Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Is wood ash good for the garden soil? Our favorite college horticulture professor, Debbie Flower, answers decisively with, “it depends”. She has tips to help you decide if your soil will benefit from the addition of wood ash. She also tackles the topic of ash from nearby wildfires falling on your garden. Good or bad?

And we talk with Organic Gardening expert Steve Zien about how you can achieve better soil starting this time of year, with a lot less work. His tips might even allow you to skip the tedious chore of crop rotation each year!

It’s all on episode 144 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! 

Links:
The New Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter Free!
Smart Pots
Ph soil test kits
Metal Trash Cans
String Trimmers
Mulching Lawn Mowers

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.

If you have a lot of leaning trees and shrubs on your property, chances are there’s an ill wind blowing around your home. Our favorite retired college horticulture professor, Debbie Flower, has some ideas on helping your plants survive, even thrive, is areas with persistent winds.

 UC Davis Arboretum Superintendent Emeritus, Warren Roberts, tells us about a popular, fall-blooming Plant of the Week, the Goldenrod, also known as Solidago. And as you will find out, it’s nothing to sneeze at. It’s on episode 143 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: the Plant of the Week, Goldenrod, aka Solidago californica)

Pictured:
Goldenrod, Solidago californica

Links:
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery
UC Davis Arboretum
The Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
A wind break for small spaces
Goldenrod Seeds (Solidago)

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.

About a year ago, on Episode 52, retired college horticulture professor Debbie Flower gave us a beginning class on having a cut flower garden. Today, we graduate to more tips on successful cut flower care, including how to cut an outdoor plant to bring indoors so that it will last a long time. Plus, Debbie has a homemade recipe for a floral preservative that will help that display last even longer.

And since we’re indoors, Master Gardener and professional houseplant expert Lori Ann Asmus tells us the best ways to make sure your houseplants are watered correctly.

It’s all on episode 142 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:
Macarena zinnias, Joy roses in vases.  See it in the latest edition of The Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter

Links:
Smart Pots
Emerald City Interior Landscape Services
Flora Life cut flower preservative
Floral-type Sunflower seeds

Debbie Flower's Home Recipe for Floral Preservative. Mix together:
1 quart of water.
Two tablespoons of an acid-based product such as vinegar, lemon juice, or lime juice.
Two tablespoons of sugar. 
Half a teaspoon of bleach.

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.

Pull one nutsedge weed from your lawn or garden, and nine more will come to the funeral. Nutsedge, also called nutgrass, is tough to control. And one of the worse things you can do is to pull it out of the ground. Former college horticulture professor, Debbie Flower, has some better ideas on how to control this wide-spread weed.
UC Davis Arboretum superintendent emeritus Warren Roberts tells us about a popular, fall-blooming Plant of the Week, the Michaelmas daisy.
It’s on episode 141 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:
Yellow Nutsedge, aka, Nutgrass

Links:
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery
UC Davis Arboretum
The New Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
Solarization Tips
Garden Basics Podcast Ep. 24 “Soil Solarization Kills Weeds, Pests”
Sedgehammer
Nutsedge Control Info from:
Kansas St University
University of California Ag and Natural Resources
North Carolina State University
Purdue University
Weed Science Society of America
Beautiful but Deadly: Pokeweed

More episodes, info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Garden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. More info including live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters 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] 
• or, leave a question at the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram locations below. 

Be sure to tell us where you are when you leave a question, because all gardening is local. 

And thank you for listening.

All About Farmer Fred:
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 some links mentioned here.

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

One Garden Basic we need to stress more on this podcast is this: to head off major plant problems, observe your garden, carefully. Retired college horticulture professor Debbie Flower talks about some mental exercises she taught her students to become better observational gardeners.
Plus, we discuss growing avocado trees in marginal climates.
And, tips for moving giant pumpkins that might be taking over your backyard.
It’s all on episode 140 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:
The Bacon avocado

Links:
New! The Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
Smart Pots
12” wooden garden marker stakes
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.

If you live in a mild winter climate, mid-September through mid-October is the best time to care for or renovate your lawn. We get organic lawn care tips from organic landscaper, Steve Zien.
And, the Plant of the Week: it’s a dependable, blooming perennial from late spring through mid-fall in warm climates. Warren Roberts tells us about the Gaillardia. It’s Episode 139 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:
The "Arizona Apricot" gaillardia (photo by Don McCulley)

Links:
The New Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery
UC Davis Arboretum
Lawn care and mowing tips UCANR
Corn Gluten Meal for preemergent weed control
White Dutch Clover seed
Organic Lawn Fertilizers
Power Dethatching Equipment
Dethatching Rakes
Lawn Rollers
Compost Spreader Cages

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.

