marigold. You’ll have to listen to find out why.  It’s on episode 149 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by SmartPots and Dave Wilson Nursery. And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!
And this programming note: During November through January, Garden Basics will become a once a week podcast, released on Fridays. We will return to two a week in February, 2022.

Pictured:
Giant Belgium tomato seedlings.

Links:
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery
UC Davis Arboretum
The Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
Tomato and pepper seed starting tips
Seed starting mix
Indoor seed starting kit  with light stand fixtures
More indoor light fixtures for good seedling growth

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Garden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. Live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the Buzzsprout home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred. 

Got a garden question? 

• Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

• 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
Daily Garden tips and snark on Twitter
The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog
Facebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"
Instagram: farmerfredhoffman
Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.

And thank you for listening.

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics  Newsletter.

Late October may be your last, best opportunity for overseeding a poorly performing lawn here in USDA Zone 9. Your next opportunity across the U.S. will be next spring. In either case, we tackle a listener’s questions about the best way to go about the process of rehabbing your lawn. College Horticulture Professor (retired) Debbie Flower has some great tips on that topic. Also, we discuss a great piece of fruit that is ripening right now: Japanese persimmons. Phil Pursel of Dave Wilson Nursery has advice for growing and choosing those varieties that won’t make your mouth pucker.

Podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory, it’s episode 148 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots. 

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

Pictured:
Fuyu persimmon harvest (from 1 tree)

Links:
The New Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
Smart Pots
Lawn Seed
Lawn Seed Spreader
Top dressing for newly seeded lawn
Lawn Dethatcher
Lawn Aerator
Lawn rollers
Lawn compost spreaders
Japanese Persimmon Varieties

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Garden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. Live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the Buzzsprout home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred. 

Got a garden question? 

• Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

• 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

Daily Garden tips and snark on Twitter

The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog

Facebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"

Instagram: farmerfredhoffman

Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube

Subscribe to the free, Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.

And thank you for listening, and sharing with your gardening friends!

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics  Newsletter.

Today we tackle a widespread beautiful weed whose cousin is a rather desirable plant. The weed? Salt Heliotrope, a close relative of the widely cultivated common heliotrope. And you don’t want the salt heliotrope growing around your desirable plants.
One of the showiest plants right now is 'Autumn Joy' Sedum. We’ll tell you all about this, the Plant of the Week.
And a primer on using livestock watering troughs for permanent plants, as well as annuals.
It’s on episode 147 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 under 30 minutes. Let’s go!

Pictured:
"Autumn Joy" sedum

Links:
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery
UC Davis Arboretum
The Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
California Garden Web - Growing Berries
Livestock watering troughs
Tractor Paint for Watering Troughs
Sedum "Autumn Joy"
salt heliotrope info
More salt heliotrope info

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Garden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. Live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the Buzzsprout home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred. 

Got a garden question? 

• Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

• 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

Daily Garden tips and snark on Twitter

The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog

Facebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"

Instagram: farmerfredhoffman

Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.

And thank you for listening.

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics  Newsletter.

Master Gardener and Professional Houseplant Expert Lori Ann Asmus of Emerald City Interior Landscape Services talks about the pros and cons of fertilizing your houseplants, as well as problems you might face using some tap waters on your houseplants. 

College Horticulture Professor (retired) Debbie Flower sheds light on one listener’s dilemma: great looking pole bean plants, but no beans this year! Debbie lists several possibilities that could be the culprit.

Podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory, it’s episode 146 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots. 

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

Pictured:
A variety of pole and bush beans, including Bingo, Early Riser, California Buckeye 46, Black Coco, Tiger's Eye, and Cannellini Lingot

Links:
New! Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
Smart Pots

House Plant Fertilizers and supplements mentioned on this episode:
Dynagro 7-9-5 plant food
Protekt 0-0-3 nutritional supplement for plants
pH Down nutritional supplement for plants

Cover Crop Solution Guide from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Garden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. Live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the Buzzsprout home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred. 

Got a garden question? 

• Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

• 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

Daily Garden tips and snark on Twitter

The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog

Facebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"

Instagram: farmerfredhoffman

Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube

Subscribe to the free, Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.

And thank you for listening.

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics  Newsletter.

Major League Baseball playoffs have started, and you know what that means? It’s time to harvest your popcorn! However, it’s still not ready for eating. How do you know when it’s ready to be popped? We have the popcorn harvesting tips for you today. The Plant of the Week is widely adaptable throughout the West, the South, and up through the Carolinas and Virginia. Salvia, the sage plant. In particular, we are talking about the autumn sage, Salvia greggii,  a real hummingbird magnet.

Starting a new lawn in USDA Zone 9 now? Are watering restrictions thwarting your efforts? There’s a way around that.

 It’s on episode 145 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 under 30 minutes. Let’s go!
 
Pictured:
Organic popcorn varieties, including Dakota  Black, Cherokee Long Ear, Pennsylvania Butter-Flavor popcorn

Links:

Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery
UC Davis Arboretum
The Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
Popcorn seed
Lil Stripper popcorn sheller
My favorite popcorn popper!
Autumn Sage

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Garden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. Live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the Buzzsprout home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred. 

Got a garden question? 

• Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

• 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

Daily Garden tips and snark on Twitter

The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog

Facebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"

Instagram: farmerfredhoffman

Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.

And thank you for listening.

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics  Newsletter.