You’ve heard on this podcast many times the benefits of using worm castings, which some people consider the best soil amendment. Just listen to Episode 107 about that. But maybe you’ve seen the price of worm castings at the nursery, and your hesitant. How about growing your own worm castings? Today, we find out how to set up your own worm bin to harvest the freshest worm castings possible. Plus, we find out about five grape varieties, both table grapes and wine grapes, that you may want to grow yourself. It’s all on episode 138 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:
“Can O’ Worms” Worm Bin

Links:
Sign up for the new Garden Basics newsletter, on Substack (https://fredf82.substack.com). Free!
Smart Pots
Worm Bin Tips
Worm Bins
Worm Sources
Garden Basics Episode 107:  Worm Castings
Fair Oaks Horticulture Center Composting Information
Fair Oaks Horticulture Center Vineyard Information
Grape Growing Information
University of Arkansas Viticulture
Grape varieties mentioned: Mars, Reliance, Hope, Mission, Crystal (Niagara)

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:
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.

We have a listener named Cindy. Cindy doesn’t like aphids. Cindy HATES aphids. If you’re a gardener, too, you probably aren’t very fond of this plant sucking insect, either. We have aphid control tips today. Also, it’s cool season vegetable planting time, we have a list of coast to coast winners for your garden. And, the Plant of the Week. It’s everywhere this time of year, for a good reason: they seem to always be in bloom. The petunia. We will tell you all about it, on Episode 137 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:
Shock Wave Coral Crush Petunia

Links:
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery
UC Davis Arboretum
Building the Good Bug Hotel: Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects
Ladybug Release Tips
All-American Plant Selection Vegetable Winners
Angled spray wand/pump sprayer
Sign up for the new Garden Basics newsletter, on Substack (https://fredf82.substack.com). Free!
More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred.

Garden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. More info including live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred. Please subscribe, and, if you are listening on Apple, please leave a comment or rating. That helps us decide which garden topics you would like to see addressed.

Got a garden question? There are several ways to get in touch: 

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] 

or, leave a question at the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram locations below. 

Be sure to tell us where you are when you leave a question, because all gardening is local.
And thank you for listening.

All About Farmer Fred:

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

Sign up for the new Garden Basics newsletter, on Substack (https://fredf82.substack.com). Free!

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

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

There is one four-legged pest that ravages gardens and orchards throughout the West, the mid-West and the South: Pocket gophers. So named for the furry pouches outside its mouth that can store food, pocket gophers can destroy the bark and roots of annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs from its underground tunnel systems. Today, we talk with a gopher control expert on which tactics work, and which don’t work, to control gophers.
Also, why would a cucumber plant just die? We tackle that question from a gardener in Virginia.
It’s all on episode 136 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:
The Pocket Gopher

Links:
Smart Pots
Gopher Control Information from UCANR
Gophinator gopher traps
Macabee gopher traps
GopherHawk gopher traps
Gopher Cinch Traps
Bacterial Wilt of Cucumbers via Cucumber Beetles
Cucumber insects and disease UCANR
Wilt-resistant cucumber varieties
Row covers for vegetables
New! The Garden Basics newsletter

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Garden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. More info including live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred. Please subscribe, and, if you are listening on Apple, please leave a comment or rating. That helps us decide which garden topics you would like to see addressed.

Got a garden question? There are several ways to get in touch: 

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] 

or, leave a question at the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram locations below. 

Be sure to tell us where you are when you leave a question, because all gardening is local. 

And thank you for listening.

All About Farmer Fred:

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

Sign up for the new Garden Basics newsletter, on Substack (https://fredf82.substack.com). Free!

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

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

We all know someone who complains that they have killed every houseplant they have ever owned. Today, we talk with a houseplant professional who has a list of five nearly impossible to kill houseplants! 

We’ve talked about the benefits of using chipped and shredded tree limbs as mulch. Are there any tree varieties that you should avoid? 

College horticulture professor Debbie Flower has the tips.

And, UC Davis Arboretum Superintendent Emeritus Warren Roberts has a sweet-smelling Plant of the Week - the gardenia.

It’s on episode 135 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:
The Dracaena, “Janet Craig”

Links:
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery
UC Davis Arboretum
New! The  Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
Emerald City Interior Landscape Services

Book: Ortho's Complete Guide to Successful Houseplants
Landscapers Guide to Mulch
Gardenia Care

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Garden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. More info including live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred. Please subscribe, and, if you are listening on Apple, please leave a comment or rating. That helps us decide which garden topics you would like to see addressed.

Got a garden question? There are several ways to get in touch: 

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] 

or, leave a question at the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram locations below. 

Be sure to tell us where you are when you leave a question, because all gardening is local. 

And thank you for listening.

All About Farmer Fred:

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

Sign up for the new Garden Basics newsletter, on Substack (https://fredf82.substack.com). Free!

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

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